Encinitas Housing Authority adopts 2025–29 PHA plan; board asks for annual demographic reporting

The Encinitas Housing Authority voted unanimously to approve the draft Fiscal Year 2025–2029 Public Housing Agency (PHA) Plan and authorized the executive director to submit the plan and required certifications to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The vote followed a staff presentation and a request from board members that staff provide annual status reporting with expanded demographic detail on program participants.

Program coordinator Nikki Fotinos presented the plan and explained that HUD requires a PHA plan every five years for continued funding of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program (previously called Section 8). The Authority receives annual HUD funding to operate the voucher program. Fotinos summarized the PHA's goals for FY2025–2029, including managing existing HCV operations and expanding program quantity and quality where feasible. She noted the plan was prepared using HUD's standardized template and is due to HUD by April 15, 2025.

Staff reported recent program performance: between 2023 and 2024 the program size grew from 98 to 110 families (a 12 percent increase), a public portal for the HCV waiting list launched in November 2024, and landlord participation has increased. The Encinitas Housing Authority received a "high performer" rating under HUD's Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) in both 2019 and 2023. The draft plan was posted for public review from January 10 through February 23, 2025; staff reported no public comments were received.

During deliberations, board members thanked staff and emphasized transparency and continued annual reporting. Council member Jim O'Hara asked for more detailed demographic reporting on voucher households — staff said they would provide additional metrics going forward, noting current program characteristics include a large share of elderly and disabled participants and a portion of working families. Vice Chair Lyons moved approval of the draft plan and authorization to submit the document to HUD; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously in roll-call vote by the full housing authority board.

Key clarifying details presented to the board included the Resident Advisory Board process (six HCV participants were appointed and met on January 21, 2025 and recommended only minor wording changes), the program's average utilization rate (reported at 100% for the previous period), and the HUD funding level noted by the board as approximately $1.8 million in recent reporting. The board asked staff to return annually with a status report that includes demographic breakdowns and other metrics to inform program planning.