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Fort Myers Hosts NAHRO Workshop    

The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials' (NAHRO) hosted a workshop on the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 in Fort Myers, March 18 and 19, 1999.  This act is the first piece of legislation passed by the congress in five years that enacts substantial revisions to the laws governing section 8 and public housing programs.

Over 70 participants from all over the State of Florida attended the workshop.  They included housing executives, staff members, commissioners, and consultants.  They came from as far-a-way as Jacksonville and Key West.

Ben Few & Company, the Fort Myers Housing Authority's insurance vendor hosted a cocktail reception for all the delegates on Thursday evening.  It gave participants a chance to meet one another and exchange ideas and stories.  To date Ben Few & Company has saved the FMHA approximately $114,000 on its Property & Casualty Insurance.  While saving that money, Ben Few & Company were able to provide additional valuable coverage the  FMHA previously lacked.

Bill Crown, the NAHRO facilitator went through a Briefing Book for participants and reviewed key elements of the Act.  As an added benefit to the workshop, the Fort Myers Police Department provided a "Lunch and Learn" session on Friday regarding Community Policing.  The session was moderated by Sgt. Doug Baker, who heads up the Fort Myers Housing Authority police sub-station.

The Following are some of the highlights of the Act:

The Act requires an agency to develop a five year and an annual agency plan.  An agency must submit an annual plan for each fiscal year, however, an update to the annual plan is acceptable.  The plan is subject to public comment and a review by an advisory group of residents.  The agency plan must explain how the residents' comments are incorporated into the final plan.  The annual plan should include:

The legislation includes deconcentration language designed to ensure that low-income households are not concentrated in certain developments nor in buildings within a development.

The Act allows agencies to establish a minimum rent of up to $50 for public housing and Section 8.  Public housing residents are required to contribute 8 hours per month in community service or to participate in a self-sufficiency program.  Those exempted from the work requirement include anyone who is 62 or older, blind, or disabled, employed or a Section 8 recipient.  Also exempted are those engaged in a work program as part of a state's welfare reform efforts, or those in a family receiving assistance in a state that has a welfare work program and is complying with program requirements.  The work requirement must be incorporated into the lease.

The Act gives the housing agencies the authority to develop more stringent screening procedures to prevent admittance to individuals with a history of substance abuse or criminal activity.

The Act allows an agency to use tenant-based assistance for home ownership and to sell public housing units to residents.  For Public housing, current residents have right of first refusal; however, only low-income families are eligible to purchase these units.

The Act amends the Public and Assisted Housing Drug Elimination Act by expanding the eligible activities under the program inserting a preference for "serious-crime" and for agencies with continuing programs.  The Act ensures that agencies can receive continuous funding for up to five years depending on appropriations and their performance.

As with any legislation this Act is voluminous and complicated.   The NAHRO presentation and briefing book have been designed to address the most pertinent and pressing questions practitioners have about the new law.  The Fort Myers Housing Authority through is consultant Abbie Weist was happy to be able to host NAHRO and have the opportunity to have this presentation in our community.