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)
