Month: November 2019

Strategic Plan Committee Interview Date:  __10/29/19___________

Group Interviewed:  _Affordable Housing Advocates

1.What do you know about CMHA?

AHA is knowledgeable of CMHA’s role as the largest landlord in Hamilton County (public housing “asset management”) and the operator of the Housing Choice Voucher program.

2. Based on you knowledge of CMHA, what do you think we do well? What areas need improvement?

Strengths:

• CMHA’s strengths include programs such as the family self-sufficiency program, employment opportunity and first learning program. CMHA has also reached out more to area social service groups.
• CMHA has housing in most areas in Hamilton County.

Weaknesses:

• CMHA continues to exhibit poor customer service and communication in general and negative responses when concerns or complaints are made. Staff seems overworked and undertrained.
• There is a huge need for much improved maintenance in all CMHA housing.
• CMHA needs to improve safety and security in all of its public housing.
• CMHA has been filing a disproportionately high number of evictions. CMHA evicts too many residents; it needs to participate more with other agency’s programs to reduce evictions.
• In HCV program, CMHA does little to help participants find housing. CMHA should do more, including reinstituting a mobility assistance program for HCV participants.
• The HCV process is long and confusing for landlords and families, and it requires day time hours from participating families, often keeping them from working. From turning in RTAs with long waits, to getting paid months after a process begins, to back and forth paperwork on HAP contracts, it’s significantly more work for all involved than market rate renting.

3.) How do you view CMHA as a developer of Affordable Housing in the community?

CMHA should develop more affordable housing for very low income seniors, persons with disabilities and families with children. CMHA should work with units of local government to get assistance to develop more affordable housing throughout Hamilton County.

CMHA should not develop housing for households with incomes above or near median income.

4.) What can we do to enhance good partnerships throughout the community?

CMHA should work with units of local government to get assistance from them to develop more affordable housing throughout Hamilton County.

CMHA should be more transparent and engaged with the entire community. CMHA needs to become a trusted organization.

CMHA should work more effectively to increase landlord participation in the HCV program. An improved and expedited HCV process, including making the RTA and HAP process available electronically, would encourage more and better landlords to participate. It would also help participants get to work during weekday hours. The approval process for housing units, including inspections, should be faster.

5.) In the next 3-5 years, what would you like to see CMHA doing?

CMHA should renovate all its public housing and develop hundreds of additional units of housing for very low income households.  Amenities should be added to larger CMHA developments, including parking, laundry, and recreational and educational opportunities. The HCV program should work more effectively to provide a broad choice of good quality housing.

6.) What economic impact does CMHA have in the local economy?

CMHA has a huge impact on the community. If CMHA improves, it will improve the lives of the people it serves directly and the whole community.

7.) What areas of housing are missing / lacking locally and how do you think CMHA might play a role in filling this need?

CMHA must play a big role in reducing the affordable housing gap for very low income households. CMHA should develop more housing for very low income families, seniors and people with disabilities. Some of the new housing should be near I-275. CMHA should also focus on housing for long-time residents  in gentrifying areas to prevent displacement.

8.) What are the best communications methods to contract each target audience?

CMHA should communicate about its plans, successes and programs at all levels:  traditional local media, social media, public meetings, etc.

Communication with program participants should make use of email, text, as well as U.S. mail.