Gerry McCafferty Deputy Director, Office of Housing Springfield, MA February 2008

A little background...  Springfield released plan in January 2007  Mayor and business community  Hired June 2006 to write plan & oversee implementation  Background: legal services housing attorney  28-member community implementation committee  Regional plan to be released this month

Initial Goal  Make housing opportunities available quickly (get results to build support)  Existing units and subsidies first  Production later Time lag Need to develop capacity

Finding the housing  Springfield Housing Authority 17-unit federally-subsidized public housing building Scattered-site state-subsidized public housing units, rolling model 100 Project-based vouchers, with private landlords

Finding the housing, cont.  City of Springfield HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Rapid ReHouse (First month’s rent & security deposit)  CDBG/Community Development Block Grant (mod rehab)

Regional Sources of Housing  Public housing authorities  Regional housing authority  HOME Consortium

ENGAGING HOUSING PROVIDERS/FUNDERS  Self-interest  Political pressure  The power of a plan  The power of success

SELF-INTEREST: Marble Street Apartments  Under-utilized units  Problem property  Homeless Families + on-site services 90% decrease in arrests 61% decrease in “reportable incidents”

POLITICAL PRESSURE: Project-Based Voucher Program  Executive Director said yes; Board of Commissioners skittish  Mayor influence on Board of Commissioners  Agency role is more than just a landlord

THE POWER OF A PLAN: HOME & CDBG funds 1. Rapid ReHouse ○ 10-Year Plan called for Rapid ReHouse; no funding source identified in plan ○ Rapid ReHouse an allowable HOME expense 2. Youth Aging Out ○ Public Hearing proposal conformed with plan goals ○ Immediate interest in funding

THE POWER OF SUCCESS: Regional REACH  REACH = City/State model for supportive housing  City provides HOME funds for vouchers; state funds services  Proven success makes argument for regional expansion

Where to start?  Know what’s in the plans 10-year plan Action plan  Influence what’s in the plans Be at the table Hearings & comment periods Specific requests: sources & uses How can local resources be used?

Meet the players: city housing staff & phas  Informational at first  Emphasize common goals/issues  Where are they going?  Understand their problems  What can you bring to the table?

Pilot Programs  Strong design, research-driven  Collaboration  Start small, collect data  Show results  Justify increases  Take to scale

What’s the role of advocacy organizations?  Find a solution  Be specific  Show expected results (research!)  Partner with entities that provide the solution

If at first you don’t succeed… Use your power:  Plan  Research  Political Pressure  Whose problem is this?