HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole - 09 Aug 2021 - Agenda - Pdf
CITY OF RENTON
AGENDA - Committee of the Whole Meeting
6:00 PM - Monday, August 9, 2021
Videoconference
1. HB 1590 UPDATE
a) Issue Paper
b) Presentation
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EXECUTIVE SERVICES
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: August 9, 2021
TO: Randy Corman, Council President
Members of Renton City Council
VIA: Armondo Pavone, Mayor
FROM: Ed VanValey, Chief Administrative Officer
STAFF CONTACT: Kristi Rowland, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: HB 1590 Proposed Actions
ISSUE:
Should the city use HB 1590 funds to support the Renton Housing Authority Sunset
Garden project and a Mental Health Navigator Program?
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends authorization of the following proposed actions:
1. Commitment of $1.5 million to the Renton Housing Authority Sunset Gardens
Affordable Housing Project.
2. Implement a Behavioral Health Navigator program within the Police Department
at an estimated annual cost of $180,000.
BACKGROUND SUMMARY:
The city has a new funding source for housing and mental and behavioral health services
available through a 0.1% sales tax authorized under HB 1590/RCW 82.14.520 and
implemented by City Council Ordinance 5983.
Of these funds, at least 60% shall be used for creating new affordable housing, housing-
related services, evaluation and treatment centers, and funding operating and
maintenance costs of such facilities.
Proposed project for these funds: Renton Housing Authority Sunset Gardens
Development
This development project is estimated to be a $45.3 million investment in our
community, bringing a 76-unit respite to prevent low-income people from falling into
homelessness. One hundred percent of the city’s funding will be used for the project’s
affordable housing development and/or construction costs. One hundred percent of the
residents to be served are HB 1590 eligible target populations, including veterans (38
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Randy Corman
Members of Renton City Council
Page 2 of 2
August 9, 2021
units), persons with disabilities (16 units), and seniors (22 units). The city’s funding
commitment at this time will help RHA leverage remaining county and state funds for
the project this fall.
Additionally, 40% or less of these funds can be used for program costs.
Proposed program for these funds: Behavioral Health Navigator program
This program pairs a Police Officer with a Mental Health Professional (MHP) and/or
Police Navigator who responds to calls for service, both emergent and non-emergent.
The program is intended to help our police department expand our mental health field
response capabilities by utilizing mental health professionals to competently, humanely,
and safely respond to crises involving persons with behavioral health issues and
recommend treatment, diversion, and reduced incarceration time as primary goals.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated net cost for the RHA Sunset Gardens Project in 2021 and 2022 is
$1,000,000 and $500,000, respectively. The estimated net cost of the Mental Health
Provider (MHP) Navigator program for 2021 and 2022 is $30,000 and $180,000. These
actions are FTE neutral.
CONCLUSION:
Authorizing these projects to proceed will secure the ability for the Renton Housing
Authority to leverage the remaining state and county dollars required for their project.
It will also allow our police department to secure a contract with a provider for their
Behavioral Health Navigator program.
cc: Preeti Shridhar, Equity, Housing, and Human Services Administrator
Jon Schuldt, Interim Police Chief
Kari Roller, Finance Administrator
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
11
HB 1590 Update
Committee of the Whole
August 9, 2021
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
22
Presenting today:
Kristi Rowland, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Hannah Bahnmiller, Housing Programs Manager
Mark Santos-Johnson, Community Development and Housing Manager
Cyndie Morris, Community Program Coordinator
Kevin Keyes, Deputy Chief of Police
Kelly Beymer, Parks & Recreation Administrator
Kari Roller, Finance Administrator
Preeti Shridhar, Equity, Housing & Human Services Administrator
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
33
HB 1590 Program
Implemented by City Council Ordinance 5983, authorized under HB 1590 / RCW 82.14.530
Additional funding for housing and mental and behavioral health services available through a 0.1% sales tax
At least 60% shall be used for:
Creating new affordable housing, housing-related services, evaluation and treatment centers
Funding operating and maintenance costs
Remaining allocation (40% or less) can be used for funding program costs
Bonding authority (50% collected can be used for repayment)AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
44
HB 1590 Program
Specific focus of funding on households with incomes of
60% AMI or below and in the following groups:
Persons with behavioral health disabilities
Veterans
Senior citizens
Homeless, or at-risk of being homeless, individuals or families
Unaccompanied homeless youth or young adults
Persons with disabilities
Domestic violence survivors AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
Results and Recommendations
City of Renton
HB 1590 Assessment AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
66
Overview
Project scope:
Review existing data to understand needs in the community for housing
and housing-related services, and mental and behavioral health
services.
Coordinate targeted interviews with providers of affordable housing and
mental and behavioral health services.
From available information, determine gaps in capacity.
Highlight opportunities for targeting funding.
Intended to build on the work being done on the City’s Housing
Action Plan.AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
77
Current and Expected
Needs
City of Renton| HB 1590 Assessment AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
88
Housing Needs
Overall, about 27% of households in Renton are at or below 50% Area Median Income (AMI) –“very low” or “extremely low income.” 40% of renters are at 50% AMI or below, as compared to 16% of owners:
Source: 2017 HUD CHAS
1
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
99
Housing Needs
Source: 2017 HUD CHAS
1
With rental housing, while 40% of renting households are at 50% AMI or below,
only 31% of rental units are affordable to them.
This is most severe with households at 30% AMI or below: 22% of households are
competing over 9% of the housing stock that is affordable to them.AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
1010
Expected Need for Affordable
Housing
Future growth estimates from the 2021 Housing Action Plan would suggest that about 2,590 additional units would be required to meet the needs at 60% AMI and below, amounting to about 28% of all housing necessary to meet future demand.
Source: EcoNW, 2020.
Projected Housing Needs for Renton, 2019–2040
1
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
1111
Expected Need for Affordable
Housing
New 2021 Countywide Planning Policies provide a housing target of
17,000 units for Renton.
Given the proportions of affordable housing from the previous
assessment, the need under this target would be:
~4,750 units at 60% AMI or below (190 units / year)
Of that total, ~1,650 units at 30% AMI or below (66 units / year)
Meeting the need of around 1,650 new units affordable to
extremely low-income households by 2044 would require at least
$500–660 million in today’s dollars just to build over the next 25
years.
Different levels of support would also be needed for the other
~3,100 units that would be affordable to households at 60% AMI or
below as well.
1
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
1212
Expected Need for Affordable
Housing
Results show that the costs of addressing all housing needs
(including current unmet needs and projected future need) will
exceed the HB 1590 sales tax receipts.
As this funding has multiple potential uses beyond acquiring
affordable housing units, prioritization and leveraging of housing
funding is needed.
1
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
1313
Homelessness
From the people surveyed over the entire Southwest Area, about 1,100 people are experiencing homelessness, and a decreasing proportion have access to temporary / emergency shelter.
Source: All Home, 2020.
Sheltered vs. Unsheltered Counts in Southwest Area
2
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
1414
Homelessness
Determining the origin of people experiencing homelessness can be challenging, although 6% of countywide respondents reported that their last permanent address was Renton in the 2019 Count Us In Survey (the second most frequent response after Seattle).
Based on a general proportion of people reporting homelessness and a lack of shelter in the Southwest Area, an additional 200 unsheltered people would need to be addressed as a share of the total. This would require both physical space and staff for case management.
NOTE: Setting shelter targets can be challenging, as temporary/emergency housing services are often centralized to provide access to transportation and other services, and not every community may be suitable.
2
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
1515
Youth Homelessness
For the Renton School District 2018-2019 school year, about 634 students were homeless, with 74% of students reporting homelessness in doubled-up housing locations.
Source: CEDARS, 2020.
Primary Nighttime Residence, K-12 Students Experiencing Homelessness, Renton School District
2
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
1616
Current Spending and
Support
City of Renton| HB 1590 Assessment AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
1717
City Social Services Spending
Calculations from the WA State Auditor’s Office highlight that regular funding of social services in Renton, including funding related to general welfare, seniors, domestic violence, and homelessness over multiple departments, is increasing over time (both absolute and per capita).
Source: SAO, 2021.AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
1818
Recent City Contributions
Housing projects:
Sunset Oaks:$700,000 grant, city fee waivers
Sunset Court:Assistance in property acquisition, 9% LIHTC application, securing county funding sources, city fee waivers
Sunset Gardens:Assistance in securing funding, potential use of HB 1590 funding
Willowcrest Townhomes: $357,000 in grants and density-
fee transfers, assistance in securing grant funding, city
fee waivers
La Fortuna: $75,000 grant for the first phase of the project AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
1919
Recent City Contributions
Shelters:
REACH Center of Hope: City Hall space, direct financial contribution ($120,000 in 2021)
Housing and Mental/Behavioral Health Services:
Emergency rental and food assistance: $650,000 in CARES Act funding for food assistance and emergency rental assistance
Community Court: Expected to support diversion to prescribed treatment and services as an alternative to incarceration
Community Centers:
Renovation/development of the Sunset Neighborhood Center:$400,000 grant AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
2020
Recent City Contributions
Support for multiple organizations providing community services, including housing and mental/behavioral health
Total of $562K in human services funding in 2019–2020, supporting the following organizations:
Catholic Community Services $62,747 Washington Poison Center $9,000
Communities in Schools of Renton $51,315 Renton Kiwanis Clothes Bank $8,500
St. Vincent de Paul/St. Anthony Conference $35,780 Way Back Inn $8,000
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center $32,000 Refugee Women's Alliance $7,800
YWCA Seattle King Snohomish $29,000 Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Comm.$7,500
Domestic Abuse Women's Network $26,500 Bridge Disability Ministries $7,500
Renton Area Youth and Family Services $24,880 Children's Therapy Center $7,500
Sound Generations $20,500 Feminist Women's Healthcare Center $7,500
Crisis Clinic $20,000 Institute for Family Development $7,500
Ukrainian Community Center of WA $17,500 Issaquah School Foundation $7,500
HealthPoint $17,000 Mother Africa $7,500
Multi-Service Center $17,000 Nexus Youth & Family $7,500
St. Vincent de Paul Seattle King County $16,000 Orion Industries $7,500
Friends of Youth $15,000 Partners In Employment $7,500
Lifewire $10,515 Puget Sound Training Ctr $7,500
King County Bar Foundation $10,500 The Salvation Army $7,500
Seattle-King County Dept. of Public Health $10,000 West African Community Council $7,500
Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation $10,000 Margie Williams Helping Hands $5,000 AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
2121
Interview Findings
City of Renton| HB 1590 Assessment AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
2222
Interviews
Interviews were coordinated with representatives of the following organizations:
Organization Type Representative
Individual Interviews
Renton Housing Authority Affordable Housing Jill Richardson
Domestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN)Domestic Violence Angela Dannenbring
City of Renton Domestic Violence Advocate Domestic Violence Tina Harris
REACH Center of Hope Homelessness Services / Emergency
Shelter
Maggie Breen
Catholic Community Services (ARISE)Homelessness Services / Emergency
Shelter
Whonakee King
Group Interviews
King County Library Services Homelessness Services Melissa Glen
Multi-Service Center Homelessness Services Maje Qureshi
Refugee Women’s Alliance Homelessness Services Crisaan Brooks
St. Vincent de Paul/St. Stephen the Martyr Homelessness Services Darlene Simpson
Asian Counseling and Referral Services Mental and Behavioral Health Yoon Joo Han
Renton Area Youth and Family Services
(RAYS)
Mental and Behavioral Health Angela West
Ukrainian Community Center Mental and Behavioral Health Oleg Pynda
Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation Mental and Behavioral Health Amber Rhodes AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
2323
Conclusions
Clear funding priorities are needed as HB 1590 revenues will not totally fill the gaps in the local systems able to be addressed.
Available resources should be focused on providing stable funding support and addressing acute short-term needs:
1.Patient, flexible funding options for capital projects, especially those serving extremely low-income households and people experiencing homelessness.
2.Long-term commitments for staffing support and service contracts.
3.Flexible grants and loans for short-term needs to avoid more costly interventions later.
Overall, there is a need to maintain accountability and service quality through funding, which may be more possible to oversee with larger, more comprehensive expenditures.AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
2424
Recommendations
City of Renton| HB 1590 Assessment AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
2525
Considerations
The City should leverage available funding using relationships with local providers. Several partners that are well-positioned to address issues of housing, homelessness, and behavioral health, and can keep administration costs low.
New funding allocations should focus on investments that can leverage external sources. The funding available from this sales tax will not cover all identified needs but can help attract additional financial support from external agencies, including state and federal sources.
This revenue presents opportunities for reliable long-term support. Providing more reliable and consistent allocations of support that can be flexible when considering overall needs can help longer-term planning by partners.AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
2626
Considerations
Equity considerations should be a primary concern, as these issues have a disproportionate impact on certain populations (including BIPOC), and resources may not be as accessible to everyone.
Regional needs require a regional response and funding, especially as many issues and target populations may be better served at larger scales (sub-regional, countywide).
Funding models should provide more focused support, with larger funding allocations that are easier to administer and review.
Long-term planning must consider ongoing support for maintenance and operations, especially as new facilities may be acquired without new revenue for operations.AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
2727
Recommendations
Overall needs are divided between:
Program administration
Facilities support (>60% funding allocation)
Programmatic support (<40% funding allocation)
Time frames of interest:
Short term (1–3 years)
Medium term (4–6 years)
Long term (7+ years)AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
2828
Recommendations: Short-term
Over the first 1–3 years, there is a strong focus on initial capacity building, including leveraging funding for strategic acquisitions.
Major actions:
Overall management (incl. development of Advisory Committee)
Acquisition of housing units and land for future development (strategic leveraging of funds with partners and other funding)
Development of a permanent emergency shelter, potentially with supportive services
Capital and maintenance funding to develop affordable housing
Maintenance of behavioral health field response
Pilot programs for additional behavioral health services and targeted rental assistance
Mid and long-term recommendations will focus on evaluation and realignment of pilot programs, development of housing options using acquired resources, and additional development of emergency shelter options.AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
2929
Program Proposed 2021-22:
Behavioral Health Navigator Program
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
3030
Behavioral Health
Navigator Program
•Why the Navigator Program?
•How Our Plan Came Together
•What Other Cities Have in Place
•What Services Will the Program Provide?
•Budget Predictions for the Navigator Program
•Expected Outcomes AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
3131
Project Proposed 2021-22:
RHA Sunset Gardens
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
Renton Housing Authority
SUNSET GARDENS
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
3333
Sunset Gardens Affordable
Housing Project
Redevelopment of existing RHA 1.28-acre headquarters property, 1 block away from Renton Highlands Library & Sunset Neighborhood Park
Four-story mixed-use building –ground floor has 13,645 sf of RHA office space & resident service space, and 2nd thru 4th floors have housing
Project includes 76 affordable-housing units (with 32 studio units and 44 one-bedroom units), plus new RHA office space and social service space
100% of the residents to be served are HB 1590 eligible target populations, including veterans (38 units), persons with disabilities (16 units), and seniors (22 units)
All units will be 100% subsidized, with half the units serving those at or below 30% Area Median Income (AMI), and the remaining half serving those at or below 50% of AMI
Project is RHA’s fifth (and largest) Sunset Terrace public housing replacement project as part of the Sunset Area Community Revitalization effort (total of 211 units in 5 projects)
A 76-unit respite to prevent low-income people from falling into homelessness
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
3434
Sunset Gardens Development
Costs & Funding
Total residential development cost of approximately $32.65M
Total podium/site development cost of approximately $6.5M
Total office and resident service space cost of approximately $6.15M
Total project cost of approximately $45.3M
83% of total funds secured/projected from RHA, 4% low-income housing tax credit, bond financing, and King County –approximately $37.8M
Funding gap $7.5M; requesting $1.5M from City’s HB 1590 funds, an additional $1.5M from King County, and $4.5M from the Washington State Housing Trust Fund
RHA plans to start construction in second quarter 2022 and complete construction with full occupancy by 4th quarter 2023 AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
3535
HB 1590 Funding Recommendation
$1.5M total, including $1M from projected 2021 HB 1590 revenue and $500K from projected 2022 HB 1590 revenue
100% of City’s HB 1590 funding will be used for the project’s affordable housing development and/or construction costs (not RHA’s office space)
City HB 1590 funding commitment at this time will help RHA leverage remaining county and state funds for the project this fall
City funding will help advance the Sunset Area Community Revitalization and provide critically needed additional affordable housing for very low-and extremely low-income veterans, seniors, and persons with disabilities in our community AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
3636
UPDATE:
Behavioral Health/Homeless Resource Center
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
3737
Behavioral Health /
Homeless Resource Center
The Facility:
Site Locations being considered –under evaluation
Consultant hired –Architectural Design Services
Reviewing Engineering needs
Site surveys
Interior layout/ exterior layout
Hygiene Center
1590 –One-time costs for construction or site improvements AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
3838
Behavioral Health /
Homeless Resource Center
Management of Resource Center:
City currently has an RFQ posted –Proposals due September 1, 2021
Scope of work:
Overall management of facility, services, and programs –including operation of hygiene facility
Specifically address individuals experiencing and/or near homelessness in Renton
Professional mental health evaluations and counseling, including outreach services
Housing navigation, job training resources, basic needs to support transition to permanent housing
Management of Severe Weather Shelter when activated
Develop a Crisis Team
Partner with Police –Mental Health Program Navigator
Cost/ Hours of operations will be reviewed to align with other programs utilizing 1590 resources AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
3939
Financial Update
AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
4040
Financials
2021 2022
Total projected
funds not yet
allocated
Initial Estimate 2,080,000 2,740,000
Adjustment 560,000
Revised Projected Revenues 2,640,000 2,740,000
Less requested commitments:
Renton Housing Authority 1,000,000 500,000
Police mental health navigator 30,000 180,000
Projected funds remaining yet to be allocated 1,610,000 2,060,000 3,670,000
Of the projected funds remaining, a minimum of 60% are to be
spent on affordable housing, this figure represents the amount
remaining from the above figure that is required to be spent on
affordable housing at a minimum 584,000 1,144,000 1,728,000 AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
4141
Next Steps
EHHS and Police Departments implement authorized proposals for 2021-2022
EHHS Department continues exploratory efforts towards providing a
homeless resource center
EHHS Department presentation to COW in September to begin mid-to-long
range planning for use of HB 1590 dollars
Review of 1590 Needs Assessment, full report
Scope and timeline of 2021-2022 Human Services Needs Assessment
Role of Equity Commission and Human Services Commission AGENDA ITEM #1. b)
42
hbahnmiller@rentonwa.gov
Questions?AGENDA ITEM #1. b)