Oh, that's loud. Good afternoon. I'd like to call to order the Scottsdale Housing Agency Governing Board on Thursday, April 9th. Could we start with a roll call, please? >> Chair Larry >> here. >> Vice Chair Kulie >> here. >> Commissioner Jung
>> here. Commissioner Shear, Commissioner Hill >> here, >> Commissioner Row >> here, >> and Commissioner Shaknater >> here. Uh, Chair Lur, you have a quorum. >> Okay. This is a time reserved for public comment. Citizens may address members of
the housing agency governing board regarding non-aggendaized items. Public testimony is limited to three minutes per speaker. Do we have any written comment cards? Chair Larry, we do not.
>> Okay. Um, I'd like to take the opportunity to welcome uh Commissioner Shax to the commission and the board. Um, I I'd like us to all go around and introduce ourselves. However, I'd like
to wait a few minutes until uh Commissioner Sher arrives. So, we'll proceed with the agenda. Um, could we uh we all should have the March 26, 2026 regular meeting minutes in our
packet. Uh, could I get a motion to approve those minutes? >> So move. >> I Oh, second. >> And a roll call. >> Chair Luri, >> yes. >> Chair Kulie, yes. >> Or Vice Chair Kulie. Uh, Commissioner Jung, >> yes.
>> Commissioner Hill, >> yes. >> Commissioner Row, >> yes. Commissioner Shexnator. >> Yes. >> Uh moving forward with the agenda, um Mary Wikovski is going to share with us
a presentation on the public hearing for fiscal year 20 26 2027 public housing agency streamline annual agency plan and administrative plan revisions. >> Good evening, Chair Lures, members of
the commission. This will be a repeat presentation um from our early March meeting because under the federal regulations, the housing governing board is required to have two public hearings. So, we will zip through this one, but I do welcome input and questions as we go
through this. Um so, let's get started. The mission of the Scottsdale Housing Agency is to improve the lives of very lowincome Scottsdale families, provide highquality, safe, and affordable housing, foster self-sufficiency, and provide referral resources. This is
outlined in our administrative plan, which we'll talk about a little bit tonight. The Housing Choice Voucher Program is federally funded through housing and urban development. It assists low-income families with housing assistance payments. You'll hear us use the phrase
HAP. Um throughout our our meetings several times, participants are required to pay between 30 and 40% of their adjusted income for rent. The PHA or the public housing agency subsidizes the remaining amount. As income increases
for participants, HAP or the amount that the housing agency pays decreases. We have 735 traditional housing choice vouchers. At this time, we are required to follow HUD income guidelines. The housing um choice
voucher guidelines are set forward by HUD generally around April each year. So, we should be expecting an update um sometime this month. But currently, if you look at the household sizes, it's based on household size. Um initially um when someone is admitted to the housing
choice voucher program they have to be below 50% of the area median income and you can see a one member household is 39300. Generally our household sizes are between um or our most utilized household side is between one and two bedrooms.
Eligibility and selection for the housing choice voucher program. Like I stated previously, the income is at or below 50% of the area median income for Scottsdale. The area median income for Scottsdale, according to our consolidated action plan, is approximately $104,000.
75% of our vouchers are required to go to families at or below 30% of the area median income. We do have a weight list. The weight list is based on preference points and date and time of the application. So when we do pull from the
weight list, we'll pull based on preference points. If everything else is equal, it'll be date and time of the application. We currently have about 1,300 people on our waiting list as of today.
So back in January of 2025, um the Scottsdale Housing Agency implemented small area fair market rents. This was mandated by Housing and Urban Development. This moved away from one payment standard um across the metropolitan region to payment standards
based on zip codes. So, the city of Scottsdale has 14 zip codes. Hopefully, I'm adding those lines right. Um and each they're based on bedroom sizes. And so, our payment standards were set at 100% of our fair market rents in October
of this last year. As a reminder, the payment standards when they're set include um rental and utilities and any related fees associated with their lease. Our annual agency plan is required to be
submitted um by April 15th each year. It is required housing and urban development document. It is considered our application for continued funding, and it is a guide for housing authorities covering our policies, our programs, and strategies to meet our local housing needs right here in
Scottsdale. It also supports our five-year plan for 2529, which was approved um by the Scottsdale Housing Governing Board in April of last year. So, a little bit of information of what's contained in the housing plan, and there should be a copy of the
housing agency plan within your folders this evening. There are several sections. The general information is just our housing agency. We talk a little bit about our five-year plan, our mission statement, which I read to you tonight, our goals and objectives, and our progress, and those we'll cover a
little bit during this public hearing. Um, we do not have a significant amendment or modification that will be addressed. We did hold a resident advisory board meeting. So these are housing choice voucher participants and that was held I believe on March 2nd of this year. And then we have some
certifications during the next uh agenda item will request for those to be approved. So, our goals and objectives, as outlined by our five-year plan, are to serve the needs of low and very income lowincome persons, provide and expand
safe and affordable housing, implement revisions to our administrative plan, achieve high-erforming rating status under housing section 8 management assessment program, also known as CAP. This is the annual audit of our housing agency that we're required to do. Um and
as you know from August of last year, we are currently a high performer and we received 104 points. And then we we um part of our goals is to continue our landlord participation. So our progress report there is a summary of this also contained in your
packet but some just some specific highlights. Um we have continued our landlord engagement initiatives. Um, I know that you guys are aware that our landlord liaison position was sunsetted, but we did not sunset the activities that went with that position. And in fact, we have a landlord connection
event tomorrow. Um, and we have a speaker coming um to provide information on eviction and we have some giveaways that we'll be providing our landlords. We also have um a new landlord portal um for the res for the landlords and our
software system will be providing that presentation to show the landlords how they can register and receive their information. We have 34 uh families currently enrolled in family self-sufficiency. Four of those families graduated in 2025
with a total escrow of $52,000. We have 1,300 families that remain on the 2022 weight list. Um, now it says it should be TBRA, tenant based rental assistance, um, which we provide with
home funding and that is for families 60 or seniors 62 and older and who are at 50 30% or below the area median income and their housing expenses are at a greater expense of 50% of their income. This is a partnership with our senior
centers and we currently have 10 seniors housed and several um being pulled from the wait list as we speak. We are in the process of starting a tre for McKenna Vento which will you will hear about tonight um at the human services
commission meeting. Our six staff members in the housing program attended over 76 trainings. Most of them are webinars. So we did not leave the office. It's very difficult to leave the office when our paperwork is very administrativeheavy. We held two landlord connection events.
We established the landlord advisory board. And then we work directly with our community development block grant partners in our office and provided emergency repairs, roof repairs, major housing rehab, and housing accessibility. We also have operation fix it that provides landscaping for
code violations. Certifications of compliance. This will be what I'll be asking for during our next agenda item. We provide we have to provide proof that we're in compliance with our PHA plan. There's a civil rights compliance, a certification of
consistency with our consolidated action plan for community development block grant, and then compliance with federal regulations. So, what is our administrative plan? this very large document. I believe there's 15 chapters are policies that we
have to set forth per the code of federal regulations to implement the housing choice voucher program in a manner that is consistent and expected of us by housing and urban development. So this year you do have a copy of um
the policy updates in your packet. You are welcome to go to our website. The document is well over aundred pages. So, it is very difficult to make an exact copy, but some of the significant changes that you will see, and they're not even that significant, are in chapter 3. Um, with regards to our
language assessment plan and our limited English proficiency policy, it was removed per the federal guidelines due to the HUD announcement on August 18th of 2025. Chapter 4, applying to the program weight list. We've streamlined the
administrative process and provides continuity of housing during transition of dis different housing programs such as emergency housing vouchers or foster youth to independence. Chapter six is addressing the tenant rent and housing assistance payment calculation and this
change is to reflect current reimbursement payment process which is to pay the family directly. So in the past you'll hear a term called UAP, utility assistance payment. we were paying SRP um and APS directly. Um it has some complications when you pay them
directly. So now we're just paying the tenants so they can pay their bills for themselves. And last but not least, our housing assistance payment contracts. Um this is an update required by HUD to provide in the administration plan. Due to a lack of funding, um, and I don't
want to use that word, we have implemented cost-saving measures to ensure all 542 families that we are housing remain housed. That is the better way to say what that means. The timeline of the PH play, we have to have
a 45day comment period. So, we started that, I believe, in February, the end of last week of February. The resident advisory board met on March 3rd. We guys held our first public hearing here at the housing board on March 12th. Our second public hearing is tonight. Public
comment will close um this evening and then we'll be submitting this to housing and urban development actually tomorrow as long as it is approved this evening. And this is the wonderful staff of our housing choice voucher program.
Are there any questions about the public hearing or the elements that we will be discussing on the next agenda item? >> Uh before I open it up for questions, and I know it's been stated before, but uh your staff photo in the picture there
and you deserve uh so much credit for the CAP rating of 104. Congratulations again. Um, and with that, I'm going to look to see if there are any questions or comments. Um,
Mr. Chair Chloe. >> I thank you, Chair Lur. Um, Mary, I believe it was back on or about the program income limits slide. We don't have to go back to it necessarily, but uh that there were some dollars pending a a HUD update. Um,
yeah, let's just call it that. Do do you have any concerns? I mean, there's a lot of chatter and things in the headlines about what's going to happen to HUD monies or or is it too early to worry? >> Um, Chair Lori, members of the commission, Vice Chair Kulie, I can tell you that the president did release his
initial proposal for fiscal year 27, much like the one big beautiful bill. Again, it's a proposal and a reconciliation does call for the elimination of certain federal funding programs. Housing choice voucher is not one of those, but it does have to go through the appropriations process. So,
this is just the initial proposal. >> Very good. Thank you for that update. >> Good question, >> Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to follow up just the elimination of certain programs. Are any of those others uh potentially impactful to us in
terms of what the president has proposed for 27 that we need to keep an eye on? >> Chair Lori, members of the commission. Yes. Community Development Block Grant, Home Investment Partnership, Family Self-Sufficiency, Lie Hap, and Community Services Block Grant.
>> Are all those on the list to be eliminated? Um, >> Chair Lori, members of the commission. Yes. >> Okay. Would you say that listed a little slower so I can sort of jot it down? Thank you. Chair Luri, members of the commission, it's the community
development block grant, home investment partnership, family self-sufficiency, lie, lowincome housing, don't ask I that's the one AC and energy
assistance program. Thank you, Christina. That sometimes I don't know the acronyms. Um, and then CSBG, which is the Community Services Block Grant, also known um to you guys as CAP. Um,
I'm not even sure what to say in response to that. Uh are there other questions or comments? If if not, I did have one question and that's uh the 1300 on the waiting list and it's a 2022
wait list. It is currently closed. In other words, you're not adding more names to that waiting list. >> Chair Lori, members of the commission, that is correct. The wait list is currently closed and we will not be pulling any housing choice vouchers through the calendar year of 2026.
Okay. Um, seeing no other questions or comments, do we want to proceed into the resolution? And is there a presentation or is it just >> Chair Lori, members of the commission, it is not a presentation. So, oh, if
you're ready, I can dive right into that one. Tonight, the Tonight I come before you on the second item to request for you to adopt resolution 20263, which approves the public housing agency plan for 2627
and the operation of the housing choice voucher program, authorizes the submitt of our PHA plan directly to housing and urban development, accept the changes in the administrative plan for fiscal year 2627, and authorize the Scottsdale Housing Agency director to execute any
other documents and take any other such actions. >> With that said, any discussion items? If not, could we get a motion to approve the resolution? >> So moved. >> Sure. >> Did you say second? >> Now I will.
>> Okay. So I second the motion >> in a roll call. Chair Lurie, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Kulie, >> yes. >> Commissioner Jung, >> yes. >> Commissioner Shear, >> yes. >> Commissioner Hill, >> yes. >> Commissioner Row,
>> yes. >> Commissioner Shater, >> yes. >> Okay. Um, with that said, I'd like to take just a few minutes uh since we do have a a new board member, new commissioner, uh, for
us to formally introduce ourselves. Um, I will start. I I'm Roger Lurri, uh, chair of the Housing Agency Governing Board and Human Services Commission and, um, uh, well, we spoke on the phone, but
my career has been at Arizona State University. Um, and I do a variety of other volunteer things in the community, including running a nonprofit called Partners for Pyute. uh serving on the commission and doing um volunteer career
coaching at Vista Del Camino. And um Commissioner Jung, would you like to introduce yourself? >> Sure. My name is Mary Jung. This is my second three-year term on the housing board and the um human services
commission. I uh work full-time for Honor Health and I study public health and work on partnerships on behalf of Honor Health. And um I'm on the board of uh Noah, which is a FQC organization
here in Maricopa County. >> Hi, welcome. I'm Cindy Hill. This is my first year on the commission and uh I am the president of Arizona law enforcement outreach and support which is Arizona Leos. So we do a lot in the community
with our police and our community and let's see I'm on the Lions Club and the Exchange Club of Scottsdale and I'm very very active in the community. Always staying busy and I'm very happy to be up here with everybody. >> Welcome. I'm Neil Shear. I may be the
designated retirey member here on our commission. I don't know that to be true, but um I um served 42 years in community management and 32 of those years with the city of Scottsdale and about
8 to 10 different positions, including at one point in time human services director. So, human services has always been a deep passion uh of mine. Uh, and I'm just delighted to be able to be on
this commission and uh, support the important work that staff is doing and also in support of our city council and um, uh, this is my fifth year, so I'm almost through my second year on the
commission. Welcome. >> Yeah, and thank you for adding that comment. This is also my fifth year. So I think I've got uh 13 months left before I'll roll off the the commission. >> Not that you're counting. >> No, not at all.
>> Not at all. And we will have that uh we'll bring that up in the bylaws. We'll get a waiver to where you can serve yet another term. So no, no need to worry. Carly, I'm Lee Culie. And um what can I tell you? After uh 20 plus years in TV,
radio and advertising, I got the itch to move to Scottsdale and did to work for Makea-Wish America, the uh national offices here, as well as international and so on. But I digress. Um then then on to Valley Youth Theater and then Arizona Realtors Association and now
Scottsdale Realtors Association as director of marketing communications. And I am also very proud to be staff lazison for the housing opportunities committee which is one of my passions. So welcome Carly, welcome to you. I'm Sheila Row. I'm a um retired tax accountant and
finance professional and um a military spouse during the last many many years. Um I've lived in Scottsdale for 34 years and I this is with uh Commissioner Hill. I'm finishing up my first year um on the
commission. So, what you're going to be going through in the next few months is very familiar to Cindy and me because our feet got wet this last year. So, you're you're in good hands with all this experience that's that's um on the commission and welcome to you. >> Thank you.
>> I'm Karly Shak Snider. Don't worry about pronouncing it. Um I have a lot of experience in pharma. Um, I used to work with McCassen in the REM programs, managing programs like Accutane, which then moved to UBC, United Biosource
Source Corporation, um, which I now do not work for anymore. I am also retired and I am just happy to serve the community and it's it's great to meet all of you and you are very experienced. >> So, welcome. um glad to have you aboard
and uh really don't hesitate to ask any questions that come up along the way. Uh with that said, this is an opportunity for us as a governing board to identify future agenda items we want to have
discussed. Um anything going looking right or looking left? Yes. Yes. Yes. Chair. >> Well, thank you so much, Chair Larry. had a qu a lot of my uh potential agenda items start out as questions and and Mary's gone so I don't know and
Christina I think you're on on point for this then um the uh the HCV the housing choice voucher representative that uh was going to serve on this uh board that has not we haven't been able to fill that
position. I was just wondering if we could expand that and this might be a bylaws question I don't know to maybe an FS FSS FSS family self-sufficiency participant could uh perhaps serve on the board in and in instead of in lie of
there in thereof. >> Yeah, Vice Chair Kulie members of the commission actually that invitation has been extended to all housing choice vouchers including the FSS participants. Okay. Um, so we continue to bring that up anytime we have connections with them and let them know there is an open slot on the board and we're hopeful and
optimistic that eventually this is going to be filled. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Anything else for future agenda items? If not, could I get a motion to adjourn? >> So moved. >> I'll make a motion to adjourn the meeting
>> or a second. I I think uh Vice Chair Kulie made a motion. >> Did you? >> Yeah, >> as I recall. But it's okay if she wants to, you know. >> So, a second. >> Second. >> All right. In a roll call vote, please.
>> Chair Lurie, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Kulie, >> yes. >> Commissioner Jung, >> yes. >> Commissioner Shear, >> yes. >> Commissioner uh Hill, >> yes. >> Commissioner Roll, >> yes. >> Commissioner Shek Snder, >> yes. Uh we are adjourned for four
minutes. Good evening. I'd like to call to order the Human Services Advisory Commission on April 9th, 2026. Could we start with a roll call, please? >> Chair Lurie, >> here. >> Vice Chair Kulie, >> here. >> Commissioner Jung, >> here. >> Commissioner Hill,
>> here. >> Commissioner Shear, >> here on time. Commissioner Row >> here. Commissioner Shexator >> here. >> Chair Luri, you have a quorum. >> Great. This is a time reserved for public comment. Citizens may address
members of the Human Services Advisory Commission regarding non-aggendaized items. Public testimony is limited to three minutes per speaker. Do we have any written comment cards? >> Chair Lori, we do not. Um, do you have
your microphone on, sir? >> Oh, I'm sorry. Do you want me to repeat that? >> If you could, please, for the record. >> All right. Sorry about that. Citizens may address members of the Human Services Advisory Commission regarding non-aggendaized items. Public testimony
is limited to three minutes per speaker. Do we have any written comment cards? >> Chair Lori, members of the commission, we do not. >> All right. Uh, we should have our March 26, 2026 regular meeting minutes in our packets. Is there any discussion? If
not, could I get a motion to approve the minutes? >> So moved. >> Second. >> In a roll call vote. >> Chair Lurie, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Kulie, >> yes. >> Commissioner Jung, >> yes. Commissioner Hill, >> yes. >> Commissioner Shear,
>> yes. >> Commissioner Row, >> yes. >> Commissioner Shaxinator, >> yes. >> As you all know, uh, fairly recently, the city council approved an increase in Scottsdale Cares from $1 a month to $2 a
month, uh, enabling us to extend and reach more of our, uh, vulnerable residents with services. Uh Gail Bass is here to talk about the communication strategy for that ordinance 4699.
Gail get mine while you're at it. Chairman Lu uh Lurri, Vice Chair Kulie, members of the commission, it's my pleasure to be here in lie of Holly Peralta, the interim senior director of communications for the city of
Scottsdale. We're here to talk I'm here to talk about the communication strategy we have for Scottsdale Cares uh Scottsdale Cares history ordinance 4699 the communication strategy we will undertake to talk about the changes and
request uh commission support and feedback um Scottsdale Care's impact it promotes the development of youth strengthens the cap capabilities of families and assists Scottsdale residents in addressing needs for 30 years through collaborative funing ing opportunities with community
partners and nonprofits. It is part of ordinance number 2744 that was created and established in May of 1995. The average annual revenue from the $1 that people add to their utility bills is
around $143,000. The average annual residents served is over 6,000 people. And we have had a five mill we've had $5 million distributed to nonprofits through the Scottsdale CARES program.
Ordinance 4699 amending section 2-138 of the Scottsdale Revised Code relating to the voluntary billing donation program known as Scottsdale's CARES to $2 per meter per month build. That would be a $1
increase. That was adopted on January 13, 2026 by the city council and that will be effective on July 1st, 20 thou um 2026. Scottsdale Cares campaign communication strategy. Because this change is
happening on July 1st, it's imperative that we educate the public and let them know that this option has changed. We will let them know through customer billing. uh postcard mailers, updates to quarterly mailers that uh quarterly newsletters that we send out, utility
billing inserts and insets, updates to Scottsdale Cares and utility billing websites, social media posts, press releases, testimonials, video messaging, media releases, a memo to the council,
and the hashtag Scottsdale Cares dollar sign tolift lives. Do you have any questions or feedback about our communication strategy? And I will put that up there on the screen so you can see. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Great
um great start on this and it's been a long time coming. Um, I care deeply about this program because in 1995 I was the human services director when we created this program. And so here we are 30 years later, 31
years later, um, just honestly trying to stay equal to inflation. So, the dollar that we're going to increase it by um may not raise any real true service related dollars, but it adds to the
coffers and it's incredically important to the residents that we served. Um this is great and I think you're hitting all the right areas of uh focus for this. Um, I think it's as part of the
communication, it's also important to mention that there's no administrative cost. There's there's nothing siphoned off from your $2 that the city um takes for administrative overhead to manage
the program. Every $2 that comes into the program is a $2 direct to the nonprofits. So, um I think that's critically important for people to know. Uh not all, um programs of this nature,
uh work that way. Um there's there's so much more that I could say regarding the importance of this program, but I'm just grateful to um this commission um to the staff that worked hard to get this um increase to
this point and also to our city council that saw the need to accept the recommendations that came forward. So, thank you. Thank you to the communication team for everything you're doing to um make this launch successful.
Uh we're hoping that we actually get a net increase in the number of households that participate and that would be wonderful as we approach uh funding our nonprofits next year. The last thing I will say is in addition
to $2 going in, $2 going direct to services, this commission works very hard every year to review every application. So the application process to the nonprofits is very rigorous. So we are very very good
stewards of the donations, the generous donations that come in from our residents. So, thank you again so much for um moving this program forward. >> Uh, Commissioner Row, >> thank you, Chair Gail. That was This is
so inspiring to see what's going to be happening and I'm so thrilled that it passed through the city council. Back in the dark ages when we used to write checks and put them in an envelope and put them in the US mail, we had the
option to add that dollar in to our uh utility bill. Now that we've come slightly out of the dark ages and we're paying our bills online, I don't have that option to increase that my uh
monthly payment by that one or two dollars. Um, and I'm hoping that part of this communication strategy actually before it rolls out will be an education of how the city has been able to update perhaps online access for me to go into
my particular account and say, "I want that $2 added on to what that notice is that I get through email to tell me what my monthly bill is because I want to pay it." But right now, if I just add a dollar or $2 to what I remit, it's going
to show as a $2 credit in my next month's bill. It's not going to go to Scottdale Cares. So, I think it's crucial that we make very, very clear to those of us who use electronic forms of payment that we too can participate in
this. And whether it's going into my profile online and checking a box and saying, "Yes, please add that before you tell me what my bill is." Or if there has to be some sort of software magic done, however, it needs
to be finessed. I really hope it can it can happen because I I really do want to support this and I will certainly talk it up. >> Thank you, Commissioner Row. As somebody who was born in the dark ages called the 60s, I understand your issue and I will communicate that with our team and with
it. >> Thank you. I I think that raises really a really valid question. Is the presumption that if people do not opt into it, if they've got online
billing that automatically on July 1st it's going to move forward to $2 a month. Chair Lori, members of the commission, anyone who is currently paying um their messaging that they will receive through the utility bills is that it will
automatically increase and they have the option to opt out. >> Okay. So, it it will be an automatic update. >> Chair Lori, members of the commission. Yes. >> Okay. >> Well, thank you, Chair Lori. Uh this is
great. Um I had two questions. One, what do you can you elaborate on the testimonials? what sort of things they might entail. >> One of the things we are considering is sitting down with anybody who's participated in the program and getting
them to share testimonials and also sit down with Commissioner Shear and have him uh communicate with us so we can have a testimony to people who sees how these how this makes a difference in people's lives. So that's what we're
trying to do because we live in a modern technological age. We want to speak to people where they are and that is one way we would communicate it with testimonials. >> That's huge. Has there been any talk about matching funds? Uh, in other words, if someone showed up and said, "Hey, I've got a an association that
would like to um match whatever is donated during this certain window, maybe the first month or something that this rolls out. I don't know if there has come up or not, but uh if it hasn't, maybe it should. Just a thought. I am unaware of that, but I would um defer to
Mary on that answer because that would be considered a donation to the city and I don't know how that's governed. >> Okay. All right. I'll just collect the money myself. Thank you. I kid. I kid. I'm curious. >> Chair Lori, members of the commission, donations can be made via check to the
city of Scottsdale um with a memo on it saying for Scottsdale Cares only. Um there is a special form that has to be filled out by city staff with regards to those donations to follow our administrative regulations that are required to that. Um and people can also make donations outside of their utility
bills on our Scottsdale Cares page. Um and we have a QR code for that as well. >> We are uh I believe 82 days away from July 1st. Hard to believe it's going to get hot, but uh
uh just when is this campaign communication going to commence? >> May 1st. >> Okay. And so we should expect to see, for example, social media posts from the
city, uh some email communications since we do online billing for our utilities starting on May 1st. Uh, Chairman Lurri, commissioners, beginning on May 1st, this will be the full complement of
methods we are taking to make sure that the citizens are informed about what is going to happen on their utility bills. >> Mr. Chair, I just want to tag on to this conversation. It's not related to the Scottdale Cares. I love everything about
this, but just as a point of personal information, I seem to bump into every point of sale that I experience anymore with the opportunity to round up. Um, I just treated myself
to In-N-Out um, not recently. Um, and very recently, I should say, and I was surprised that In-N-Out was like, do you want to round up for a certain cause? So, I think there's incredible additional opportunity beyond our
utility bill program to consider wedging into some of these um high-profile retailers if at all possible um to round up in support of Scott Cares,
which is a different project alto together, but I put it out there for staff who I know is looking for things to do >> chairman commissioner that has been noted. >> Thank you.
Um any other comments or questions? Um I I can speak for myself, hope I can speak for the entire commission. We look forward to seeing the communications go out for this. um as well as any adverse
feedback uh well or positive feedback for that matter that that the city gets from residents. >> There's no pressure, but it's all in the messaging. So, >> I do have one question about Can I ask a question? >> Yes.
>> Oh, if they decide to opt out of the $2, I know this is crazy, but opt out of the $2 but still want to do the $1, can they do that? Is that an option? Chair Lori, members of the commission, I do not believe so. It is a $2 per the ad the ordinance.
>> Okay. But they are welcome to go to the donation site and donate $1. I'll be happy to accept a dollar there on our QR code and on Scottsdale Care's website. >> We do have people that have recurring payments on there as well who give $10 a month recurring.
I do want to say though, um, as a consumer, you know, who worries about everything, uh, I always wondered where that dollar went. Uh, and I did do it because I wanted to do it, but I always wondered where that money went. And now I'm sitting up here and I know
exactly where that money is going. Uh, and I want people to donate even more because I know that we're put giving it to really good causes. So if anybody is wondering where your money goes, we really do put it in wonderful places. So I just wanted to reinforce that in case
anybody out there was like me and wonders where is your money going, we are the people who are actually helping to select that that by looking at all those um grants that come in and uh we are very appreciative and and thank you
if you are willing to be part of that. I I share that sentiment. Um, you know, for for many many years, decades in fact, I lived in Scottsdale and donated to that cause, but really had no insight
as to where that money went. Um, so the the education through your office, uh, the testimonial from Commissioner Sharer will be invaluable uh, in helping residents understand the value that that Scottsdale Cares has and
the importance of it. So looking forward to the plan. Thank you very much for for coming and presenting. >> It was my pleasure to be here. Thank you. Thank you, >> chairman and vice chairman and commissioners.
>> Uh then we ready to move on to the next presentation. Uh rental initiative supporting education. Um which I can say when I read about this I was very excited to hear about
this. I personally have worked with high school students that were McKini Vento students. In other words, if you can imagine this, homeless high school students. Um, and this is a program to provide support for them. So, very
excited to learn more about this. >> Chair Lori, members of the commission, I am too very excited to come forward and talk to you about our rental initiative supporting education. Um, tonight's presentation will also be used as a training for our human services staff to
take the opportunity to learn about the new program that's coming to the human services department. Um, tonight's presentation will be provided a little bit by me, but the rest of it you will hear by Chad Booker, our housing supervisor, who will be um, the administrative lead on this project, and
then Sue O, who this project is in collaboration. So, please know that just like Senate tenant based rental assistance for our senior programs is a collaboration between housing and community assistance and our senior centers, the tenant-based rental assistance program is a collaboration
between housing and community assistance and Vista del Camino um to support our vulnerable um residents. This is also meeting strategic goal number four that you will hear about next week when we give you an update on our strategic plan. So tonight's let's kick it off and
give you some information about what this program is all about. So a little bit of overview on the next slide. We are going to be providing rental assistance and case management for McKenna Vento families. This is a
partnership between Vista Del Camino like I said housing and community assistance office and the Scottsdale Unified School District. So there will the McKenna Vento students will be coming from the Scottsdale Unified School District. It will support stable
affordable housing and educational continuity. Without a house, it's hard to learn and provide education and get smarter. And so we want to make sure that youth, including those seniors who are possibly 18 years old, because you can be 18 and receive these services as
a homeless adult who is enrolled in school. um can have that continuity. It is funded through home ARP, which is the American Rescue Plan via the Maricopa County um home consortium. We received approximately $1.4 million
through Maricopa County through ARPA um or COVID funds. Of these funds, $725,000 of these funds will be set aside specifically for rental subsidy. It will fund approximately 25 families over a
period of 24 months. In addition to those 25 families that are getting rental subsidy, the families will be case managed through funding of $600,000. And we will talk a little bit about what those case management services are as we go through
the presentation tonight. And then our housing and community assistance office will administer the program in terms of monitoring, working directly with the nonprofit, working with the school district. And we have set that set aside those administrative funds directly to administer the program in the
partnership. And that's where the total of the 1.4 million is going to. On our next slide, I'll give a little bit of overview. We are going to be doing this program, the tenant based rental assistance. We have different options on how to run programs. And similar to TBRA
for our seniors, we will be implementing um this program through the housing choice voucher model. What does that mean? That means that when a family is enrolled in the program, they are subject to our administrative plan that
you guys just approved during the housing governing board meeting. There will be a separate weight list. Just like there is a wait list for the housing choice voucher, there's a separate weight list for tenant-based rental assistant seniors, there will be a separate weight list for McKenna
Ventos families. Um, and they'll be pulled based on priorities that are set as preference points within our housing choice voucher program. We will be using that model for our subsidy calculation, which means I will use the federal code because that's how I speak to CFR part
five. um I believe that's the one that we use for income eligibility determined. So they do have to be at 50% or below of the area median income to qualify and they will receive rental subsidy for up to 24 months much like what I talked about during the housing
governing board meeting. The families will be required to pay between 30 and 40% of their adjusted income toward the rent. And then we will do something called rental assistance payments or wrap instead of HAP because we like acronyms in the HUD world. Um we will
pay the remaining amount of those funds. Um and as their rent increases or as their income increases the HAP will decrease and the ultimate goal at the end of the two years is that they will become self-sufficient. There is no plan for at the end of the two years that
they will transition to a housing choice voucher. The goal for this program is self-sufficiency. With that, I'm going to turn it over to Chad Booker, who's going to talk about our procurement process and program administration. >> All right, Chair Lori, members of the
commission. Um, so we started this RFP process approximately 3 months ago, uh, working up the, uh, draft with all the regulations. um how we wanted the so basically we putting this out the bid for nonprofits to administer the
casework and the bringing in the clients and um doing the eligibility working with the clients. So our office is basically just going to be on on the back end of this with the monitoring and oversight. So the RFP was put out on the
streets on March 20th, 2025. Uh proposals were due today. Uh unfortunately we did not receive any proposals today. So we have extended that to uh three weeks from today. We have reached out extensively to nonprofits in the area that we know do
this type of work. So um I will be uh contacting them again shortly to remind them and uh hopefully get some proposals in on our next deadline. Uh with that we still hope to meet the deadline to complete the the evaluations. Uh currently we have an evaluation team of
three which includes myself. Uh we also have a participant from the uh police crisis unit and then we have a participant from Scottsdale Unified School District that will be on the evaluation committee. Our plan still is to uh move forward with the contract
approval in fall of 2026 this year and get under contract um with these funds. We do have a deadline for expenditures of 2030. So unlike our TBRA senior program where
we're housing basically uh single bedroom, one client per unit, we're looking to house families here. So we we will be spending a lot more on the subsidies and then also with the uh the casework. Next slide, please. So, so as
I said, we are looking for a nonprofit to uh manage and administer this program. Uh with the program requirements, uh Mary kind of covered that, but what we're looking for with the nonprofit will be doing the eligibility verification, housing search assistance, the
inspections. So, we do inspections prior to move in. We also do inspections after a year at their reertification. Um they'll be they'll be keeping all the documentation. They'll be working with the landlords. Um, basically everything we're doing with the senior program, they're going to be doing for us and
collaboration with uh key partners in that area. Next, I will uh send this over to Sue. Oh, thank you. >> Chair Lori, members of the commission. Um, I'll be talking about our program administration and partnerships. Um, so
once the families enter the RISE program, um, they'll be they'll be identified by SUSD and the Mckin Vento leaison and our city's homeless navigation team. But once they're referred, the nonprofit screens them and
um, for eligibility and they'll be providing comprehensive case management. So that means they'll work with the families and they'll have to meet with the case manager for the entire time they're in the program. So that support will help them with an indivi
individualized and goal focused case u management support helping families overcome barriers. So if they need support um with the landlord and getting a lease for their um u apartment, they
can help with that. um if they need help with getting a job that will increase their income, they can um refer them to our career center um with their food um support, they can refer them to our food bank um etc. So these families will not
be on their own, but they'll get the comprehensive case management that they need to succeed in this program. Um the the agency that is uh awarded this contract will um track all the outcomes including the housing progress, income
changes, um any type of reertifications and ser and the services that they're providing. The key partnerships that will be um with this program um those are very important because that will be um really how we succeed in this
program. the landlords and property owners. Um that will help us be able to expand housing options. So case managers will explain the subsidy to the landlords and support the families throughout the leasing process. Our SUSD
and um McKenna Vento leaison are off often the first people who notice housing in instability. So that will come usually by um absences in this in the students or um if their grades are going down, they'll usually notice it
and be connected to um the program that way. And of course, the nonprofit partner who's selected through the RFP process will be the operational backbone. They'll provide the case management. They'll do the eligibility screening documentation and manage the
program funds. Um the housing and community assistance office and visit El Camino will provide contract monitoring like I said before the career um support through our career center cap of assistance if that's necessary towards
their the end of the program if they need to get move in assistance they'll be referred to our CAP office um utility assistance of course the food bank resources and other type of resources that we have through our homeless navigation team. Um together those
partnerships will create a coordinated support and h help those families succeed. Thanks Jean. So the performance measures uh for this we're focus on focusing on three key outcomes. 90% of the participants um are
to exit this exit uh the program with stable housing. So that means they'll move to into long-term safe and affordable housing that they can maintain without the subsidy. So when the subsidy ends, they'll be on their own. 75%
of participants will maintain or increase their income while they're in the program and of course when they're when they have successfully exited the program. 100% of the inspections um are to be completed before leasing and then
annually every 12 months. Um so all units will have to pass inspection before move in and they must be inspected again each year. That's it for our presentation. If you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them with the help of my
colleagues. really excited to see this come to fruition. I had one question and that's do we have a sense how many McKini Vento students there are in the Scottsdale Unified School District?
>> Chair Luri, members of the commission, so the last update that we received from our Mckin Vento liaison I believe was around 83 students that are identified with McKinto in SUSD. >> Wow. Are they all ages? Are they
primarily high school age? >> Chair Lori, I don't have that information. We do have a connection with our Mckin Vento liaison and we can get that information for you. >> Okay. >> Hi, >> Commissioner John.
>> One question. The 1.4 um dollar amount of the grant, is that annual? >> Chair Lori, members of the commission, it is a one-time funding. The funding will no longer exist when we expend it.
>> Okay. So, the plan it it needs to be expended by 2030. Is that what I heard? >> Correct. >> Yep. Okay. Perfect. Thank you, >> Commissioner Sher. >> Thank you. Great presentation and um
incredible program. What I may have missed this and I apologize. What What was the genesis of this? How did we actually come to be a partner with Maricopa County in the ARP funds? >> Chair Lori, members of the commission,
as you know, um the city of Scottsdale is a member of the Maricopa County Home Consortium. Um, we receive a percentage of the Maricopa County's home allocation on an annual basis. Um, through the American Rescue Plan, similar to our COVID fundings that we received through
CDBG, we originally received this 1.42 million um as part of those COVID funds. It was originally set aside for an a different project, but unfortunately that project did not move forward. And so, um, through, um, research and
information about needs and gaps in our society and wanting to partner into the community and make sure that everybody is housed. Um, because we were focusing on seniors that we thought children would definitely be a next good source after the seniors. And so, we reached
out to the school district and formed the partnership. >> That's sort of what I was thinking may have happened. and I just wanted it to go on the record because this would not have happened without staff's initiative to find incredibly impactful
uh way to target these funds. So, thank you very much for, you know, taking this uh program forward. >> Great comment. Um yes, go ahead. >> Shall I? I shall shall I. Thank you, Chair Lorie. Um,
great program. I'm frustrated, not with the staff, not with the program. I'm frustrated that no nonprofits have stepped up. That really aggravates the crap out of me, I got to tell you. Um, I'm sure there are other places I could have posted it. I posted it on LinkedIn and got a lot. I mean,
dozens of like responses on it. Great. Well, maybe somebody will step up. Nobody stepped up. I'm now I'm really aggravated. So, Chad, I'm going to get with you. I got some names, some people. I got a ball bat figure. made me maybe a couple visits. We get some people on board here. Just kidding about the ballbat. Actually, I do have a ballbat,
but that's a whole another story. Um, yeah. So frustrated. I'm sure you all are, too. What a great program, and I can't wait to find a way to help support it. Thank you. >> Um, in the same vein, I it's very frustrating that there have been no RFPs submitted. So, my question is, we've got
$1.4 $4 million sitting there waiting to be used. What happens if there's no RFP submitted for this program? Chair Luri, members of the commission, we go back to the drawing board and we
amend the scope of work and find another utilization for the funds that will meet the gaps in our community. But I have high hopes that there will be a nonprofit that will step forward and serve these youth and families that desperately need stable housing.
>> One of the slides mentions it says key partnerships and it says nonprofits plural. Is there an opportunity for this to the the RFP to be subdivided in
multiple RFP or multiple nonprofits? uh collaborate on this. >> Chair Lori, members of the commission, um we do need a nonprofit that is strong in managing federal funds in managing tenant-based rental assistance and
previous experience. However, they could potentially subcontract for the case management services. That would be up to the nonprofit and how they choose to proceed with their submittals. >> Just uh one more question. um
in Scottsdale I can think of nobody who is um more effective at managing these programs than our own staff. So my assumption is that the ability to bring this in house um is a workload issue
um more than an ability to do it because it's exactly the kind of work that you do and do so well right now. So, is it um a staffing and workload issue that is um would preclude this from being an in-house program?
>> Chair Lauri, members of the commission, um tenant based rental assistance is extremely labor intensive with regards to the requirements much similar to housing choice voucher. Um and we do have staff, but the capacity of current staff is at maximum. Um there are other
options that we cons could could consider should no nonprofit um submit. So there is ways to make sure that this happens, but I would really like to put it into the hands of a nonprofit. Um and there are some
specific nonprofits um and I will speak it so it's out in the record. Save the family has managed programs like this in the past. Home Inc. has experience with this. A New Leaf and then Civotas. Those are some of the nonprofits that we have reached out to um with regards to um
these services. >> Super. Thank you. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Sorry, brief followup. Um if no one steps forward are do we risk losing these funds or will they always stay
with the city until we can put them to use? Chair Lauri, members of the commission, we have until 2030 to expend the funds. If we start getting close to that deadline and the funds are not expended, um the city of Scottsdale would really want those to be utilized and would
potentially I don't want to put it on the record, but would consider in 2029 way way out there or 2030 um handing it back over. But my goal is to make sure that these funds remain in Scottsdale and for
Scottsdale residents however they can fill a gap to those families that desperately need the services. >> Thank you. >> Uh just one more question and thanks for bearing with me. I know I'm new here. So this is separate from the PHA and it
sounds like what everyone is saying here just to summarize the landlords have more of an agreement or more of an assurance that the remaining rent like that percentage will be paid. Is that the issue? >> Chair Lori, members of the commission,
um you're referring to the HAP or housing assistance payment. In the case of the tenant-based rental assistance program, it's called WAP or rental assistance um payment and we enter into an agreement or a binding contract where the landlord is guaranteed those funds.
So, they will always receive those funds. So, um the problem isn't necessarily um with the landlords because we have over 175 participating landlords here in the city of Scottsdale. Um and we have plenty of open spaces um available on our courtesy
property listing. It is about getting a nonprofit to run the program. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Uh looking left, looking right. I see no further questions. Uh I really commend the staff in taking the initiative to
launch this program. Um, and if there's anything you think we can do uh through the commission to advocate and reach out to nonprofits, please let us know. Um, I I am thinking about an individual I know at Save the
Family and and um happy to reach out on behalf of this program. Uh, with that said, uh this is an opportunity to identify future agenda items. Anything anybody wants to raise
for a future agenda? Seeing none, uh could I get a motion to adjourn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. And a roll call vote, please. >> Chair Lurie, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Kulie,
>> yes. >> Commissioner Jung, >> yes. >> Commissioner Hill, >> yes. >> Commissioner Shear, >> yes. >> Commissioner Row, >> yes. Commissioner Shexator. >> Yes, >> we are ajourned.