Housing GSO: HRA Greensboro Affordable Housing Plan

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

CONSTRUCT MORE SUPPORTIVE UNITS | Overview

Additional supportive housing is required to meet the needs of vulnerable populations in Greensboro. Due to limitations with the Point-in-Time count method for tracking homeless populations, the actual need from homeless and other vulnerable populations is likely higher than estimated. Transitional housing is required to meet the needs of those coming out of homelessness and special needs populations require supportive housing with on-site services. The City should encourage additional supportive units in the projects it supports. Wake County, NC has successfully delivered almost 200 supportive units more than state mandated requirements with the adoption of a preference for supportive units in its RFP process. Greensboro should adopt similar requirements within its own RFP process, and leverage the Housing Bond’s set-aside for supportive housing and additional sources of federal funding to provide subsidy. For each additional supportive unit provided, the City should offer $10,000 in subsidy, in line with the proposed incentive offered for additional units affordable to those earning $20,000 and below. The City should play an active role in strengthening the ecosystem of supportive service provision in Greensboro. Stakeholders have articulated the need for a stronger system of programmatic support for supportive housing units in the city. When supportive services are underfunded at the state level, undue burden is placed on property managers, or built units are forced to go empty due to lack of service providers. The City can support a stronger system of service provision through dedicated bond funding, reallocation of existing federal funds, or philanthropic funds funneled to a subgrantee organization. For example, the organization Park Center in Nashville, TN leverages sub-granted federal dollars to provide housing and supportive services for veterans and individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Since its inception, it has connected over 600 individuals with disability benefits, employment, and housing. Increased HOPWA dollars are another potential source of funding to support the construction of supportive housing units and fund service provision. HOPWA modernization funding is projected to increase the City’s funding allocation to over $700,000 in 2022, nearly double its 2019 allocation of $378,800. To be compliant with this funding stream, developers should design their project to meet the changing needs of HIV-positive individuals. Greensboro should modify its multifamily RFP process to encourage additional supportive units in projects and set aside additional funding to supplement state and federal funding for supportive services. The City can leverage both the Housing Bond set- aside for supportive housing and federal funding to support additional supportive units and fund supportive services in affordable and mixed-income multifamily developments.

Key Partners • City of Greensboro – NDD • Developers • Central Carolina Health Network

Action Steps

Anticipated Cost to Implement: ~$10K Per additional supportive unit in a 9% LIHTC deal 1. Modify RFP process to encourage all developments receiving City funding to provide additional supportive units 2. Develop a strategy to use increased HOPWA funding to support additional supportive units 3. Work with stakeholders to develop strategy for strengthening programmatic support for supportive housing

HR&A Advisors, Inc.

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