Moving to Work (MTW) - Housing Authority of the City of New Haven

General Information

The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven (HANH) administers approximately 2,542 public housing units and 4,520 Section 8 vouchers included in the MTW Plan. In addition, HANH has 80 Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation, 61 Section 8 New Construction, and 392 HOPE VI units currently under construction. HANH's MTW program began September 28, 2001 and will terminate September 30, 2008.

Status

New Haven signed its MTW agreement in 2001 and began to implement its MTW program in 2002. HANH submitted its first Annual Plan under MTW in October 2001.

Goals

The HANH will use the MTW program to demonstrate two opportunities and achieve five main objectives. The opportunities and objectives are:

• HANH will demonstrate how to transform a troubled housing portfolio into one that is more competitive in the open market and provides for a wide range of housing choices.
  • Objective 1 - Transform HANH's existing public housing portfolio
  • Objective 2 - Expand housing choice in areas surrounding New Haven while maintaining the City's level of subsidized, affordable housing at 30% of rental units
  • Objective 3 - Create a workout strategy model

• HANH will transform its management system into a cost-effective and coordinated delivery model that supports independence and economic self-sufficiency
• Objective 1 - Increase operating efficiency while improving marketability
• Objective 2 - Strengthen cooperative efforts with area service providers and implement a comprehensive intervention protocol that provides point of assessment for resident needs and matches those needs to available housing and services
• Objective 3 - Create opportunities for economic development for HANH program participants

Agreement

	Amended and Restated MTW Agreement
	Original MTW Agreement

Rent Policies

HANH will conduct a rent reasonableness study and may adopt and implement reasonable rent policies that will encourage economic self-sufficiency. However, such policies will be adopted only after full public comment and formal amendment to HANH's Admissions and Occupancy Policy.

Occupancy Policies

HANH restructured the annual and interim review process for Section 8/Leased Housing and public housing to reduce the number of reviews a participant must receive per year. Tenants with Flat Rent and those in Elderly Housing will only be required to recertify every two years.

HANH proposes to develop and adopt a voluntary program - Continuum for Success - a supportive housing matching program that matches housing with health, social services and/or economic development programs to the residents' needs. Participation in the program will not affect housing choices available, but will be taken into consideration when matching needs to housing services.

Self-sufficiency Polices

Various social services will be provided through HANH's social service non-profit corporation, Alliance for Strong Communities, and the Continuum for Success, a monthly coordinating meeting with area service providers.

Program Activities

New Haven's MTW Plan is designed to realign the housing authority's resources with those of the nation's traditional housing industry, while better serving the housing needs of the New Haven community. The plan focuses on both real estate strategies to improve the provision of housing assistance and family support strategies to promote sufficiency.

HANH's family support strategy is aimed at providing case management linked to real estate management.

Funding-related Issues

The New Haven MTW program is highly dependent upon combining noncompetitive funding into a single block grant. This single block grant will merge its operating subsidies, capital funds and tenant-based Section 8 assistance for the purpose of improving resident quality of life and maintaining the financial health of HANH.

Utilities

HANH is authorized to establish a 50th percentile rent level for Section 8 in non-impacted census block groups in the City of New Haven and within the region.

HANH intends to submit alternative procurement plans for real estate development, professional services and for commodities purchasing.

Support

Hartford Field Office
One Corporate Center
hartford, CT 06103-3220
(860) 240-4844
F (860) 240-4850
Bettye Jones, Director
Betty.S.Jones@hud.gov

HUD Troubled Agency Recovery Center North
1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 900
Cleveland, OH 44115
(216) 552-5300
Pat Needham, Director
Patricia.A.Needham@hud.gov

Contact

Housing Authority of the City of New Haven
360 Orange Street
New Haven, CT 06509-1912
(203) 498-8800
F (203) 497-4345