Middletown Forum : Section 8 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/ This is an XML content feed of; Middletown Forum : City Council : Section 8 Tue, 06 Oct 2026 01:53:34 +0000 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:54:22 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 10.12 360 www.middletownusa.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=1183 Middletown Forum http://middletownusa.com/images/blog-logo.jpg http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/ Section 8 : As far as Section 8 is concerned"... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=16629&title=section-8#16629 Author: Pacman
Subject: 1183
Posted: Feb 14 2010 at 1:54pm

As far as Section 8 is concerned"
 
From the 5 year plan:
 
"Section 8 Voucher Program"

"For more than 30 years, the Middletown Public Housing Agency, one of two municipal housing agencies, has managed the voucher program. Currently, the city, through its contracted administrator, CONSOC Housing Consultants of Columbus, manages 1,663 housing choice vouchers or about 7 percent of Middletown's households. This represents about 56 percent of the housing choice vouchers in Butler County, condensed over 15 percent of the county's population. The program presently has 1,548 active housing choice vouchers servicing 608 handicapped/disabled households, which account for 39 percent of the vouchers. There are 281 male head of households, or 18 percent, and 1,267 female head of households, or 82 percent. The average income is $10,841. BMHA is assigned 960 housing choice vouchers for qualifying low income residents for Section 8 federal rent assistance. In October 2009, for the first time in five years, BMHA’s waiting list was opened for pre‐applications and 2,300 people applied in six hours. BMHA still has 70 people remaining on its waiting list from five years ago.

The elderly, disabled and veterans have first priority when vouchers become available. Taken as a whole, the City of Middletown has approximately 3,600 subsidized housing units to assist low income residents."

Lets see 3600 Public Housing units and using Consoc's 2.5 persons per Section 8 voucher gives us 9000 individuals living below the poverty level.  Now the 2008 U.S. Census estimate for the population of Middletown is about 48500.  If you do a little math here you will come up with 18.56% of Middletown's poverty stricken population living in Public Housing and the U.S. Census estimates the poverty level in Middletown at 22%.
 
Further, who are the people that got us into this mess in the first place.  Past City Council and Admins and the current Admin and Council probably contain individuals involved in creating this mess.  Now we have a City Government who is saying so what if the Public doesn't agree with what we are doing screw them.
]]> Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:54:22 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=16629&title=section-8#16629 Section 8 : Nelson Comments in the proposed... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=16628&title=section-8#16628 Author: Pacman
Subject: 1183
Posted: Feb 14 2010 at 1:34pm

Nelson Comments in the proposed 5 year plan go even farther to show that the Citizens, local business owners and groups opinions are of no value to City leaders if it doesn't fall lockstep into what they want.  In otherwords if you don't agree with us we don't care.  We are pushing forward with a plan that can't be accomplished because it is underfund by 90% and we probably don't have the concensus of the majority of the public is "not critical to success."   
 
From the proposed 5 year plan:
 
"Obstacles to Meeting Underserved Needs"

"1. Obstacles to meeting these goals include a lack of funding availability. It is estimated that to address all of the property needs in Middletown, we would require 10 times the current funding available. Leadership of the program at a City Council and staff level must be strong and consistent. Building consensus throughout the community is important but not critical to success. The City must take the initiative and move the city forward."

 
]]> Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:34:34 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=16628&title=section-8#16628 Section 8 : In view of theforthcoming senior... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=16627&title=section-8#16627 Author: Nelson R. Self
Subject: 1183
Posted: Feb 14 2010 at 11:28am

In view of the forthcoming senior City staff presentation on the HUD Five-Year Plan this coming Tuesday, I thought that MiddletownUSA member might find it interesting to read this April 9, 2009 posting.  Sad to say, the absence of transparency and accountability from certain senior City staff still exists!!
 
Originally posted by Truth Teller Truth Teller wrote:

When the former Community Development Administrator assumed his new position with the City in January 2007, one of the first things he did was to revamp the now-defunct HUD Consolidated Planning Committee.  In 2006 it met only twice and attendance at those "advisory" gatherings had dwindled to four and five of the thirteen members.

The revamped Committee included four "target area" residents, two mortgage banking officials, three real estate professionals, one consumer credit counseling agency representative, two City Council members, and the Economic Development Director.  It began meeting on a monthly basis and provided meaningful hands-on expertise in: preparing new guidelines/procedures for the Down Payment/Closing Cost Assistance Program; assisted in helping to establish monthly Home Buyer Education Classes; was provided detailed fiscal information regularly on the CDBG and HOME programs; and helped to facilitate a true citizen participation process in the preparation of the FY 2008 HUD Annual Action Plan.

In the first half of 2008 the Committee continued to work closely with him in: examining/correcting deficiencies in past Housing Rehabilitation Program loan management; exposing serious losses of HUD funds that had not been reported; and produced "final draft" guidelines/procedures to correct/prevent future problems with housing rehabilitation efforts.
 
In late July of 2008 the City Manager's "reorganization" of several departments served to gradually diminish his role in administering CDBG and HOME programs via directives of a new Community Revitalization Director.  Concurrently, the involvement of the Committee was no longer desired by the new regime as it met only one time in the following nine months for a hastily called "meeting."
 
The above summarizes the prevailing philosophy that city government knows what is best for the citizenry.  Sadly, these actions produce further distrust and lack of confidence in those who are well-paid to administer programs and provide needed services.
 
The truth will set the captives free!
]]> Sun, 14 Feb 2010 11:28:12 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=16627&title=section-8#16627 Section 8 : Section 8, front yard parking... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=6197&title=section-8#6197 Author: Perplexed
Subject: 1183
Posted: May 05 2009 at 12:52am

Section 8, front yard parking on council agenda (Extra HUD dollars for senior city staff to enhance staffing??)

By Ed Richter
Staff Writer 10:38 PM Monday, May 4, 2009

Middletown City Council is expected to approve a new three-year contract for the administration of its Section 8 housing choice voucher program when it meets today, May 5.

Council is expected to approve the contract with CONSOC Housing Consultants of Columbus which includes a number of changes that the city has sought, including a lower fee to administer the more than 1,660 federal vouchers to provide housing for low- and moderate-income residents.

Under the prior contract, CONSOC received 87 percent of the $11 million in funds the city receives yearly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, while Middletown got the remaining 13 percent.

The new agreement, however, increases Middletown’s portion of the federal funding to 22 percent and drops CONSOC to 78 percent, or roughly $85,000 per month.

Mills said increasing the city’s portion of the HUD funding was key to offsetting costs associated with other changes in the contract.

Other changes include the city or a third-party doing housing inspections as well as enhanced background checks for renters and landlords as well as better public access to public housing records kept by the firm.

In other business, council will hear the first reading of an amended ordinance concerning the parking of vehicles in front or side yards.

The proposed changes will allow vehicles to be parked in the front yard for up to three hours for washing or waxing of the vehicle, according to the proposed ordinance.

The ordinance also would allow temporary parking in certain circumstances, including up to six hours during an event when the driveway or street parking cannot accommodate the additional vehicles.

The proposed ordinance change will have the first offense as a minor misdemeanor but the penalty could be upgraded depending on the number of offenses that are committed.

City officials have said police won’t be looking for offenses and most likely infractions will come as the result of a complaint by a neighbor. The penalty would be a fine and would not include any jail time.

Council will also have a first reading on its contract with TV Middletown.

Middletown City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. today in the Council Chambers on the lower level of the Middletown City Building, One Donham Plaza.

]]> Tue, 05 May 2009 00:52:50 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=6197&title=section-8#6197 Section 8 : It waslearned today from areliable... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=6052&title=section-8#6052 Author: Perplexed
Subject: 1183
Posted: Apr 29 2009 at 12:56am

It was learned today from a reliable source that the Board of Directors of the Middletown Public Housing Agency (City Council) is supposedly meeting this coming Friday.  No details are known at this point relative to the agenda, time and place of the meeting.  Presumably, the usual senior city staff will also be present along with CONSOC representatives.  Stay tuned. Confused]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:56:34 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=6052&title=section-8#6052 Section 8 : To all concerned Middletown citizens... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=6015&title=section-8#6015 Author: Perplexed
Subject: 1183
Posted: Apr 27 2009 at 12:11pm

To all concerned Middletown citizens -
 
Let's start a Pacman for City Council campaign!
 
He's exactly what we need to reform our broken and elitist form of local government!
]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:11:34 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=6015&title=section-8#6015 Section 8 : TheBengals management gurus should... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=6014&title=section-8#6014 Author: Perplexed
Subject: 1183
Posted: Apr 27 2009 at 11:50am

The Bengals management gurus should have chosen Queen Judy in one of the early rounds of this past weekend's NFL player draft!  She's been remarkable in protecting those who have negatively impacted our City and were involved in the waste of hundreds of thousands of HUD dollars!]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:50:59 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=6014&title=section-8#6014 Section 8 : Perplexed you are right on again,... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=6013&title=section-8#6013 Author: Pacman
Subject: 1183
Posted: Apr 27 2009 at 10:32am

Perplexed you are right on again, Middletown has about 1 Section Choice Voucher for every 31 Citizens.  I have yet to find another City with a Ratio like that, not even NEW YORK CITY.  For this we pay these people in the 6 figures, you have got to be kidding me.  Personally I would have fired a few of them long ago for getting us into this mess with Section 8. Thumbs%20Down ]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:32:29 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=6013&title=section-8#6013 Section 8 : Comparison:Middletown's HUD... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=6012&title=section-8#6012 Author: Perplexed
Subject: 1183
Posted: Apr 27 2009 at 9:57am

Comparison:  Middletown's HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers & Public Housing Units and Three Larger Cities
 
MIDDLETOWN, OHIO - population 53,000 (2008 estimate) - 1,662 Housing Choice Vouchers - ?? Public Housing Units
 
YONKERS, NEW YORK - population 196,425 (2005) - 2,157 Housing Choice Vouchers and 2042 Public Housing Units
 
SALEM, OREGON - population 154,510 (2008) - 2,764 Housing Choice Vouchers and 646 Public Housing Units
 
TACOMA, WASHINGTON - 200,000 (2008 estimate) - 3,600 Housing Choice Vouchers and 1,500 Public Housing Units
 
The above is a wonderful (not) example of the work (??) of our City Planners!  Angry
]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:57:41 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=6012&title=section-8#6012 Section 8 : New contract with CONSOC- city... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=5843&title=section-8#5843 Author: VietVet
Subject: 1183
Posted: Apr 21 2009 at 9:10am

New contract with CONSOC- city gets 22% CONSOC gets 78%- is this really worth it for the city to be in the Section 8 business versus all the problems the program creates? If CONSOC gets $85,000 per month to administer to 1662 vouchers, and, IF the city reduces the voucher numbers to 700, will they still pay CONSOC the $85,000? If so, why? CONSOC would be doing less administrative work. Shouldn't this be pro-rated to account for any reductions in voucher numbers during the length of the contract? Did the city think of this while negotiating with CONSOC? ]]> Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:10:05 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1183&PID=5843&title=section-8#5843