GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Council action
SAAA stressed to city staff and councilmembers that the voucher program is voluntary and is not just an acceptance of rent money , it is an acceptance of an entire program that consists of rigorous physical unit inspections , a bureaucratic and delayed payment system , and the use of a U . S . Department of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ) lease , which changes normal operations .
Rather than pursue source of income mandates , SAAA urged policymakers to consider improvements to the federal voucher program to reduce regulatory burdens , increase funding , and encourage voluntary participation by rental housing providers .
On April 15 , the proposed ordinance was considered and there were many questions and misgivings about the proposal .
As the ordinance was written , if a prospective resident was denied a lease because of using housing vouchers to pay rent , the housing provider could face a criminal charge punishable by a $ 500 fine . Councilmembers recognized and acknowledged the multiple flaws , including the lack of vetting and lack of research done into this proposed ordinance , and voted to continue the item with revisions at a later meeting .
As a respected partner and supporter of the city ’ s housing initiatives , SAAA provided valuable feedback to help revise the ordinance . With the help of SAAA general counsel David Fritche , SAAA provided detailed feedback to create a sound ordinance that SAAA and other housing providers and partners could support .
Revised ordinance approved
On May 13 the revised ordinance , newly named the “ Housing Voucher Incentive Program ” ( HVIP ), was brought back to the council and it received unanimous support .
The policy only applies to housing providers who are receiving grants , loans , tax abatements or monies awarded by the city to incentivize housing development . A violation occurs when an applicable housing provider rejects a voucher holder who would otherwise qualify for a lease . the ordinance requires compliance training , followed by a fine for a second offense . A third offense will result in a letter warning the violator to comply with the rule by a certain date . If the housing provider still refuses to comply at that point , the city will take back all the city incentives the provider received and it will be ineligible for any incentives in the future .
In addition to the HVIP , the City Neighborhood and Housing Services Department committed to partnering with the San Antonio Housing Authority to make housing navigators and benefits navigators available to help voucher holders identify housing opportunities and other supports . The department will also work with real estate partners to develop an education campaign that helps voucher holders understand their rights and provides them access to other services . This campaign will also educate property owners , property managers and developers about the HVIP .
Thanks to the strong advocacy by the San Antonio Apartment Association , San Antonio was able to avoid implementing a harmful , and incorrectly named , source of income discrimination policy . Instead , with SAAA ’ s help , the city applied a more practical and sound policy , the HVIP , that helps all parties who take part in providing affordable housing to San Antonio residents and ultimately benefits the residents who will live in that housing .
Lessons learned
• Going forward SAAA will work with the city and with the San Antonio Housing Authority to identify improvements that can be made to help property owners who voluntarily participate in the federal Housing Choice Voucher program . SAAA will also work with the city on education , and advocate for increased funding to the Housing Choice Voucher program .
• Volunteers who work closely with affordable housing projects were most impactful in meetings with city officials .
• Good relationships with other housing industry organizations became part of the education and defensive strategy for this issue . SAAA strategically contacted and made other housing partners and organizations aware of the proposed ordinance . Those groups agreed with SAAA ’ s concerns and performed their own outreach and education to city officials .
The penalties for violating the ordinance improved drastically . Instead of a criminal Class C Misdemeanor for first time offenders ,