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Community Development RFP 2020-2025 117

ACCESS TO HOUSING

PROGRAM AREA #5

REVISED: SEPTEMBER 20, 2019


ACCESS TO HOUSING

Community Needs

As the cost of rent and owning a home continue to trend upward in San Francisco, more and more residents are seeking affordable housing. Zillow estimates that the median home sales price in San Francisco more than doubled in six years, starting at $662,000 in 2011 and jumping all the way up to $1.29 million in 2017. A similar trend holds true with respect to skyrocketing rent prices in San Francisco: in 2012, the median asking rent was around $2,000 compared to $4,500 in 2015. In recent community forums and surveys conducted by MOHCD, access to more affordable housing emerged as one of the most frequently identified need across all respondents, regardless of race and ethnicity or neighborhood.

Rental HousingAccording to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), almost 40% of renters in San Francisco are cost-burdened, meaning their monthly housing costs exceed 30% of their monthly income. Twenty percent of renters are severely cost-burdened, meaning their monthly housing costs exceed 50% of their monthly income. The 2018 Housing Needs and Trends Report from the San Francisco Planning Department estimates that the household income needed to afford the median rent in San Francisco is $180,000. This figure assumes that a household would spend no more than 30% on rent.

Cost burden varies by race. The Joint Center for Housing Studies estimates that, in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metro area in 2016, Black/African American households had the highest rate of total cost burden (i.e., cost burden and severe cost burden) at 61%, followed by almost 55% of Hispanic/Latino households. Forty-three percent of Asian/Pacific Islander households and 37% of White households also were cost-burdened.

Rising rental costs affect low-income households the most. Twelve percent of San Franciscans live below the federal poverty line, which is defined at approximately $25,000 for a family of four (American Community Survey, 2017). The neighborhoods with the largest number of residents below the federal poverty line are the Tenderloin, Sunset/Parkside, Bayview Hunters Point, Mission, and the South of Market.


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Community Needs (continued)

HomeownershipThe household income needed to afford the median home in San Francisco is $250,000. This is based on the assumption that a household would not spend more than 30% of their income on mortgage expenses after making a down payment of 10% of the purchase price (Planning Department, 2018).

Similar to rental cost burden, homeownership rates also vary considerably by race. The National Equity Atlas shows that, in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area, Black/African American households have the lowest rate of homeownership at around 32%, followed by Hispanic/Latino households at almost 40%. White households have the highest rate of homeownership at a little over 60%, followed by Asian/Pacific Islander households at 58%.

In the community forums and focus groups conducted by MOHCD, participants noted that they lacked the financial planning tools and financial literacy to even consider the process of homeownership. Participants also listed several other barriers to homeownership, including: their credit score and income, limited housing stock, cost, down payment expense, Homeowners Association (HOA) dues, financing and loan qualification, a competitive housing market, and their rental history.

Participants in the South of Market community forum listed the greatest number of barriers to homeownership. All of these barriers are particularly salient for low-income households and first generation homeowners who may benefit from assistance with the homeownership process.

DAHLIA San Francisco Housing PortalOver the next five years, the MOHCD pipeline of affordable housing units will result in a historic number of homes available to the public. As more and more of these affordable units become available, listings for rental and purchase will continue to be hosted on DAHLIA, which is MOHCD’s Online Housing Portal. However, accessing DAHLIA can be difficult for individuals who experience challenges with digital literacy, or who are simply not accustomed to finding housing through the internet.


ACCESS TO HOUSING

Community Needs (continued)

According to the San Francisco Housing Survey, 58% of White residents reported finding their current place of residence through the internet, compared to 45% and 43% of Hispanic/Latino and Black/African-American households. For Asian/Pacific Islander households, the split between finding housing via the internet and through family and friends was nearly even (40% and 37%, respectively).

For San Franciscans seeking affordable housing, providing training or technical assistance in navigating DAHLIA is essential to ensure that everyone who qualifies to rent or own affordable housing will be able to explore their options.


ACCESS TO HOUSING

Program Area Goals

To assist low-income, vulnerable and disenfranchised populations in qualifying for and navigating affordable housing opportunities, we seek to fund:

1. Rental housing counseling services to help residents, including formerly homeless and other vulnerable populations, navigate and have equitable access to the City’s affordable housing programs.

2. Improvements to the quality and standardization of renter application services, renter counseling and case management and homebuyer and homeowner education and counseling.

3. Counseling, education and legal services to low- and moderate-income homeowners to maintain sustainable homeownership.

4. Improvements in the coordination between nonprofits and among City agencies and nonprofits providing rental and homeownership services.

5. Home modification programs that benefit low-income homeowners by increasing safety, accessibility and health outcomes, as well as access to solar power.

6. Improvements to communication and access to information for potential program participants, as well as those using City programs and services.

7. Solutions that address the housing needs of San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) employees.


ACCESS TO HOUSING

Strategies in this Program Area

StrategyAllocation

Range Number of

Grants RangePage

Rental Housing Counseling$1,500,000 -$1,700,000

10 - 15 123

Homeownership Pre-Purchase

$915,000 -$1,115,000

5 - 6 133

Homeownership Post-Purchase

$200,000 -$250,000

4 - 5 142

Home Modifications$700,000 -$800,000

2 151


ACCESS TO HOUSING

Strategy Description

The minimum grant amount under this strategy is $50,000, which includes a maximum 15% administrative cost allowance. This service strategy will support individual counseling and group workshops that prepare and connect residents to rental housing opportunities, especially MOHCD’s Below Market Rate (BMR) and Affordable Rental opportunities. Grantees are expected to work closely with a MOHCD-identified, non-client serving lead agency to coordinate marketing, outreach and programmatic activities that respond to the evolving needs of target populations and the rapidly shifting housing market. Applicants interested in providing these rental housing counseling coordination activities should read the description of activities starting on page 128.

Client-serving applicants can either propose to provide clients with basic application assistance, housing case management services, or a combination of both. Basic application assistance means teaching applicants about how affordable housing works, providing resources to assist in their housing search, and assisting them to open a DAHLIA account. Basic assistance can be done in a group setting or one-on-one with the client. To receive the minimum grant amount to provide basic application assistance, an agency must annually serve 200 clients and host 5 workshops.

Housing case management services mean assisting clients with every aspect of their housing search on an individual basis, including repairing credit, working with the leasing agent, and following up with the client or other stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes. To receive the minimum grant amount to provide housing case management services, an agency must annually serve 100 clients and host 5 workshops.

Housing Counseling PlanAll grantees under this strategy must have a current, up-to-date Housing Counseling Plan that explains the needs and problems of its target population, how the agency will address one or more of these needs and problems with its available resources, the type of housing counseling services offered, marketing and outreach strategies, fee structure (if applicable), and its geographic service area. The Plan must describe how the agency serves residents with limited English proficiency (LEP).

RENTAL HOUSING COUNSELING


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Strategy Description (continued)

In addition to any LEP target population agencies may serve, they must also seek to provide access to program benefits and information to LEP individuals whose primarylanguage is one of the City’s official languages (Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino) through either “in-house” language assistance services or by contracting with a vendor to provide such services. Additionally, the Plan must address how the agency will serve people with mobility and communication needs and provide alternative settings or formats for the provision of housing counseling services, such as telephonic counseling or remote counseling systems designed using Skype technology, video cameras and the internet.

Client IntakeAll applicants must have a standardized, written client intake process, where a housing counselor or administrative staff person trained in requirements of the Privacy Act obtains basic information in a standardized format to determine how the agency can assist a potential client, sign them up for group education, schedule an appointment with a housing counselor, or refer the potential client to other resources. Client intake may occur at a one-on-one session or at drop-in clinics. An applicant’s client intake policy and procedure should include how the agency handles (and protects) private personal information, language barriers, and sensitive questions regarding gender and/or sexual orientation, proper pronouns, and other issues during intake.

Counselor TrainingAll housing counselors must receive standardized training in housing counseling and MOHCD programs. Counselors should exhibit a professional communication skill set, including listening skills, customer service and cultural competency and humility. Housing counselors conducting application assistance activities must attend one MOHCD sponsored training per year and participate in train-the-trainer opportunities offered by a coordinating agency, as determined by MOHCD. In addition to two annual program trainings offered by MOHCD, rental housing counselors conducting case management shall obtain a minimum of 20 hours of facilitated rental counseling instruction within their first year and a minimum of 6 hours continuing education every year thereafter.



ACCESS TO HOUSING


Facilitated rental housing counseling training is offered online and in person through agencies such as NeighborWorks America, HUD, and UnidosUS. At a minimum, curriculum covered by facilitated rental housing training should include fundamentals such as tenancy (e.g., common lease language, breaking a lease, non-renewal and evictions), Fair Housing laws and regulations, how to avoid scams, financial management and credit repair, and tenant rights.

In your proposal:

• Describe your counselor training process, including source of facilitated training and number of hours, your continuing education policy and number of hours, process for onboarding new counselors, and your method for evaluating counselor knowledge and performance.

Individual CounselingIf you choose to provide basic application assistance only, you have the option to provide either one-on-one assistance, group workshops, or both. If you choose to provide housing case management services, you must offer individual, one-on-one sessions to clients. All applicants providing individual, one-on-one sessions must use private counseling rooms.

If you choose to provide one-on-one basic application assistance, counselors must be prepared to offer the following services and information to clients:

• Assisting with opening a DAHLIA account, including basic digital literacy explanations;

• Reviewing current availability of rental units and teaching how to apply for affordable housing opportunities;

• Explanation of the different rental programs offered in San Francisco, including nonprofit-owned 100% affordable rentals and waitlists and Inclusionary Housing and Below Market Rate rentals;



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• Explanation of the Home Match Program;• Referrals for Eviction Prevention and Housing Stabilization services;• Lottery Preference Program eligibility and application;• Housing eligibility (e.g., income and asset calculation, household size, credit,

criminal background, and the Fair Chance Ordinance);• Process for appealing denials for housing; and• Fair Housing laws and regulations.

If you choose to provide housing case management services, initial and subsequent counseling sessions must result in a written housing action plan (with housing goals) for each client. The action plan outlines what the agency and the client will do in order to meet the client’s housing goals and, when appropriate, address the client’s housing problem(s). The action plan is an assessment of a client’s current ability to find and maintain rental housing. It is a mutual agreement between the client and the housing counselor to work on the short-term, medium-term and/or long-term goals necessary for the client to find and maintain rental housing.

If you choose to provide housing case management services, during individual counseling sessions and based on the unique goals outlined in the client’s action plan, counselors must be prepared to offer the following services and information to clients:

• Assisting with opening a DAHLIA account, including basic digital literacy explanations;

• Reviewing current availability of rental units and teaching how to apply for affordable housing opportunities;

• Documenting household income and expenses, and developing a budget;• Analyzing a client’s spending habits, financial circumstances and credit report;• Making recommendations for debt management and savings plans;• Determining the maximum sustainable rent payment;• Determining housing program eligibility (e.g., income and asset calculation,

household size, and credit);



ACCESS TO HOUSING


• Reviewing local, state and federal rental assistance programs;• Assisting with a housing search for rental units outside of DAHLIA;• Lease-up process assistance (e.g., rental application and documents, lease

signing, house rules and lease addendum review, parking policies, selection process for shared housing, and ensuring language access throughout the lease up process); and

• Timely assistance with appeals under the Fair Chance Ordinance and all other denials for housing.

In your proposal:

• Describe how your agency works with clients to identify goals. Describe how your agency identifies available rental units, including location and transportation access. Describe what methodology your agency uses to calculate a client’s maximum sustainable rent payment. Describe your agencies internal system for responding to client requests for application denial appeal requests. Agencies providing rental case management services must respond to referrals from a MOHCD-identified coordinating agency.

Group WorkshopsIf you choose to provide basic application assistance only, you have the option to provide either group workshops, one-on-one assistance, or both. If you choose to provide housing case management services, you must offer group workshops and/or drop-in rental housing “clinics” to clients. All applicants providing group workshops and/or drop-in rental housing “clinics” shall describe their outreach and marketing plan for group education including notification and coordination of rental workshops to a MOHCD identified, non-client serving agency who will maintain a San Francisco rental housing assistance workshop calendar. Group workshops should follow a written agenda and curriculum. MOHCD will provide a template which may be modified and further developed by the agency.



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Housing counselors must review and explain the following topics during workshops:

• Basic affordable housing eligibility;• Introduction to DAHLIA and the lottery system;• The types of San Francisco housing available (e.g., rent-controlled, 100%

affordable, BMR etc.) and the similarities and differences;• Fair housing law and discrimination (as it applies to rental housing);• Major parts of a lease and resultant liability for breaking a lease;• Tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities;• The importance of rental insurance;• How eviction affects future rental opportunities;• Eviction prevention services available through the Tenant Right to Counsel

Initiative; and• Where to find services for the homeless.

Client Follow-Up and EvaluationAll applicants must use a client file checklist to ensure required documentation has been received and retained. Client records must be maintained for at least three years following the client’s termination of counseling. All client files must be stored in secure physical or digital formats.

All applicants must have a written client follow-up and evaluation process that includes how often they follow up, how they document a client’s termination of counseling, how they document client outcomes, and how client satisfaction surveys are used to evaluate the effectiveness of services.

Rental Housing Counseling CoordinationThe role of the Rental Housing Counseling Coordinating Agency is key to providing consistent standardized basic application assistance and housing case management services across San Francisco. The maximum grant amount for this activity is $200,000, which includes a maximum 15% administrative cost allowance.



ACCESS TO HOUSING


Applicants will focus on coordination and support of agencies providing direct service to residents and must be prepared to offer all the following services:

• Provide resource materials to housing counseling agencies including basic digital literacy information and other relevant topics;

• Provide communication and information to housing counseling service providers on counselor training opportunities, program updates, upcoming rental opportunities, and industry standards;

• Maintain and publish a monthly calendar of all housing counseling agency workshops and drop-in clinics;

• Provide and track client referrals to housing counseling agencies;• Coordinate and execute targeted outreach activities to serve the rental housing

needs of San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) employees;• Provide and track referrals to housing counseling agencies providing case

management services to ensure that clients needing assistance with appeals under the Fair Chance Ordinance and all other denials for housing receive timely assistance;

• Provide language access materials and equipment to housing counseling agencies;• Provide a quarterly newsletter that keeps MOHCD Inclusionary BMR renters informed

of resources and other information effecting their tenancy;• Lead and coordinate affordable rental housing related workshops, on-site counseling

and assistance, and exhibitors for annual San Francisco Housing Expo;• Meet monthly with MOHCD staff to ensure alignment with MOHCD programs and

initiatives, and disseminate information to housing counseling agencies.

In your proposal:

• Describe how your agency will work with housing counseling agencies to provide these services. Describe how your agency will refer and track all referrals made. Describe outreach activities your agency will conduct in support of the Rental Housing Counseling agencies, including targeted outreach to MOHCD’s target populations. Describe your agency’s internal system for responding to client requests for referrals.



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Key Metrics

Outcome Metrics

# of residents demonstrating increased ability to navigate the rental housing process

# of workshops marketed in collaboration with the MOHCD-identified coordinating agency

# of qualified residents applying for at least one housing opportunity through DAHLIA

# of residents creating an account on DAHLIA

# of workshops and basic application assistance clients served in a language other than English

# of San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) employees served

Whether your agency will provide Basic Application Assistance or Housing Case Management Services, you must meet the following minimum programmatic outcomes:

# of residents successfully addressing or removing one or more barriers identified through their Housing Action Plan

# of residents qualifying for at least one housing opportunity

# of residents successfully leasing up

# of residents who receive assistance with an appeal of the denial of rental housing

If your agency will provide Housing Case Management Services, you must also meet the following minimum programmatic outcomes:


ACCESS TO HOUSING


Key Metrics (continued)

For any of the minimum programmatic outcomes listed, you can always expand on these, or offer additional measures of success in your proposal.

Outcome Metrics

# of referrals made to housing counseling agencies

# of drop-in clinics scheduled with agencies

# of rental workshops scheduled with agencies (including workshops targeted to SFUSD educators)

# of trainings provided to housing counseling agencies

If your agency will provide Rental Housing Counseling Coordination, you must meet the following minimum programmatic outcomes:

Applicant Qualifications

• Adopt and follow the National Industry Standards for Rental Education and Counseling;

• Have a Housing Counseling Plan by July 1, 2020 that outlines its policies and procedures for client intake, counselor training, individual counseling sessions, group workshops, and client follow-up and evaluation; and

• Be willing to enter into a written agreement with a MOHCD-identified coordinating agency for rental workshop and case management coordination.

If your agency will provide Rental Housing Counseling, it must:


ACCESS TO HOUSING


Applicant Qualifications (continued)

If your agency will provide Rental Housing Counseling Coordination, it must:

• Not provide direct services to clients; and

• Be willing to enter into a written agreement with all Rental Housing Counseling service providers for rental workshop and case management coordination.


ACCESS TO HOUSING


The maximum grant amount under this strategy is $200,000 per agency, which includes a maximum 15% administrative cost allowance. This service strategy will support individual counseling and group workshops that prepare residents to purchase a home. Grantees must be HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, or document that they are actively in the process of attaining HUD approval. To receive the grant amount under this strategy, an agency must annually serve 350 clients with one-on-one counseling, and host 22 MOHCD Program Orientations and 12 six-hour workshops. Grantees are expected to work closely with a MOHCD-identified, non-client serving lead agency to coordinate marketing, outreach and programmatic activities that respond to the evolving needs of target populations and the rapidly shifting housing market.

Housing Counseling PlanAll grantees under this strategy must have a current, up-to-date Housing Counseling Plan that explains the needs and problems of its target population, how the agency will address one or more of these needs and problems with its available resources, the type of housing counseling services offered, marketing and outreach strategies, fee structure (if applicable), and its geographic service area. The Plan must describe how the agency serves residents with limited English proficiency (LEP).

In addition to any LEP target population agencies may serve, they must also seek to provide access to program benefits and information to LEP individuals whose primarylanguage is one of the City’s official languages (Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino) through either “in-house” language assistance services or by contracting with a vendor to provide such services.

Additionally, the Plan must address how the agency will serve people with mobility and communication needs. The Plan must also address alternative settings or formats for the provision of housing counseling services, such as telephonic counseling or remote counseling systems designed using Skype technology, video cameras and the

HOMEOWNERSHIP PRE-PURCHASE


ACCESS TO HOUSING


internet, and the use of HUD-approved online first-time homebuyer courses.

Client IntakeAll applicants must have a standardized, written client intake process, where a housing counselor or administrative staff person trained in requirements of the Privacy Act obtains basic information in a standardized format to determine how the agency can assist a potential client, sign them up for a MOHCD Program Orientation and/or group education, schedule an appointment with a housing counselor, or refer the potential client to other resources. Client intake may occur at a one-on-one or group education session. An applicant’s client intake policy and procedure should include how the agency handles (and protects) private personal information, language barriers, and sensitive questions regarding gender and/or sexual orientation, proper pronouns, and other issues during intake.

Counselor TrainingAll housing counselors must be HUD-certified and have passed HUD’s homeownership counseling exam. Counselors must be employees or contractors of the agency and should receive standardized training in housing counseling. Counselors must be trained to assist residents in how to navigate MOHCD programs and processes. Counselors must attend a minimum of two annual program trainings offered by MOHCD each year, as well as a minimum of monthly train-the-trainer convenings conducted by a coordinating agency identified by MOHCD.

In your proposal:

• Describe your counselor training process, including curriculum and number of hours, your continuing education policy and number of hours, and your method for evaluating counselor knowledge and performance.

Orientation WorkshopsOrientations are a requirement of participating in MOHCD homebuyer programs. All



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applicants must offer two scheduled homebuyer program orientations per month at no cost to the public. Orientations should be designed to serve a minimum of 50 people and use a MOHCD-approved curriculum. Orientations must serve as an opportunity for participants to enroll in online and in-person homebuyer education courses required by MOHCD programs.

Applicants must describe their outreach and marketing plan for orientations, including coordinating with a MOHCD-identified, non-client serving agency who will maintain a Citywide MOHCD Program Orientation calendar and reservation system. The coordinating agency will provide, and update from time to time, a written agenda and curriculum approved by MOHCD. The coordinating agency will conduct participant outreach, create and update the MOHCD-approved curriculum, track participant attendance, and provide participants with documentation of their attendance at the end of each orientation.

Group WorkshopsAll applicants must offer a minimum of 6 hours of first-time homebuyer (FTHB) group education through monthly workshops to clients. Group workshops follow a written curriculum, which may have been developed by the agency or adopted from another source. In their proposal, applicants should describe the curriculum they intend to use. Agencies may offer group workshops free of charge or charge participants a fee not to exceed the actual cost to provide written materials and refreshments, up to $60 per household. Agencies shall include anticipated fee income and expenses from group workshops in their program budget. Agencies providing online HUD-approved FTHB education may pass on the cost of this service to participants at a level consistent with the online FTHB education industry.

In the same way as with the MOHCD Program Orientations, applicants shall coordinate with a MOHCD-identified, non-client serving agency who will maintain a Citywide FTHB workshop calendar and reservation system. Housing counselors must



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review and explain the following topics during workshops:

• Steps in the homebuying process, including mortgage readiness regarding income, credit, savings, and homeowner responsibility;

• Performing a rent versus buy analysis, with discussion of pros and cons;• Preparing for the expenses of homeownership;• Financial management of homeownership, including understanding loan

products;• The escrow and loan closing process;• HOA rights and responsibilities;• Supplemental taxes;• Shopping for a home, including working with a real estate professional;• Making an offer;• Obtaining financing;• Home inspections;• Discussing mortgage regulations and lender disclosures, such as the Real

Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Integrated Disclosure (TRID), and Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA);

• Reviewing common abusive lending practices and loan scams to help clients avoid similar situations; and

• Explaining insurance terms and concepts of at least three types of insurance policies to identify the risks mitigated by each type of insurance.

Individual CounselingAll applicants must offer individual housing counseling sessions to clients. Applicants must use private counseling rooms for client meetings, which should last at least 60 minutes. Initial and subsequent counseling sessions must result in a written housing action plan (with housing goals) for each client. The action plan outlines what the agency and the client will do in order to meet the client’s housing goals and, when appropriate, addresses the client’s housing problem(s). The action plan is an



ACCESS TO HOUSING


assessment of a client’s current ability to purchase and maintain housing. It is a mutual agreement between the client and the housing counselor to work on the short-term, medium-term and/or long-term goals necessary for the client to find and maintain housing. During individual counseling sessions and based on the unique goals outlined in the client’s action plan, counselors must be prepared to offer all of the following services:

• Discussing any topics of clarification or concern that the client raises based on information received at the Program Orientation or during the FTHB workshops;

• Documenting household income and expenses;• Analyzing a client’s spending habits and financial circumstances;• Developing a household budget;• Analyzing a credit report;• Making recommendations for debt management and savings plans;• Determining the maximum sustainable mortgage payment;• Evaluating a client’s readiness to purchase a home through discussion of

income, credit, savings, and homeownership responsibilities;• Reviewing the process involved in obtaining financing (including the

selection of a lender);• Evaluating a client’s completed Uniform Residential Loan Application (Form

1003) for any general deficiencies;• Identifying local, state and federal homeownership assistance programs for

which the client is eligible;• Assisting with opening a DAHLIA account and teaching how to apply for

affordable housing opportunities; and• Assisting with a housing search for homeownership units outside of DAHLIA.

In your proposal:

• Describe how your agency works with clients to identify goals. Describe what



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methodology your agency uses to calculate a client’s maximum sustainable mortgage payment. Describe your agency’s internal system for responding to client requests for application denial appeal requests. Agencies providing homeownership counseling services must respond to referrals from a MOHCD-identified, non-client serving agency.


All applicants must have a written client follow-up and evaluation process that includes how often they follow up, how they document a client’s termination of counseling, how they document client outcomes, and how client satisfaction surveys are used to evaluate the effectiveness of services.

Homeownership Pre-Purchase CoordinationThe role of the Homeownership Pre-Purchase Coordinating Agency is key to providing consistent standardized FTHB Counseling services across the city. The maximum grant amount for this activity is $200,000, which includes a maximum 15% administrative cost allowance. Applicants will coordinate and support agencies providing direct service to residents and must be prepared to offer all the following services:

• Provide resource materials to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies providing first-time homebuyer assistance;

• Provide communication and information to service providers on counselor training opportunities, program updates, upcoming rental opportunities, industry standards, and San Francisco market trends;

• Maintain and publish a monthly calendar of all homeownership agency orientations, workshops and drop-in clinics;



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• Provide and track client referrals to HUD-approved agencies;• Coordinate and execute targeted outreach activities to serve the homeownership

needs of San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) employees;• Provide and track referrals to pre-purchase housing counseling agencies to ensure

that clients needing assistance with appeals to denials for housing receive timely assistance;

• Provide language access materials and equipment to housing counseling agencies;• Coordinate bi-monthly, peer-to-peer technical assistance and skill sharing sessions for

HUD-approved counseling staff;• Maintain updated information on City programs and affordable housing

opportunities on its website, and function as a one-stop resource for low and moderate income home buyers in San Francisco;

• Lead and coordinate affordable homeownership related workshops, on-site counseling and assistance, and exhibitors for the annual San Francisco Housing Expo; and

• Meet monthly with MOHCD staff to ensure alignment with MOHCD programs and initiatives, and disseminate information to housing counseling agencies.

In your proposal:

• Describe how your agency will work with direct service HUD-approved housing counseling agencies to provide these services. Describe how your agency will refer and track all referrals made. Describe outreach activities your agency will conduct in support of the FTHB counseling agencies, including targeted outreach to MOHCD’s target populations. Describe your agency’s internal system for responding to client requests for referrals.



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Key Metrics

Outcome Metric

# of pre-purchase housing action plans created

# of workshops marketed in collaboration with the MOHCD-identified coordinating agency

# of orientations marketed in collaboration with the MOHCD-identified coordinating agency

# of workshops and application assistance clients served in a language other than English (note: this can be a duplicate number)

# of San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) employees served

If your agency will provide Pre-Purchase First-Time Homebuyer Counseling Services, you must meet the following minimum programmatic outcomes:


If your agency will provide Homeownership Pre-Purchase Coordination, you must meet the following minimum programmatic outcomes:

Outcome Metrics



# of rental workshops scheduled with agencies


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• Be a HUD-approved housing counseling agency who follows the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling;


• Be willing to enter into a written agreement with a MOHCD-identified coordinating agency for pre-purchase first-time homebuyer workshop and case management coordination.


If your agency will provide Pre-Purchase First-Time Homebuyer Counseling Services, it must:


• Be willing to enter into a written agreement with all Pre-Purchase First-Time Homebuyer Counseling service providers for pre-purchase first-time homebuyer workshop and case management coordination.

If your agency will provide Homeownership Pre-Purchase Coordination, it must:


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The minimum grant amount under this strategy is $50,000 per counseling agency or legal service provider specializing in homeownership law. The award includes a maximum 15% administrative cost allowance. This service strategy will support successful homeownership and home retention for first-time homeowners by providing mortgage counseling and education, Homeowner Association (HOA) education, and MOHCD program participation counseling and education. Grantees must be HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, or document that they are actively in the process of attaining HUD approval. Grantees are expected to work closely with a MOHCD-identified, non-client serving lead agency to coordinate marketing, outreach and programmatic activities. Additionally, this strategy provides legal services to homeowners to ensure their rights are being protected under the State of California Homeowner Bill of Rights and other consumer protection laws.

Housing Counseling PlanAll grantees must have a current, up-to-date Housing Counseling Plan that explains the needs and problems of its target population, how the agency will address one or more of these needs and problems with its available resources, the type of housing counseling services offered, marketing and outreach strategies, fee structure (if applicable), and its geographic service area. The Plan must describe how the agency serves residents with limited English proficiency (LEP).

In addition to any LEP target population agencies may serve, they must also seek to provide access to program benefits and information to LEP individuals whose primarylanguage is one of the City’s official languages (Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino) through either “in-house” language assistance services or by contracting with a vendor to provide such services. Additionally, the Plan must address how the agency will serve people with mobility and communication needs. The Plan must also address alternative settings or formats for the provision of housing counseling services, such as telephonic counseling or remote counseling systems designed using Skype technology, video cameras and the internet.

HOMEOWNERSHIP POST-PURCHASE


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Client IntakeAll applicants must have a standardized, written client intake process, where a housing counselor or administrative staff person trained in requirements of the Privacy Act obtains basic information to determine if the agency can assist a potential client, schedule an appointment with a housing counselor, or refer the potential client to other resources. Client intake may occur at a one-on-one session or in a group setting. An applicant’s client intake policy and procedure should include how the agency handles (and protects) private personal information, language barriers, and sensitive questions regarding gender and/or sexual orientation, proper pronouns, and other issues during intake.

Counselor TrainingAll housing counselors must be HUD-certified and have passed HUD’s homeownership counseling exam. Counselors must be employees or contractors of the agency and should receive standardized training in housing counseling. Counselors must be trained to assist residents in how to navigate MOHCD programs and processes. Counselors must attend a minimum of two annual program trainings offered by MOHCD each year, as well as a minimum of monthly train-the-trainer convenings conducted by a coordinating agency identified by MOHCD.

In your proposal:

• Describe your counselor training process, including curriculum and number of hours, your continuing education policy and number of hours, and your method for evaluating counselor knowledge and performance.

Individual CounselingAll applicants must offer individual housing counseling sessions to clients. Applicants must use private counseling rooms for client meetings, which should last at least 60 minutes. Initial and subsequent counseling sessions must result in a written housing



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action plan (with housing goals) for each client. The action plan outlines what the agency and the client will do in order to meet the client’s housing goals and, when appropriate, addresses the client’s housing problem(s). The action plan is an assessment of a client’s current ability to maintain housing. It is a mutual agreement between the client and the housing counselor to work on the short-term, medium-term and/or long-term goals necessary for the client to maintain housing.

In your proposal:

• Describe how your agency works with clients to identify goals.

If your agency will provide mortgage and Homeowner Association (HOA) counseling and education to homeowners, during individual counseling sessions and based on the unique goals outlined in the client’s action plan, counselors must be prepared to offer all of the following services:

• If applicable, discussing any topics of clarification or concern that the client has regarding MOHCD program participation;

• Analyzing a client’s spending habits and financial circumstances;• Developing a new household budget based on homeownership expenses;• Making recommendations for debt management and savings plans;• Providing resources and referrals for additional assistance with property

tax, HOA and other legal obligations;• Reviewing the consequences related to neglecting housing obligations,

including mortgage payments, property taxes, and compliance with financial requirements and regulations of HOAs;

• Preparing a maintenance plan tailored to the homeowner's type of housing (e.g., condo or single-family home) for at least one major household system, including the system’s life cycle, use and repair strategies;

• Creating an emergency preparedness plan to assist a client in coping in the event of a disaster;



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• Discussing specific energy efficiency strategies that may be employed;• Referring clients with home modification needs to agencies who specialize

in safety, accessibility, energy efficiency (including solar installations) and health modifications for low-income households at-risk of displacement;

• Assessing a client’s options to refinance an existing mortgage using the client’s credit report, recent mortgage statements, estimated property value, and an applied knowledge of available loan programs;

• Applying knowledge of the home re-sale process to prepare clients for MOHCD program requirements as well as to avoid predators in the process; and

• Providing resource information and application assistance to homeowners at risk of foreclosure (e.g., HELP, COVER and other homeowners assistance programs) due to unaffordable HOA assessments, mortgage loan past due balances, City code violations, and other emergency needs.

If your agency will provide direct legal services to homeowners, attorneys must be licensed through the State Bar of California. During individual counseling sessions, attorneys must understand and be prepared to offer all the following services:

• Reviewing the rights protected under the State of California Homeowner Bill of Rights and other consumer protection laws;

• When applicable, reviewing the rights and responsibilities of being a member of a HOA;

• Identifying potential rights violations and assessing strategies to address those violations, including legal representation and mediation services; and

• Providing limited and/or full-scope legal representation to clients.

Group WorkshopsAll applicants must offer a minimum of 4 group workshops per year to homeowners. Group workshops follow a written curriculum, which is developed by a coordinating



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agency in collaboration with the applicant and approved by MOHCD. Agencies must offer group workshops free of charge to participants and coordinate with a MOHCD-identified, non-client serving agency who will maintain a Citywide Homeownership workshop calendar and counseling referral and reservation system. Additionally, the coordinating agency will work with applicants to provide guest workshop presenters as experts on workshop topics. Housing counselors and attorneys shall be prepared to facilitate workshops with the following topics and others identified by MOHCD:

• Disaster preparedness, including safety-related strategies for the interior and exterior of the home to reduce the risk of accidents and impact of disasters;

• Basic home maintenance for both HOA members and single-family homeowners;

• Estate planning, including changing the title of your home;• Property and income taxes for homeowners;• Refinancing;• Budgeting and other financial fitness;• HOA rights and responsibilities;• Energy efficiency measures;• Resources for homeowners to sustain homeownership; and• MOHCD program participation responsibilities and obligations.


All applicants must have a written client follow-up and evaluation process that includes how often they follow up, how they document a client’s termination of counseling, how they document client outcomes, and how client satisfaction surveys are used to



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evaluate the effectiveness of services.

Homeownership Post-Purchase CoordinationThe role of the Homeownership Post-Purchase Coordinating Agency is key to providing consistent standardized homeownership counseling services. The maximum grant amount for this activity is $75,000, which includes a maximum 15% administrativecost allowance. Applicants will focus on coordination and support of agencies providing direct service to residents and must be prepared to offer all the following services:

• Outreach for its collaborative homeowner services and MOHCD's programs via a quarterly newsletter targeted at program participants;

• Provide resource materials to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies providing post-purchase and mortgage assistance;

• Provide communication and information to service providers on counselor training opportunities, program updates, upcoming rental opportunities, industry standards, and San Francisco market trends;

• Maintain and publish a monthly calendar of all homeownership agency orientations, workshops and drop-in clinics;

• Provide and track client referrals to HUD-approved housing counseling agencies;• Provide and track referrals to post-purchase housing counseling agencies to

ensure that clients needing assistance with appeals to denials for housing receive timely assistance;

• Provide language access materials and equipment to housing counseling agencies;• Coordinate bi-monthly, peer-to-peer technical assistance and skill sharing sessions

for HUD-approved counseling staff;• Maintain updated information on City programs and affordable housing

opportunities on its website, and function as a one-stop resource for low and moderate income homebuyers in San Francisco;



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• Lead and coordinate affordable homeownership related workshops, on-site counseling and assistance, and exhibitors for the annual San Francisco Housing Expo; and

• Meet monthly with MOHCD staff to ensure alignment with MOHCD programs and initiatives, and disseminate information to housing counseling agencies.

In your proposal:

• Describe how your agency will work with direct service HUD-approved housing counseling agencies to provide these services. Describe how your agency will refer and track all referrals made. Describe outreach activities your agency will conduct in support of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, including targeted outreach to MOHCD’s target populations. Describe your agency’s internal system for responding to client requests for referrals.



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Key Metrics

Outcome Metric

# of mortgage or HOA delinquencies resolved

# of HELP, COVER or other home rehab loan applications completed

# of residents who avert foreclosures and/or receive a favorable resolution through legal counseling and representation

# of homeowners who indicate a better understanding of the benefits, perils and limitations of refinancing

If your agency will provide Mortgage and Homeowner Association (HOA) Counseling Services and/or Direct Legal Services to Homeowners, you must meet the following

minimum programmatic outcomes:


If your agency will provide Homeownership Post-Purchase Coordination, you must meet the following minimum programmatic outcomes:

Outcome Metrics



# of rental workshops scheduled with agencies


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• Be a HUD-approved housing counseling agency who follows the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling, or maintain the ability to practice law in the State of California;


• Be willing to enter into a written agreement with a MOHCD-identified coordinating agency for post-purchase workshop and case management coordination.


If your agency will provide Mortgage and Homeowner Association (HOA) Counseling Services and/or Direct Legal Services to Homeowners, it must:


• Be willing to enter into a written agreement with all Post-Purchase Counseling service providers for post-purchase workshop and case management coordination.

If your agency will provide Homeownership Post-Purchase Coordination, it must:


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This service strategy will support equitable access to affordable homeownership preservation services. Organizations that apply under this strategy will provide the following services:

• Broad stakeholder engagement, including sharing information with and accepting referrals from agencies providing homeownership post-purchase counseling;

• Home modifications for low-income households at-risk of displacement that improve their safety, accessibility, energy efficiency and health outcomes, as well as increase their access to solar power;

• Rehabilitation of existing affordable housing to preserve its affordability;• Creative leveraging of capital to preserve affordable housing, including

sources from other City departments; and• Exploring ways to assist with deferred property maintenance.

In your proposal:

• Describe how your agency will work with direct service HUD-approved housing counseling agencies to promote these services, especially to MOHCD’s target populations. Describe how your agency will accept and track all referrals made, especially from Homeownership Post-Purchase grantees. Describe your agency’s internal system for contractor project management and client services.

HOME MODIFICATIONS


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• Applicants must have a mission that supports housing stabilization for vulnerable populations in San Francisco, and a demonstrated track record of preserving the accessibility and affordability of homes in communities at-risk of displacement; and

• Applicants must have experience providing free or low-cost home assessments, critical repairs and home modifications, and an ability to provide targeted outreach and engagement, resulting in equitable access to home preservation programs and products.

HOME MODIFICATIONS

Key Metrics

Outcome Metric

# of residents receiving home assessments

# of home modifications installed

# of solar assessments performed

# of homeowners preserved through home modifications

Here are some suggested outcomes to include in your proposal:

Feel free to expand on these, or offer other measures of success in your proposal.

access to housing to...homeownership the household income needed to afford the median home in san...

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