Resolution 1850 - Laserfiche WebLink

• • FAIR SHARE PROGRAM Family Shelter Assistance Housing • Information And Referral Rental Emergency fund • BACKGROUND: On January 31, 1980, the City Council acted on the Housing Policy Report and made recommendations for expanding housing opportunities to lower income households. The City Council at that time indicated support for the establishment of a revolving security deposit fund for lower income families. The Bonus Block Grant program through the Puget Sound Council of Governments gives the City of Everett the opportunity for imple- menting this fund. The Volunteers of America are proposed to administer this revolving fund. The Volunteers of America currently run programs which hetp low income families with food, clothing, housing, and counseling. They are set up to help people who walk in, are referred to, or call using the existing toll free CARE Crisis Line. The Volunteers of America operates the CARE Crisis Line which is available 24 hours, seven days a week for crisis assessment, information; and referral. They also have an Outreach program (funded out of regular Block Grant Funds) that deals with problems facing low-income families. Often housing is one of their major concerns. DESCRIPTION: The Fair Share program as proposed would provide a "revolving fund" which would be used to provide financial assistance through loans to low income families for first and last month's rent and security deposits on rental units. The maximum loan would be $550 and would be limited to families under the Section 8 income guidelines. Goals would be: • 1. To give low income families of Everett the opportunity to rent suitable living quarters in non-concentrated areas. 2. To alleviate the financial burden of low income families entering rental agreements. 3. To provide counseling through the existing Outreach program to decrease the need for repetitive requests from the same individuals for housing assistance. 4. To decrease the need for high cost emergency housing. 5. To achieve the mobility objectives of the Bonus Block Grant Program. The FAIR SHARE Program would be implemented using existing staff in two Volunteer of America programs: CARE Crisis Line and the Outreach Program. The potential client would be referred from the CARE Crisis line to the outreach program worker. The out- reach counselor would assess the needs of clients and begin working with them on an ongoing basis. Potential clients will also be referred from other Volunteers of America programs and other agencies. 'The Counselor and the client will draw up a contract between them that will set down the expectations of each party. It will also set the stipulations for repayment by the client. A local bank would be involved in the loan process.