Title
Resolution to Approve a Re-Allocation of $30,500.00 in Ann Arbor City General Funds (R-09-140) with $30,500.00 in Ann Arbor Housing Trust Funds (AAHTF) (R-09-431)
Memorandum
The Office of Community Development is requesting Council approve the exchange of $30,500 of the $80,750 in Ann Arbor City General Funds currently committed to Avalon Housing, Inc. for Human Services (R-09-140) with $30,500 in Ann Arbor Housing Trust Funds (AAHTF) currently committed to the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County for Emergency Shelter with Supports (R-09-431) in order to ensure compliance with AAHTF Guidelines.
As a part of Resolution 09-431, Council approved contracts with Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) and the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County (SAWC) to provide housing and shelter with support services to homeless individuals and families and appropriated $159,500.00 in Ann Arbor Housing Trust Funds for this purpose. Upon City Attorney review of the $30,500.00 contract with the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, it was determined that the provision of an emergency rotating shelter to assist in the sheltering of an increased number of individual adults in the winter months is not an eligible AAHTF activity.
The AAHTF policy states that "it is the goal of the City to provide a full range of housing opportunity to all its citizens," and "it is the intent of the City to administer this fund in a flexible manner in order to best meet the housing needs of the City." However, according to the AAHTF guidelines approved by Council on November 9, 2006 (R-484-11-06), the Fund is available to provide support "to individuals, organizations or projects that create, retain, rehabilitate or preserve long term affordable housing." [Emphasis added.] The guidelines also stipulate the following eligible uses of the funds:
Projects to be funded may include pre-development feasibility analysis, rental assistance, technical assistance to non-profit housing providers, administration of affordable housing programs, new construction, rehabilitation, conversion of housing for use by lower income residents, or acquisition of land or property for use as low income housing.
In an effort to ensure that both Council's intent to support the provision of emergency shelter and services provided by SAWC and the guidelines of the AAHTF are upheld, the Office of Community Development requests that City Council approve the exchange of a portion ($30,500) of existing human services general funds awarded to Avalon Housing, Inc. - a provider of long term, affordable housing - for the $30,500 awarded to the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County for emergency shelter and services.
Staff
Prepared by: Andrea Plevek, Human Services Coordinator, Mary Jo Callan, Community Development Director
Reviewed by: Sumedh Bahl, Interim Community Services Area Administrator
Body
Whereas, The Office of Community Development was directed by City Council to contract with the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County for short-term emergency shelter with support services to homeless individuals;
Whereas, City Council appropriated $30,500.00 in Ann Arbor Housing Trust Funds for the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County to provide emergency shelter and support services (R-09-431);
Whereas, The Ann Arbor Housing Trust Fund guidelines were approved by City Council on November 9, 2006 (R-484-11-06);
Whereas, The Ann Arbor Housing Trust Fund guidelines do not include the provision of emergency shelter as an eligible activity; and
Whereas, City Council allocated $80,750.00 in City General Funds to Avalon Housing, Inc. for the provision of human services related to permanent supportive housing as a part of its biennial human services allocation (R-09-140);
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Council approve a re-allocation of $30,500.00 in Ann Arbor City General Funds currently committed to Avalon Housing, Inc. for human services (R-09-140) with $30,500.00 in Ann Arbor Housing Trust Funds (AAHTF) currently committed to the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County for Emergency Shelter with Supports (R-09-431); and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator, or his designee, be authorized to take necessary administrative actions and to execute any documents necessary to complete this transaction and to implement this resolution.