Item 4b-Motion to Reconsider Recommendation Regarding Properties Serving Low and Moderate Income Customers_Carol Biedrzycki — original pdf

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MOTION TO RECONSIDER PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATION Recommendation: Amend the June 12, 2015 interim report recommendation referring to rental properties that serve low and moderate income customers as follows: Change: “Earmarking Specific Funding from Multi-Family Energy Reduction Program on Low and Moderate Income Customers -- Utilize at least 50% of Austin Energy’s multi-family budget to incentivize energy efficiency retrofits on multi-family properties where at least 50% of the households have low and low-moderate incomes.” To the following: “Earmarking Specific Funding from Multi-Family Energy Reduction Program on Low and Moderate Income Customers Utilize at least 50% of Austin Energy’s multi-family budget to incentivize energy efficiency retrofits on multi-family properties that receive affordable housing subsidies from the federal, state, city, or county government or properties where housing choice vouchers are accepted as a form of payment. Explanation: The wording of the current recommendation stating that 50% of the units must be occupied by low income customers is a standard that may be difficult to document. By establishing readily identifiable types of affordable housing as categorically qualifying as low and moderate income the administrative burden is greatly reduced. The City of Austin is home to 186 publicly subsidized apartment properties, providing approximately 18,500 rental units with affordability requirements. These requirements are triggered by federal, state, and/or local funding sources, including Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Project Based Rental Assistance, HUD Direct Loans (Section 202 or Section 811), and HUD insurance.1 In addition, there are approximately 6,200 housing choice vouchers available.2 Including subsidized housing and those that accept housing choice vouchers provides a substantial target market and focuses limited resources for multifamily energy efficiency benefits to low and moderate income consumers. By working with the Housing Authority, the Housing Finance Corporation and other affordable housing administration offices Austin Energy can closely coordinate its energy efficiency programs with affordable housing renovation schedules and reach out to private properties that accept housing choice vouchers. 1 Taking Action: Preservation of Affordable Housing in the City of Austin, July 2014, Prepared by: HousingWorks Austin, Prepared for: Austin Housing Finance Corporation, City of Austin p. 8. 2 Ibid.