July 2000 Leasing Report - Welfare to Work Vouchers

Summary of Leasing Report

1. Since the last leasing progress report (dated June 22, 2000), overall WtW voucher issuance has increased by 79%, from 13,167 vouchers to 23,806. Issuance currently is at 48%.
   
   
2. Leasing has increased from 4,299 units (9% of the total voucher allocation of 50,000) to 8,594 units -17% of the total allocation.
   
   
3. Based on leasing data and additional information collected as a result of the monthly telephone calls to the sites, the technical assistance providers have determined that:
   
   
   • 65% of the 129 sites are likely to meet the 100% lease-up target by 12/31/2000.
   • 35% of the 129 sites are not likely to meet the 100% lease up target by 12/31/2000.
     
     

   These numbers show an 8% increase since the June 22 progress report in the number of PHAs which appear likely to meet the December 31, 2000 leasing target. Exhibit 1 summarizes leasing status and the causes of leasing delays for the 129 WtW sites.

4. Attached is a summary report that lists the WtW sites (ordered alphabetically by State) that have issued or leased 75 percent or more of their vouchers as of August 1st.

Causes of Leasing Delays

There are six primary reasons why WtW PHAs are experiencing leasing delays. Many sites are confronted with more than one barrier to leasing up. The causes of leasing delays and the corresponding percentage of PHAs that fit into this category are identified in the chart below. The far right column shows the numbers reported for these causes in late June.

Addressing Issues of Poor Coordination with TANF Agencies

Although it is difficult to analyze relationships through telephone contact with only one party, the most common TANF coordination problems are the same as those reported last month:

• Failure to design and implement a streamlined eligibility and intake process;
• Competing priorities of the TANF agency and PHA;
• Delays in developing/executing a formal Memorandum of Understanding; and
• TANF agency reluctance to release names of families due to privacy issues.

In general, long-standing, working relationships with their local TANF agency tend to improve the issuance and lease-up rates of WtW sites. Some agencies have achieved success by streamlining approaches to obtaining referrals and documenting family eligibility. Some agencies have begun to rely on community action agencies and DOL-funded training agencies for referrals. Many are using documents provided by the family to verify TANF eligibility.

On June 26, HUD and Quadel staff met with Bob Shelbourne and Joanne Fradkin of the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (HHS/ACF). The purpose of the meeting was to ask for help in cases where PHAs are having difficulty leasing due to coordination problems with the local TANF agency. PHAs reporting TANF coordination issues were discussed on a case-by-case basis.

As a result of this meeting, HHS/ACF sent a message to its regional offices stating the importance of the WtW voucher program and requesting that the regional offices work with the local TANF agencies to ensure the success of the program. In addition, HHS provided Quadel with HHS/ACF regional office contacts. Quadel has provided the WtW sites with this contact information so that each PHA can follow up to resolve any remaining coordination issues.