MOHCD and OCII report DAHLIA progress and COP outcomes; more outreach, homeownership listings coming in 2018

The OCII Commission heard an update on DAHLIA, the citys electronic housing application and lottery system, and on Certificate of Preference (COP) outreach on Dec. 5.

Maria Benjamin of the Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development demonstrated the DAHLIA user interface and said the site had reached its one-millionth visit that week. "We've had our 1 millionth visit to the Dahlia website this week," Benjamin said, noting the system now supports email alerts, simplified outreach materials and an electronic lottery that MOHCD believes reduces errors and improves monitoring of lease-ups.

MOHCD reported that in FY2016-17 DAHLIA registered more than 85,000 applicants for approximately 1,015 affordable housing units entering the citys system. The office issued 55 new COP certificates in the period and reported 43 COP holders housed during the year (with differing counts by project and year of lease-up). Staff said 1,757 COP holders are currently housed in city affordable housing and that OCII/MOHCD remain in monthly contact with roughly 881 identified displaced households; MOHCD also noted that 1,618 certificate holders are known to be deceased and that counts are periodically updated.

MOHCD discussed common barriers to housing outcomes for COP holders: under- or over-income determinations, screening/credit issues, and applicants withdrawing after reviewing unit attributes (parking, rent, location). The Q Foundations rental subsidy program was cited as a helpful tool for some COP households but MOHCD said the foundations subsidies ran out mid-year and were later restored; staff said partnerships with community organizations remain an important tool for helping applicants resolve credit and eligibility issues.

Commissioners and the public asked for continued outreach and practical assistance. Oscar James praised outreach mailings and asked the agency to explore whether grandchildren of displaced certificate holders can receive preference; staff said they would examine the request as part of ongoing COP-survey follow-up. Ace Washington urged OCII and MOHCD to hold a community meeting in the Western Addition to address outstanding concerns and said he would pursue additional action if city agencies did not respond.

Next steps: MOHCD and OCII will continue COP outreach and follow-up from the COP survey, plan additional community contact (including a COP information table at a local senior services holiday event), and add homeownership listings and applications to DAHLIA in early 2018; the agencies also plan amendments for Ellis Act and other preference rules to come before the Commission in 2018.