Council considers letter supporting conversion of 12 public-housing units to project-based vouchers

The Hughson City Council heard a request from the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority for a letter supporting the agencys application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to convert 12 units in the city from public housing to project-based vouchers.

Miss Domeney introduced the request and said the housing authority had provided a draft letter and needed an elected official to sign. Jim Cruz, executive director with the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority, told the council the conversion changes the subsidy source from public housing to project-based Section 8. "So essentially, you won't see any the tenants won't see anything that's changed," Cruz said. He said the authority plans to use a 20-year housing assistance payments contract to start, which could allow additional federal subsidy depending on future funding, and that after 12 months tenants would be able to use tenant-based vouchers to move to other units if funding is available.

Cruz said the conversion would free up equity for modernization and future development. He also told the council that affordability covenants and project-based subsidy requirements would remain in effect if a property were sold. The council opened the item for public comment and heard none. The transcript records a motion to consider and authorize the mayor to execute the letter; the final recorded vote on the authorization is not included in the transcript.