SFHA

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san francisco housing authority

NEWDIRECTIONS

2009–2010 ANNUAL REPORT

2 Message from the President of the Commission 3 Message from the Mayor of San Francisco 4 Ronnie Helem

A Resident Serving the Community by Participating in the Summer Lunch Program

6 Dorothy Ramey

A Resident Who Exemplifies Leadership

8 Maripousa Taufetee

Dedicated to Improving the SFHA through Collaboration and Hard Work

10 Office of the Ombudsman and Communications

Revitalizing Resident and Community Relations for the Authority

12 SFHA’s 2009-2010 Fiscal Year in Review

A Brief Look Back at Some of the Highlights

13 FY 2010 VS 2009 Analysis

Balance Sheet

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Message from the MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO Dear Citizens: Over the past year, San Francisco has enjoyed a tremendous number of exciting civic accomplishments that continue to make the City a world class destination and a wonderful place for our residents to proudly call home.

Pivotal to this success is our ongoing commitment to rebuilding and maintaining housing throughout San Francisco that is accessible and affordable and meets the special needs of extremely low-income families, seniors, and disabled persons. This commitment remains one of our biggest priorities for the City.

Mirian Saez

VICE PRESIDENT

Message from the PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION Dear San Franciscans:

Micah Allen

Dr. Hunnicutt

We understand the impact that the economy has had on our most vulnerable citizens and it is the reason why we continue to invest in capital improvements, job creation, and community dialogue that positively affect local neighborhoods and contribute to the greater social fabric of San Francisco. The Board of Commissioners of the San Francisco Housing Authority and Mr. Henry Alvarez III, the Executive Director of the San Francisco Housing Authority, are working with me on an ongoing basis to identify critical goals and objectives that together we work to address. In doing so, we bring a collective voice to advocate for our residents that is reflected in the decisions and directives that guide the Authority’s staff.

The 2009-2010 SFHA Annual Report highlights these collaborative efforts and allows us to provide you with a glimpse of the important work happening at the SFHA. We welcome your perspective as we endeavor to move the San Francisco Housing Authority in a new direction.

Very truly yours,

Building on more than 82 years at the forefront of providing decent, sanitary, and low-income housing to those in need in San Francisco, the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA) is proud to present its 2009-2010 Annual Report.

This last fiscal year at the San Francisco Housing Authority allowed for more opportunities to improve our customer service, install new technological upgrades in many of our housing sites, implement more energy-efficient amenities to our infrastructure, and break ground on the latest HOPE SF housing project, just to name a few. Hence, the theme of this year’s Annual Report is “New Directions,” and herein we will provide you with some of the highlights of this past year that have given the greatest benefit to the families, seniors, and disabled persons that we serve.

Ahsha Safai

We focused on a number of priority initiatives and policy objectives this year including a major strategic planning effort that allowed for external and internal dialogue with many important stakeholders. Through this process, the agency has undergone some significant organizational restructuring, relocated its headquarters, and recruited many new talented and dedicated staff to key positions so that we can better and more effectively implement the changes that will be vital to this agency as we move forward.

Matthew Schwartz

As we look back at the past fiscal year’s achievements, we know that we did not arrive here alone.

We want to acknowledge all the efforts of the greater community, including elected officials, resident leaders, activists, and many citizens who have consistently supported our efforts and helped us to accomplish our goals. Thank you for taking time to review the 2009-2010 Annual Report, and we encourage you to contact us if you would like to provide feedback.

Mayor Edwin Lee

Respectfully,

Dorothy Smith Reverend Amos Brown, President San Francisco Housing Authority Commission

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RONNIE HELEM A Resident Serving the Community by Participating in the Summer Lunch Program

“The critical link to success with this program is to be consistent so that the kids know they can rely on the availability of the lunch.”

Ronnie Helem is a loyal son and brother. A native of San Francisco who grew up in the Potrero Terrace Housing Development, he has been working in the local community for two years participating in the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth, and their Families (DCYF) Summer Lunch Program. This program, designed

to serve lunch to youth under the age of 18 years old during the summer months, requires the oversight of a reliable coordinator who makes sure the food is handled properly, distributed at the same time each day, and is responsibly administered to those who need it most in the community. Ronnie, who enjoys working with kids, leads by example. Over the last two years, he has coordinated the summer lunch program at the San Francisco Housing Authority’s Sunnydale Housing Development and at the Potrero Housing Development. In 2010 for the Sunnydale program, forty kids came on a regular basis and at Potrero, thirty-five kids regularly attended the Summer Lunch Program. “The critical link to success with this program is to be consistent so that the kids know they can rely on the availability of the lunch,” said Ronnie Helem, regarding his efforts to distribute the meals.

Ronnie attended Galileo High School but because his family was experiencing financial difficulties, had to quit school at a young age to help his mother and siblings deal with a number of socioeconomic challenges. Now completing his General Education Diploma (GED) in May and working, he faces the realities of his situation with courage. “I look for any opportunity to work and am always hopeful that even with the struggling economy, the City will still be a place where you can get work if you have the desire and professionalism to hold a job,” said Ronnie.

Mr. Helem has also been a counselor for the Bay View YMCA and has been working at the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, an organization that is committed to conducting acts of goodwill in the local community.

Ronnie, now twenty-three years old, lives with his younger sister Helena, his younger brother Jonathon, and his mother in the City’s Potrero Terrace Housing Development in the historic Potrero Hill neighborhood. Now as the summer fast approaches, Ronnie will once again be providing essential services to his fellow neighbors while he continues to pursue his educational goals.

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Without fail Ms. Dorothy Ramey attends every meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the San Francisco Housing Authority, to give a report on matters of business of the Senior Disabled Citywide Council. As President of the Council, Ms. Ramey oversees the members of this governing body and serves as a liaison for them. She started out as a monitor in her building at 990 Pacific Avenue where she has lived for 18 years. She was one of the first non-Chinese residents of the building when the SFHA began diversifying housing sites in San Francisco. Always willing to be active and to advocate for her fellow residents, Ms. Ramey’s approach with people is to be gracious and a good listener. “I always work to engage my neighbors in a thoughtful dialogue and bring their concerns and suggestions back to the staff and the Commissioners of the San Francisco Housing Authority,” said Ms. Ramey.

Ms. Ramey is a San Francisco native who has fond memories of raising her family and coming of age here in the City. Ms. Ramey was born legally blind and at a young age attended a special sightsaving program which helped her to develop lifelong skills that encourage independent living. “I love learning and really enjoyed getting an education. I helped tutor my fellow students and the skills I learned have made a monumental difference in my ability to collaborate and negotiate with people from all walks of life,” she said. Ms. Ramey had many jobs throughout her career including working in the printing business. She learned all aspects of the industry and has never seen her blindness as a disability. “People used to think it was odd for me being employed in the printing business because I am legally blind but it was never a setback nor did I ever see it as one,” said Ms. Ramey.

Now 82 years old, Ms. Ramey is extremely active still and has been the catalyst for many key accomplishments for the Senior Disabled Citywide Council including leadership trainings, field trips, advocacy, and community activism. Her mild-mannered, polite, and soft spoken demeanor quickly puts people at ease. “I work to make sure residents know that they have a voice and a place in the decisionmaking process at all levels, that they will be heard by the SFHA management and the Commissioners, and that we will follow through on our promises to them,” she said.

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DOROTHY RAMEY A Resident Who Exemplifies Leadership

“I always work to engage my neighbors in a thoughtful dialogue and bring their concerns and suggestions back to the staff.”

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Maripousa Taufetee came to San Francisco ten years ago from Samoa to be closer to her family and to seek better employment opportunities. Although she loves her homeland and visits often, the City is now her home. She has lived in the

Potrero Terrace Housing Development for seven years and during that time has become involved in a number of worthwhile endeavors that greatly benefit the City.

In 2008, Ms. Taufetee graduated from the first Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere, San Francisco (HOPE SF) Academy. The HOPE SF Academy is a program geared to teach residents leadership, communication, and negotiation skills, and is essential to the future success of the HOPE SF program. After graduating from the program, Ms. Taufetee was elected to be the President of the Potrero Hill Tenants’ Association. According to Ms. Taufetee,“The HOPE SF program was a really good experience for me. I really enjoyed it and am able to utilize my skills in a variety of ways. I am honored to represent my neighbors.”

MARIPOUSA TAUFETEE Dedicated to Improving the SFHA through Collaboration and Hard Work

“I am honored to represent my neighbors.”

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Ms. Taufetee has held other important positions as well. She was on the Executive Committee for the 2010 Census Count. She was nominated by the SFHA to be a representative along with several other community leaders across the City. Her role on the committee is to ensure that San Francisco Housing Authority residents are counted in the 2010 Census. With respect to her educational goals, Ms. Taufetee graduated from Heald College in April last year and has been studying criminal justice with the ultimate goal of pursuing a career in the security industry. Currently, she is gaining hands-on experience in her field of choice as a supervisor in the SFHA Concierge Program, a unique security detail which features residents working as unarmed guards in senior and disabled housing developments throughout the City. As a supervisor, she oversees the security needs of six SFHA housing developments in the program.

Although she is quite busy, she still finds time to play cricket, which is the number one sport in her native Samoa. Don’t be surprised if you see Ms. Taufetee playing cricket at one of the local playgrounds in foggy San Francisco. “Although I miss the weather in Samoa, I love San Francisco,” she said.

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“...We serve as a versatile resource for residents and the greater public...”

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN AND COMMUNICATIONS Revitalizing Resident and Community Relations for the Authority Over the past fiscal year the San Francisco Housing Authority established a new department as part of an ongoing restructuring of the Agency. The primary purpose of this new department is to help residents and members of the community as well as staff within the agency communicate more effectively with each other and to give residents a neutral reviewer for issues and problems that they bring forth to the Authority requiring resolution. The Ombudsman, Ms. Linda Martin-Mason, is tasked with overseeing the Office of the Ombudsman and Communications. As Ombudsman, she deals with many residents, members of the community, and general members of the public who are in need of specific assistance and information regarding a variety of different situations. We recently had an opportunity to speak with Ombudsman Martin-Mason to get her views on the important impact the Office of the Ombudsman has on the Agency and the community at large.

Ms. Martin-Mason, please give us your view on the Office of the Ombudsman and Communications.

What are the primary functions of the department?

“The Ombudsman’s role is to serve as a community liaison and an impartial reviewer of the complaints levied against the San Francisco

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Housing Authority’s staff or its programs. We serve as a versatile resource for residents and the greater public, including the advocacy community who often represent residents when they have problems and need to reconcile them. We identify the appropriate staff members to answer specific client questions and especially provide wraparound support to clients who feel they have not received the resolution or help that they need. We also listen to client concerns regarding decisions that the Agency has made and provide explanations for the decisions that impact the business operations and policies governing the Authority.

In addition, we work with numerous outside groups, such as other agencies, neighborhood groups, nonprofit organizations, private citizens, and many others who need to interface with and receive assistance from the San Francisco Housing Authority.”

The Office of the Ombudsman and Communications has accomplished many exciting things for the Agency over the past fiscal year and by doing so has positively improved the face of the Authority.

From your perspective, what do you think are the key accomplishments and what will the focus be moving forward?

“We have effectively established new communication channels for the agency and of course this was identified in last year’s strategic planning process as an area that the agency needed to vastly improve.

For example, we recently held a very successful election process to get resident leaders up and running in many of the various housing sites throughout the City. We are establishing quarterly meetings with our resident governing bodies and the strides we made last year are setting the foundation for even more positive change in 2011 and 2012. We are pursuing new grant funding sources especially from private foundations, liaising for the Commission, working more closely with the Section 8 program, creating new internal agency communication protocols, providing media services, overseeing public documents requests, and improving the Agency’s website just to describe a few examples. The mission of the Office of the Ombudsman and Communications is to act as an impartial reviewer and to provide internal and external communications on behalf of the San Francisco Housing Authority.

“And we will make every effort to continue to emphasize these principles as we work to improve the lives of the residents we serve and the greater community of San Francisco.”

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SFHA’S 2009-2010 FISCAL YEAR IN REVIEW: A Brief Look Back at Some of the Highlights The San Francisco Housing Authority moved forward on a number of key initiatives and policy objectives during the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Priorities focused on four major areas including: Greening and Environmental Improvements, Historic Capital Improvements, Employment and Training Opportunities for SFHA Residents, and Technology Access.

THE SAN FRANCISCO HOUSING AUTHORITY… • Begins the Revitalization of Hunters View Phase I to rebuild the

FY 2010 VS 2009 ANALYSIS Net Assets increased by $11,627,144 from $182,299,377 as of September 30, 2009, to $193,926,521 as of September 30, 2010.

Net Capital Assets increased by $12,203,939 due principally to major asset improvements funded by the Capital Fund and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) programs. The current liabilities increased by $2,405,780 and current assets increased by $1,981,901 in fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, compared to that of fiscal year ending September 30, 2009.

SAN FRANCISCO HOUSING AUTHORITY

BALANCE SHEET Assets

FY 2010

FY 2009

Total Current Assets

$31,261,837

$29,279,936

Capital Assets, Net Other Assets

$192,889,022

$180,585,083

$224,150,859

$209,865,019

Total Current Liabilities

$12,532,084

$10,126,304

Long-term Debt and Capital Leases, Net of Current Portion

$8,070,000

$8,400,000

Academy, 11 SFHA Residents who will take on Leadership Roles in the Local Community

Other Liabilities

$9,622,254

$9,039,338

• Implements Three Major Summer Recreational Programs That Serve

Total Liabilities

$30,224,338

$27,565,642

Net Assets

$193,926,521

$182,299,377

Total Liabilities & Net Assets

$224,150,859

$209,865,019

Hunters View Housing Development in Hunters Point

• Breaks Ground on Major Energy Efficient Upgrades at Ping Yuen Housing Development in Chinatown

• Breaks Ground on Major Capital Improvements at Rosa Parks Senior Center in the Western Addition

• Completes Eight Cleaning and Greening Neighborhood Community

Projects throughout San Francisco’s Housing Developments with the City’s Clean Team Program

• Installs a Recycling Center at Sunnydale Housing Development • Graduates the Third Successful Class of the HOPE SF Leadership

Over 10,000 Participants

• Employs 30 SFHA Residents in the JOBS NOW! Program • Establishes Wi Fi Access at All Public Housing Sites in San Francisco • Begins Upgrading Its Fleet with Energy Efficient Vehicles • Overhauls the Phone System for the First Time in Decades • Completes a Comprehensive Strategic Planning Process for the First Time in the Agency’s History

• Receives a Rating of “A” from Standard & Poors • Releases Its First Annual Report Since 1982

Total Assets Liabilities and Net Assets

SAN FRANCISCO HOUSING AUTHORITY 1815 Egbert Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124 • www.sfha.org

Produced by Rose Marie Dennis, San Francisco Housing Authority Design and production by Riezebos Holzbaur