Elected Officials

Departments

Housing Commission

82 Ionia Ave NW, Suite 390
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3036
Phone: (616) 632-7400
Fax: (616) 632-7405

Mission Statement

To eliminate housing conditions which are detrimental to the public peace, health, safety and/or welfare, principally for the benefit of persons of low income.

Overview

The Kent County Housing Commission provides rental assistance to extremely-low and very-low income families outside of the cities of Grand Rapids, Wyoming, and Rockford, which have their own housing commissions. The Commission issues and administers Section 8 Housing Choice Rental Assistance Vouchers provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. After qualifying applicants for the program, Commission staff educates and prepares applicants, assists voucher holders with locating suitable housing, inspects rental units, and reviews lease agreements. They also provide education about the need for affordable housing to property owners and communities, facilitate the construction of new housing, and work with other housing providers in Kent County.

As a part of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, the Housing Commission also operates a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. FSS aims to move participants from welfare to work by helping families identify barriers to employment and set goals (with time-frames) detailing the steps that families will take to obtain the assistance needed to acquire and retain employment.

Strategic Goals

  • Maintain/enhance partnerships and relationships that support the mission of Kent County government; and
  • Diversify sources of revenue.

Operational Goals

  • Provide safe, affordable and decent rental units for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher clients
  • Administer 100 percent of available Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers within budget
  • Provide safe, affordable and decent rental units for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher clients
  • Move participating families from welfare to work (Mandated by HUD)

2009 Adopted Uses: $2,512,910

2009 Adopted Revenues: $2,512,910

Selected Performance Measures

Uses
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Adopted
2009
Adopted
Percent of clients enrolled in educational programs 14.00% 15.00% 19.00% 15.00%
Percent of participants in (slots full) programs 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
Percentage of individuals attending financial literacy classes 10.00% 10.00% 10.00% 10.00%
Percentage of those attending Homeownership classes 5.00% 5.00% 5.00% 5.00%
Administered voucher percentage 96.00% 95.00% 96.00% 100.00%
Percentage of income verification 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
Percentage of score for indicator completion 100.00% 105.00% 103.00% 100.00%

Department History of Uses

Uses
2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Adopted
2009
Adopted
Personnel $232,968 $228,559 $268,076 $254,963
Commodities 4,222 2,363 1,700 -
Contractual 2,640,806 3,019,347 3,221,816 2,257,947
Operating Capital 3,695 4,216 - -
Other Charges
7,450
-
-
-
Total Uses $2,889,141 $3,254,485 $3,491,592 $2,512,910
 
Personnel FTE
4
3
3
3

Significant Budget Issues

Beginning in 2009, the Shelter Plus Care budget will be accounted for in the Community Development budget; prior years accounted for these funds in the Housing Commission.

History of Uses (in millions)