Skagit County certifies Housing Authority’s streamlined 2025 PHA plan

Skagit County commissioners voted July 16 to certify the Housing Authority of Skagit County’s streamlined 2025 public housing agency (PHA) annual plan and authorized Commissioner Lisa Janicki to sign the certificate form.

The action formalizes regulatory updates the housing authority made to eligibility, admissions and rent determination policies and records new project-based voucher commitments, officials said. Commissioners were presented the plan by Housing Authority staff and board representatives, and asked questions about resident engagement, recent audit findings and leasing capacity.

Joyce Skelton, who presented the streamlined plan approved by the Housing Authority Board on July 9, said the updates are regulatory in nature and were required this year. The updates include changes under plan elements covering deconcentration, eligibility and selection, and rent determination. Skelton said a notable eligibility change allows information on youth exiting foster care to be reported to the Foster Youth to Independence program within 180 days of leaving care. Skelton also said deferred Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits received either in a lump sum or as prospective monthly payments are now excluded from income when determining program eligibility and calculating rent.

The plan identifies new project-based voucher activities. Skelton said HASC has entered an AHAP (Agreement to Enter into Housing Assistance Payments) contract with Volunteers of America Western Washington to place 12 project-based vouchers in a VOA development in Burlington. She said HASC anticipates entering an AHAP with OPAL Community Land Trust to commit three family and three non-elderly-disabled vouchers on Orcas Island in San Juan County if funding permits, and that the authority expects to add additional vouchers in San Juan County.

Skelton reported that HASC achieved a “standard” performance rating for CMAP and that the authority had increased the number of vouchers under contract by seven (about 1.5 percent). She said the vacancy rate for affordable housing in Skagit County remains effectively zero. Skelton warned that high rents and budget cuts are pushing the authority toward a shortfall; she said no new leasing is expected except for VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) and Foster Youth to Independence vouchers, although the authority will continue to support the VOA project-based placements.

Commissioners asked about a recent audit item. Skelton said the fiscal-year audit identified three failed unit inspections for which required reinspections were not completed within the 30-day reinspection window; she said the matter appeared to stem from staff absence and that the audit item was recorded but the issues were corrected. Commissioner Lisa Janicki said she was pleased to see more detail in this year’s submission than in prior years and asked about resident engagement.

Tina Tate, representing the Housing Authority board, said a resident advisory body was established last year and has been meeting at multiple developments to discuss safety, rental-assistance access and other tenant concerns. Tate described coordination between housing staff and local law enforcement at properties where patrols and officer presence were increased; she said that increased patrols had reduced graffiti and other problems at one site, and that the housing authority is working to make the resident group more of a formal advisory board.

After brief discussion, the commissioners moved to certify the PHA plan and authorize Commissioner Lisa Janicki to sign the certificate form. The motion carried.

The board adjourned and scheduled its weekly briefing for 2:30 p.m.