GRAND RAPIDS HOUSING COMMISSION 2018 ANNUAL REPORT OUR MISSION The Grand Rapids Housing Commission provides housing assistance and affordable housing opportunities to lower-income families, the disabled and senior citizens in a manner that is fiscally sound and in ways that support families, neighborhoods and economic self-sufficiency. HISTORY The Grand Rapids Housing Commission (GRHC) was established in 1966 to provide affordable housing for low-income residents and to eliminate substandard housing conditions. Over the years, the Housing Commission has expanded its role in the community, partnering with organizations and individuals to advocate for positive change in local social welfare policy and to offer supportive services families can use to achieve self -sufficiency and a stronger financial future. Funded primarily through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the GRHC is independently administered and is governed by a five-member board appointed by the City Manager and approved by the City Commission. Visit our website: www.grhousing.org THE GRAND RAPIDS HOUSING COMMISSION From left: Bobbie Butler, President; Betty Zylstra, Vice President; Angela Bunn, Commissioner; Patrick Miles Sr., Commissioner; Monica Steimle, Commissioner GRAND RAPIDS HOUSING COMMISSION BOARDS AND COMMITTEES GRAND RAPIDS CITY OFFICIALS GRAND RAPIDS SCATTERED SITES HOUSING RESIDENT ADVISORY BOARD Mayor: Rosalynn Bliss CORPORATION Angela Bunn, Chairperson City Manager: Mark Washington Ellen James, President Teresa Boileau City Commission: Melvin Fox Martha Dove Joseph Jones Betty Zylstra Katherine Higgins Ruth Kelly Barbara Jones Senita Lenear HOPE COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION Jo Ann Morris Nathanial Moody Douglas Dozeman, President Leonard Webster Jon O’Connor Jamie Ladd Virgie Young Kurt Reppart LEONARD TERRACE HOUSING CORPORATION ADAMS PARK HOUSING CORPORATION Patrick Miles Sr., President Victor Vasquez, President Earl Holton Ellen James Shelley Wisdom Daniel Oglesby Betty Zylstra MOUNT MERCY HOUSING CORPORATION/ MOUNT MERCY PHASE I HOUSING CORPORATION CRESTON PLAZA GENERAL PARTNERSHIP Melvin Fox Melvin Fox Ellen James Ellen James Daniel Oglesby Betty Zylstra Victor Vasquez, Jr. Betty Zylstra RANSOM AVENUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Charles Carter, President Maureen Slade Monica Steimle A divisive national political climate. Government gridlock and regressive policy proposals that threaten to undermine our nation’s social safety net. These are challenging times, and the Grand Rapids Housing Commission is proud to be among the many local, state and national organizations that uphold shared values and promote the greater good by collaborating to meet the needs of neighborhoods and communities. Grand Rapids is currently one of the nation’s hottest real estate markets, with escalating home prices, high demand for housing and a very low rental housing vacancy rate. There’s a critical shortage of affordable rental housing in our community; during the past several years, many low-income households have spent hundreds of dollars on rental application fees without ultimately finding a home. During 2018 the GRHC partnered with the City of Grand Rapids to provide dedicated rental readiness services to families seeking to overcome barriers to renting. We have also partnered with local low-income housing developers to support their efforts to increase our community’s affordable rental housing inventory through new development or the rehabilitation of existing housing. The GRHC was recently awarded federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits we will leverage to attract the funding that will enable us to build Antoine Court, a new 50-unit development tailored to meet the housing and supportive needs of homeless veterans. Partnerships with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, private investors and community health and social services organizations are all critical to the success of this exciting new venture. We are also considering participation in a new HUD “Moving to Work” initiative that affords some flexibility in the administration of Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, with the goal of finding new ways to expand access to housing assistance. In addition to working to ensure greater housing availability, the GRHC is also focused on continuing to provide optimal maintenance at our agency-owned housing developments. We plan to convert our remaining Low-Income Public Housing units to the Section 8 Project-Based program, which will make it possible for us to attract private investment in support of critical maintenance needs. We anticipate that all of our properties will complete the conversion process during the year ahead. Now more than ever we are grateful to the organizations and volunteers who partner with us to bring quality affordable housing and supportive services to the low-income households we serve. The partnerships we have forged are empowering us to ensure that a robust local housing market doesn’t negatively impact families that continue to struggle to make ends meet. I am sincerely thankful to our Housing Commissioners and staff, the Mayor and the Grand Rapids City Commission, and to all of our local, state and national partners for continuing to work with us to promote housing opportunity and equity in our community. Thank you! Carlos A. Sanchez Executive Director PARTNERSHIPS PROMOTE HOUSING ACCESS & OPTIONS The Rental Assistance Center is located within the Campau Commons Community Center at 821 South Division Avenue. During 2018 the Grand Rapids Housing Commission (GRHC) Development for Veterans Planned partnered with the City of Grand Rapids to offer low-income The GRHC has been awarded $1.4 million residents a Rental Assistance Center that provides free rental in federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits readiness services to households that have had a rental housing (LIHTC) which will be leveraged to fund the application denied by the property owner. Administered by construction of Antoine Court, a $13.5 million the GRHC and funded by the City, the Center is located within Section 8 Project-Based program development the Community Center at Campau Commons Apartments, tailored to meet the housing and supportive 821 South Division Avenue. needs of homeless veterans. Rental Assistance Center program participants work with a The site for the 50-unit development is GRHC social worker to assess barriers to successful tenancy Division Avenue between Antoine Street SW and are referred to educational and employment resources that and Delaware Street SW. The GRHC has been can address such issues as poor credit or landlord references, awarded 22 HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive insufficient income or criminal history. Participants “graduate” Housing (HUD-VASH) Vouchers and will with a portfolio of the documents needed to complete rental provide an additional 28 Project-Based applications as well as a rental readiness certificate that can Vouchers for the planned development. give them an edge in a competitive marketplace. The Rental Assistance Center also serves as a clearinghouse for rental Section 8 Project-Based Program Supports property owners seeking qualified tenants and supports Affordable Developments compliance with the 2018 City of Grand Rapids ordinance To help address our community’s housing related to residential rental application fees. needs, the GRHC is supporting the LIHTC applications of non-profit community partners During the first three months of the Rental Assistance Center’s by providing Section 8 Project-Based Vouchers operation, GRHC social work professionals worked with 218 that are helping them obtain private financing applicants; 61 percent of these were experiencing homelessness, for the construction of affordable rental the majority living “doubled up” with friends or family. Sixty housing. Seventy-one vouchers are supporting percent of households had employment income, and the applications that will make a total of 351 majority—67 percent —had completed high school. Housing affordable housing units available. barriers addressed included prior evictions, a low credit score, low income or criminal record; 24 percent of participants had no We are pleased to partner with Genesis Non- identified barriers to renting, yet still struggled to find housing. Profit Housing Corporation, the Inner City Christian Federation, Dwelling Place and More information about the Rental Assistance Center is LINC Community Revitalization to bring available online at www.RentReadyGR.org. new housing options to West Michigan. SECTION 8 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS During the past year the GRHC Section 8 HUD-VASH Program planned $13.5 million development is program gained 77 vouchers, bringing The GRHC has been Antoine Street SW at Delaware Street SW. the total number of households served awarded a $105,705 We anticipate that construction will get through this program to 3,459. Section 8 HUD-Veterans underway later this year and that this provides a rental subsidy to low-income Affairs Supportive important new project will be completed households. Housing (HUD-VASH) grant that is in early 2021. funding 22 rental subsidies in support of Mainstream Program veterans experiencing homelessness or at Housing Choice Voucher Program The GRHC has been awarded a risk for homelessness. The GRHC opened our Section 8 $344,507 HUD grant to fund 55 rental Housing Choice Voucher program subsidies administered through the Referrals to the HUD-VASH program are waiting list for two weeks during