Moving to Work (MTW) - San Diego Housing Commission

Participation in MTW Demonstration Completed

General Information

The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) was formed in 1979, as a Commission of the City of San Diego. The Commission owns and manages 1,401 public housing units, provides rental assistance for almost 8,504 families, provides innovative job training and educational programs for residents to help them become self-sufficient, provides financial assistance for qualifying first-time homebuyers, provides financial and technical assistance for low-income families whose older homes need rehabilitation, and collaborates with private sector developers to create affordable housing. SDHC's MTW program began December 8, 1998 and terminated December 31, 2003.

Status

In designing the MTW program, SDHC combined innovative components of its Family Self-Sufficiency program with intensive support services provided through partnerships with the University of California, San Diego - Division of Pediatrics, New Beginnings Family Service Advocates, and various community-based service providers.

SDHC's MTW program allowed for 22 public housing families and 50 Section 8 families who were working, looking for work, or enrolled in a job-training program. SDHC screened applicants for eligibility prior to providing housing assistance. As part of the program, MTW families received an orientation to the program, career assessments, and career planning services.

Goals

SDHC had the following goals for its MTW program:

• Increase the share of residents making progress toward self-sufficiency.
  

• Increase homeownership among residents.
  

• Increase the number of residents moving out of assisted housing.
  

• Reduce and/or reallocate administrative, operational, and/or maintenance costs.
  

• Enhance SDHC's capacity to plan and deliver effective programs.
  

Agreement

• MTW Agreement
  

Rent Policies

• Public housing families paid a flat rent and Section 8 families received a flat subsidy throughout the duration of the MTW program. These rents did not vary, even if the family's income increased. SDHC's MTW rents and subsidies are:

Bedrooms	Min. Rent	Max. Rent
2 BD	$381	$348
3 BD	$441	$571
4 BD	NA	$693
5 BD	NA	$811

• SDHC expected this fixed cost approach would benefit MTW participants by guaranteeing them a predictable subsidy or rent amount during their participation in MTW.
  

Occupancy Policies

• The public housing families resided together in a newly renovated townhouse development which includes a Learning Opportunity Center (two units taken off-line). The 50 Section 8 families lived in rental housing of their choice within the City of San Diego.
  

• Portability for MTW families was restricted, unless the family applied for and received an exception.
  

• After 5 years in the MTW program, a family's housing subsidy ended. These families could reapply for housing assistance.
  

Self-sufficiency Policies

As an added incentive, SDHC took $50/month out of the families' rent checks and set it aside in an escrow account. SDHC made the funds available to MTW families during their participation in the program to support activities related to their career plans and transferred the funds to them upon successful completion of the program. These funds could be used as a downpayment on a home or in making the transition back to fair market rental housing.

Program Partners

SDHC worked with several local partners in the operation of the MTW program, including:

• The City of San Diego Enterprise Community
  

• Irvine Family Foundation
  

• New Beginnings
  

• XO
  

• Occupational Training Services (OTS)
  

• San Diego Department of Social Services
  

• San Diego State University
  

• San Diego Workforce Partnership
  

• University of California at San Diego
  

• WORKS/Impact Urban America
  

Support

Los Angeles Field Office
Office of Public Housing
611 West 6th Street
Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90017-3127
(213) 894-8000x3500
F (213) 894-8125
Bob Cook, Director
Bob-w.-cook@hud.gov

Contact

San Diego Housing Commission
650 Gateway Center Way
San Diego, CA 92102
(619) 685-1097
F (619) 527-0854

MTW Contact Staff
Elizabeth Morris, Executive Director
Ralene Friend, Primary Contact
(619) 231-9400 ext. 7531
F (619) 578-7454
ralenef@sdhc.org