August 2000 Leasing Report - Welfare to Work Vouchers

Summary of Leasing Report

1. As of August 31, 2000, 68% of WtW vouchers program-wide have been issued to eligible families and 24% have been leased.
   
   
2. Information collected from the monthly telephone calls to the 132 WtW voucher sites indicates that:
   
   
   • 40 sites (30%) have issued 100% or more of their voucher allocation.
     
   • 63 sites (48%) have issued 75% or more of their voucher allocation.
     
   • 34 sites (26%) have leased 50% or more of their voucher allocation.
     
     
3. In August 2000, there was a 44% increase in vouchers issued and a 38% increase in vouchers leased. Similar improvements were recorded between the end of June and the end of July.
   
   
4. Attached are summary reports that list the WtW sites (ordered alphabetically by State) that have leased at least 50 percent of their vouchers as well as those that have issued 100% and leased 50% or more of their vouchers as of August 2000.

Program Implementation: Progress to Date

As we near the end of the third quarter of the initial program year, patterns in program implementation have emerged among the 132 sites across the country. While WtW sites focused largely on policy and implementation issues during the first and second quarters of this year, many started issuing vouchers and leasing units at an increased pace in the third quarter. Progress continued through August and is expected to show similar gains through September.

Program Success

Some of the WtW voucher agencies have learned from their mistakes and designed new procedures in response to initial missteps. Others have used creativity to implement special efforts to address anticipated problems.

One response we have seen throughout the WtW voucher program is recognition of the need to expedite standard processing procedures. For instance, the Baltimore (MD) County PHA redesigned its eligibility determination and issuance procedures and tested those procedures before calling large numbers of WtW voucher families. Many other agencies discovered that they needed to move from a standard practice of issuing vouchers to one family at a time to using group briefings, which have long been a practice at larger agencies. At the same time, larger agencies accustomed to group briefings moved toward a relatively new format of mass briefings or housing fairs. These agencies included Fresno (CA), Houston (TX), Salt Lake City (UT), and the housing authorities in Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County. In at least one instance, these housing fairs included representatives from the TANF agency who could certify the families' TANF eligibility, as well as landlords who could provide information on available units.

Other creative ideas implemented by WtW voucher housing authorities to improve the leasing process have included the following examples.

Portland (OR) Housing Authority offers WtW voucher families a "Ready to Rent Program," an innovative program developed with funding from the state of Oregon. The program includes five sessions that address the barriers encountered by low-income families when searching for rental housing. Families completing the program receive a merit badge and their names are given to the screening company used by Portland landlords. Portland Housing Authority "guarantees" any family completing the program against unpaid rent or damages for six months. Funds from the state are used to cover claims that may be brought under the program.

Hollywood (FL) Housing Authority advertises for landlords on the local cable TV channel. To date, over 70 landlords have responded to the advertisement and offered units for rent.

Perth Amboy (NJ) Housing Authority has dedicated one full-time staff person to communicate with Section 8 landlords interested in or currently participating in the WtW Housing Voucher Program. This staff person promotes the program and ensures that landlords receive a high level of service.

Butler County (PA) Housing Authority employs one full-time AmeriCorps volunteer who is responsible for implementing a comprehensive outreach plan to market the WtW voucher program to families, landlords, and the community. At a very low cost, the BCHA is able to develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated outreach strategy. The annual cost is $3,200 for one full-time AmeriCorps volunteer (1,700 hours).

CHAC, Inc. in Chicago, IL and the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (partner of the Boston Housing Authority) have established Resource Rooms for program participants and landlords. The Resource Room offers participants a quiet place to access resources, write a resume, and make calls to inquire about potential employment or make appointments to view available housing units. The Room uses a "one-stop shopping" set-up, and the materials available are geared to the needs of all clients. Landlords also find the Resource Room helpful for research purposes and to gain an understanding of various property management issues and Section 8 regulations.

Salt Lake City (UT) Housing Authority, has greatly expedited the usually lengthy leasing process, hosting a WtW voucher leasing extravaganza in which hundreds of families on welfare participated. As a first step, Salt Lake held a press conference to raise community awareness of the WtW voucher program. It then persuaded the Salt Lake Apartment Association to host a luncheon/training to market the program to landlords. This resulted in 90 landlords giving the PHA permission to distribute their names to WtW voucher holders searching for units. Salt Lake also conducted a mass intake over a period of two days where 300 families were screened and determined eligible. Eligible families were then invited to attend a mass orientation. A competitive housing hunt followed, with 200 vouchers available to the 300 families. Within six weeks of the leasing extravaganza, Salt Lake had leased 98% of its WtW voucher award.

Grand Rapids (MI) Housing Commission has partnered with the Family Independence Agency, the local TANF agency, and the Area Community Services Employment and Training, the local workforce agency. Staff from these agencies participates with Housing Commission staff and other supportive service agencies on the Family self-sufficiency (FSS) Council, an emergency shelter council, and a collaborative board addressing continuum of care for homelessness issues. These collaborative efforts paved the way for the WtW Voucher Program relationships that were made formal through Memoranda of Understanding with partner agencies.

The Family Independence Agency and Area Community Services Employment and Training staff refer clients to the Housing Commission for housing assistance under the WtW voucher program. In return, these agencies provide case management and supportive services to WtW voucher participants. In addition, the Family Independence Agency subsidizes security deposits for WtW voucher participants, an arrangement made possible by the rapport of partners. As of September 2000, the Grand Rapids Housing Commission is 93% leased.