Cities and Joint Powers Committee Mission Statement The Cities and Joint Powers Committee of the 2013-2014 Kern County

Comments 10

• CO1
  A new complex for seniors is being built at California Avenue and Q Street and should be completed in 2014. Another complex is being built on Baker Street for low income families. COMMENTS: The Committee was impressed though somewhat overwhelmed by the many and varied programs available. The Housing Authority of the County of Kern works diligently to provide adequate housing to low income and impoverished people in spite of numerous financial cutbacks. The HACK agency is consistent with payments to landlords in 900 units of public housing. There is a difference between Public Housing and a pilot program titled Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD). Selected Public Housing developments can leave the Public Housing program and convert to RAD. The RAD program is a federal government HUD pilot project that provides project rental assistance and makes loans for remodeling. The HACK agency applied to RAD for a 70 unit development and was chosen to participate. The development was constructed in the 1940’s and was in desperate need of improvements. Through RAD the development will be sold to a limited partnership and the project will acquire tax credits and tax-exempt bond financing. Residents will benefit after $40,000 worth of work in each unit is completed. The units will be preserved as affordable housing for many years to come. The Committee wishes to thank the Director for time and information presented. The Committee attempted to create a report that will reflect some of the very positive programs of the Housing Authority of the County of Kern.
• CO2
  Revitalize the downtown area
• CO3
  Repair sidewalks, gutters and curbs
• CO4
  Resurface some streets
• CO5
  Purchase new police vehicles
• CO6
  Established a” Rails to Trails” bike path
• CO7
  Update bus shelters and install security cameras on all City busses F4. The City has an urgent care center but does not have 24 hour medical services available. F5. In September the courthouse cut back to one day a week. As a result 20 employees were laid off. Citizens with court business must now go to Lamont. Due to lack of transportation from Taft to Lamont there are many “no shows.” F6. A new five million dollar complex services the needs of seniors in the City. Low cost meals, “Meals on Wheels,” computer classes and various other activities for seniors are provided by the Parks and Recreation Department. F7. The City Fire Department closed five years ago and now contracts with the County of Kern for fire protection saving the City $900,000 a year. The Bureau of Land Management leases the old fire department building from the City. F8. The City is in need of new housing for growth in population. F9. The City boasts 12 new businesses which are oil field related. COMMENTS: At the time of the Committee’s visit the City was in contract negotiations with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (Supervisors) to house 500 low-level inmates from the Los Angeles County Jail. The City made preparations at Taft Community Correctional Facility and was expecting the arrival of inmates in November. As of this writing Supervisors voted to end contract negotiations. The City is currently reviewing a contract with the California Department of Corrections. The City Staff was accommodating and informative. After the visit the Committee drove around the City and viewed the Oil Worker Monument, the Oil Museum and the historic Fox Theater. The City streets were clean and well maintained. The Staff is to be commended for vision and planning for future growth in the City.
• CO8
  At the time of the Committee’s visit the City was in contract negotiations with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (Supervisors) to house 500 low-level inmates from the Los Angeles County Jail. The City made preparations at Taft Community Correctional Facility and was expecting the arrival of inmates in November. As of this writing Supervisors voted to end contract negotiations. The City is currently reviewing a contract with the California Department of Corrections. The City Staff was accommodating and informative. After the visit the Committee drove around the City and viewed the Oil Worker Monument, the Oil Museum and the historic Fox Theater. The City streets were clean and well maintained. The Staff is to be commended for vision and planning for future growth in the City. RECOMMENDATIONS: None NOTES: The City of Taft should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: www.co.kern.ca.us/grandjury, and click on: Sign up for early releases. Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website: www.co.kern.ca.us/grandjury. NO RESPONSE REQUIRED
• CO9
  HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF KERN PURPOSE OF INQUIRY: Pursuant to Penal Code §925 the Cities and Joint Powers Committee (Committee) of the 2013-2014 Kern County Grand Jury visited the Housing Authority of the County of Kern (HACK). The meeting was to inquire into the operations and to learn procedures used to provide housing for low income residents in Kern County. PROCESS: On November 4, 2013, the Committee visited HACK, located at 601 24th Street, Bakersfield, California and met with the Executive Director. The Committee was presented with a copy of the 2012-2013 Annual Report for HACK, a report of Kern County Affordable Housing Developments and a printout of pay schedules for employees of HACK. BACKGROUND/FACTS: HACK was created in 1939 by the Board of Supervisors to “improve the quality of life for low income residents of Kern County by providing safe, affordable housing and assisting residents towards self-sufficiency and home ownership.” The Annual Report stated “it has been a rough year due to financial cutbacks.” The Report gave further information about employee pay cuts, vacant positions and having to close the office on Fridays due to a five percent reduction in funding. Much of the information for the Committee’s report came from printed information received from the Director. A. The Director is hired by a volunteer Commission made up of seven members; five are appointed by the Board of Supervisors; one from each Supervisorial District and two are tenant Commissioners. Tenant Commissioners live in one of the developments. B. Commissioners serve four year terms, meet monthly and are given a stipend of $50.00 per meeting. C. Commissioners approve or disapprove policies and do an annual evaluation of the Director. . D. The Director earns approximately $128,000 per year. E. The total budget for HACK is $40 million a year. F. There are over 100 affordable housing developments: Arvin eleven Taft two Lost Hills one Tehachapi two McFarland three Wasco eleven Mojave two Bakersfield forty Oildale two California City one Ridgecrest two Delano eleven Rosamond one Lake Isabella one Shafter six Lamont four FINDINGS: F1. The Housing Choice Voucher Program, Section 8, had been closed for a long period of time before a waiting list was opened for new applicants in October 2012. The program received 13,000 applications in one month. F2. Sequestration, the 5% reduction in funding to nearly all federal non- entitlement programs effective March 1, 2013, had a significant impact on HACK and the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs. There is no funding available for the HUD funded program (other than special programs) so applicants will have to wait a minimum of five years for rental assistance. Also, to make reduced voucher funds stretch farther, payment standards were cut effective July 1, 2013, resulting in some families having to pay a larger share of rent. F3. There are special programs for certain categories such as Veterans’ Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) which is open to homeless, qualified veterans. There are 115 vouchers available through the VASH program. Other housing categories are for Seniors, Families, Disabled Persons, Transition Age Youth (TAY), Farm Workers and Sober Living. F4. Homes First is a program for homeless people. The program provides 36 vouchers per year. A survey is taken of people living on the streets that are in poor health and in need of immediate assistance. The program provides a rental voucher to move an applicant into an apartment, then other agencies help with medical needs and further rental assistance. Donations also come from the community to help with necessary funding. There has been a great success rate with people approved for the program and a 20% plus drop in homeless people. F5. If a family or individual is displaced by a government action, e.g., the families moved from a motel because of unsanitary or inadequate living conditions, those families’ names are moved to the top of a list and become eligible for immediate housing. F6. TAY clients are eligible for housing assistance but are difficult to house because many are not mature or disciplined enough to maintain apartments. “Kern County Mental Health provides on-site services and case management with support from Covenant Community Services in serving the TAY residents.” Twenty vouchers have been made available for the TAY category. F7. In that same complex there are 35 other apartments with “…rents affordable to families earning less than 50% of area median income.” The apartments are energy efficient one, two or three bedrooms with a community center, a computer lab and a “tot lot.” HACK manages the property, provides rental assistance and offers on-site services for families. F8. “HACK is committed to providing programs and activities to residents that help to improve the quality of life.” In senior housing there are new programs including brain games where puzzles and word searches are provided to help seniors keep active and to stimulate the mind. Seniors are also encouraged to attend nutrition classes and health workshops. Tai Chi classes teach low impact exercises focused on balance and stretching. Birthday parties, craft classes and a senior story time are also available for residents. F9. There is a non-smoking policy for all housing units effective as of July 2013 and has been well received. The emphasis is due to health hazards of smoking as well as being more cost effective because units that are smoke free are easier to clean and maintain. F10. One full time and three part time employees of HACK investigate fraud and do background screenings. The investigators are retired from law enforcement and are skilled in verifying an applicant’s source of income and the number of people living in an apartment compared with the original contract. F11. Gardeners are contracted to maintain 2,100 units. On site managers deal with maintenance problems until five p.m. and after five a 24 hour answering service is available to tenants. Other site managers are available to collect rents and handle complaints but do not live on the premises. F12. A new complex for seniors is being built at California Avenue and Q Street and should be completed in 2014. Another complex is being built on Baker Street for low income families. COMMENTS: The Committee was impressed though somewhat overwhelmed by the many and varied programs available. The Housing Authority of the County of Kern works diligently to provide adequate housing to low income and impoverished people in spite of numerous financial cutbacks. The HACK agency is consistent with payments to landlords in 900 units of public housing. There is a difference between Public Housing and a pilot program titled Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD). Selected Public Housing developments can leave the Public Housing program and convert to RAD. The RAD program is a federal government HUD pilot project that provides project rental assistance and makes loans for remodeling. The HACK agency applied to RAD for a 70 unit development and was chosen to participate. The development was constructed in the 1940’s and was in desperate need of improvements. Through RAD the development will be sold to a limited partnership and the project will acquire tax credits and tax-exempt bond financing. Residents will benefit after $40,000 worth of work in each unit is completed. The units will be preserved as affordable housing for many years to come. The Committee wishes to thank the Director for time and information presented. The Committee attempted to create a report that will reflect some of the very positive programs of the Housing Authority of the County of Kern. RECOMMENDATIONS: None NOTES: Housing Authority of Kern County should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: www.co.kern.ca.us/grandjury, click on: Sign up for early releases. Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed through the Kern County Library system and the Kern County Grand Jury website: www.co.kern.ca.us/grandjury. NO RESPONSE REQUIRED
• CO10
  The Committee was impressed though somewhat overwhelmed by the many and varied programs available. The Housing Authority of the County of Kern works diligently to provide adequate housing to low income and impoverished people in spite of numerous financial cutbacks. The HACK agency is consistent with payments to landlords in 900 units of public housing. There is a difference between Public Housing and a pilot program titled Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD). Selected Public Housing developments can leave the Public Housing program and convert to RAD. The RAD program is a federal government HUD pilot project that provides project rental assistance and makes loans for remodeling. The HACK agency applied to RAD for a 70 unit development and was chosen to participate. The development was constructed in the 1940’s and was in desperate need of improvements. Through RAD the development will be sold to a limited partnership and the project will acquire tax credits and tax-exempt bond financing. Residents will benefit after $40,000 worth of work in each unit is completed. The units will be preserved as affordable housing for many years to come. The Committee wishes to thank the Director for time and information presented. The Committee attempted to create a report that will reflect some of the very positive programs of the Housing Authority of the County of Kern. RECOMMENDATIONS: None NOTES: Housing Authority of Kern County should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: www.co.kern.ca.us/grandjury, click on: Sign up for early releases. Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed through the Kern County Library system and the Kern County Grand Jury website: www.co.kern.ca.us/grandjury. NO RESPONSE REQUIRED