HPC To Oversee Rental Program

 HARWICH – The affordable housing trust has chosen the Homeless Prevention Council to manage its rental assistance program. The program proposes to subsidize high rental rates by a maximum of up to $500 a month for at least 15 tenants in town.

 In July, the trust put out requests for proposals seeking responses from management organizations and received three, from Housing Assistance Corporation, Harwich Ecumenical Council for Housing, and the Homeless Prevention Council (HPC).

 The responses were reviewed by trust member Claudia Williams and Housing Advocate Brianna Powell and both agreed the Homeless Prevention Council would best serve the needs of the trust.

 Powell looked at qualifications, timeline, resume, samples of work, a no collusion plan, and a marketing plan. Powell’s assessment on qualifications, timeline and the marketing plan presented by the Homeless Prevention Council exceeded the requirements.

Williams said she looked at the proposals from a quantitative standpoint and liked HPC’s staffing, the ability to manage programs in multiple towns, and in-house case management. She pointed out HPC handles programs in five additional towns on the Cape. The Orleans-based nonprofit also looks at the contributing factors to housing needs, she said. HPC also has an excellent timeline for deliverables and an excellent marketing plan, she added.  

 “They have the ability to work across all languages with interpretive services, have disability accommodations and a confidentiality agreement for sensitive information,” said Williams. “All three were very good, but HPC stood out.”
 “She nailed it on the head,” agreed Powell.

“In my past life I dealt with the Homeless Prevention Council and their assistance was excellent,” said trust member and Select Board chair Julie Kavanagh.

“I got the most positive feedback on case management. They do it all in-house,” added affordable housing trust chair Larry Ballantine.

The trust voted to accept the HPOC proposal 5-0.

Funding for the program will come from money accrued by the trust. The trust received $500,000 in Community Preservation Act funds at the May annual town meeting for use in its various programs. The trust also receives funds from the lease of the cell tower site in East Harwich and money generated from the town’s short-term rental tax.

The trust applied to the community preservation committee last year for $250,000 in CPA funds specifically for the rental assistance program. But the committee took the position that the program was not fleshed out enough at that time and did not receive the funding. 

The program will require the income of qualifying tenants to be 100 percent or less of the median area income for Barnstable County. Landlords will have to provide year-round leases with rental rates, when lowered by the subsidies, that are affordable to those households. The subsidies would be paid directly to the landlord.  

 The program will provide ongoing case management services for participants, which is expected to include assessing available services and funding sources as well as goal settings and, if needed, mentoring and financial management counseling. Services will also include budget planning with a goal of each household achieving self-sufficiency within a three-year period.

 Homeless Prevention Council tasks will include overseeing the program; examining income qualifications and tenant selection; landlord verification; reviewing the landlord/tenant leases; determining the appropriate subsidy of up to $500 a month; and making payments to the landlord.

 The decision to accept the Homeless Prevention Council proposal will be forwarded to Town Administrator Joseph Powers who will finalize the agreement