1. Office of Housing Stability
Supplemental Budget Presentation
Finance Committee - Somerville Board of Aldermen
November 14, 2018

2. Mission Statement/Objectives
The Office of Housing Stability (OHS) seeks to prevent the displacement of Somerville residents who are in the process of eviction or other form of displacement; at significant risk of displacement due to rent burden or other market forces; homeless or living in instable housing.
The OHS will:
provide direct and contracted services to Somerville residents seeking advice or assistance with housing matters; and
collaborate with others in the community to identify and implement policy and programmatic initiatives to (1) increase the supply of affordable housing, (2) enhance tenants rights, and (3) prevent the displacement of, or assist with the rehousing of, Somerville families.

3. Data - Housing Instability Snapshot
Eviction 469 eviction cases in Somerville District Court 2017
Rent Burden: Approx. 17.8% of renter households paying over 50% of income for shelter (3722 families)
Housing Cost Burden: Approx. 19.2% of homeowners are paying more than 50% of their income for their mortgages and other housing expenses (2159 families)
Condo Conversion ,130 rental units converted
Public Housing Waitlists: Fall Somerville families
Median Rents: 1 Bed: $2,125; 2 Beds: $2,400; 3 Beds: $2,925 (zumper.com)
Inadequate Payment Standards: SHA Section 8 payment standards (with all utilities included): 1 Bed: $ Beds: $ Beds: $2,183
Voucher Placement: 2017 Somerville Housing Authority Resident Advisory Board report – fifty moving vouchers - 21 lost vouchers – 6 leased in Somerville

4. Engagement Process (on-going)
Board of Aldermen (All)
City Departments/Divisions
Communications/SomerViva
Health and Human Services
COA
Human Services
Veterans
Housing
Mayor’s Office
School Department
Affordable Housing Organizing Committee
Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services
Community Action Agency of Somerville
Our Revolution Somerville - Housing
Right to Counsel Coalition
Somerville Cambridge Elder Services
Somerville Community Corporation
Somerville Homeless Coalition
Somerville Housing Authority
Somerville Welfare and Housing Coalition
Welcome Project

5. Direct/Contracted Services*
Advice and Information on housing issues for all Somerville Residents
Referrals to community agencies to prevent displacement (legal, mental health, social services, advocacy)
Legal Services for tenants facing eviction and those denied eligibility for affordable housing*
Accessing financial assistance to prevent homelessness
Advocacy with landlords and agencies to resolve housing disputes
Case management to stabilize tenancies
Workshops and on-line resources regarding tenants rights and housing search
Housing Search (affordable, private, inclusionary)*
Landlord Outreach
Up to date information on local and regional affordable housing opportunities
Support for tenant organizing*

6. Policy/Programmatic Initiatives (Under Review)
Formation of Advisory Board [to advise on policy and program priorities during start up]
Condo Conversion
Real Estate Transfer Fee (home rule/enabling)
Right to Purchase
Flexible rent/mortgage stabilization fund
Outreach to landlords –
eviction resource information
Section 8 incentives
Right to Counsel in eviction cases
Temporary short term shelter for families accessing Emergency Assistance state funded shelter
Targeting existing housing resources to those at imminent risk of displacement
Lessening barriers to obtaining affordable housing – limiting credit based denials

7. OHS Staffing Plan OHS Director Assoc. Director/ Program Manager
Case Manager
Advocate
Case Manager
Advocate
Intake/Admin
Data

8. Contracted Services (proposed)
Legal Services
Housing search
Tenant Organizing

9. FY19 Supplemental Budget Request
$45,000 (.5 annual salary for Program Director at $81,600 and Step 2 mandatory increases for staff already funded)
$55,000 (contracted services: legal, housing search, organizing
Legal based on $80,000 annual; Supp. Request: March-June, 2019
Housing search based on $50,000 annual; Supp. Request March-June 2019
Organizing support based on $60,000 annual; Supp. Request May-June 2019
$45,050 (other administrative expenses)
Total Supplemental Budget Request: $135,050