Title
Resolution to Approve Amendment to the Housing Voucher Administrative Plan Chapter 6: Income and Subsidy Determinations
Memorandum
The Ann Arbor Housing Commission’s Housing Choice Voucher program uses the family’s income to determines eligibility for assistance and is also used to calculate the family’s payment and the PHA’s subsidy. HUD regulations specify the sources of income to include and exclude to arrive at a family’s annual income.
The City of Ann Arbor received funding from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and decided to use $1.6 million of the money for a guaranteed income pilot program; and
City of Ann Arbor Council voted June 5 to approve an agreement with the University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions to pilot a guaranteed basic income program aimed at low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs in Ann Arbor. The Ann Arbor Housing Commission has partnered with the University of Michigan Poverty and Solution department to exclude payments received from the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program in the calculation of family’s annual income. Staff recommend that the board approve the administrative plan to include guaranteed income as an excluded source of income.
Revised Policy
Guaranteed Income
Amounts received from the income pilot program are excluded from annual income. The City of Ann Arbor received funding from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and decided (in part based on resident feedback) to use $1.6 million of the money for a guaranteed income pilot program.
Guaranteed Income to Grow Ann Arbor (GIG A2) is a two-year guaranteed income pilot program that provides monthly payments of $528 to 100 entrepreneurs with low and very low incomes in Ann Arbor. Guaranteed Income is applicable to Ann Arbor entrepreneur, small business owner, gig worker, or someone with a side hustle. Guaranteed Income to Grow Ann Arbor would provide $528 a month for 24 months to support well-being, economic stability, or business.
PHA Policy
To qualify for this pilot program, eligibility is determined by the University of Michigan Poverty Solutions department. Not all participants will receive the monthly payments. Monthly payments received from this pilot program is excluded from annual income.
Staff
Prepared by Weneshia Brand, Director of Operations
Approved by Jennifer Hall, Executive Director
Body
WHEREAS, The City of Ann Arbor received funding from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and decided to use $1.6 million of the money for a guaranteed income pilot program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Ann Arbor Council voted June 5 to approve an agreement with the University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions to pilot a guaranteed basic income program aimed at low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs in Ann Arbor; and
WHEREAS, the University of Michigan Poverty Solutions have requested that guaranteed income payments not affect benefits received by voucher participants; and
WHEREAS, The Ann Arbor Housing Commission’s Housing Choice Voucher program uses the family’s income to determines eligibility for assistance; and
WHEREAS, Housing Choice Voucher program uses the family’s income to calculate the family’s payment and the PHA’s subsidy; and
WHEREAS, HUD regulations specify the sources of income to include and exclude to arrive at a family’s annual income; and
WHEREAS, AAHC must adopt policies for determining policies to determine how to calculate the families income; and
WHEREAS, the AAHC has partnered with the University of Michigan Poverty Solutions to excluded payments received from the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of the Ann Arbor Housing Commission accept and approve the proposed administrative plan changes, which will be effective November 1, 2023.