San Bernardino County Grand Jury
• 2009-2010
Human Services/ Economic DEVElOpMENT Committee DEVElOpMENT Committee Human Services/economic
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 3 findings
F1
The EDA failed to monitor and enforce the affordability covenants as homes were sold or resold. There was little oversight of covenants during subsequent turnovers of home sales and few homes, (3 of 63), were bought by non-profit organizations within the city.
F2
The EDA had no data base or process to track the Dollar Homes Program.
F3
The EDA exercised limited oversight or vetting of future homebuyers. No first time homebuyer education or training was provided to program participants to the extent they were not low-income to moderate-income homebuyers seeking EDA Financial Assistance.
Recommendations 4
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R10-15Establish a data base which will track the critical program information for each home and a process for monitoring subsequent home sales.
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R10-16Include a detailed covenant history within the data base while filing with the County Recorder a “Notice of Affordability Covenant” on each property. 22
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R10-17Assure that all EDA partners are well versed in HUD or other program requirements.
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R10-18Institute an in-house program or engage an outside vendor to provide vetting and homeownership responsibility education for first-time homebuyers. COMMENDATION The EDA has already taken steps to implement a number of the above-mentioned recommendations. EDA now keeps a detailed data base to track the sale and resale of Dollar Homes, as well as all covenant agreements. An outside agency has also been contracted to assist with monitoring, marketing and reviewing all sales agreements to qualified buyers. The Grand Jury commends EDA personnel for the time and effort they spent in complying with this committee’s requests. Upon review of all the facts provided by EDA and after conducting interviews with EDA personnel, it is obvious that EDA has taken corrective action to address implementation and oversight deficiencies in affordable housing projects, such as the HUD’s Dollar Home Program. These types of projects provide for the betterment of cities, such as the City of San Bernardino, and they can only be successful when they are administered as they are intended.
Commendations 1
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CM1 Page 7The EDA has already taken steps to implement a number of the above-mentioned recommendations. EDA now keeps a detailed data base to track the sale and resale of Dollar Homes, as well as all covenant agreements. An outside agency has also been contracted to assist with monitoring, marketing and reviewing all sales agreements to qualified buyers. The Grand Jury commends EDA personnel for the time and effort they spent in complying with this committee’s requests. Upon review of all the facts provided by EDA and after conducting interviews with EDA personnel, it is obvious that EDA has taken corrective action to address implementation and oversight deficiencies in affordable housing projects, such as the HUD’s Dollar Home Program. These types of projects provide for the betterment of cities, such as the City of San Bernardino, and they can only be successful when they are administered as they are intended. RESPONDING AGENCY RECOMMENDATIONS DATE City of San Bernardino 10-15 through 10-18 09-30-2010 Economic Development Agency 23