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Tempe Housing Authority adopts 5-year and annual plans, updates voucher policies
Summary
The Tempe Housing Authority presented and the governing board adopted a 5-year strategic plan, an annual plan and immediate administrative-plan revisions to align with HUD changes; board approved acceptance of additional vouchers if offered by HUD.
Irma Hallam B. Kane, deputy human services director for housing, presented the Tempe Housing Authority's five-year strategic plan, annual plan and proposed administrative-plan changes and the board adopted the plans and policy revisions by voice vote.
The board voted, 7-0 (Board Member Keating absent), to approve the public housing agency five-year plan, the annual plan and related certifications for the Housing Choice Voucher program funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The motion also authorized immediate revisions to the Tempe Housing Authority administrative plan and acceptance of additional Housing Choice Vouchers that may become available from HUD.
Kane said the five-year plan centers on four goals: expansion and innovation in housing options, organizational modernization, responsiveness to stakeholders, and workforce development. "Over the next five years, the Tempe Housing Authority aims to build a thriving, inclusive, and resilient housing future," Kane said.
Key initiatives Kane described include expanding landlord-engagement programming and damage-claim supports; increasing use of project-based vouchers to preserve long-term affordable rental units; and exploring a voucher-based homeownership program. Kane said the authority also plans to leverage housing-authority software to streamline operations, modernize landlord payments (encouraging ACH), and overhaul the agency's website for improved accessibility and mobile responsiveness.
On program changes tied to federal guidance, Kane said updates to the administrative plan will accommodate HUD's Housing Opportunities Modernization Act provisions intended to simplify income calculations and reduce paperwork, but the authority is awaiting HUD's implementation timeline. "We're still waiting on HUD to let us know when these changes will officially begin," Kane said.
Kane also described operational policy clarifications: initial vouchers will remain valid for 60 days with documented search logs required; extensions may be granted in 30-day increments up to a 120-day maximum; if no unit is found after 120 days, the voucher would be returned to the wait list. Kane said voucher-size downgrades (for example, when a household member leaves) will not take effect until the household's recertification date, giving families time to find appropriately sized housing or remain in their current unit if they choose.
On program performance, Kane reported improved utilization: "Today we're reporting that upwards of 95% of our vouchers are used in our community," she said, noting the authority added emergency housing vouchers, veterans' supportive housing vouchers and two-year tenant-based rental assistance targeted at people experiencing homelessness.
Kane described recent operational moves including the use of small-area fair market rents (FMRs) beginning in January, which sets payment standards by ZIP code to help voucher holders access higher-opportunity neighborhoods; security-deposit assistance funded by HUD sources; and landlord outreach such as networking and training events. She also noted the Tempe Coalition for Affordable Housing, an affiliate nonprofit, manages roughly 70 permanently affordable scattered-site units and has purchased a vacant property for redevelopment of up to 40 affordable units.
Kane told the board the authority previously faced a shortfall but has returned to stable footing and announced a new hire: Jessica Gonzales, who joins Tempe to lead neighborhood revitalization programming, emergency home repair and a proposed green housing rehabilitation initiative. Kane also publicized a landlord mixer scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, to review program features and strengthen landlord partnerships.
Board members praised the work. Board Member Hodge called the voucher-utilization rate "a phenomenal number" and credited staff efforts for helping vulnerable populations. Vice Chair Garland said she supported the homeownership exploration and advocacy work at the state and federal level.
The item was an information presentation and a public hearing preceded the vote; no public speakers registered on the hearing record. The board recorded the adoption as a formal action and the administrative-plan revisions were made effective immediately per the resolution.
