Los Angeles Office of Public Housing
Quarterly Newsletter Issue 12: July-September 2011
Serving Southern California

ARRA Success: Santa Barbara County Solar Project

The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (HACSB) is Southern California's latest example of a successful utilization of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). On August 18, the AHSCB unveiled it's brand new solar installation. The HACSB used over $1.2 million from its ARRA Competitive Grant, combined with other funding sources, to install over 7,000 solar panels to serve over 800 units in Santa Barbara County.

Congressional Representative Lois Capps (CA-23) praised the achievement of the HACSB. Fred Lamont, Executive Director of the HACSB thanked HUD for supporting this step toward sustainability.

The solar panels were manufactured by Solar World and installed by Planet Solar, two California-based firms.

Congratulations to HACoLA for receiving three NAHRO Awards of Merit

The Community Development Commission/Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (CDC/HAC0LA) received three (3) National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Awards of Merit for the following Programs:

• Assisted Living Waiver Pilot Program
• The Growing Experience Program
• Harbor Hills Gang Reduction Program

The Assisted Living Waiver Pilot Program and The Growing Experience are also being considered for the NAHRO National Awards of Excellence.

Assisted Living Waiver Pilot Program
CDC/HAC0LA is the first public agency in California to embrace State Medi-Cal waivers for assisted living programs. Housing providers recognize the need for programs that provide "permanent supportive housing." This type of housing seeks to match services to special needs populations who could not sustain themselves in an independent living
lifestyle without help. With the creation of the Assisted Living Waiver Pilot Program (ALWPP), CDC/HACoLA offered a viable home and community-based alternative that would allow elderly persons to remain at the South Bay Gardens and Orchard Arms public housing development.

The Growing Experience Program
The Growing Experience Program (TGE) began in 1996, as a joint collaboration between HAC0LA and the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE). Initially, it was a landscaping program; however, in 2009 TGE took a drastic turn towards organic agricultural production. TGE seeks to provide Carmelitos public housing residents with an opportunity to access a community garden in an urban setting, while also giving them an opportunity to learn valuable skills in the multi-million dollar "green industry" in a paid job-training program. Additionally, TGE provides sustainable produce to the local community and restaurants.

Harbor Hills Gang Reduction Program
The Harbor Hills Gang Reduction Program effectively addresses gang and crime problems at the Harbor Hills public housing development in the City of Lomita. HAC0LA management, security, legal, and intervention teams, and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Community Policing Program team, developed a comprehensive plan to combat unlawful activity which includes internet and security technology, surveillance, criminal law enforcement, civil lease enforcement, and youth intervention programs. Our efforts have resulted in multiple evictions, arrests, a drop in criminal activity, and an improved quality of life for our residents.

Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles Public Housing Back to
School Jams

The Resident Services Program of the Housing Management Division sponsored another successful series of Back to School Jams at the Carmelitos, Harbor Hills, Nueva Maravilla, Sundance Vista and South County (scattered sites) public housing developments during the month of August. Beginning with the first Back to School Jam at the Carmelitos housing community in 2000, this event has grown to an annual event geared toward youth and their families to celebrate the kickoff of the new school year.

This year, over 50 exhibitors provided educational and health-related resources and information to over 800 families.
A partial list of those agencies present included: University of California Cooperative Extension, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County Work Source Centers, Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Goodwill Industries, and the Los Angeles Prevention Project for Life as well as local businesses.

Public housing youth were treated to an afternoon of entertainment, food, dance contests, watermelon eating
contests, piñatas and raffles. However, the highlight of each Back to School Jam was the distribution of backpacks stocked with school supplies to the youth in grades K-12th. This year, Resident Services staff distributed 1,000 backpacks - the most ever distributed in the history of the Back to School Jams. In addition to free backpacks, students and their families also benefited from free school uniforms and other necessities, made possible by the generous support of Shelter Partnership, a local non-profit organization which provides resources and housing for homeless families, through its S. Mark Taper Foundation Shelter Resource Bank.

As one Nueva Maravilla parent expressed to staff, "Thank you so much for the backpacks for my kids, it helped us
out a lot."

Los Angeles HUD Office hosts FSS Meeting
On September 21, 2011, the Los Angeles HUD office hosted a Family Self Sufficiency (FSS), and Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) event. ROSS links public housing residents with supportive services, resident empowerment activities, and assistance in becoming economically self-sufficient. Family self-sufficiency (FSS) is a HUD program that encourages communities to develop local strategies to help voucher families obtain employment that will lead to economic independence and self-sufficiency. Public housing agencies (PHAs) work with welfare agencies, schools, businesses, and other local partners to develop a comprehensive program that gives participating FSS family members the skills and experience to enable them to obtain employment that pays a living wage. A separate program, the public housing FSS program, is available for public housing residents.

At the event in Los Angeles, FSS and ROSS coordinators participated in networking and training. HUD and housing authority staff presented regarding successes and obstacles to administering the program. FSS coordinators
described best practices in order to better serve participants of this important program.

Financial Management Snapshot

Operating Subsidy 2012

• Operating Subsidy submissions are due 10-31-11 to our office.
  
  
• Your submission should include the following:
• HUD-52722 Op Fund Calc. of Utilities Expense Level
• HUD-52723 Op Fund Calc. of Op Sub
• HUD-52725 Schedule of Positions and Compensation
• SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance
• HUD-50071Certification of Payments to Influence Fed. Transactions
• PHAs must have a DUNS number
• Supporting Documentation for information on both the '22 and '23
• HUD-52724 Op Budget Board Resolution Form (depending on your FYB)

• Please frequently visit the 2012 Subsidy Processing website (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/am/of/opfnd2012) for the most up-to-date
  information.
  
  
• HUD has provided tools to help each PHA forecast the effects of an allocation adjustment. Please go to the link above and click on "Allocation Adjustment" for further details.
  
  
• Our review process will be very similar to CY 2011 Op Sub processing. If your PHA received questions and requests for supporting documentation from our office during 2011 processing, please anticipate similar questions and requests during 2012 and submit such clarification and documents with your initial submission.

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program

The table below is a rough estimate of CY 2012 Admin Fee funding and proration levels based on mark-ups generated
by both the Senate and the House Appropriations Subcommittees. These are our first indications of direction on the variables we are using in the Two Year Forecasting Tool which can be located online here: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv.

ROUGH ESTIMATES

Admin Fees:

Other Forecasting Variables:

Los Angeles HUD Office hosts FSS Meeting

On September 21, 2011, the Los Angeles HUD office hosted a Family Self Sufficiency (FSS), and Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) event. ROSS/HCV FSS Grants Administrator May Miso facilitated the event. ROSS links public housing residents with supportive services, resident empowerment activities, and assistance in becoming economically self-sufficient. Family self-sufficiency (FSS) is a HUD program that encourages communities to develop local strategies to help voucher families obtain employment that will lead to economic independence and self-sufficiency. Public housing agencies (PHAs) work with welfare agencies, schools, businesses, and other local partners
to develop a comprehensive program that gives participating FSS family members the skills and experience to enable them to obtain employment that pays a living wage. A separate program, the public housing FSS program, is available for public housing residents.

PHA Executive Compensation Form HUD-52725

• This form is a requirement for all PHAs unless the PHA meets the definition of exempted described on the instruction tab of the HUD-52725 Excel File.
  
  
• HUD has produced a FAQ document which answers a number of the most common questions regarding this form. This document can be located online here: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/am/of/opfnd2012
  
  
• Technical Notes and the Excel Tool are posted at the above link.
  
  
• Due on 10-31-11 to your assigned Financial Analyst at the Los Angeles Office of Public Housing.
  
  
• If you believe your PHA is exempt please inform your assigned FA.

Office of PIH Welcomes Toni Orozco!

Toni Orozco is the Los Angeles Office of Public Housing's new Program Assistant. She was born and raised in Los
Angeles and is the youngest of five siblings. Prior to joining HUD she worked in the Apparel Industry for nearly 34 yrs. Positions held included, Claims Adjustor, Director of Customer Service, General Manager, and Production Manager. Ms. Orozco joined HUD as a contractor in 2005 and worked at the Santa Ana HOC as the Mail / Supply Room Site Manager. In 2007 she transferred to the Los Angeles Field Office. In September of 2011, Ms. Orozco accepted a position as a Federal Employee within PIH and states that she looks forward to a long career with HUD. Welcome, Toni!

eLOGIC MODEL SUBMISSION TIMEFRAMES FOR ROSS,
Public Housing FSS, and HCV FSS

Deceased Tenants Report in the
Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) System

Just a friendly reminder to the Housing Authorities (HA) that received a Deceased Tenants Report, HAs are required
to submit the applicable documentation outlined in the Deceased Tenant Case Review Documentation Checklist received, by no later than November 22, 2011, to PIH.ImproperPayments@hud.gov, with a copy to the local HUD office EIV Coordinator. HAs are reminded to not send any document which is not listed on the documentation checklist (i.e. copies of 50058s, EIV reports, HUD-provided documents etc.).

Special Purpose Vouchers Leasing Initiative

HUD is closely following the lease up rates of Special Purpose Vouchers. This includes: Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), Family Unification Program (FUP), Non-Elderly Disabled (NED) Category 1 and 2. Our office will be contacting your agencies monthly regarding your progress in leasing up these vouchers. Please contact your HUD representatives for any assistance we may provide in this high profile initiative. Together we house families!

ARRA Grant Close-outs

Congratulations to all PHAs who have expended 100% of ARRA Formula Funds.

The Los Angeles Office of Public Housing would like to begin the close-out procedures as soon as possible, so we would appreciate the submission of close-out documents. Please submit your Final Cost Certificate and Final Performance and Evaluation Report HUD Form 50075.1. Note, both must be submitted within 90 days of expiration or termination of the grant, per 24 CFR 85.50.

Final Cost Certificate (The cost certificate is a financial statement subject to audit pursuant to 24 CFR 85.26.)
-Actual Modernization Cost Certificate (AMCC); or
-Actual Development Cost Certificate (ADCC) If applicable

Final Performance and Evaluation Report
HUD Form 50075.1: Please remember to mark "final" on this report. Also, the report must be signed and dated by Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer.

Online Reports
Additionally, if you have not already submitted, when a grant is 100% expended, final reports must be submitted in RAMPS and Fed Reporting. For the quarter ending September 30, 2011, RAMPS and Fed Reporting must be submitted
per the schedule below:

Please Join Us!
The next Proactive Exchange will occur
Thursday, November 17, 2011,
10am-12pm, at the Los Angeles Office of Public Housing.