The local housing authority is above average on most of the areas in a self-grading system instituted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Catharine Walker, executive director of the Warsaw Housing Authority, reported to the board of directors Monday that the agency has attained 100 percent in many areas in which the Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) requires 90 to 98 percent compliance.

The WHA is required to have 5 percent of its units inspected annually, and is currently at 80 percent compliance. Also, the "lease-up" of budgeted units should be at least 90 percent; the WHA has 93 percent of Section 8 certificate units filled and 124 percent of the voucher units filled.

The housing authority provides rental assistance to low- and moderate-income families in the Warsaw area. Through the certificate program, rent is paid by the agency; the voucher program allows clients to rent units and pay the difference between the allotted rent and a higher cost if they choose.

"Our only downfall is our Family Self-Sufficiency program," Walker said, "but I guarantee we'll be in compliance by the end of our fiscal year."

Only 20 percent of the FSS slots are currently filled and compliance is set at 60 to 79 percent. Letters seeking participation are being sent to all eligible clients.

Walker said that although that area is lacking at this time, "the clients on self-sufficiency put us in compliance with the escrow accounts." HUD requires 30 percent compliance for FSS clients with escrow accounts; the WHA is at 67 percent.

The FSS program helps clients receiving government aid to become financially independent. While on the program an escrow account is established for the FSS family. The money is released to the family when the program is successfully completed.

Housing authorities are required to submit SEMAP certification to HUD within 60 days after the end of their fiscal year. HUD will then verify the date, prepare a SEMAP profile and assign a SEMAP rating. Housing authorities scoring 90 to 100 percent are considered high performers; 60 to 89 percent are standard performers; and 60 percent and below are troubled SEMAP agencies.

"I intend for us to be a high performer," Walker said.

Walker will provide an updated SEMAP report to the board on a quarterly basis to keep them informed of where the WHA stands.

In other business, Walker said the WHA is in "the final inning" of the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation 2 project. Eight of the 13 projects have been completed and five are in progress, with two expected to be done within the next couple weeks and the final three to close out in the next couple months, Walker said.

"We have really done some massive amounts of rehab this time," Walker said. This is the second grant the city received for improving homes in Warsaw. Another project is planned but likely won't get under way in the grant phase until fall. Fourteen families already are on the waiting list for the next round, Walker said.

In other matters, the board:

• Elected officers as follows: Bob Kline, president; Sue Charlton, vice president; and Sherri Ruggier-Milton, secretary/treasurer. Other board members are Tom Lemon and Dennis Cultice. Porter Polston is the city council representative to the board and does not have a voting membership.

• Approved two chapters to the administrative plan not approved with the rest of the plan last month. These are for inspections - the WHA will follow current Warsaw housing codes - and for client termination - the word "arrested" will be omitted as a condition for termination, but a conviction could result in termination.

• Learned the most recent audit was returned with no negative findings.

• Tabled a request from Walker to have the WHA pay her membership to the Optimist Club.

The next meeting is at 5:15 p.m. Feb. 22 in the WHA office. [[In-content Ad]]