Oxnard committee forwards 5-year PHA plan, capital fund action plan to council

The Community Services, Public Safety, Housing and Development Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to forward the Oxnard Housing Authoritys five-year Public Housing Agency (PHA) plan, the 2025 annual PHA plan and the housing authoritys 2025 capital fund budget and five-year capital fund action plan to the City Council.

The committee recommended that the City Council hold a public hearing to receive comments on the plans and adopt a resolution that would (a) approve the five-year PHA plan and the 2025 annual PHA plan, (b) authorize the chair to execute the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) public housing agency compliance certification, (c) authorize the housing director to submit required reports and certifications to HUD, (d) approve the capital fund five-year action plan and the 2025 capital fund budget, and (e) authorize the housing director to accept and expend capital funds as awarded, according to the staff report presented at the meeting.

Brenda Lopez, interim housing director, told the committee the plans set broad goals for the next five fiscal years and that staff will provide annual updates to the board on progress and any recommended policy changes. "On an annual basis, we will come back to the board, and we will provide an update on each goal and each objective," Lopez said.

Committee members questioned staff about a range of program details, including resident services, outreach, scholarship awards, veteran-targeted vouchers and capital projects. Lopez said the housing authority provides ESL and digital literacy classes in partnership with Oxnard Adult School and markets those classes primarily to public housing residents and Section 8 participants through on-site bulletins and mass mailings for the larger program. She said the authoritys small scholarship program typically awards three to five youth each year, with awards last year reported between $1,500 and $3,500 and occasional in-kind donations such as laptops; promotional outreach for scholarships usually begins in August.

On homeless outreach, Lopez said street outreach is conducted citywide and is triggered by reports from community partners such as the Salvation Army, Mercy House and homeless prevention coordinators. The outreach team tries to connect individuals to services including the one-stop resource and partner agencies, she said.

Lopez also addressed a question about project-based Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers tied to the Dolores Werta Gardens project. "There are 15 units in the project that are for veterans. Out of the 15, were going to subsidize 13 of the 15," she said, adding those 13 vouchers are designated for veterans only and do not carry the sites farmworker requirement. The housing authority will verify eligibility on an annual basis, she said; if no eligible veterans are available, the vouchers remain unused until suitable applicants are identified through coordination with the VA clinic.

Committee members also asked about capital funding and a specific alley repair. Lopez said the housing authority typically submits a request for a little over $1 million each year in HUD capital fund requests, and actual awards depend on congressional appropriation. The alley in question runs behind Colonia Road and Juanita Avenue through the Colonia site adjacent to an elementary school; the housing authority proposed earmarking about $140,000 from capital funds for pothole repairs and other improvements if the funds are granted. "That alley is considered the responsibility of the housing authority," Lopez said.

Lopez said many of the policy updates in the PHA plan stem from federal rule changes under the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, enacted in February 2016, and subsequent HUD guidance. She described those updates as federally mandated changes that HUD has provided implementation guidance on over several years to clarify eligibility and income calculation rules.

After questions and staff answers, Chair McArthur moved to forward the item to council; the motion was seconded by Committee Member Perallo and passed 3-0, with Chair McArthur, Committee Member Perallo and Committee Member Perez recorded as voting yes.

The committee record shows staff will return annually with progress updates on the goals and objectives if the council advances the plans and resolutions under consideration.