SJ Housing Commissioner Moore: City manager, mayor have created a "more balanced plan" for housing and homelessness
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Roberta Moore of SJ's Housing and Community Development Commission (HCDC), takes issue with the hyperbolic comments from the subsidized, affordable housing lobby and calls for greater accountability and cost-effectiveness in SJ's housing policy. From a letter Moore wrote to members of the SJ City Council.
I feel for each of the non-profits who had plans, hopes, and dreams that died with the $60 million loss of Measure E funds this year. Many people need permanent shelter. Many people also need interim shelter NOW.
Here are two ideas about Measure E allocations and a suggested improvement for the HCDC Oversight Committee from last night’s meeting:
Rubber Stamp vs Real Contribution
HCDC is the oversight committee for measure E. Yet, we are not given enough information to make an informed decision. Staff could not even answer expected results or how much of the County contract was going to rental vouchers. All we received were budget allocations with an $11 million difference for Scenario 1 (permanent housing) and 2 (interim shelter).
Exorbitant Housing Costs
After several questions of the staff who were present, it seems the measurable difference in results between allocation of the $11 million were:
Scenario 1: permanent housing would house 113 people at a cost of $97,000 per person.
Scenario 2: interim shelter would house 207 people at a cost of $53,000 per person.
Last night, Mathew Reed shared SV@Homes proposal to house approximately 240 people at a staggering cost of $150,000 per person.
Where is the accountability? Where is the efficiency?
Interim Housing
Contrary to claims being made by the non-profits who have been receiving Measure E funding to build permanent housing, taxpayers voted for Measure E funds to be spent on shelters too.
We need more interim shelters. There are not enough funds for permanent housing for all and it is not the only solution in which we should focus.
Ideas to Reduce Homelessness
Here are the ideas from last night to reduce homelessness:
1. Build Permanent congregant and group housing which could house and keep 4 times as many people off the streets as the current approach. This is in line with Commissioner Salazar’s comments about homeless people need community not to be put in a 4 wall box. It is also in line with a program (Oxford House, Virginia) that had a measurably higher success rate than any other Sober Living Environment or treatment program in the nation while my brother was involved.
2. Offer more Rental Vouchers to keep people housed which costs less and will prevent the more expensive increase in homeless population. The average cost to keep someone housed who gets evicted for non payment of rent is very low. If I remember correctly from a prior report, it was less than $5,000 per person.
By the way, 75% of HCDC commissioners who were present voted last night in favor of next year’s report to include measurable results. Our reports should include both 1. Projected results for what this money is expected to deliver and 2. What was delivered with the money received so the HCDC Oversight Committee can make informed recommendations.
Thank you for creating a more balanced plan.
This reflects my personal opinion and not that of the HCDC commission or the other commissioners.
Regards,
Roberta Moore
HCDC Commissioner
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