Committee hears REACH update on voucher access; staff outlines nine recommendations and next steps
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Summary
Staff and a multiagency workgroup presented nine recommendations to increase voucher acceptance and speed access to housing, including centralized listings, inspection improvements and targeted incentives; no committee vote was required — the item was an informational update.
Staff presented progress from the REACH initiative, a workgroup focused on improving acceptance and access for housing-voucher holders, including veterans. The committee heard a report that the group developed nine recommendations intended to increase the number of landlords who accept vouchers, shorten inspection and leasing timelines, and offer targeted financial incentives and re-housing assistance.
Why it matters: Residents and advocates said voucher holders, especially veterans, face discrimination and lengthy delays that leave some unstably housed. Staff and Opportunity Home representatives said coordinated steps could reduce the typical contract/inspection timeline from months to a few weeks in many cases.
Details from the update
Staff described nine recommendations (some already in progress), including: adding property-listing integrations (MLS) to show voucher-friendly units; pre-inspection or accelerated inspection procedures; modest financial incentives for landlords or tenants (examples included small re-housing payments); centralized support for documentation and payments to ease landlord concerns; and targeted outreach to landlords and property managers. Opportunity Home staff reported improvements in average processing time compared with prior years but said challenges remain.
Public comment and next steps
Veterans' advocates and service providers urged the city to continue pursuing protections against source-of-income discrimination for veterans and to seek state and federal support when available. Staff said the next REACH meeting is scheduled for June and that implementation work will continue with Opportunity Home and housing partners.
Ending
The committee received the update; no committee vote was taken. Staff and partners will continue to implement the recommendations and report back through REACH and Council briefing processes.