|
The Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) is implementing Five Year Plan for
Fiscal Years 2003 - 2007 and an Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2003. These plans
outline BHA's mission, goals and objectives as well as strategies to address
housing needs in the community.
BHA operates a very successful Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership
Option Demonstration Program. Eligible Section 8 Voucher holders who complete a
homeownership course with the Vermont Development Credit
Union assists families with mortgage financing. Public Housing residents are
eligible and are encouraged to participate in this program. Three scattered site
public housing units have been converted to homeownership and a total of 40
households are now homeowners under the Homeownership Option Demonstration
Program.
The City supports the implementation and expansion of BHA's Section 8
Homeownership Option Program.
In collaboration with the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), BHA operates
a Rental Opportunity Center that provides housing search assistance to Section 8
program participants and other very low income households seeking affordable
housing in Chittenden County. The City supports the continuation of this vital
resource for low income residents in an extremely tight housing market.
BHA intends to project base up to 20% of its Section 8 vouchers in order to
support the construction of new housing opportunities in the community and to
provide Section 8 program participants with a broader range of housing
opportunities. The City encourages BHA to fully utilize its ability to
project-based Section 8 vouchers in support of new affordable housing
development.
BHA has not formed a resident management corporation for any of its projects,
nor does BHA plan to do so in the near future. This form of direct resident
management of public housing units is far less practical in small projects like
those owned by BHA than in large projects like those that are found in major
metropolitan areas. Practicality aside, no interest has been expressed by the
residents of BHA housing in playing such a direct role in the management of
their housing.
BHA has attempted to encourage public housing residents to become more
involved in managing their housing indirectly, however, and these activities
will continue, including:
- The BHA board will continue to rotate its monthly meetings among BHA
projects so that every resident can conveniently attend a BHA board meeting (if
they so choose).
- BHA has formed a Resident Advisory Board (RAB) with representatives from
all its public housing developments and from the Section 8 program. The RAB
meets periodically to provide input on BHA's Plans and Policies.
- BHA will provide continuing financial and staff support for all active
resident associations in its public housing developments.
- BHA will provide matching funds for projects carried out by these resident
associations.
- One BHA program participant serves on the BHA Board of Commissioners.
The Burlington Housing Authority's Family Self-Sufficiency Program moves
families toward economic self-sufficiency through access to career counseling,
job training, child care and other services, and through escrow accounts with
funds made available to participants at the end of the enrollment period. As of
February 2002, the program had 125 participants, 42% of whom have escrow
accounts. In fiscal 2002, six households graduated, three of whom moved on to
homeownership.
Page last updated May 13, 2003
|
