To: Contra Costa County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
From: Joseph Villarreal, Executive Director
Report Title: APPROVE RESOLUTION CERTIFYING TO HIGH PERFORMER STATUS UNDER THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT’S SECTION EIGHT MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM FOR FISCAL FY2026
☐Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution No.5276, certifying the results for the Section 8 Management Assessment Plan (SEMAP), subject to HUD confirmatory review, for the Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa (HACCC) for the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
BACKGROUND:
HUD utilizes SEMAP to evaluate a public housing authority’s (PHA) management of the HCV program. SEMAP scores are based on a combination of electronic data reported to HUD at regular intervals by PHAs and self-reported scores based on internal audits conducted by PHA staff. PHAs use HUD’s SEMAP Certification form to submit their scores. HACCC’s completed form for the fiscal year is attached. The SEMAP rating consists of fourteen separate performance indicators plus a Bonus Indicator. Scores for Indicators 1-8 on the attached SEMAP Certification form are based upon HACCC’s internal review which will be submitted for external review to Novogradac & Company LLP. Scores for Indicators 9-14 on the attached SEMAP Certification form are based on HUD’s automatic scoring of these Indicators. Based on staff certification, HACCC’s HCV program is entitled to receive 130 out of 140 possible points, which will result in a SEMAP score of 92.86%. The rating becomes official after HUD reviews and approves the submission. If HUD maintains this score, HACCC will qualify as a “High Performer” under HUD’s SEMAP program.
HACCC achieved a favorable score in 13 of 13 of the SEMAP Indicators for which it is eligible. Specifically, HACCC scored points in the following Indicators:
• Selection From the Waiting List
• Determination of Rent Reasonableness
• Determination of Adjusted Income
• Maintaining Current Utility Allowance Schedules
• Conducting Quality Control Inspections
• Expanding Housing Opportunities
• Maintaining Current Payment Standards
• Conducting Annual Income Reexaminations
• Correctly Calculating Tenant Rent
• Conducting Pre-Contract Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections
• Housing Quality Standards Enforcement
• Annual HQS Inspections
• Lease-Up/Utilization Rate
• Housing Quality Standards Enforcement
HACCC has graduated far more Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) participants than required by HUD in our original FSS contracts, therefore, HACCC is not rated in the following Indicator:
• Family Self Sufficiency (FSS)
If the Agency was still being rated under the FSS category, HACCC would receive points for this Indicator as we maintain an active program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
HUD provides over two hundred and one million dollars annually to serve low-income families in Contra Costa County via the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance program. Approval of this SEMAP certification is a condition for continued funding.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Should the Board of Commissioners elect not to approve Resolution No.5276, HACCC would be in jeopardy of losing approximately two hundred and one million dollars in funding that provides rental assistance for low-income families in Contra Costa County.