City of Lawrence
Outside Agency Funding
APPLICATION
General Information: Each year, the City Commission considers requests for the allocation of dollars to a number of agencies that provide services benefiting the Lawrence community. The decision on funding a request will be made during the City’s annual budgeting process. The decision will be based upon the availability of funds, the need demonstrated through the agency’s application, the stated objectives of the applicant’s program, past performance by the agency in adhering to funding guidelines (as appropriate), and the ability to measure progress toward the program objectives.
Instructions: Applications for 2008 funding must be complete and submitted electronically to the City Manager’s Office at cliebst@ci.lawrence.ks.us by the deadline of 5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2007.
Questions? Contact Casey Liebst, Budget Manager at cliebst@ci.lawrence.ks.us or at 785-832-3409.
Section I. Applicant Information
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Legal Name of Agency: |
Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. |
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Name of Program for Which Funding is Requested: |
Tenant-Landlord Counseling and Education |
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Primary Contact Person: |
Karen A. Hiller, Executive Director |
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Address: |
1195 SW Buchanan, Topeka, KS 66604 |
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Telephone: |
785-234-0217 |
Fax: |
785-234-0237 |
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Email: |
khiller@hcci-ks.org |
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Section 2. Request Information
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A. |
Amount of funds requested from the City for this program for calendar year 2008: |
$ 29,626 |
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B. |
Will these funds be used for capital outlay (equipment or facilities) in 2008? If so, please describe: No |
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C. |
Will these funds be used to leverage other funds in 2008? If so, how: Yes, Lawrence CDBG, HUD Counseling and United Way funds are jointly used along with the City of Lawrence General funding in order to be able to provide these services. |
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D. |
Did you receive City funding for this program in 2007? If so, list the amount and source for funding (i.e. General Fund, Alcohol Fund, etc.): Lawrence General Fund $19,000 and CDBG $8026 ($12,000 CDBG for 8/07-7/08 was just approved, CDBG was $24,000 for 8/05-7/06) |
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E. |
If you are requesting an increase in funding over 2007, please explain exactly how the additional funds will be used: We are requesting an increase due to loss of CDBG funds that were crucial to the program and also to cover the need of counseling in the Lawrence community by augmenting staff. |
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Section 3. Agency and Program Budget information
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A. |
How many paid full time employees work for your agency? |
.8 |
Volunteers? |
0 |
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B. |
What percent of your total 2007 budget goes to employee salaries and benefits? |
81% |
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C. |
What percent of your total 2007 budget is used for operating expenses? |
19% |
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D. |
What is the total estimated cost to provide the program in 2008? |
57,096 |
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E. |
What percent of 2008 program costs are being requested from the City? |
50% |
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F. |
List other anticipated sources of funding and funding amount for this program in 2008: |
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Anticipated Funding Source |
Dollar Amount |
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CDBG (8/07-7/08) |
$ 12,000 |
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United Way of Douglas County |
$ 9,470 |
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HUD |
$ 6,000 |
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City of Lawrence General Fund |
$ 29,626 |
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TOTAL 2008 PROGRAM BUDGET |
$57,096 |
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Section 4. Statement of Problem/Need to Be Addressed By Program
A. Provide a brief statement of the problem or need your agency proposes to address with the requested funding and/or the impact of not funding this program. The statement should include characteristics of the client population that will be served by this program. If possible, include statistical data to document this need.
Stable and affordable rental housing is critical to the well being of Lawrence as a community, as more than half of all housing units in Lawrence are rentals. HCCI counseling and education helps the community lessen problems which affect housing stability such as substandard maintenance, drug use by roommates or neighbors, nonpayment of rent for a variety of reasons, someone’s need to move to accessible housing after an accident or illness, mobile home park issues, evictions because of behavior, security deposit returns, senior landlords who are being bullied, and issues related with out-of-town landlords who aren’t cognizant of local or state housing laws. Lawrence’s Step Up to Better Housing Plan details income levels and housing stock conditions, and identifies HCCI as a resource and partner.
Well-educated rental housing consumers and crisis counseling are critical needs for homeless prevention as well as ongoing family and neighborhood stability. Rental properties inevitably contribute to declining or improving neighborhoods. It is critical that properties in traditional and new neighborhoods are stable and well maintained and HCCI resources contribute to both Tenant and Landlord maintenance of properties.
Citizens participating in homeless and transitional programs rely on a public service network to support their permanent housing goals.
HCCI has data, from actual counsels, about the conditions Lawrence clients face. Last year in this program, over 90% of the households assisted were low income and 34% were minorities. Issues included Security Deposits, Maintenance, Termination/Evictions, Rent Delinquency, Lease Questions, Landlord Entry, Mobile Home Issues, Fair Housing Neighbor Problems, Utility Issues and others. Referrals came from Friends/Family, City of Lawrence, Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority, Douglas County Legal Aid, Student Legal Services, Attorney General’s Office, Better Business Bureau and others. Education program partners included First Step House, Full Citizenship, Salvation Army, Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority, City of Lawrence Landlord Fair and City of Lawrence Fair Housing Month seminar. Community issues the HCCI counselor assisted on included educating landlords and tenants about issues related to renting to persons with disabilities, life skills training for homeless persons, and training for prospective tenants and Section 8 participants in cooperation with the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority.
B. How was the need for this program determined?
HCCI’s Tenant/Landlord Counseling and Education Program addresses needs that are parallel with the City’s strategy as outlined in Step Up to Better Housing and is named as a key service throughout Lawrence’s Consolidated Plan including special needs/homeless population partner. HCCI was asked by the City to come to Lawrence to provide these services. Tenant-Landlord counseling is HCCI’s longest-running program, and Lawrence is HCCI’s second-largest service area. Tenant-Landlord counseling and education has been a priority program for HCCI since it was founded in 1972.
C. Why should this problem/need be addressed by the City?
These services by HCCI are an essential part of the “package” of services in Lawrence to help both residents and neighborhoods. Rental counseling serves one compelling need, but that need can be related to a need for cash assistance, counseling, job training, emergency housing and other assistance.
Tenant/Landlord Counseling has been identified as a critical service in Lawrence. HCCI fits into the federal performance measurement framework in many ways by striving to help clients to help themselves through one on one counseling and education. HCCI assists the community with enhancement of suitable living environments, creating decent housing, and providing economic opportunity.
Section 4. Description of Program Services
A. Provide a brief description of the service you will provide and explain how it will respond to the need you identified in Section 3. The description should include how many clients will be served, and should describe as specifically as possible the interaction that will take place between the provider and the user of the service.
HCCI’s Tenant-Landlord program strives to help people help themselves to secure adequate, safe, affordable and equitable rental housing through counseling, support, education and mediation. Historically, about 88 % of our consumers report low-moderate income.
· HCCI anticipates providing counseling to approximately 500 consumers
· HCCI plans to provide 15 community education programs
· HCCI will continue in homeless and affordable housing partnerships
HCCI’s Tenant-Landlord Counseling services are available every day from 8-5 and often after-hours, though funding for the Lawrence Tenant-Landlord counselor is for less than full time. The funded position requires a minimum local office presence of two days a week for face-to-face, walk-in assistance and to fulfill community education commitments. Otherwise, through cross training and cross-coverage, all counselors are available to assist Lawrence residents every day with either immediate or callback service. People can call, E mail, or come in for assistance. Additional calls and follow up are available as much as needed. (Note: No matter how many calls on an issue, clients are counted only once.) Specific resource referrals are also offered as needed, when appropriate.
HCCI’s Preventive Education services are targeted for low-income, homeless and
other at-risk groups. The programs teach basic survival information and life
skills essential for renters to be successful as tenants and for rentals for be
a successful part of the community. Programs for tenants include basic rights,
responsibilities, appropriate behavior, communication and affordable housing
options. Programs for landlords and the public provide information on the
rental application and screening process (including fair housing law), discussions
of proper handling of maintenance, drug and behavior issues, Landlord entry and
Tenant evictions. Programs have included presentations at SRS Full
Citizenship, City of Lawrence Landlord Seminar, The Landlords of Lawrence, and
the Salvation Army.
HCCI prioritizes involvement with programs and partnerships to offer more extensive life skills and homeless prevention programs. (See next section for details.)
B. Describe any efforts your agency has made to explore the community to determine if there are any other agencies providing similar types of services. What efforts have you made to coordinate services?
There are no other agencies providing Tenant-Landlord Counseling and Education, or the related services, that HCCI provides.
HCCI actively participates in the Lawrence Practitioners Panel, the Housing sub-committee, the Homeless Coalition, and the Landlords of Lawrence. HCCI also partners in services with Bert Nash, SRS-Full Citizenship, Red Cross, Salvation Army, First Step House and others as needed to provide services. HCCI counselors work in an ombudsman role for other City services such as code enforcement and fair housing enforcement.
In addition to the services made possible through the funding of CDBG, HCCI conducts a regular series of classes in coordination with LDCHA as part of the ROSS Homeownership Support Services which assists public housing tenants interested in pursuing homeownership and a series of mandatory Renter Preparation classes for all applicants to LDCHA for Section 8 or Public Housing. HCCI was a committed lead partner in developing the recent Homeless to Housed (H2H) partnership with the Landlords of Lawrence, the Salvation Army and the City for a combination transitional housing, client support and education program. HCCI provided the well-received H2H educational series, after which homeless or doubled up individuals or families that have barriers to obtaining steady safe and habitable housing were matched with willing landlords needing to fill available units.
Section 5. Program Objectives
Please provide three specific program objectives for 2008. Objectives should demonstrate the purpose of the program and measure the amount of service delivered or the effectiveness of the services delivered. A time frame and numerical goal should also be included. Examples include, “75% of clients receiving job training will retain their job one year after being hired,” “increased fundraising efforts will result in a 15% increase in donations in 2008,” “credit counseling services will be provided to 600 clients in 2008,” “new digital arts program will serve 275 students in 2008” etc. Applicants will be expected to report their progress toward meeting these objectives in their six month and annual reports to the City.
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Program Objectives |
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1. |
90% of clients receiving Tenant-Landlord Counseling will report they learned something new in 2008.
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2. |
90% of clients counseled will report they feel more confident regarding handling their issues in 2008.
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3. |
80% of clients counseled will report, through followup contact, that they have taken steps toward their goals in 2008.
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Please return completed application electronically to cliebst@ci.lawrence.ks.us by
5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2007.
Office Use Only