EDW IN M. LEE, MAYOR REV. AMOS C BROW N, CHAIRMAN
SAN FRANCISCO HOUSING AUTHORITY
MINUTES SAN FRANCISCO HOUSING AUTHORITY PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING March 20, 2012
SCHEDULED: 10:00 a.m. at 1290 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115 Resident Advisory Board Present:
Reggie Darty, Board Member (CCSD) Dorothy Ramey, Officer at Large (CCSD) Solomon Watkins, Board Member (CCSD) Joyce Armstrong, President (PHTA) Uzuri Green, Secretary (PHTA) Beverly Saba, President (CCSD) Linda Martin-Mason, Ombudsman, the San Francisco Housing Authority, welcomed everyone. Ms. Martin started the meeting by having everyone formally introduce themselves and state the position they hold within their jurisdiction wide council. Alicia Sisca, Development and Modernization Manager, Housing Development and Modernization Department, the San Francisco Housing Authority, opened the discussion about Capital Fund. Alicia provided handouts and provided an overview of the five year plan, proposed PBV conversion, and capital improvements. Five year plan Uzuri Green, RAB, asked whether staff tests the new appliances prior to installing them, i.e. toilets and light bulbs. Ms. Sisca answered yes. Beverly Saba, RAB, asked about the height of the toilet and whether the toilet seat could be higher instead of installing another toilet. Ms. Sisca answered yes. Mrs. Green asked what the resident can do if there is an issue with the new light bulbs.
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Ms. Sisca answered that the light bulb can be purchased at any store in off hours and the property manager can be contacted during regular business hours. (Mon-Fri: 8:00-5:00pm.) Mrs. Green raised concerns of the light bulbs being hard to find in a regular store. Ms. Sisca answered that the light bulbs are available at any store that carries light bulbs and recommended not using high wattage. Mrs. Green wanted to know the watts of the new light bulbs Ms. Sisca answered that all the information being requested would be available when the resident training starts. Ms. Saba, RAB, stated that she has to wait about 2-3 minutes for hot water in her unit. Ms. Sisca stated all the senior buildings are expected to get new boilers and the problem will be eliminated. Capital Improvements Ms. Saba asked what the vending machines at JFK Towers are for? Ms. Sisca answered by saying the vending machines are for snacks and drinks that can be purchased. Proposed Conversion Ms. Sisca stated that the conversion applications for HUD approval will be submitted for Ping Yuen, Ping Yuen North, and Rosa Parks. The Clementina residents have not agreed on the conversion yet. Joyce Armstrong, RAB, expressed concerns about the conversion and who the investors are. Ms. Sisca replied that the investors are unknown at this time. Ms. Armstrong asked how many years the property would be under another company before it reverts back to the SFHA? Ms. Sisca stated that she was not sure and she would come back with the answer. Ms. Armstrong asked if the SFHA would take back the building. Ms. Sisca answered that the details are not worked out yet but the SFHA will have a right of first refusal. Mrs. Martin-Mason commented that residents of the buildings affected are aware of the conversion. However, the SFHA has not established who their partners will be.
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Mrs. Green asked whether residents in buildings converted would still pay 30% of their income for rent? Ms. Sisca answered, yes. Mrs. Green asked if the residents would need to move during the renovation? Ms. Sisca answered that the residents would not need to be moved with few exceptions in which the resident would temporarily be moved within the same building. Mrs. Green asked if the renovations will result in modernization? Ms. Sisca answered yes. Mrs. Green asked whether washer and dryers will be available in the unit. Ms. Sisca answered, no. Mrs. Green asked, are the renovations for mostly seniors. Ms. Sisca answered, yes. Mrs. Green commented that SFHA should think about putting a washer and dryer in the units. Ms. Sisca replied that there is no space and no money but that laundry rooms will continue being available in the building. Ms. Saba asked if the residents in the buildings set for conversion will lose their property manager. Ms. Sisca answered, the new development partner will decide who will become the property manager. It is possible the current property managers would stay with additional training. Mrs. Green voiced concerns about current property managers of the converted developments losing their jobs. Ms. Sisca assured everyone that the conversion will not cause anyone to lose their job. Solomon Watkins, RAB, spoke on behalf of some of the residents of Clementina and is concerned that once they agree to the conversion, they will lose their residency. Ms. Sisca announced that no one will lose their residency Mrs. Kennedy reiterated that no one will lose their residency due to the conversion and will be grandfathered in. Mr. Watkins commented that the residents are concerned that their buildings will be sold. Ms. Kennedy answered; the buildings will not be sold. 3
Ms. Armstrong asked what the bank will do with the property for 15 years. Ms. Sisca Answered, that the bank will provide financing, they will not be managing the property.. Mrs. Green suggested that SFHA should have it in writing that the building will not be sold to ease the residence of their concerns. Mrs. Martin-Mason stated that she would inquire as to whether or not it has already been put into writing. Ms. Saba, asked if it is clear that the investors cannot sell and neither can SFHA. Ms. Sisca, replied, it is clear that the building cannot be sold on the market. The buildings will continue to be for the current residents and future low income households. Break Mrs. Martin gave a brief synopsis of the purpose of the meetings and then gave the floor to Mrs. Kennedy. Yoshiko Kennedy, Program Manager of the Eligibility Department at the San Francisco Housing Authority provided an overview of the current waitlist and eligibility process. Mrs. Green asked if a non-citizen can get public housing. Mrs. Kennedy answered yes, as long as they have someone who is a resident on their lease. Mrs. Martin-Mason interjected and agreed with Mrs. Kennedy, she referred to the term “mixed family�. Mrs. Green asked how illegal aliens can get public housing when it is hard for legal residents to get housing. Mrs. Martin-Mason replied, stating that it is industry standard and it was added to the ACOP around two years ago, it is a HUD regulation. Ms. Armstrong asked how do you change the law? Ms. Kennedy and Elizabeth Barnard, Administrative Assistant for the Director of Section 8 replied by saying, writing your senator and congress member. Ms. Armstrong asked if illegal aliens get housing even with a felony. Mrs. Kennedy answered no, background checks are still a requirement. Anthony Ihejeto, Director of Public Housing, explained that one can be an eligible non-citizen and further, pro-ration is applied to those members of the household pursuant to the CFR’s. 4
Mrs. Martin initiated the discussion on Chapter 1.
Questions, comments or suggestions on Chapter 1: Commenter, Maxine resident, asked what is ACC? Mr. Ihejeto answered, Annual Contribution Contract= number of units subsidized. Mrs. Green asked what does HUD do when SFHA has not leased out all the units. Mr. Ihejeto answered, they put the units under moderate rehabilitation and get HUD’s approval. Mrs. Green asked how the SFHA gets away with having units vacant for so long and how does the SFHA slide that by HUD. Mr. Ihejeto answered, that HUD gives approval for the vacant units and gives SFHA a timeframe to get units ready for future residents. Questions, comments or suggestions on Chapter 2: Public Commenter, Ms. Paulson, suggested that we indicate what has been changed and she also wants to challenge the numbers for Samoan population on the current LEP plan. Public Commenter, Ms. Paulson, asked who put the numbers together for the LEP plan. Mrs. Martin-Mason replied, the LEP manager, Pamela Palpallatoc. Ms. Saba talks about the language in Chapter 2, page 27 where disability is mentioned. Her concern is about the tenants in the senior/disabled units being current drug/alcoholic users trying to get them out of the buildings is very hard. Mrs. Green suggested that the SFHA should implement a program to help current drug/alcoholic residents slowly get off drugs and be a part of the lease. Ms. Saba wants to be clear that the tenants should not be current users of drugs or alcohol. Mrs. Martin-Mason states that the definition of what is considered recent substance use will come up in Chapter 3. Mrs. Kennedy explained to the RAB that the background checks performed go back 5 years and if they find any type of disorderly conduct, the applicant needs to show documents that they have changed their lifestyle. She also explained that as a resident, they do have the right to complain to their property manager if the tenant’s behavior is obnoxious and disruptive.
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Ms. Saba stated that she does go to her property manager and the property manager says that nothing can be done. Mrs. Kennedy stated that she would look into the situation that Ms. Saba referred to. Bill Ford, Senior Lawyer at the San Francisco Housing Authority interjected. Mr. Ford explained that the federal law states, if a sex offender has been registered as a sex offender after he has already been housed, the Public Housing Agency (PHA) does not have the right to evict. Mrs. Martin-Mason reiterated what Mr. Ford said while also stating that the only way SFHA can get involved, is if the tenant somehow violates their lease or the CFR. Mrs. Green stated that if a tenant has multiple complaints, is there any chance of fixing anything. Mrs. Kennedy and Ms. Barnard answered, they would look into it. Reggie Darty, RAB, asked why it is harder for a male to get into housing than a female. Mrs. Martin-Mason replied if the women has children and is in a shelter, she may have preference as opposed to a single male who does not have preference. She states that preferences are what help an individual or a family get housing sooner and those preferences will be discussed throughout the annual plan process. Meeting Adjourned.
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