AGENDA - San Antonio Housing Authority

TRANSFORMATION PLANEASTSIDE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION PLANRELOCATION AND RE-OCCUPANCY CONTINUEDhave the primary responsibility totrack each family’s lease compliancestatus on a monthly basis, to ensureswift intervention in any area whereissues may arise, and will serve asmediator of potential landlordtenantdisputes. These counselingservices will be provided during theentire relocation period (includingfor the three years after initialrelocation).SAHA Relocation Counselors willprovide assistance finding suitableunits and will coordinate with theUrban Strategies case managementteam to link families to supportiveservices, such as utility paymentassistance, in advance of unit availabilityto ensure that residents arequickly able to find suitable relocationhousing. All affected residentswill receive a relocation allowanceand reasonable moving expenses,as well as counseling and advisoryservices, to ensure that full choicesand real opportunities exist. SAHA’sHousing Counseling ServicesProgram will provide transitionalassistance and promote successfulresident retention through landlordoutreach, resident training andcounseling, community servicereferrals, resident follow-up andtracking, and Fair Housing compliancemonitoring.Integration with Supportive Services:Relocation and re-occupancyservices will be linked with health,economic development, educationand other support services to ensurefamilies remain stable during therelocation period and are taking fulladvantage of the educational, training,and employment opportunitiesto achieve economic self-sufficiency,and maximize housing choice. Tominimize permanent displacements,comprehensive community andsupportive services will be initiatedprior to relocation, focusing onremoving barriers that may hinderresident return. Based on the resultsof family assessments, residents inneed of family counseling, mentalhealth, alcohol/drug and othercounseling services will be assistedthrough appropriate intervention.Leveraging Existing Services:SAHA has significant experienceand success with relocation andre-occupancy through the redevelopmentof their Sutton Homes andVictoria Court properties with acombined 873 units. Urban Strategies,which has significant experiencesupporting relocation, willprovide supportive services such asfinancial counseling and utility establishmentassistance, re-establishschool connections in partnershipwith EPN, and meet regularly withSAHA Relocation staff to ensuretimely release of relocation and/orre-occupancy benefits. As a resultof previous relocation efforts, SAHAhas a number of relationships withservice providers and vendors thatwill be leveraged to support WheatleyCourts families, including: flexibilityby the local utility companiesto enter into repayment agreementsand/or provide debt forgiveness andre-establishment of services, andsupport from moving companies onbehalf of senior residents by assistingwith activities such as packingand unpacking.42