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Resolution 81-2946- Authorization to Metro Council to Implement Sec. 8 Moderate Rehab Program within HpksCITY OF HOPKINS Hennepin County, Minnesota RESOLUTION NO. 81 -2946 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT THE SECTION 8 MODERATE REHABILITATION PROGRAM WITHIN THE CITY OF HOPKINS. WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council has been duly organized pur- suant to Minnesota Statutes 473.06, subd. 3 and Minnesota Laws 1975, Chapter 13, Section 6, Subd. 3; Section 21, Subd.1; and Section 24, and has all of the powers and duties of a housing and redevelopment authority pursuant to Laws 1975, Chapter 13, Section 24 under the provisions of the Municipal Housing and Redevelopment Act, Minnesota Statutes Section 462.411 to 462.711, and acts amendatory thereof; WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins and the Metropolitan Council desire to assist lower income families and individuals to obtain adequate housing in the City of Hopkins at a price they can afford, and to accomplish this purpose desire to undertake a program of subsidizing rent payments to land- lords who provide adequate housing to such individuals and families. WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins and the Metropolitan Council desire to encourage the stabilization, revitalization and rehabilitation of the rental property in the City of Hopkins so that it may continue to provide adequate housing. and WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins has determined that a program to en- courage the rehabilitation of rental units is consistent with the housing goals of the City; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF HOPKINS that the Metropolitan Council is hereby authorized to implement a Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program to encourage rehabilitation of private rental housing units and to provide rent assistance to lower income families within the City of Hopkins, and that the City Manager is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Metropolitan Council for operating the program within the City. Passed and adopted by the Counciliof the City of Hopkins, Minnesota, at a regular meeting held the 16th day of June 1981. H. E. RICHARDSON, JERRE A. MILLER, City Clerk Mayor JOSEPH C. VESELY, City Attorney METROPOLITAN COUNCIL HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SECTION 8 MODERATE REHABILITATION PROGRAM SUMMARY The Metro HRA Moderate Rehabilitation Program is designed to rehabilitate privately owned rental units which are substandard or require major building component repairs or replacements, and to provide rent assistance to low -and moderate income families and elderly, handicapped and disabled persons residing in these units. Metro HRA publicizes the moderate rehabilitation program through newspaper circulation and direct mailing. Property owners who indicate interest in the program are sent information packets containing program requirements and the format for submission of proposals. As the administering agency of the program, Metro HRA provides rehabilitation technical assistance to property owners by working with them in the determination of amount and type of rehabilitation, preparing the feasibility analysis, cost estimates and detailed work write -ups, and locating a contractor. Rental Property Eligibility The Moderate Rehabilitation Program is directed toward buildings constructed prior to 1965. Eligible buildings must contain units requiring improvements at a minimum expense of $1,000 per unit, but all units need not be included in the rehabilitation project. If major building components require the improvements, the costs are prorated to individual units. Improvements required to make a unit accessible to a handicapped person may be included in the $1,000 per unit minimum. Rental property proposed for rehabilitation will be inspected by Metro HRA and the local community's building inspector for com- pliance with the Uniform State Building Code, in conjunction with local housing codes and the HUD established Housing Quality Standards. All deficiencies found must be corrected by the owner as part of the rehabilitation activity. Eligible improvement items to meet the $1,000 per unit costs include: 1. Caulking, weatherstripping and other improvements required for energy conservation. 2. Major systems in danger of failure. a) roof replacement, insulation, sheathing -2- b) structural repairs c) plumbing system replacement d) heating system replacement e) electrical rewiring 3. Handicapped accessibility (5 percent of units) if applicable. 4. Additional exterior and interior items requiring improvement for compliance with local housing codes and the Housing Quality Standards. Items eligible for improvement after the $1,000 minimum cost has been met include: 1. Major roof repair (not maintenance). 2. Cost effective energy conservation items. a) insulation b) storm windows c) door replacements All rehabilitation under the program must be completed in a cost effective and efficient manner. Extravagant or luxury improvements are not allowed. All work must meet standards sufficient to serve for a minimum duration of fifteen years (the term of the HAP Contract). Financing The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) does not provide financing for the rehabilitation accomplished by property owners in the Moderate Rehabilitation Program. Therefore, the Metro HRA is responsible for assisting property owners in securing financing and marketing the program to prospective lenders, prop- erty owners and communities. Any type of public or private fi- nancing, such as Community Development Block Grant funds, may be utilized under this program with the exception of the Section 312 rehabilitation loan program. Metro HRA is currently participating in the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) Rental Rehabilitation Program under which financing is available to property owners in the Moderate Rehabil- itation Program. Metro HRA is designated as an administering entity by MHFA to assist in the delivery of rehabilitation loan funds. The loans to property owners are FHA Title I insured improvement loans obtained from the First Bank of St. Paul and carry a below market interest rate of 11 percent. C r, Tenant Eligibility The selection of a proposal is contingent on Metro HRA's determination that the tenants occupying the units to be rehabilitated are eligible to receive rent assistance under the Section 8 program. To determine tenant eligibility, Metro HRA will take applications from all tenants and brief them on the rent assistance program. In order for tenants to be eligible to receive rent assistance, their income must be within the HUD established low -and moderate income range. Section 8 Income Limits Number in Family Maximum Income 1 2 3 4 5 6" 7 -3- 8 and over 13,200 15,100 17,000 18,900 20,050 21,250 22,400 23,600 Eligible tenants will receive rent assistance by signing a 12 month lease with the property owner and a Statement of Family Responsibility with Metro HRA. The family will pay 25 percent of its income toward the monthly rent and Metro HRA will pay the balance of the rent directly to the property owner in the form of monthly housing assistance payments. Annually, Metro HRA adjusts the rent and utility allowances (if warranted), reviews tenant income, calculates the family's portion of the rent, and inspects housing conditions in prep- aration of lease renewal. .Vacancies occuring after initial occupancy or in vacant units that were rehabilitated must be filled by the property owner from families on the Metro HRA. Section 8 waiting list. -4- Community Involvement Before the Metro HRA Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program can operate within a Metropolitan Area community, the community must pass a resolution to participate in the program. Other community involvement could include additional promotional efforts and use of community allocated Community Development Block Grant Funds as an alternate source of rehabilitation loan financing. The operation of the Moderate Rehabilitation Program within a community does depend on the involvement of the city's building inspector. As local code enforcement is of vital importance in the program, Metro HRA staff works closely with community build- ing inspectors during the rehabilitation process to ensure quality rehabilitation in compliance with local codes and the Housing Quality Standards. i