CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION: 01-014 AGENDA: JANUARY 8, 2001 SUBJECT: DESIGNATED HOUSING ALLOCATION PLAN TYPE: RESOLUTION ORDINANCE RECEIVE/FILE SUBMITTED BY: RUSSELL C. UNDERWOOD ACTING HOUSING DIRECTOR

ITEM ____ OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER CITY OF DES MOINES, IOWA SYNOPSIS - Requesting approval for submission of proposal to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to designate four public housing apartment buildings elderly-only (Designated Housing Allocation Plan). FISCAL IMPACT - N/A RECOMMENDATION - Approval. BACKGROUND - Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency (DMMHA) 2000 Annual Plan, approved by Council last year, stated that the agency would develop a plan to designate some buildings be occupied by the elderly only. After a public hearing held on December 20, 2000, the Public Housing Board recommended approval of the designation plan, with the stipulation that DMMHA apply for subsidized housing vouchers (our goal is approximately 200) for disabled persons when made available. · An informational meeting was held for all public housing residents on November 8, 2000. Approximately 35 residents attended. A Directors' Advisory Meeting was held on November 11, 2000. The seven representatives present were unanimous in support of the plan. A mailing was sent to 18 service provider groups, representing both elderly and disabled constituencies, and a meeting was held November 9, 2000 to provide information and receive oral feedback from service providers. No one attended that meeting. Representatives of two groups providing services to people with disabilities attended and spoke at a public hearing on December 20, 2000. · The plan provides for the four smaller apartment buildings, which provide 40 - 50 units each, to become elderly-only through attrition. Royal View, at 1101 Crocker, would remain mixed (disabled and elderly) housing, and it is hoped that the agency can provide additional support services to disabled persons at the building after staff moves to administrative offices elsewhere. Programming specifically targeted to elderly persons may be developed in the other buildings. No resident will be required to move. Responses from elderly residents have been uniformly enthusiastic. Some reservations have been expressed by service providers for persons with disabilities, who were concerned that there might be less housing for their clients. DMMHA has agreed to apply for additional subsidized housing vouchers in order to ensure as much housing for people with disabilities as possible.