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. 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
- Diversify sources of revenue.
Operational Goals
- 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)
2011 Adopted Uses: $2,934,530
2011 Adopted Revenues: $2,934,530
Selected Performance Measures
| Uses |
2008 Actual |
2009 Actual |
2010 Actual |
2011 Expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of clients enrolled in educational programs | 19.00% | 18.00% | 19.00% | 15.00% |
| Percent of participants in (slots full) programs | 100.00% | 100.00% | 80.00% | 100.00% |
| Percentage of individuals attending financial literacy classes | 10.00% | 10.00% | 8.00% | 10.00% |
| Percentage of those attending Homeownership classes | 5.00% | 5.00% | 8.00% | 5.00% |
| Administered voucher percentage | 96.00% | 97.00% | 93.00% | 100.00% |
| Percentage of income verification | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Percentage of score for indicator completion | 103.00% | 103.00% | 99.00% | 100.00% |
| Cost of education and training per client trained | NA | NA | $1,449.00 | $1,160.00 |
Department History of Uses
| Uses | 2008 Actual |
2009 Actual |
2010 Adopted |
2011 Adopted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel | $248,458 | $270,244 | $262,681 | $293,752 |
| Commodities | 4,747 | 1,241 | - | 17,000 |
| Contractual | 3,096,789 | 2,369,253 | 2,250,229 | 2,621,152 |
| Operating Capital | 1,353 | 2,414 | - | 2,626 |
| Total Uses | $3,351,347 | $2,643,152 | $2,512,910 | $2,934,530 |
| Personnel FTE | 3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Significant Accomplishments
Kent County Housing Commission has applied for 25 additional Family Unification Program vouchers. This program has been successful in reuinting families with children in foster care and providing youth that have aged out of the foster care system in finding decent, safe and sanitary housing.
History of Uses (in millions)
