Housing authority reports voucher pressure, new budget reports and capital plans

The Queen Anne's County Housing Authority reported that it is managing rising rents and a projected shortfall in its Housing Choice Voucher program while rolling out improved financial reporting and several capital projects.

Executive Director (name not specified) told the board the authority is about 93% occupied across its properties and administers about 214 housing choice vouchers. The wait list fell from about 200 to 179 in August, and the office completed 105 voucher inspections through August, with seven overdue inspections remaining as staff work to close the gap with county inspection support.

The director said the authority used HUD's two-year projection tool to assess risk of overextending the voucher budget and has submitted applications for additional HUD funds. "We've submitted applications to HUD for additional funds and have already received some supplemental funding to help offset those shortfalls," the director reported. The authority is meeting monthly with HUD and its new accounting firm to monitor the program and said the steps taken so far make staff “optimistic” the situation can be managed in the coming months.

The board heard details about a Slippery Hill placement issue: 14 units originally processed in error as housing choice vouchers must be converted to project-based vouchers tied to the specific apartments. The director said 4 tenants have committed to remaining under project-based vouchers, 1 tenant is still deciding, and 9 tenants will transition out with housing choice vouchers; the authority is pulling from its waiting list to fill vacated units and may reopen the list if it cannot identify enough eligible households.

On finance, the authority presented a year-to-date budget report the board will receive at each regular meeting going forward. Staff reported that nearly all housing authority financial activity (except the housing choice voucher component) has been moved from the property management system into the county's Tyler Munis system. That shift permits near-real-time reporting, but revenue reporting is not yet integrated and salary allocations across developments remain to be completed — items that currently make the administrative budget appear overspent on the presented reports.

The director highlighted tools and capital work: Tenants and maintenance staff now use tablets for work orders and inspections; a larger TV and a salon refresh were completed at Terrapin Grove; a community garden at Tenant Grove is active; the community solar program presentation by Nexamp remains open for sign-ups that benefit the housing authority; and county roads responded to a fallen tree at Fisher Manor.

Fisher Manor-specific projects include renovation of five vacant units (two completed, three in progress), one full renovation with the tenant in place, ongoing targeted repairs (stair replacements, flooring, bathrooms), an engineering-driven deck repair RFP due to the building's piled construction, and a new playground fence installed by Parks and Recreation. The board was asked to consider next steps around an old rubber play-surface outside the new fenced area.

On planning, the authority submitted and reported HUD accepted its five-year plan that includes reinvesting in Fisher Manor and Graysonville Terrace, exploring modular homes, low-income housing tax credit opportunities, land trust/partnership options, strengthening voucher programs and project-based opportunities, and expanding home-ownership education and resident resources.

Staffing and operations notes included an upcoming meeting with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs about veteran vouchers and the introduction of a new facilities hire, Melissa Bridal, who joined Aug. 13. The director said Everbridge — the county's mass notification system — has been provisioned to the housing authority with a resident database to enable targeted emergency and community notices.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the voucher projections and accounting integration. The director said the authority is coordinating closely with HUD, county finance staff and a new accounting/auditing firm to refine reporting and budget allocations.

The authority indicated continued monitoring of voucher spending and coordination with HUD and county finance, and said capital planning and procurement (including the Fisher Manor deck RFP) will proceed as staff finalize engineering specifications and verify available funds.