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Housing Opportunity Fund advisory board ratifies earlier minutes and approves program and grant actions
Summary
At its February meeting the Housing Opportunity Fund (HOF) advisory board ratified previous minutes, re-confirmed a change to the Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP), approved a grant increase for Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, and adopted demonstration program guidelines to fund innovation pilots and urgent/emergent housing needs.
The Housing Opportunity Fund advisory board voted at its February meeting to ratify meeting minutes and approve several program changes and grants.
The advisory board approved the January 7 meeting minutes and ratified December 2024 minutes. The board re-confirmed a previously proposed change to the Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP), converting the program from a deferred loan plus grant structure to a grant accompanied by a 10-year deed restriction. The motion to adopt the HAP change was moved by James Reid and seconded by Karen Garrett; the board recorded multiple ayes and one abstention (Selena Andrews). The advisory board also approved an increase to a For-Sale Development Program grant to Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC) and adopted demonstration program guidelines to create two funding pools: an innovation pilot and an urgent/emergent housing needs pool.
Nut graf: The votes formalize several decisions the HOF advisory board has discussed in recent months: adjusting homeowner assistance terms to a grant with deed restriction, supporting OPDC to move six renovated units to sale to income-qualified buyers, and creating a new process to allocate demonstration dollars for innovation and emergency responses.
Key outcomes and motions
- Ratify January 7, 2025 meeting minutes: motion approved.
- Ratify December 2024 meeting minutes: motion approved.
- Change HAP program to a grant with a 10-year deed restriction: motion carried (mover: James Reid; seconder: Karen Garrett; recorded abstention: Selena Andrews).
- Increase For-Sale Development Program grant for Oakland Planning and Development Corporation from $420,000 up to $600,000 for rehabilitation/marketing of six 2-bedroom, 1-bath units on Edith Place in South Oakland: motion carried.
- Adopt HOF demonstration program guidelines establishing an innovation pilot pool and an urgent/emergent housing needs pool (framework approved): motion carried.
The board did not adopt additional binding policy language at this meeting; several administrative items (final application language, URA legal review on process for rolling emergency approvals, and any required URA board approvals) were left for staff follow-up. The URA staff noted that disbursement timelines for approved emergency grants will depend on internal payment processes and any additional URA board steps required.
Ending: The advisory board concluded the meeting by scheduling its next regular meeting for March 4, 2025, and asking staff to return with the finalized application materials and clarifications on the URA approval and check-issuance timeline.
