WE'RE ALL DISTRICT FOR CITY COUNCILOR AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. TODAY'S MAY 20TH, 2024.  I WANT TO SAY A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR MURPHY. THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT WILL BE BROUGHT UP IS BROADCAST ON EXTENDED CHANNEL EIGHT CHANNEL OUR CHANNEL EIGHT RCN 1082 FILES CHANNEL 964 AND I GOT A JUST LIKE THAT. SORRY GUYS. GIVE ME A SECOND.  THIS COUNCIL BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS WILL ENCOMPASS A SERIES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT BEGAN IN APRIL AND WILL RUN THROUGH JUNE. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS BY GIVING TESTIMONY FOR THE RECORD.  YOU CAN DO THIS IN SEVERAL WAYS ONE AT A TIME ONE OF OUR HEARINGS AND GIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY. IT WILL TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY FOR THIS HEARING. WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AT THE BEGINNING BUT IT'S TYPICALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF EACH DEPARTMENT OR HEARING AND ALSO AT OUR NEXT HEARING DEDICATED TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY WHICH WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MAY 28 AT 6 P.M.. THE FULL HEARING SCHEDULE IS ON OUR WEBSITE AT BOSTON DOT GOV BACKSLASH COUNCILOR DAS BUDGET. YOU CAN GIVE TESTIMONY IN PERSON HERE IN THE CHAMBER OR VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM. FOR IN-PERSON TESTIMONY PLEASE COME TO THE CHAMBER AND SIGN UP ON THE CHEAP NEAR THE ENTRANCE. FOR VIRTUAL TESTIMONY YOU CAN SIGN UP USING OUR ONLINE FORM ON OUR COUNCIL BUDGET REVIEW WEBSITE OR BY EMAILING THE COMMITTEE AT CC IWM AT BOSTON.COM. WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO TESTIFY PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION RESIDENT AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO A FEW MINUTES TO ENSURE THAT ALL COMMENTS AND CONCERNS CAN BE HEARD TOO. YOU CAN EMAIL YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO THE COMMITTEE AT C C W AN AD BOSTON DOT GOV OR TO SUBMIT A TWO MINUTE VIDEO OF YOUR TESTIMONY THROUGH THE FORM ON OUR WEBSITE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ITS ANNEX CITY COUNCIL BUDGET PROCESS AND HOW TO TESTIFY PLEASE VISIT THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WEBSITE AT BOSTON.COM BACK SIZED COUNCIL DESK BUDGET. TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 067030672 OR IT IS FOR THE FY 25 OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDING THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AND FOR OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.  DOCKET NUMBER 067320675 OR IT IS FOR CAPITAL FUNDS TRANSFER APPROPRIATIONS.  DOCKET NUMBER 0676206781 IS FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET INCLUDING LOAN LOAN ORDERS AND LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS. THESE MATTERS ARE SPONSORED BY MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON APRIL TEN, 2020 FOR THE FOCUS OF THIS HEARING BE DISCUSSED AT FY 25 BUDGET FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING AND WILL INCLUDE A DISCUSSION ON BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY. AND WHILE VHA IS NOT ON TO OPERATING BUDGET, THE PUBLIC AT CITY COUNCIL WILL BENEFIT FROM HEARING OF THEIR ENDEAVORS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS. TODAY I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER ARRIVAL CASA FLYNN CASA SANTANA THE BIRTHDAY PARTY COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR MURPHY, COUNCILOR BREADON AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE BY CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE BY CHAIR PAPPIN AND CONCILOR MEJIA HERE . I WOULD LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE TODAY'S PANELISTS AND ARE TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION CHIEF OF HOUSING AND DIRECTOR OF MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING CHIEF DILLON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING DEPUTY DIRECTOR WILLIE WILSON DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF HOUSING INSTABILITY FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING DEPUTY DIRECTOR JOHNSON DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE BOSS OF HOME CENTER DEPUTY DIRECTOR BRABAZON AND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY ADMINISTRATIVE BUCK. AS MENTIONED ABOVE, GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY FIRST WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED PLEASE COME DOWN TO ONE OF THE TWO PODIUMS. STATE YOUR NAME, NEIGHBORHOOD AND OR ORGANIZATION AFFILIATION. PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE AND PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO 2 MINUTES. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH DAVID AND THEN MICHAEL FOLLOWED BY AMANI.  GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DAVID LOPEZ.  I'M FROM 673 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE 02118.  I'M HERE BECAUSE I CAME HERE EARLY TO TRY TO GET SOME ANSWERS AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY HOMELESSNESS. I'M ACTUALLY HOMELESS RIGHT NOW WITH MY CHILD. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM THE OFFICE LIKE BASICALLY TWO MONTHS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN APPROVED FOR PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING FROM HOUSING TO $30,000 FOR RENTERS AND SO FROM THE RENTERS HOME BASE.  NOTHING'S BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, I'VE CONTACTED PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE THESE VOUCHERS. NOTHING STILL HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT.  I'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH DTA, DTA AND AS WELL AS THE EPA AND ALL THESE PEOPLE KEEP TELLING ME THAT WITH MY HOMELESSNESS THEY EXPECT ME TO BE WITH MY SON IN THE AIRPORT BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE MIGRANT CRISIS IS BASICALLY SO UNBELIEVABLE THAT YOU KNOW,  EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE PUT THERE. BUT I WAS JUST THERE LAST NIGHT ,YOU KNOW, AND NO ONE WAS THERE BESIDES ME AND MY SON AND A FEW OTHER ACTUAL HOMELESS PEOPLE. AND BESIDES THAT, YOU KNOW,  I'VE ALSO BEEN TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH PRETTY MUCH ANYONE AND EVERYONE THAT I COULD, YOU KNOW, TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. I'VE MAINLY BEEN STAYING IN MOTELS AND HOTELS BASED CAMPAIGN ALL MY MONEY GOING INTO THAT WHICH IS THE REASON WHY I HAD TO STAY AT THE AIRPORT YESTERDAY AND IN THE BEGINNING I JUST CAME FROM THE WEATHER OFFICE FROM DETAIL OF THEY BASICALLY TRIED TO SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM THE DTA. YEAH THEY'RE BASICALLY SAYING THAT DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND DIFFERENT EVERYTHING BUT THEY'RE NOT TELLING ME WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO DO EXACTLY WHO'S GOING TO HELP. WHO'S THE HIGHER UPS?  WHO DO THEY WORK FOR? WHO'S THE PEOPLE THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE SPEAKING TO? YOU KNOW THEY GIVE ME A OH, GO TO THIS OFFICE. GO TO THAT OFFICE AND ALL I'VE BEEN GIVEN IS THE RUNAROUND WHICH IS A REASON WHY I CAME HERE TODAY. LIKE THE I SPOKE TO MR SANTANA AND HIS ASSOCIATES AS WELL AND THEY THEY WERE BASICALLY TO GIVE ME MORE INFORMATION AS TO THAN THE ACTUAL ETR OR DTA OR TDA OR ANY ONE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS IS OUT THERE. AND AGAIN, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THANK YOU AND MATT, IF YOU COULD CONNECT WITH DAVID AND I WOULD DEFINITELY REACH OUT WITH YOU. OKAY. YEAH. DAN? OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. THANKS.  UM, MICHAEL FOLLOWED BY AMANI.  MONEY ISN'T HERE YET.  ERM CONFUSE ME . I'M MICHAEL CAINE AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE MASS ALLIANCE OF TENANTS AND SUPPORT NADER OF THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY COALITION AND WE'RE HERE BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER UNDERSCORED THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIES FOR EXTREMELY LOW INCOME PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS TO GET OFF THE STREETS AND GET PERMANENT HOUSING. AND SO AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS CREATED A RENT SUBSIDY PROGRAM THAT CURRENTLY AID 623 HOMELESS FAMILIES AND PERMANENT HOUSING EITHER PROJECT BASED OR TENANT BASED. WE ARE HERE TO SEEK AN INCREASE IN THE PROGRAM BY ANOTHER 5 MILLION THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET. THE MAYOR HAS ASKED FOR 1 MILLION MORE. WE THINK IT'S FOR THIS LINE ITEM BUT WE'RE NOT CLEAR ON THAT BUT WE WANT IT INCREASED BY 5 MILLION TO GO UP FROM 11.75 TO 16.75 MILLION A YEAR. THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH FOR ANOTHER 270 HOMELESS FAMILIES LIKE THE ONE YOU JUST HEARD FROM TO GET OFF THE STREET INTO EITHER PERMANENT HOUSING THROUGH PROJECT BASED DEVELOPMENT OR MOBILE VOUCHERS. WE REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE USE OF THESE SUBSIDIES FOR PROJECT BASED ASSISTANCE TIED TO BUILDINGS.  THERE ARE FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY TO DO THAT. ONE IS TO TARGET THESE FUNDS TO THE NEW IDP HOUSING THAT THE BPA IS IS BUILDING. THERE'S ABOUT 3000 UNITS IN THE PIPELINE THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 500 IDP UNITS IF HALF OF THEM WERE MATCHED WITH THESE SUBSIDIES THEY WOULD BE TRULY AFFORDABLE. RIGHT NOW THOSE IDP UNITS ARE NOT AFFORDABLE. THE THEY ARE TARGETED TO PEOPLE AT 70% OF THE MEDIAN WHICH IS 79,000 FOR A SINGLE PERSON, 91,000 FOR A COUPLE. WE THOSE RESOURCES SHOULD BE MADE MORE AVAILABLE BY TARGETING WITH THE RENT SUBSIDY AND WE WERE ENCOURAGED THAT DIRECTOR BOK AND SHEILA DILLON HAVE AGREED TO MEET WITH THE BPA AND THAT THERE ARE OTHER NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE WHICH ARE BEING TURNED AWAY NOW BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY IS WHAT THEY'VE BEEN TOLD. WE THINK THAT SHOULD BE CHANGED ,THAT THE CITY SHOULD ACCEPT THOSE APPLICATIONS ON A ROLLING BASIS AND SET ASIDE SOME MONEY FOR THOSE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.  AND LATER TODAY I THINK THAT TIME IS UP SO LATER TODAY YOU'LL HEAR FROM OUR MARNIE WHITE AND JOHN LABELLA. THEY'RE GOING TO COME LATER I BELIEVE WHO ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT OTHER USES OF THESE FUNDS AS PROJECT BASED ASSISTANCE MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN MOBILE VOUCHERS.  THANK YOU, JOHN HOUSTON. TURNS OUT OKAY.  SORRY WE HAVE WILLIAM FOR USING SUCH NO.  GOOD AFTERNOON. OH, MY NAME IS WILFRED RHODES.  I'M BOSTONIAN. I WAS BORN IN BOSTON CITY HOSPITAL BEFORE I BECAME BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER.  I WENT TO OUR BLACKSTONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  I WENT TO THE CLEVELAND GROVER GROVER CLEVELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ALSO ONE TEACHER OF MY BIRTH.  I'M CURRENTLY HOMELESS AT THE MOMENT AND I'M TRYING TO MAKE MEANS AS FAR AS GOOD OF YOU TO GET IT TO BE PLACED IN THE HOUSING I'VE BEEN WORKING AT BUSSES CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN BOSTON.  I'M JUST GRATEFUL BEING A LOVING STAY AND HOPEFULLY THIS WAS JUST THIS HERE AND NEED HELP FOR A BUNCH ME ASKED W THANK YOU IF WE COULD HAVE SOMEONE CONNECT WITH WILLIAM AS WELL RIGHT NOW TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.  IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS AND AND REALIZE THAT SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE HAVE HOUSING VERY VERY SERIOUS HOUSING ISSUES. BUT GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIRMAN EARL AND MEMBERS OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND THE CITY COUNCIL . THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY REGARDING OUR FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET. I ALSO JUST WANT TO TAKE A QUICK MINUTE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT I THINK WE'VE ALL HAD IN THIS LAST SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR. IT'S YOU KNOW, WE HEAR FROM YOUR OFFICES A LOT WHICH IS EXACTLY HOW IT SHOULD BE AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR HAVING EYES AND EARS ON THE GROUND AND LETTING US KNOW HOW HOW BEST TO HELP. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS SHEILA DILLON AND I'M CURRENTLY CHIEF A HOUSING AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING TESTIFYING WITH ME TODAY. AS WAS MENTIONED, RICK WILSON AND DANIELLE JOHNSON, KAREN RAPOZA AND ADMINISTRATOR BOCH. WE ALSO HAVE OTHER FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.  AS YOU KNOW COUNSELOR, IT'S OUR COUNSELORS. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SORT OF JUST SET THE STAGE AND SORT OF OUTLINE THE AREAS THAT MO OVERSEES AS WE OVERSEE THE AFFORDABLE SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE MOST OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DIVISION WORKS VERY, VERY HARD WITH OUR PARTNERS TO REDUCE AND HOPEFULLY EVENTUALLY END HOMELESSNESS. THE BOSTON HOME CENTER HELPS OUR RESIDENTS BUY AND MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES AND AVOID FORECLOSURE.  THE OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY SUPPORTS RENTERS IN CRISIS GROW BOSTON PROMOTES URBAN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION ACROSS THE CITY AND OUR REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT AND SALES DIVISION MAINTAINS AND DISPOSES OF MUCH OF THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY NOT ALL BUT A LOT. IN ADDITION, OUR HOUSING COMPLIANCE AND ASSET MANAGEMENT DIVISIONS MONITOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AGREEMENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS ADMINISTER LOTTERIES WHILE OUR POLICY DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH DIVISION PROVIDES POLICY DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH, DATA ANALYSIS AND MAPPING SUPPORT.  WHAT JUST TALK VERY, VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH IN FISCAL YEAR 24 WITH YOUR HELP AND AS WE LOOK TO FISCAL YEAR 25, WHAT ARE SOME OF OUR MOST PROMINENT GOALS DESPITE THE SLOWDOWN AND IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO READ HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE THIS BUT DESPITE THE SLOWDOWN IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS OVER THE PAST YEAR CREATING INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING IN FISCAL YEAR 24 WE PERMITTED 669 NEW INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS AND HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 234 UNITS WITH PERMITS RATE TO ISSUE AT ESD WE ALSO PERMITTED OR COMPLETED 219 NEW INCOME RESTRICTED HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS SO FAR THIS YEAR AND AS YOU MAY HAVE SEEN WE RECENTLY SOME OF YOU WERE THERE AWARDED $69 MILLION IN OUR ANNUAL FUNDING ROUND WHICH WILL CREATE 826 UNITS 775 OF WHICH WILL BE BELOW MARKET AND INCOME RESTRICTED.  WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT DISPLACEMENT THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM AND HELP DEVELOPERS ACQUIRE 283 OCCUPIED RENTAL UNITS THIS PAST YEAR AND CONVERT THEM INTO INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING.  TWO OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT WE FUNDED AND PERMANENT ARE HERE. THE PHOTO ON THE RIGHT IS THE KENSI AND NUBIAN SQUARE WHICH INCLUDES 50 INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND ON THE LEFT IS A HILLSBOROUGH HILLSBOROUGH LIVE LIVE SORRY LIVE WORK CONDO DEVELOPMENT IN DORCHESTER AND THAT WILL CREATE 21 UNITS FOR ARTISTS CERTAINLY A PREFERENCE FOR ARTISTS EARNING BETWEEN 80 AND 100% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND THAT IS IN DORCHESTER.  LOOKING AHEAD TO FISCAL YEAR 25 WE INTEND TO PERMIT AN ADDITIONAL 1200 UNITS OF INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING PERMIT OR COMPLETE 250 NEW UNIT AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS AND ACQUIRE AT LEAST 125 UNITS TO PRESERVE AFFORDABILITY. WE WILL ALSO BE LAUNCHING THE NEW AFFORDABLE THAT SORRY THE HOUSING ACQUISITION FUND WHICH WILL COMBINE CITY FUNDING WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FOUNDATIONS, HOSPITALS AND OTHER INVESTORS TO PROVIDE LOW COST LOANS TO DEVELOPERS FOR ACQUISITION PROJECTS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SELECTING AN ADMINISTRATOR FOR THIS. THESE FUNDS WHEN WE LOOK FOR WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE WE HAVE CREATED AND SPENT OUR MONEY THIS SLIDE SHOWS OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION AND PRESERVATION SPENDING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE CLOSED ON OVER $200 MILLION IN FUNDING TO CREATE OR PRESERVE NEARLY 2000 UNITS ACROSS EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  TURNING TO HOMELESSNESS AND SUPPORT OF HOUSING IN FISCAL YEAR 24 WE PLACED OVER 1000 HOMELESS ADULTS VETERANS, YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN PERMANENT HOUSING. WE REVAMPED AND IMPLEMENTED OUR COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM TO ENSURE RESOURCES ARE TARGETED TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM THE MOST AND WE ISSUED AN UPDATED PLAN TO REDUCE INDIVIDUAL HOMELESSNESS.  I WAS ALSO VERY, VERY PROUD OF OUR TEAM THAT BECAUSE WE ARE AWARDED $47.7 MILLION IN HUD CONTINUUM OF CARE MONEY THE LARGEST AWARD THAT WE HAVE EVER RECEIVED IN FISCAL YEAR 25 WE ARE PUSHING TO HOUSE ANOTHER THOUSAND HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND 170 VETERANS PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES TO 680 PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS AND WE'RE GOING TO ADVANCE 280 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION.  SHOWN HERE ARE TWO OF THOSE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECTS 900 MORRISSEY BOULEVARD IN DORCHESTER ON THE LEFT AND 41 LAGRANGE STREET DOWNTOWN ON THE RIGHT.  WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR HOMEOWNERSHIP ACTIVITY IN FISCAL YEAR 24 WE HAVE CONTINUED TO PROMOTE HOMEOWNERSHIP BY PROVIDING HOMEBUYER EDUCATION TO OVER 1500 RESIDENTS AND HELPED OVER 201ST TIME HOMEBUYERS WITH DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND MORTGAGE SUBSIDIES WITH 65% IDENTIFYING AS BIPOC HOUSEHOLDS. WE'VE ALSO CONTINUED TO FUND HOME REPAIR AND HEATING SYSTEM PROJECTS ESPECIALLY FOR OUR SENIORS AND PROVIDE PROVIDED FORECLOSURE PREVENTION SERVICES TO HUNDREDS OF HOUSEHOLDS. THE PHOTO ON THE LEFT IS A RECENT HOME WORKS REHAB PROJECT ON DRAPER STREET IN DORCHESTER AND ON THE RIGHT IS 17 HOLBORN STREET IN ROXBURY AN INCOME RESTRICTED SINGLE FAMILY HOME BUILT ON CITY LAND BY NORFOLK CONSTRUCTION IN FISCAL YEAR 25 WE PLAN TO EDUCATE ANOTHER 100 I'M SORRY 1500 POTENTIAL HOMEBUYERS AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO AT LEAST 201ST TIME HOMEBUYERS. WE ALSO PLAN TO ASSIST 230 HOMEOWNERS WITH FORECLOSURE PREVENTION, COUNSELING AND HELP 750 HOMEOWNERS WITH HOME REPAIRS INCLUDING AT LEAST 50 OLDER ADULTS WITH NEW EFFICIENT HEATING SYSTEMS. I'M ALSO EXCITED THAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS TO INCORPORATE ELECTRIFICATION AND DECARBONIZATION STRATEGIES TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPROVE AIR QUALITY.  WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ACTIVITIES OUR HOME OWNERSHIP ACTIVITIES BY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS SLIDE YOU'LL SEE THAT HOME BUYER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SPENDING BY NEIGHBORHOOD AND RACE. AS YOU CAN SEE THIS ASSISTANCE IS REALLY BENEFITING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WITH 62% GOING TO DIVERT THE DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS OF MATTAPAN AND HYDE PARK, DORCHESTER AND ROXBURY AND 65% GOING TO BIPOC HOUSEHOLDS.  WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR HOMEOWNERSHIP OUR HOMEOWNER REHAB MONEY AND FUNDING, THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE SAME FOR OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS WITH 77% OF OUR ASSISTANCE GOING TO BIPOC HOUSEHOLDS AND 79% OF OUR FUNDING GOING TO MATTAPAN DORCHESTER, ROXBURY AND HYDE PARK.  NEXT I JUST WANT TO TALK VERY, VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES THAT OUR OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY HAS OVERSEEN AS EVERY COUNCILOR IN THIS CHAMBER KNOWS, HOUSING STABILITY HAS BEEN A HUGE FOCUS OF OURS OVER IN THE RECENT YEARS AND WE ARE OFTEN CALLED BY FROM YOUR OFFICES TO HELP AND MOST PRESSING CASES IN FISCAL YEAR 24 WE'VE BEEN SPENDING DOWN THE BALANCE OF ONE TIME COVID EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING FROM THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS $1,000,000 IN NEW CITY FUNDING THAT WAS USED TO CREATE OUR TENANT STABILIZATION FUND. SO FAR IN FISCAL YEAR 24 THROUGH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY IN A NONPROFIT PARTNERS, WE'VE DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 3 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO 670 HOUSEHOLDS AND HELPED OVER 5000 RESIDENTS WITH HOUSING STABILITY AND HOUSING SEARCH SERVICES.  WE ALSO PREVENTED 850 POTENTIAL EVICTIONS AND PLACED 400 HOUSING INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES TO RENTERS FACING EVICTION AND HOUSING INSTABILITY AND WE WILL EXPAND THE TENANT STABILIZATION FUND TO ASSIST MORE RENTERS FACING HOUSING INSTABILITY. WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH OWNERS TO REVISE OUR FIRE RESPONSE PROCEDURES TO ENSURE SEAMLESS SUPPORT FOR FIRE VICTIMS AND WE'RE DOING THAT CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING OWNERS OFFICE, A NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES LOOKING AT HOW WE'RE SPENDING RENTAL ASSISTANCE BY NEIGHBORHOOD AND RACE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS HOW OUR 24 FISCAL YEAR 24 RENTAL ASSISTANCE SPENDING IS BROKEN DOWN BY NEIGHBORHOOD AND DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS WE'VE WORKED HARD TO ENSURE THAT EVERY COMMUNITY IN BOSTON CAN ACCESS THIS ASSISTANCE.  AS A RESULT, 65% OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS HAVE GONE TO BIPOC HOUSEHOLDS.  SHIFTING GEARS A WEE BIT I WANT TO JUST CHAT A VERY VERY QUICKLY ABOUT WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED WITH OUR URBAN AGRICULTURE AND OPEN SPACE EFFORTS JUST STARTING ITS THIRD YEAR THE GROW BOSTON OFFICE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE HAS ALREADY HAD A VERY MEANINGFUL AND LARGE IMPACT IN FISCAL YEAR 24 GROW BOSTON HELPED BUILD 300 RAISED GARDEN BEDS THREE NEW COMMUNITY GARDENS, A ROOFTOP FARM AND AWARDED 13 URBAN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION GRANTS.  IN ADDITION, WE AWARDED CLOSE TO $1 MILLION FOR URBAN AGRICULTURAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GRASS ROOTS PROGRAM WITH TWO URBAN FARMS TO BE COMPLETED SOON.  WE ALSO SOLD OR TRANSFERRED NINE CITY OWNED PARCELS THAT WILL BE USED FOR OPEN SPACE AND URBAN AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION . PICTURED HERE ON THE RIGHT IS A LOOK AT SOME OF THE RAISED BEDS THAT WE FUNDED AT THE ELLINGTON FOOD FOREST IN DORCHESTER AND ON THE LEFT THE PROPOSED ROOFTOP GARDEN AT THE BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER IN FISCAL YEAR 25. OUR GOALS OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE 300 ADDITIONAL RAISE BEDS AND ANOTHER ROOFTOP FARM AND TO PARTNER WITH OTHER CITY AGENCIES TO CREATE AT LEAST TEN GARDENS AT LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, DAYCARES AND SCHOOLS. WE WILL ALSO BE ESTABLISHING A FRUIT TREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AND IMPLEMENTING THE BOSTON URBAN AGRICULTURAL STRATEGY WHICH WAS RECENTLY COMPLETED.  AS YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO FUNDING LAND IS A CRITICAL ASSET WE USE TO DEVELOP HOUSING AND COMMUNITY.  SINCE THE START OF 2022 WE HAVE DISPOSED OF OVER 440,000 SQUARE FEET OF SURPLUS PROPERTY COLLECTING $850,000 IN SALES REVENUE FOR THE CITY. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WE GENERATED $250 MILLION IN NEW DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING 400 NEW HOUSING UNITS 96% OF WHICH ARE INCOME RESTRICTED AND WE'VE ALSO CREATED 64,000 SQUARE FEET OF OPEN SPACE IN GARDENS AND ACROSS BOSTON.  THE CHART ON THE RIGHT SHOWS A SNAPSHOT OF OUR LAND INVENTORY . AS YOU CAN SEE NEARLY HALF OF THE THOUSAND PARCELS IN OUR INVENTORY ARE UNAVAILABLE OR UNDEVELOPED SUCH AS URBAN WILDS OR THE GROVE AND SUCH THINGS OF THE REMAINDER OVER 231 PARCELS ARE AN ACTIVE DISPOSITION PROCESS.  THAT MEANS WE'VE EITHER DESIGNATED A DEVELOPER OR A COMMUNITY GROUP TO OVERSEE THE LAND WE'VE REPEATED OR WE ARE AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH MANY OF YOUR OFFICES WE'VE HAD REAL SUCCESS IN RECRUITING LOCAL MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES FOR OUR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS THIS YEAR SIX OUT OF SEVEN VACANT LAND MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS WERE AWARDED TO MWB BUSINESSES IN FISCAL 25.  WE EXPECT TO SELL OR TRANSFER AT LEAST 95 PARCELS OF LAND AND INCREASE OUR MWB CONTRACTOR POOL FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES BY WORKING WITH THE SUPPLIER DIVERSITY DEPARTMENT AND DOUBLING DOWN ON OUR RESEARCH, OUR OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE EFFORTS.  SO THAT WAS THAT WAS A LOT AND I APOLOGIZE FOR TALKING SO MUCH BUT RIGHT NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND RICK WILSON TO PRESENT OUR FISCAL YEAR 25 RECOMMENDED BUDGET.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS, SHEILA.  AGAIN, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS RICK WILSON AND I'M DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE SCREEN BEFORE YOU IS OUR FBI 25 RECOMMENDED OPERATING BUDGET WHICH IS $53.6 MILLION A $4.1 MILLION INCREASE OR 8.4% OF OUR F 24 BUDGET. THAT INCREASE IS MADE UP OF FOUR PRIMARY COMPONENTS $2 MILLION FOR THE HOUSING ACQUISITION FUND THAT SHEILA DESCRIBED EARLIER TO SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM $1 MILLION FOR INCREASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS RENTERS FACING CRISIS AND FOR RESIDENTIAL DECARBONIZATION INITIATIVES AT THE BOSTON HOME CENTER.  $1 MILLION IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COSTS OF TRANSFERRING STAFF OVER FROM THE BPA HOUSING POLICY AND COMPLIANCE TEAM TO MDH AND IN FACT THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE ALREADY EMBEDDED AT ATMO OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO TRY TO ALIGN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND THEN HUNDRED AND $65,000 FROM NONUNION GENERAL WAGE INCREASES THAT WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE CITY A MONTH OR TWO AGO. THIS SLIDE SHOWS A BREAKDOWN OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET BY PROGRAM AREA THANKS TO INVESTMENTS IN RECENT YEARS WE ARE NOW ABOUT $10 MILLION FOR EACH OF THOSE. THE FIRST THREE CATEGORIES ON THE SCREEN HOMEBUYER AND HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING I'M SORRY AND HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THE OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY IS FUNDED AT $4.7 MILLION WHICH IS MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS FUNDED OUT WHEN IT WAS CREATED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THE OFFICE OF GLOBAL GROWTH BOSTON OFFICER OF AN AGRICULTURE HAD THIS RECEIVED INCREASES IN RECENT YEARS AND THEN THE LAST ITEM ON THE CHART IS THE CITY OF BOSTON VOUCHER PROGRAM WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE VHA THROUGH AN MBA FROM OUR OFFICE AND I'M SURE ADMINISTRATOR BUT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE BUT AS YOU KNOW COUNSELORS, THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUDGET DOESN'T COME FROM CITY FUNDING BUT FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES.  WE'RE EXPECTING $157.8 MILLION IN SPENDING FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES AND THEREFORE OUR 25 EXCLUDING ARPA AND THE LARGEST SOURCE IS THE HUD CONTINUUM OF CARE GRANT THAT SHEILA MENTIONED EARLIER AT JUST UNDER 48 MILLION THE CDBG GRANT HOME ESG LEAD HARBOR THOSE ARE OUR ANNUAL HUD GRANTS AND WE'RE EXPECTING ALL OF THEM TO BE ESSENTIALLY FLAT EXCEPT FOR HOME WHICH DID RECEIVE A 17% CUT OR $1,000,000 THANKS TO ACTION BY CONGRESS THAT WILL SLIGHTLY REDUCE OUR FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND THEREFORE 25 WE'RE CONTINUING TO SPEND DOWN OUR COVID RELATED GRANTS THAT OBJECT AND HALLMARK WE EXPECT THOSE TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF A4 25 OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE FOR US FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND THE COMMONWEALTH BUILDER PROGRAM IS A PASS THROUGH GRANT FROM THE STATE THAT SUPPORTS HOMEOWNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.  AS NOTED, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ARPA FUNDING WHICH IS IN TECHNICALLY IN OUR BUDGET. WE DID OF COURSE THANKS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR RECEIVE AN ALLOCATION OF OVER $200 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDING WHICH WE ARE LASER FOCUSED ON NAVIGATING BY THE DEADLINE AT THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR AND SPENDING BY 2026. AND WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SHEILA I THINK TO WRAP IT UP AND THEN PASS IT ALONG TO ADMINISTRATOR BUCK. OKAY WE'RE JUST PAST THE DIRECTED ADMINISTRATOR BUCK AWESOME, GREAT.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE CITY COUNCIL IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE HERE TO SHARE. WE'RE ALL AND ALL THE COUNCILORS ARE ARE MY SLIDES ON THIS. IT LOOKS LIKE THE SORRY THE BIT THEIR VHA SLIDES THAT WERE ATTACHED TO OUR DECK SHOULD ALSO BE YEAH YEAH.  JUST WHAT WE PULLED THIS UP FOR A SECOND I WILL JUST SAY THAT WHEN WHEN I WAS FIRST INVOLVED IN A CITY COUNCIL BUDGET PROCESS IT WAS AS A BUDGET STAFFER. SO SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE BUDGET STAFFERS IN THE SPRING OF 2016 FOR FY 17 AND THE ADMINISTRATOR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO MEANINGFUL CITY BUDGET SUPPORT FOR THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.  AND I THINK LIKE IT'S IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL FOR US THAT THAT HAS CHANGED SO MUCH IN THE INTERVENING YEARS AND ONCE I GET SLIDES UP THE WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS THAT THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE REALLY THRILLED TO BE WORKING ON THE CITY TOGETHER WITH AND THOSE ARE SUPPORTED BY A MIX OF OPERATING BUDGET FUNDS ,CAPITAL BUDGET FUNDS AND ALSO ARPA FUNDS.  AS RICK SAID, WE'VE ALSO BENEFITED SIGNIFICANTLY BY THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO HOUSING AND THE ARPA PROCESS. I I A WELL I'M JUST NOW I'M JUST STALLING FOR TIME BUT BUT BUT YOU KNOW I THINK MAYBE IT'S WORTH SAYING FOR ANYBODY WATCHING AT HOME THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITIES OPERATING BUDGET COMES MAINLY FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT SO WE OPERATE FEDERAL PUBLIC HOUSING AND FIGHTER AND A FEDERAL VOUCHER PROGRAM ALONG WITH STATE PUBLIC HOUSING AND A STATE VOUCHER PROGRAM AND OF THOSE GET SEPARATE APPROPRIATIONS OF THOSE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT . SO SO THAT'S WHY OUR MAIN OPERATING BUDGET IS NOT THE SUBJECT OF THE HEARING TODAY BUT REALLY EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE WHERE WE'RE STILL FALLING PULLING US OUT. OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY NEED THE SLIDES. I'LL JUST I'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO A FEW OF THE THINGS BUT ACTUALLY WHY DON'T I I'LL INTRODUCE ONE WAITING MY TEAM WHO'S HERE AND TAYLOR CAIN, MY CHIEF OF STAFF IS OVER HERE A DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR JOEL WALL, ALSO A CITY COUNCIL ALUM IS OVER HERE. MEGAN RYAN IS OUR FANTASTIC DIRECTOR OF ALL THINGS HOMEOWNERSHIP AND NOW ALSO OUR HOUSING SEARCH COUNSELING PROGRAM AS WELL. AND DAVID GLAZE WHO I THINK IS OUT IN THE HALLWAY IS MY OTHER DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR HOUSING PROGRAMS.  SO WE'VE GOT LOTS OF AWESOME HEAVY HITTERS HERE TODAY.  AND WHILE YOU DO THAT I COULD JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNSELOR WEBER COUNSELOR FITZGERALD AND COUNSELOR DURKIN HAS JOINED US AND WE CHECK WITH CENTERS WHO ARE ATTACHED HERE THIS AFTERNOON IF YOU COULD GIVE US OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON THE SCREEN NOW. OKAY, GREAT. AWESOME.  OH, ALSO JUST ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM THE KENZIE IS NOT NAMED AFTER ME . SHEILA'S NEW DEVELOPMENT DESPITE EVERYONE'S JOKES TO THE CONTRARY IT IS AND SAYING YES, THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S NOT ME . IT'S WOULD BE GREAT BUT THE LAST ONE.  OKAY.  YEAH. I MEAN, I CAN JUST I MEAN, I COULD JUST SPEAK TO IT. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE CHAIR WANTS ME TO DO. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO GO IN A BRIEF RECESS BUT I CAN ALSO JUST TALK ABOUT  WE'RE BACK IN SESSION ADMINISTRATIVE BUT THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR CHAIR. AND IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.  ALL RIGHT, GREAT. SO THESE ARE RELATIVELY MINIMALIST SLIDES.  SO I YOU KNOW BUT ANYWAYS SO I JUST WANTED TO COVER FOR THE COUNCIL JUST KIND OF A SENSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY IS CURRENTLY SUPPORTING IN TERMS OF VHA ENDEAVORS. SO A REALLY BIG ONE WHICH YOU ALREADY HEARD ABOUT IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY IS THE CITY VOUCHER PROGRAM.  YOU KNOW THE VHA THINKS IT'S IT'S AN AMAZING THING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SEVERAL YEARS AGO DECIDED TO SUPPORT AND FUND A BOSTON CITY VOUCHER PROGRAM AND THAT IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S GROWN IN A SERIES OF BUDGETS AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT IT PROVIDES US WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADMINISTER VOUCHERS THAT ARE A BIT MORE FLEXIBLE SOMETIMES THAN SOME OF FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS THAT WE OPERATE UNDER WITH THE FEDERAL AND STATE ONES.  SO THIS IS A REALLY GREAT NEW AND GROWING PROGRAM OF A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT IT ON THE NEXT SLIDE. BUT DON'T GO THERE YET.  THEN THERE'S ALSO FUNDING THROUGH THE CITY FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK AT VHA.  THIS BOTH INVOLVES OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT COMMUNITY POLICING MODEL LED BY CHIEF SHU FOCUSED ON KIND OF VHA POLICE PARTNERSHIP AND ALSO CRITICALLY INVOLVES A REALLY EXCITING MULTIYEAR INVESTMENT IN A NEW KIND OF STATE OF THE ART EVIDENCE BASED YOUTH PROGRAMING WHERE WE'RE STARTING WITH FRANKLIN FIELD BUT REALLY TRYING TO COPY SOME OF THE BEST PROGRAMS IN THE IN THE STATE IN THE COUNTRY AND FOCUS ON GIVING OUR ARE BOSTON HOUSING BOSTON PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENT YOUTH LIKE THE BEST PROGRAMS THAT THEY CAN HAVE AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE THINK AS WE FINE TUNE THAT AT FRANKLIN FIELD THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOMETHING GOING THAT WE COULD THEN REPLICATE AT OTHER SITES AND THEN A FEW YEARS AGO THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED SOME INITIAL MONEY FOR FAIRCLOTH PLANNING WHICH IS RELATED TO THIS THIS PROGRAM OF OURS TO ADD 3000 MORE PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS AROUND THE CITY OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS KIND OF IN A SERIES OF MIXED INCOME AND DIFFERENT WAYS BUT REALLY AN EXCITING FEDERAL RESOURCE AND THE THE COUNCIL SUPPORTED SOME INITIAL MONEY FOR US TO HELP DO PLANNING ABOUT WHERE WE CAN SITE THESE ON OUR LAND ALTHOUGH WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO SITE THEM ON OTHER PUBLIC SITES AND IN SOME CASES PRIVATE SITES AS WELL.  SO THOSE ARE THREE THINGS THAT ARE SUPPORTED IN THE OPERATING BUDGET THEN ON THE CAPITAL SIDE THERE'S SOME SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL TO SUPPORT OUR ELDERLY AND DISABLED PROPERTY. SOME THE DEEP RETROFIT RENOVATIONS WE'RE DOING AT SITES LIKE DORIS BUNTING WHICH IS SHOWN HERE IN THE PICTURE AND I SHOULD ALSO SAY IT'S NOT LISTED HERE BUT THERE'S SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR FOR SOME OF OUR REDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. SO THE CHARLESTOWN AND MARY ELLEN REDEVELOPMENTS AND THE MILDRED HAILEY ONE ALL IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET ENORMOUS SUPPORT FOR THE PART OF THE MILDRED HAILEY SITE THAT WE'RE REDEVELOPING OURSELVES BACK THROUGH THE MAYOR'S MAJOR $50 MILLION CAPITAL COMMITMENT MADE A FEW YEARS AGO AND THEN ONE THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR THAT'S A NEW INVESTMENT THAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE BUDGET BOOK IS AN ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION ELEVATORS ARE A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR US AT VHA, PARTICULARLY AT SITES WHERE WE HAVE SINGLE NON REDUNDANT ELEVATORS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IF THEY GO DOWN THAT'S THE ONLY ONE WE'VE GOT AND IN A LOT OF CASES SORT OF CAPTIVE TO IT. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS A SLIGHTLY INSANE ELEVATOR REPAIR MARKET SO WE'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN IN KIND OF GETTING AHEAD OF THOSE AND DOING MORE AGGRESSIVE MODERNIZATION AND CAPITAL PLANNING SOONER SO THAT WE ARE MAKING THE PLANS BEFORE WE LOSE ELEVATORS. AND SO THAT'S A THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT GOAL FOR US ON THE CAPITAL PLANNING SIDE AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING FOR THE CITY CAPITAL BUDGETS PROPOSING TO SUPPORT IT AND THEN AGAIN IN THE KIND OF ARPA CATEGORY SO NOT TECHNICALLY IN THE BUDGET BOOK BUT WORTH TALKING ABOUT OUR FIRST HOME PROGRAM THAT WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF . AGAIN I HAVE MEGAN RYAN HERE SO I'LL LET HER TALK ABOUT IT IN MORE DETAIL IN A MINUTE BUT YOU KNOW I THINK THE HIGHLIGHT WHICH AT THIS POINT I'VE SHARED WITH LOTS OF FOLKS IS THAT WE USED TO HAVE TWO FAMILIES A YEAR DO SECTION EIGHT TO HOME HOMEOWNERSHIP A SORT OF PATHWAY THAT WAS THEORETICAL BUT NOT BEING REALIZED IN PRACTICE AND WITH THE INVESTMENTS THAT THE COUNCIL MADE THROUGH ARPA WE'VE GONE TO 50 FAMILIES IN THE FIRST YEAR. SO REALLY JUST AN INCREDIBLE STEP CHANGE AND JUST GOING TO CHANGE SO MANY FAMILIES FOR SO MANY GENERATIONS TRAJECTORIES WE ALSO HAVE BIG INVESTMENTS THROUGH ARPA IN DIGITAL EQUITY FOR OUR VHA RESIDENTS AND EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND ON THOSE AND THEN A LOT TO HELP US WITH OUR FOSSIL FUEL FREE PUBLIC HOUSING WORK AS WELL. SO THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES AND CITIES SUPPORTING US ON. WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.  OKAY. SO SO THE CITY VOUCHER PROGRAM FOLKS CAN SEE THIS IS AGAIN LIKE EXPECTING TO MOVE ON MY COMPUTER SO AS YOU CAN SEE THIS HAS EXPANDED FROM 421 WHEN IT FIRST GOT STARTED OUT AT $2.5 MILLION ALL THE WAY TO $11.75 MILLION. LIKE I SAID, WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS THERE.  539 TENANT BASED AND PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS THAT ARE ALREADY ONLINE OR COMMITTED.  THIS GIVES A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXPLANATION OF THE OF THE UTILIZATION. SO 205 OF THEM ARE PROJECT BASED AND HUNDRED AND 24 ARE MOBILE. SO PROJECT BASED MEANS THEY'RE TIED TO THE PHYSICAL UNIT AND SO THEN THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIVE IN THAT UNIT ARE ELIGIBLE THEY THEY DON'T HAVE THE VOUCHER TO TAKE WITH THEM THE VOUCHERS LIVING WITH THE UNIT MOBILE MEANS IT FOLLOWS THE PERSON YOU HEARD IN THE TESTIMONY EARLIER A LOT OF THE ADVOCACY INTEREST IN US DOING MORE OF THESE AS PROJECT BASED WE HAVE ALSO BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS FOR THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S ONE THING TO GIVE FAMILIES A PIECE OF PAPER THAT'S GOING TO THEORETICALLY HELP THEM FIND HOUSING BUT IN THIS INSANE HOUSING MARKET WHERE VACANCY IS SO LOW THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS LIKE TURN INTO REALITY. SO BECAUSE OF THAT WE'VE BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON FINDING PROJECTS. THE CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE FACING IS THAT THERE'S A TIME LAG SO WE WE'VE COMMITTED TO PROJECT BASING VOUCHERS BUT THEN THE UNITS ARE NOT ONLINE YET AND SO THAT PUTS US IN A SLIGHTLY WEIRD SITUATION BECAUSE WE CAN'T COMMIT TO MORE WE CAN FUND IN THE LONG TERM BUT IT CAN LEAVE US WITH A BIT OF A LAG.  SO WE'RE TRYING TO KIND OF HANDLE THAT BY DOING MORE TENANT BASED VOUCHERS IN THE MEANTIME. WELL MORE OF OUR PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS COME ONLINE AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE ONLINE AS WE THEN ROTATE INTO BECAUSE OCCASIONALLY PEOPLE YOU KNOW, THEY GIVE UP THEIR VOUCHERS, THEY GO OTHER PLACES WE CAN THEN LIKE TURN THOSE BACK INTO PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS. SO THAT'S SORT OF HOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT CHALLENGE. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE MOBILE VOUCHERS HAVE COME THROUGH OH YES. THE OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY AT THE TABLE HERE WITH ME AND BEEPS AS REFERRALS FOR HOMELESS OR AT RISK FAMILIES. I MENTIONED THE FLEXIBILITY OF THESE VOUCHERS. YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABLE TO USE THE CITY VOUCHERS WITH MIXED STATUS FAMILIES AND THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DO ON THE FEDERAL SIDE AND AND WE'VE REALLY THE CPS I WOULD SAY LIKE THE VOUCHER PROGRAM IN GENERAL WHICH HAS BEEN A PARTNERSHIP WITH BETWEEN US AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO REFER FAMILIES ACROSS OUR FEDERAL, STATE AND CITY VOUCHER PORTFOLIO.  I THINK MORE THAN 1500 FAMILIES SINCE WE STARTED THAT PROGRAM WHICH IS A KIND OF TREMENDOUS NUMBER AND IT HAS BEEN I THINK ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ANCHORING IN THE CITY IN RECENT YEARS. SO WE'RE REALLY GLAD THAT THE CITY VOUCHERS ARE PAYING AND ARE PLAYING AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THAT. AND THEN THERE'S A THERE'S MENTION A SLIDE OF 110 THAT ARE COMMITTED TO WE HAVE A SMALL HOMEOWNERSHIP VOUCHER PILOT ON THE CITY VOUCHER SIDE THAT STARTED OUT OF COUNCIL ADVOCACY LAST YEAR. THE OFFICE OF RETURNING CITIZENS, THE VICE MEDICAL CENTER AND AGAIN BPF SO MEANS THERE'S SOME VOUCHERS WHICH WE HAVEN'T ISSUED BUT WE'VE SORT OF INDICATED TO THOSE PARTNERS THAT THEY CAN REFER FOLKS IN TO US AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM A VOUCHER. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE SNAPSHOT . I THINK THAT'S YES, THAT'S A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE ARE ON THE VOUCHER PROGRAM. BUT LIKE I SAID, I'VE GOT FOLKS HERE WHO CAN TALK ABOUT IT IN GREATER DEPTH SO.  YEAH. SO I JUST I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY MR CHAIR, THE SUMMARY THAT I SHOULD GET FOR NOW AND THEN GO IN WHATEVER DIRECTION THE COUNCIL WANTS TO. AWESOME. OH, THANK YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN THANK TO EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP TO GIVE TESTIMONY. NOW TURN IT OVER TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR QUESTIONS STARTING WITH COUNCILOR FLYNN.  THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, SHEILA.  THANK YOU. KENZIE. KENZIE, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW LONG THE WAITING LIST IS AT VHA ? SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 42,000 PEOPLE 32,000 HOUSEHOLDS I SHOULD SAY ON THE PUBLIC HOUSING WAITLIST WHICH IS A YOU KNOW, A REALLY SURREAL AND AWFUL NUMBER ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THE PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS THAT WE THE VHA DIRECTLY OPERATE AND THE ONES THAT WE PASS SUBSIDY THROUGH, IT'S ABOUT 14,000. SO YOU'RE BASICALLY DEALING WITH TRIPLE THAT IN TERMS OF ON THE WAITLIST THE VOUCHER SIDE WE DON'T EVEN REALLY HAVE A NUMBER BECAUSE MAYBE 15 YEARS AGO THE SORT OF OPEN VOUCHER WAITLIST WAS SHUT BECAUSE IT WAS GIVING PEOPLE FALSE HOPE BECAUSE THE VOUCHERS ARE SO AND ARE SO BACKLOG THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT PEOPLE GET THEM IS THROUGH REFERRALS RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER PROGRAMS SO THERE ISN'T LIKE A KIND OF OPEN WAITLIST BUT THE BASIC ANSWER UNFORTUNATELY COUNCILOR FLYNN, IS THAT IT'S VERY LONG THAT THAT LIST YOU COULD BE ON THAT LIST FOR 15 TO 20 YEARS, RIGHT? YEAH. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE GET ASKED OFTEN IS HOW LONG IS THE WAITLIST AND THE PROBLEM IS IS WE CAN'T GIVE PEOPLE AN EXACT ANSWER BECAUSE IT TOTALLY DEPENDS ON PEOPLE'S INDIVIDUAL SITUATIONS BECAUSE THE LIST IS SET UP TO PRIORITIZE FOLKS WHO ARE CURRENTLY HOMELESS.  BUT YES, YOU'RE RIGHT THAT YOU COULD BE ON THAT LIST FOR WELL OVER A DECADE AND WHAT IS THE PRIORITY GIVEN TO SOMEONE THAT'S NOT ON THE WAITING LIST? WHAT IS THE PRIORITY FOR THEM? HOMELESSNESS WOULD BE ONE CRITERIA. YEAH. SO EVEN SOMEBODY WHO'S HOMELESS WOULD HAVE TO GET ONTO THE WAITLIST BUT HOMELESS BUT HOMELESSNESS IS ONE OF THE PRIORITY ONES THAT GET THE MOST PEOPLE OFF THE LIST. WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE ONES IF YOU JUST LOCATED FROM THE FIRE? YEAH SO DEFINITELY THE FIRE. YOU KNOW WE HAVE I SHOULD SAY THAT THERE'S QUITE A COMPLEX SET OF PRIORITIES AND PREFERENCES SO THERE'S ALSO PREFERENCES RELATED TO TO YOU KNOW OUR OUR ELDERS, OUR DISABLED COMMUNITY THERE ARE ONES ACTUALLY FOR RENT BURDEN BOSTONIANS SO IT'S IT'S A WHOLE IT'S A WHOLE ARRAY OF FACTORS AND AND WE PUBLISH IT EVERY YEAR IN IN SOMETHING CALLED OUR ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN ONLINE OUR DISABLED VETERANS PART OF THAT LIST YES SO THEY THEY'RE DISABLED VETERANS GET PREFERENCE ALSO RIGHT YEAH AND I SHOULD SAY AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE COUNSELOR THERE'S ALSO A SPECIFIC VASH VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT'S FEDERALLY FUNDED THAT IS OBVIOUSLY SPECIFICALLY TARGETED AT VETERANS AND AND THAT'S BEEN PROBABLY ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL RESOURCES FOR SUPPORTING THAT COMMUNITY BOTH BECAUSE THOSE VOUCHER VOUCHERS PAY ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN BE PROJECT BASED TO HELP CREATE VETERANS HOUSING AND AND AND ALSO THAT VETERANS CAN MORE SUCCESSFULLY USE THEM IN THE MARKET THANK YOU CAN SEE I WENT DOWN TO D.C. LAST YEAR TO LOBBY FOR ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR VOUCHERS AND I WENT DOWN THERE WITH ROB SANTIAGO AND THAT'S A THAT'S A TOP PRIORITY I HAVE. SO I WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU AND SHEILA ON THAT. ABSOLUTELY.  SHEILA, CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND HOW IT IMPACTS HOW IT HELPS LOW INCOME FAMILIES BUT ALSO HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN CHINATOWN. LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION ARE CHALLENGES BUT HOW CAN WE ASSIST THEM WITH THIS PROGRAM?  SURE. AND IT'S A IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND WE ARE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS SERVES ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. SO WE DO PROVIDE AND KAREN RIBAS IS HERE FROM THE HOME CENTER WHO CAN GIVE YOU CHAPTER AND VERSE ON SOME OF THE REQUIRED MEANS AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS. BUT GENERALLY WE ARE PROVIDING RESOURCE SERVICES MOSTLY GRANTS TO OUR LOWER INCOME AND SENIOR POPULATIONS SO THAT THEY CAN DO CRITICAL HOME REPAIRS INCLUDING HEATING SYSTEMS.  AND SO WE ARE REALLY VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON LIFE SAFETY ROOFS,  STORM DAMAGE, PORCHES, BUILDING ENVELOPE WHERE WE SEE LEAKAGE, HEATING SYSTEMS ETC.. AND SO WITH THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE HAVE A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS OUT.  LOCATED IN HYDE PARK IT'S A SORT OF A SATELLITE OFFICE BUT IT'S MORE CENTRAL.  AND THEY WORK WITH THE HOMEOWNER TO TO REALLY ITEMIZE WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE AND THEN THEY THEY HIRE WITH WITH THE C WITH WITH THE HOMEOWNER A CONTRACTOR TO DO THE WORK AND THEN REALLY MONITOR THE WORK WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY DOES GOOD WORK AND NOT EVERYBODY'S HONEST.  SO THIS PROGRAM REALLY PROVIDES BOTH THE RESOURCES AND THE OVERSIGHT TO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORK IS DONE PROPERLY. KAREN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD. YES.  IS IT ON? YEAH. YES. OKAY. SO WE ALSO HAVE ALL OVER DOCUMENTS IN 1111 TO 12 LANGUAGES. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE ESPECIALLY FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR OWN LANGUAGE AND WE HAVE STAFF WITH THE SPEAKS MULTIPLE LANGUAGE AND NOW WE'RE IN A BOSTON HOME CENTER.  SO AND LIKE SHEILA SAID, WE PROVIDE ESPECIALLY TO SENIORS FULL SERVICES FROM START TO THE END OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY NOT ONLY THEY HAVE THE WORK DONE BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A QUALITY OF WORK DONE FOR THEIR HOME REPAIRS.  THANK YOU, SHEILA. AND KENZIE, DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE ON YOUR TEAM THAT SPEAKS CANTONESE?  DO YOU KNOW?  SORRY . ON OUR FRONT? YES. WE HAVE A QUITE A ROBUST LANGUAGE ACCESS DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE SEVERAL FOLKS WHO SPEAK CONTENT AT CANTONESE AND ACTUALLY SEVERAL FOLKS WHO SPEAK BOTH CANTONESE AND MANDARIN OR CANTONESE AND TEO IS A SENIOR IN SENIOR LEADERSHIP AT VHA IN SENIOR LEADERSHIP AT VHA AND I THINK WE WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY WHO WE SPECIFICALLY ASKED TO USE THAT SKILL. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL SEVERAL SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS WHO I THINK HAVE THAT SKILL AT COUNCILOR WE DO HAVE SENIOR LEADERSHIP THAT CAN SPEAK CANTONESE AND MANDARIN. HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE ON? I'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.  A MAN? YES. I'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. OKAY.  KENZIE, I KNOW YOU IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENT YOU MENTIONED IT ALL THE BUILDINGS, ALL THE ELEVATOR SYSTEMS WE GOT MONEY IN FIRST ST THE 12TH STREET. WE'RE HAVING A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WITH WITH CATHEDRAL AND IN THE SOUTH END.  WHAT ARE THE WHAT'S THE LONG TERM PLAN WITH CATHEDRAL?  YEAH, SO I THINK DEFINITELY CATHEDRAL IS ONE OF THE PLACES AND SORRY I SHOULD SAY WE ALSO CALL THAT RUTH BERKELEY APARTMENTS BUT FOLKS WILL KNOW IT. MANY FOLKS WILL ALSO NOTICE THE CATHEDRAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTH END.  SO AS AS COUNCILOR FLYNN KNOWS SOME ARE SAYING FOR THE REST THE AUDIENCE CATHEDRAL IS SET UP. IT'S SORT OF A JERUSALEM CROSS AND SO THERE'S A CORE PART OF THE BUILDING THAT HAS MULTIPLE DOUBLE ELEVATOR SETS.  BUT THE PLACE WHERE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGE RECENTLY IS THAT THERE'S THESE FOUR BRANCHES OF THE BUILDING THAT ARE EACH SERVED BY ONLY ONE NON REDUNDANT ELEVATOR. SO THOSE ARE SIX STORY BUILDINGS.  AND AND THE OTHER CHALLENGE FOR US IS THAT SOMETIME SEVERAL DECADES AGO WHEN THE VHA WAS TRYING TO HAVE MORE ACCESSIBLE UNITS IT RETROFIT A NUMBER OF UNITS ON THOSE NON REDUNDANT ELEVATORS INTO BEING 88 UNITS. BUT THEN THE CHALLENGE IS NOW THEY'RE SERVED BY THESE NON REDUNDANT ELEVATORS THAT ARE HAVING A LOT OF CHALLENGES. SO YOU KNOW IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT CLOSELY COUNCILOR BECAUSE I THINK THE THE CHALLENGE THERE IS THAT TO A LIKE A PROJECT WHERE YOU WOULD ADD A SECOND ELEVATOR THERE WOULD BE SO EXPENSIVE THAT THERE'D BE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF OTHER WORK YOU'D FUNCTIONALLY WANT TO DO. AND WE ALSO THERE'S ALL KINDS OF TRIGGERS RELATED TO ADA COMPLIANCE IN GENERAL WHICH THE FACT WHICH THOSE BUILDINGS DON'T MEET. SO I WOULD SAY WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU ON THAT YET BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT A LOT. BUT IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ELEVATORS ARE PROVIDING RELIABLE SERVICE FOR THE RESIDENTS CURRENTLY. AND SO WE'VE TAKEN SOME SOME STEPS TO ACCELERATE LIKE KIND OF REPLACING PARTS IN ADVANCE AND A BUNCH OF THOSE ELEVATORS SO THAT WE KNOW WE'RE NOT GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF ANYTHING AND YEAH, JUST REALLY PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THEM BUT IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THIS ADDITIONAL ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION MONEY AND AND CATHEDRAL. RUTH BARCLAYS RIGHT AT THE HEART OF THAT PROJECT. THANK YOU MR CHAIR AND MAY ABLE TO ASK A QUESTION AND MAYBE TO THE CHAIR THE ANSWER COULD BE GIVEN TO YOU.  ABSOLUTELY. UM, COULD I GET A IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENTS VHA DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT ARE THAT A RESIDENT CANNOT ACCESS BECAUSE OF ANY TYPE OF CHALLENGE WITH ADA ISSUES THAT ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR PERSONS WITH FOR FOR FOR SENIORS. BUT I JUST LIKE TO SEE A LIST OF HOW COMPLIANT WE ARE WITH FEDERAL FEDERAL LAW ON ADA REQUIREMENTS. BUT I DON'T NEED OBVIOUSLY AN ANSWER NOW BUT IF I COULD GET IT YOU KNOW IT'S A TO THAT TO THE CHAIR SOMETIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN. WE'D BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE. THANK YOU, COUNSELOR SANTANA, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  AND THANK YOU FOR THE ADMINISTRATION FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT WE FACE AS A CITY. AND YOU KNOW, I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO YOU TO THE PANELISTS BUT ALSO TO THE INCREDIBLE TEAMS THAT YOU ALL HAVE WILL DO AMAZING WORK SERVING OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. I'LL START OFF WITH ONE QUESTION. IN REGARDS OF SELLING LAND, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT ABOUT THE THINKING BEHIND THE STRATEGY OF SELLING, SELLING OR TRANSFERRING PARCELS INSTEAD OF ISSUING GROUND LEASES SO THE CITY COULD RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THAT LAND?  IT'S A REALLY VERY GOOD QUESTION WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER DAY ACTUALLY THERE WAS A PARCEL THAT CAME UP AND WE WERE DEBATING WHETHER IT SHOULD BE A LONG TERM LEASE OR A OR FOR YOU KNOW, ACTUAL TRANSFER OF OF PROPERTY. SO YOU ARE RIGHT TYPICALLY WE HAVE SOLD LAND OUTRIGHT.  WE HAVE NOT KEPT LONG TERM LEASES AND I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF REASONS FOR THAT. A LOT OF THE LAND WE SELL IS FOR HOME OWNERSHIP AND NOT THAT YOU CAN'T DO HOME OWNERSHIP ON A LONG TERM LEASE.  I MEAN WE WE LOOK AT DIAZ AND I AND SOME OF THE LAND TRUST THAT IS WHAT THEY DO.  A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS WANT TO OWN BOTH THE PROPERTY AND THEY WANT TO OWN THE LAND SO THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED AND DEVELOPERS ARE A LITTLE BIT LESS EXCITED ABOUT TAKING ON A DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WHERE THERE'S WHERE THERE'S A LAND LEASE AND I'M NOT HERE TO PASS JUDGMENT. IT'S JUST SORT OF LIKE A IT'S IT'S SORT OF A BOSTON THING PEOPLE WANT TO OWN THE LAND SO IF IT'S HOME OWNERSHIP WE HAVE WE HAVE BEEN ON ON THE OPEN SPACE OUR OPEN SPACE TRANSFERS WE'VE SOLD IN MOST SENSES WE'VE SOLD TO THE NONPROFIT OR TO THE COMMUNITY GROUP BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY WHAT THEY'VE WANTED TO HAVE. THEY'VE WANTED TO HAVE THAT KIND OF SITE CONTROL BUT WE HAVE BUILT IN VERY, VERY STRONG REVERTED CLAUSES SO THAT IF IF IT STOPS BEING USED IT'S IT STOPS BEING USED FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE THERE'S SERIOUS MAINTENANCE OR ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES WE CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY CLAW BACK THE LAND AND REPURPOSE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE ARE SOME INSTANCES WHERE WE HAVE SOLD IN LAND TRUSTS AND WE BUT I'M TRYING TO I BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF TIMES WE DO SELL AND IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE US TO EXPLORE I THINK WE CERTAINLY CAN. WE'RE THINKING INTERNALLY ABOUT THAT MORE AND MORE ESPECIALLY WITH RENTAL PROPERTIES. GREAT.  THANK YOU CHIEF AND CERTAINLY WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.  MY NEXT QUESTION IS IN REGARDS TO THE CITY VOUCHER USAGE, THIS IS ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF CITY VOUCHERS ARE THAT THEY CAN BE USED TO BENEFIT SOME FOLKS WHO AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS.  DO WE HAVE STATS ON USAGE OF CITY VOUCHERS FOR MAKES THAT AS FAMILIES AND FOR RETURNING CITIZENS?  I'M GOING TO ASK DAVID GLAESER FROM MY TEAM JUST TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO THIS A LITTLE BIT. I DON'T HAVE THOSE STATS TO HAND AND I DON'T THINK I MEAN THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE GIVEN YEAH, WE CAN WE CAN PROVIDE BUT YES, THE ANSWER IS WITH AND I MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE A REFERRAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THAT WITH THE OFFICE OF RETURNING CITIZENS AND AND WE ALSO WE ALSO HAVE DEFINITELY MADE USE OF THAT RESOURCE FOR EXTENDED FAMILIES. BUT DAVID, YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING TO THAT? YEAH, JUST ON THAT ONE OF THE LARGER PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE ON THE FEDERAL VOUCHER SIDE IS A REFERRAL PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES WITHIN THE CPS SYSTEM AND SO A LOT OF THOSE FAMILIES CANNOT USE FEDERAL VOUCHERS. SO WE'VE BEEN USING THE CITY PROGRAM FOR A LOT OF THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE THOSE ONE OR MORE NON ELIGIBLE CITIZENS WITHIN THE FAMILY FOR THOSE CITY FUNDED VOUCHERS. THE NUMBERS ARE PROBABLY ABOUT IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 40% OF THE FAMILIES WE'RE ASSISTING.  BUT I CAN GET SOME MORE EXACT NUMBERS FOR YOU. SURE. WE LOVE THAT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. MY NEXT QUESTION YOU KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY HEARD FROM PUBLIC TESTIMONY.  YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING FINDING HOUSING, YOU KNOW, AND COLLEAGUES WANT TO TALK THROUGH I KNOW YOU ALL DO AMAZING WORK AND I KNOW I KNOW YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT THIS RIGHT.  WHAT'S THE PROCESS WHEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE ON HOUSE WITH CHILDREN AND YOU KNOW, THEY GO TO A SHELTER, THERE'S A SPACE IN THAT SHELTER AND OBVIOUSLY THERE IS RESOURCES IN TERMS OF TRYING TO GET THEM HOUSING FOR A LONGER TERM. BUT LIKE WHAT WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR FOR A FAMILY WHO'S GONE TO THAT TODAY? LIKE WHAT CAN WE DO FOR OUR PEOPLE TODAY TOMORROW AND THOSE SITUATIONS CERTAINLY AND ANYONE WANTS TO ANSWER BUT I WILL SAY COUNSELOR, IN ALL HONESTY IT HAS NEVER BEEN THIS BAD AND IN THE PAST YOU KNOW, IN YEARS PAST EVEN THOUGH WE TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF SHELTER AND HELP THEM PAY THEIR RENT OR AVOID EVICTION OR IF THEY'RE REALLY STRUGGLING TO PAY RENT TO GET THEM INTO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING A UNIT THAT THEY CAN AFFORD MORE COMFORTABLY. THERE ARE TIMES WHERE PEOPLE FAMILIES END UP IN SHELTER AND WE ARE A RIGHT TO SHELTER STATE BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SUCH AN INFLUX OF NEWLY ARRIVED MIGRANT FAMILIES RIGHT NOW AS YOU'VE BEEN READING THE SHELTERS ARE FULL SO THEN IT BECOMES A CASE BY CASE BY CASE SITUATION RIGHT . WE CAN SOMETIMES PUT A FAMILY UP FOR A COUPLE OF NIGHTS IN A HOTEL IF THEY YOU KNOW AND WE FIND THEY'RE IN A CAR OR THAT THEY MIGHT BE ON THE STREET.  WE'RE WORKING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS TO SEE IF THEY CAN TAKE THEM. WE'RE CALLING THE STATE TO SEE IF THEY CAN BE PRIORITIZED IN THE SHELTER SYSTEM.  BUT IT IS IT IS A VERY, VERY SERIOUS DIRE SITUATION RIGHT NOW. I'M NOT TELLING YOU ANYTHING YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW BUT THERE ISN'T A WE DON'T THIS WHILE THE CITY IS WE FUND AND WE OVERSEE A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUAL SHELTER SYSTEM. WE DON'T OVERSEE THE FAMILY SYSTEM NOR COULD WE. IT'S YOU KNOW IT'S IT'S IT'S JUST TOO VAST, TOO LARGE.  BUT SO RIGHT RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST ANSWERING THE PHONE AND TRYING TO PROBLEM SOLVE WITH THE FAMILIES AS AS THEY AS THEY MAKE THEIR SITUATIONS KNOWN TO US. I DON'T KNOW DANIELLE, IF YOU HAVE ANY IF DIRECTOR JOHNSON HAS ANYTHING ELSE SHE WANTS TO ADD NO ADDITIONS. I THINK WHAT CHIEF DILLON MENTIONED IS ACCURATE.  IT'S DEFINITELY A CASE BY CASE BASIS AND LUCKILY WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE SO IN INSTANCES THAT WE JUST HEARD WE'RE ABLE TO RAPIDLY REACH OUT TO THE STATE TO SAY THIS IS THE SITUATION. IS THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE OF UNDERSTANDING AS CHIEF DILLON MENTIONED THAT THERE IS A DELUGE OF FAMILIES THAT NEED THE SAME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE. SO TRYING TO MAKE THE SYSTEM EQUITABLE IS IS VERY DIFFICULT . THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.  HAVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD YOU KNOW I GREW UP IN PUBLIC HOUSING AND YOU KNOW REALLY BELIEVE IN OUR PUBLIC HOUSING HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU IN THIS ROLE.  YOU KNOW YOU MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR FLYNN MENTIONED ABOUT YOU KNOW, ASKED ABOUT HOW LONG THE WAITING LIST IS IN ORDER FOR SOMEONE TO GET OFF THAT WAITING LIST, SOMEONE NEEDS TO EVACUATE TO THE ACTUAL HOMES. SO HOW QUICKLY ARE ARE WE ARE PEOPLE LEAVING PUBLIC HOUSING? ARE THERE ANY EFFORTS OF TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO LEAVE AND THEN FIND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR THEM?  YOU KNOW, I OFTEN TALK ABOUT PUBLIC HOUSING AS A GREAT TOOL THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY IN BOSTON BUT SHOULDN'T BE IT SHOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT WE USE FOREVER AND IT SHOULD BE A STEPPING STONE TO SOMETHING ELSE WE'D LOVE TO HEAR MORE EFFORTS IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS HOME OWNERSHIP BUT MORE EFFORTS ON IN TERMS OF HOW QUICKLY ARE WE ACTUALLY TURNING PEOPLE OVER AND ANY EFFORT ON THAT AND FROM YOUR FROM YOUR STAFF.  YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNSELOR SANTANA. SO I THINK YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT ALWAYS MAKES ME SAY THAT LIKE THE ENTIRE HOUSING ECOSYSTEM IS CONNECTED IN OUR CITY AND I THINK THAT WE MAKE A MISTAKE WHEN WE FOCUS ON ONLY ONE PIECE OF IT BECAUSE THE REALITY IS IS LIKE IT'S ALL LINKED. SO FOR INSTANCE WE USED TO SEE BACK, YOU KNOW, A WHILE BACK PRETTY MUCH LIKE 10% TURNOVER AND BE A CHANGE YEAR AND THE GIST WAS THAT WE HAD FAMILIES WHO WERE YOU KNOW, GOT INTO PUBLIC HOUSING, YOU KNOW, WERE VERY LOW INCOME, MAYBE HAD BEEN HOMELESS OR HAD HAD THESE CHALLENGES BUT THEN SORT OF STABILIZED START TO MAKE MORE MONEY AND THEN FOUND HOUSING IN THE PRIVATE MARKET. BUT THEY WERE FINDING HOUSING IN THE PRIVATE MARKET THAT WAS IN THAT CATEGORY OF SORT OF NATURALLY OCCURRING LIKE OCCURRING AFFORDABLE WHICH IS REALLY JUST ANOTHER WAY TO SAY CLASS APARTMENTS THAT MAYBE WEREN'T THAT HIGH QUALITY BUT WERE AVAILABLE AT THE PRICE POINT THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR. RIGHT. AND AND SO YOU WOULD HAVE FOLKS KIND OF MOVING TO THAT IF PUBLIC HOUSING WAS WRONG ONE OF THE LADDER UP TO THAT LIKE RUN TWO OF THE LATTER AND THUS FREEING UP WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS EXTREMELY LOW TURNOVER AT VHA BECAUSE NO ONE HAS ANYWHERE TO GO AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO STRESS BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THAT PEOPLE AREN'T MAKING A BIT MORE MONEY IT'S THAT MAKING A BIT MORE MONEY DOESN'T GIVE YOU AN OPTION IN THE CITY OF BOSTON BEYOND PUBLIC HOUSING BECAUSE THAT LIKE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR OF THE LADDER IS BROKEN, RIGHT? SO DEFINITELY THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE'VE DONE ON THIS IS THE FIRST HOME PROGRAM LIKE RECENTLY I MEAN 50 FAMILIES IN A YEAR.  WHAT I LOVE FOR IT TO BE 100 OR MORE. YES BUT IT'S LIKE THAT'S A MEANINGFUL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING ON. BUT REALISTICALLY THOSE THOSE FAMILIES WHAT'S AMAZING ABOUT THE PROGRAM IS THAT THE COMBINATION OF A SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER AND THE REALLY SUBSTANTIAL DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE IS ACTUALLY LETTING THEM JUMP TO BASICALLY LIKE ROUND FIVE OF THE LADDER. RIGHT. BECAUSE ALMOST ALL THOSE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN BUYING HOUSES IN THE MARKET LIKE THEY'RE ONLY A FEW HAVE BOUGHT DEED RESTRICTED HOUSING SO THEY'RE REALLY LIKE MAKING A BIG LEAP WHICH IS WHY IT'S SO EXCITING FOR US. BUT THE FLIP SIDE IS LIKE IT'S STILL JUST GETTING OVER BECAUSE TWO, THREE, FOUR IS ALL BROKEN SO YOU KNOW I THINK THAT THAT'S IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE.  I'LL GET YOU THE NUMBERS ON WHAT TURN OVER IS LOOKING LIKE I BUT IT'S SOMETHING LIKE 2.5% A YEAR IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING SIDE AND A 3.5% ATTRITION ON THE VOUCHER PROGRAM.  SO THAT'S WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY IT'S JUST IT'S JUST REALLY REALLY LOW GRADE. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TO OUR PARTNERS FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. MR CHAIR, CAN I SAY ONE THING ON ANOTHER QUESTION? COUNCILOR S.A. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT TO THE QUESTION ABOUT LIKE THE VOUCHER PROGRAM LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK ABOUT A LOT IS THAT SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S 750 FAMILIES, RIGHT? THAT'S THE CAP THE STATE HAS PUT AND WE THINK PROBABLY THE NUMBERS I SHOULDN'T SPEAK FOR THE STATE BUT IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 850 900 FAMILIES MAY BE GETTING CLOSE TO A THOUSAND LIKE IT LIKE ON THE ABOVE RATE . BUT YOU KNOW THE THE VHA IS DOING IN ANY GIVEN YEAR SOMETHING BETWEEN 500 TO 1000 FAMILIES AND NEW ADMISSIONS AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE FOLKS ARE COMING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE OF THE PRIORITIES WE TALKED ABOUT. SO I SAY THAT ONLY TO SAY THAT BUILDING PERMANENT HOUSING AND LIKE THE FAIRCLOTH INITIATIVE WE HAVE TO TRY TO ADD MORE PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS EVEN THOUGH IT'S LONG TERM IN THE LONG TERM IT TURNS INTO A PIECE OF THE SOLUTION TO THE EMERGENCY BECAUSE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE UNITS THAT WE HAD BUILT IN THE PAST, THAT LIST WOULD BE LIKE EVEN LONGER. SO I DO THINK THAT IT'S SORT OF TWO DIFFERENT TIME LIKE TEMPORAL ZONES BUT IN THE LONG RUN LIKE WHAT WE DO TODAY FOR PERMANENT HOUSING HELPS OUR SUCCESSORS DEAL WITH EMERGENCY HOUSING CRISES.  THANK YOU COUNSELOR MURPHY THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  CHAIR THANK YOU.  A LITTLE SAD BUT IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT OF COURSE AND I DO WANT TO UPLIFT MY COLLEAGUES BEFORE ME AND PROBABLY MY COLLEAGUES AFTER WHO ARE UPLIFTING OUR DISABLED RESIDENTS AND THOSE CONCERNS WHICH ARE VERY SPECIFIC FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS AND ALSO OUR VETERANS.  I KNOW WHEN A LOT OF THE YOU KNOW, THE ZONING MEETINGS AND ALL THAT VETERANS ARE OF POPULATION THAT WE'RE NOW HIGHLIGHTING FOR SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.  SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO UPLIFT.  YOU KNOW HOW MANY MENTIONED IT ALREADY SHEILA BUT YOU KNOW THE STATE HOUSES OUR FAMILIES AND WE HOUSE OUR INDIVIDUALS AND PEOPLE COME AND FAMILIES COME TO BOTH OF YOU RIGHT FOR, YOU KNOW, MANY DIFFERENT WAYS IF THEY'RE IN A SHELTER ALREADY FIND THEMSELVES HOMELESS, DISPLACED FROM A FIRE MIGRANTS BUT YOU DO MENTION IN ONE OF THE RESPONSES TO THE RFI AS YOU KNOW THAT OUR GOAL YOUR GOAL IS TO END HOMELESSNESS LIKE CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SHELTER SYSTEM AND WHAT OVERSIGHT IF ANY YOU HAVE AND HOW YOU IN THE SHELTER SYSTEM ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO END HOMELESSNESS? SURE.  AND YOU KNOW, LIKE I MENTIONED, THERE ARE REALLY TWO SHELTER SYSTEMS IN THE SHELTER SYSTEM FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THAT AND THE SHELTER SYSTEM FOR FAMILIES AND THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT.  THEY'RE THERE IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE NUMBERS AND LENGTH OF STAYS, THEY REALLY ARE TWO VERY, VERY SEPARATE SYSTEMS. BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT INDIVIDUALS ,THE INDIVIDUAL SHELTERS, THERE'S THE VAST MAJORITY OF FOLKS INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE THAT FIND THEMSELVES HOMELESS COME IN FOR VERY, VERY SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. AND I CAN GET YOU THESE THIS INFORMATION AND THEY YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WE CALL IT SELF RESOLVE, RIGHT? THEY FIGURE OUT THEY DON'T WANT TO BE THERE. THEY FIGURE OUT THAT THEY THEY THEY THEY THEY FIND A WAY OUT AND MAYBE IT'S CALLING A FAMILY MEMBER, MAYBE IT'S CALLING A FRIEND. MAYBE IT'S GOING BACK TO WHERE THEY ORIGINATED FROM.  THEY LEAVE AND THEN THERE ARE THEIR FOLKS THAT STAY FOR MUCH LONGER PERIODS OF TIME AND THEN WE START WORKING WITH THE SHELTER SYSTEM TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WHAT WHAT IS IT THEY NEED. RIGHT. AND WE START LOOKING AT INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR VERY LONG PERIODS OF TIME WHAT'S WHAT'S THE DISABILITY? WHAT'S THE HOUSING BARRIERS? WHAT'S THE LENGTH OF STAY AND START REALLY WORKING WITH THE INDIVIDUAL SHELTERS TO START HOUSING THOSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND IT'S BEEN A VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP BOTH WITH THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION AND PINE STREET AND SOME OF THE SMALLER SHELTERS TO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INDIVIDUALS STAY THERE FOR SHORTER PERIODS OF TIME AND THE NUMBER OF CHRONIC INDIVIDUALS OVER THE YEARS HAS REALLY GONE DOWN THIS YEAR LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER HAS BEEN A VERY CHALLENGING YEAR BECAUSE WHILE THE FAMILY SHELTERS ARE SEEING A VERY LARGE INFLUX OF MIGRANT FAMILIES, 50% OF NEWLY ARRIVED INDIVIDUALS IN PINE STREET, FOR INSTANCE, ARE FOREIGN BORN MIGRANT MIGRANT INDIVIDUALS COMING HERE FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS. BUT THEY IT IS IT IS MAKING A MORE CROWDED. I DON'T WANT TO SAY CHAOTIC BUT A MORE STRAINED SHELTER SYSTEM AND WE CONTINUE THE WORK AND WE CONTINUE TO HOUSE AND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND CERTAINLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VHA. BUT IT IS IT IS A MORE DIFFICULT, MORE STRAINED CONDITION RIGHT NOW. COULD YOU JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS DEFINE HOMELESSNESS LIKE IF YOU'RE LIVING IN A CAR, IF YOU'RE COUCH SURFING LIKE SURE.  I MEAN THERE'S PLENTY OF DEFINITIONS OUT THERE AND HUD HAS AN OFFICIAL ONE.  I YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN WHICH IN WHICH TO STAY AND BOSTON HAS A VERY IT'S THE LOWEST UNSHELTERED POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES WHICH IS GOOD NEWS . I MEAN IT'S STILL WE STILL SEE PEOPLE ON THE STREET BUT PEOPLE LIVING IN SHELTER, PEOPLE LIVING IN CARS CERTAINLY PEOPLE THAT ARE UNSHELTERED AND LIVING ON THE STREET AND COUCHSURFING SOMETIMES IT GETS A LITTLE HARDER TO DEFINE BUT CERTAINLY HUD WOULD DEFINE THAT TO AS A AS A HOMELESS CONDITION.  THANK YOU. ARE THEIR PLANS TO EXPAND HOUSING SUPPORT FOR OUR CITY WORKERS WHO HAVE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS?  SO YES AND I'M THERE IN FACT THAT OUR H.R. DEPARTMENT HAS MADE FUNDS AVAILABLE NOW AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN BEFORE YOU OR NOT BUT THEY HAVE SET UP A FUND FOR OUR CITY WORKERS THAT ARE FINDING THEMSELVES IN A CONDITION WHERE THEY NEED HELP WITH RENT RELIEF FOR FIRST AND LAST AND SO THAT THAT FUND HAS BEEN SET UP AND I THINK IT'S OFF TO A VERY STRONG START. WE WE DO ALLOW CITY EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS UNLESS THERE'S SOME PERCEIVED CONFLICT OR ACTUAL PROCEDURE ACTUAL CONFLICT CITY EMPLOYEES AND THEY DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR HOMEBUYING RESOURCES THEY'RE CALLING THE OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY. WE HAVE A LOT OF CLIENTS THAT ARE OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND THEY CAN CERTAINLY GET INTO ALL OF OUR CITY LOTTERIES FOR FOR HOUSING UNLESS THERE'S A UNLESS THERE'S A CONFLICT.  SO YES, WE WE VERY MUCH RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT NOT ALL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES CAN AFFORD TO LIVE COMFORTABLY IN BOSTON. SO WE WE'RE GLAD TO HELP. THAT'S GOOD AND I'M KENZIE YOU MENTIONED THE 50 HOMEOWNERSHIP WHICH IS WONDERFUL. THERE IS BRIGHT LIGHT AND I THINK OF COUNCILWOMAN HERE WHEN SHE SAYS YOU KNOW WE'RE RESEARCH RICH BUT COORDINATION POOR LIKE HOW IS THAT GETTING OUT THERE? HOW HOW ARE WE COMMUNICATING ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO HAVE TO OFFER? YEAH. SO THAT PROGRAM AND I MIGHT ACTUALLY INVITE MEGAN TO COME UP AND JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THIS BUT YOU KNOW THAT PROGRAM WE INITIALLY DID A BUNCH OF OUTREACH IT THEN SORT OF CAUGHT FIRE WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY FOLKS AND NOW WE'RE AT A PLACE WHERE YOU KNOW, WE EXPECT THE ARPA ALLOCATION SUPPORTING THAT PROGRAM TO BE FULLY SPENT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. SO WE'RE KIND OF IN A PLACE WHERE IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE TO ACTIVELY RECRUIT ADDITIONAL PEOPLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANY VERY FALSE HOPE IN TERMS OF THE SUPPORTS.  THAT SAID, WE'RE VERY ACTIVELY APPLYING FOR GRANTS AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO EXPAND THAT MONEY SO THAT WE CAN THEN DO MORE RECRUITMENT.  BUT I DON'T KNOW MEGAN, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK JUST A LITTLE BIT TO RECRUITMENT AND HOW WE SPREAD THE WORD. SURE. THANK YOU KENZIE SO EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW, USING YOUR VOUCHER TO BUY A HOME HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE YEAR 2000 HAS BEEN UNDERUTILIZED AND VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.  SO THE FIRST STEP BHO DID WAS HIRE ME AND SO MY SOLE FOCUS IS TO REALLY MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND REGION ARE AWARE OF THE FEDERAL BENEFIT. AND FURTHERMORE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON TO PROVIDE ENHANCED PAYMENT FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS HOUSING MARKET. AND SO WE I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR REGIONAL HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCIES. I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH LENDERS REALTORS. SO EVEN IF THEY DON'T REACH OUT TO ME FIRST EVEN BEING OUR TENANT THEY MAY HEAR ABOUT IT FROM THE LENDERS WE WORK WITH AND SAY HEY, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO MEGAN, YOUR VHA RESIDENT?  SO AND I JUST CAME FROM A HUD COUNSELING CONFERENCE THIS MORNING SO EVEN MORE AND MORE PEOPLE EACH DAY SHOULD BE LEARNING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND TOOLS TO INCREASE THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ALL THE WORK YOU DO. THANK YOU, JIM. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COUNCILMEMBER IF WE COULD SING IT. YEAH. I HAVE 15 SECONDS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND BE BACK TO BE BACK.  YEAH. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR WEDNESDAY.  MORE PEOPLE ARE HERE. CONCENTRATE IN THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  I'VE GOT A SMILE ON MY FACE.  VERY GOOD. VERY.  THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. SOME OF IT'S WONDERFUL TO HEAR ALL THE GOOD NEWS AND THEN SOBERING TO HEAR SOME OF THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS BUT PEOPLE WORKING VERY HARD VERY, VERY HARD TO HELP THOSE MORE PEOPLE. I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THIS MAYBE MORE OF A QUESTION FOR BE ACHIEVED BUT DO YOU HAVE A VACANCY AUDITOR LIKE I KNOW YOU KEEP SOME I KNOW LIKE IN THE CONTEXT OF FANEUIL GARDENS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO START KEEPING VACANT UNITS. SO WHEN WHEN WE START CONSTRUCTION WE CAN MOVE PEOPLE AROUND AND NOT DISPLACED PEOPLE FROM THE AREA. WHAT DO WE HAVE A VACANCY ALTHOUGH MANY UNITS WERE VACANT OR IN NEED OF REPAIR OR UPGRADING. YEAH. SO WE WE ACTUALLY WE TRACK THAT CLOSELY BOTH WE REPORT A VACANCY. IT'S TO PICK IT DOWN THE FEDS AND SO WE HAVE BENCHMARKS FOR WITH BOTH OF THEM BECAUSE BOTH BOTH SYSTEMS ALLOW FOR A LITTLE BIT OF VACANCY BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WHEN SOMEONE LEAVES AN APARTMENT WE HAVE TO DO A BUNCH OF WORK TO TURN IT OVER EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT IN ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND AND THEN AS YOU MENTIONED, IF THERE'S LIKE A CAPITAL PROJECT THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO SAY WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE A ROOF AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF LEAKS WE MIGHT DO THE ROOF REPLACEMENT BEFORE WE GET SOMEBODY BACK INTO THAT UNIT AND WITH WITH REDEVELOPMENT RELOCATION BECAUSE THE VHA HAS BECOME SO FOCUSED IN OUR REDEVELOPMENT PROCESSES ON REALLY TRYING TO KEEP THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FAMILIES ON SITE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF EVIDENCE THAT WE'RE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THOSE FAMILIES I.E. HAVE THEM STAY IN THE REDEVELOPED PROPERTY IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE SITE. SO BECAUSE OF THAT YOU'RE RIGHT WE DO IT AT A SITE WHERE WE KNOW WE'RE ABOUT TO DO A REDEVELOPMENT. WE OFTEN HOLD SOME VACANCIES SO THAT WE CAN MOVE EVERYBODY OUT OF WHATEVER FIRST BUILDING IS GETTING KNOCKED DOWN INTO ANOTHER BUILDING SO THAT WE KEEP THEM ON SITE. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE TRACK CLOSELY.  SO WE THERE WAS A LOT OF FOCUS ON STATE PUBLIC HOUSING VACANCIES IN THE FALL. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN THE PRESS THE STATE IT'S IRONIC ACTUALLY THAT THE STATE MADE LIKE SPECIAL VACANCY CATCH UP FUNDS AVAILABLE TO HOUSING AUTHORITIES SO THAT IF YOU HAD LIKE A BIG VACANCY ISSUE IN YOUR STATE PUBLIC HOUSING YOU COULD ACCESS THOSE FUNDS TO DO A BUNCH OF ADDITIONAL WORK. UNFORTUNATELY OUR STATE VACANCY WAS NOT BAD ENOUGH TO ACCESS THOSE FUNDS SO WE WERE IN THE SORT OF GOOFY SITUATION OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK VACANCY FOR US WE'RE IN A HOUSING CRISIS. WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE AS I MENTIONED ON THE WAITLIST SO WE REALLY WANT TO KEEP VACANT UNITS TO A MINIMUM THE MAIN DRIVER OF VACANCY BESIDES THOSE REASONS I MENTIONED I MENTIONED BEFORE IS JUST THAT IT DOES TAKE SIGNIFICANT PERSON POWER TO TURN OVER A UNIT AND FOR US THOSE ARE THE SAME STAFF WHO ARE ALSO ADDRESSING WORK ORDERS AND AND WE JUST HAVE SO MANY CAPITAL NEEDS ACROSS OUR PORTFOLIO SO IT'S A CONSTANT BALANCE DANCE BUT THAT'S IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE REPORT ON IT WITH HUD AND D AND HLC AND WE TRACK IT CLOSELY. THANK THANK YOU. AND A FEW YEARS AGO THERE WAS A FIRE AT 9395 WASHINGTON AND I KNOW THERE WAS SOME VACANT UNITS THERE I.  ARE THOSE UNITS BACK LIKE THAT'S A VERY SPECIFIC QUESTION BECAUSE I DRIVE PAST AND THEY SEE THE THE WINDOWS BOARDED UP AND I HAVEN'T DRIVEN PAST RECENTLY ARE THOSE UNITS BACK ON LINE AGAIN I WANT TO SAY YES COUNSELOR BUT I I KNOW THAT THE UNITS THAT WERE SUBJECT TO THE FIRE AT PAT WHITE ARE BACK ON LINE. SO LET ME JUST CHECK THAT THE 9195 ARE ALSO AND THEN I'LL I'LL GET THAT INFORMATION VERY MUCH. AND THEN THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE THIS B I, I STRUGGLE WITH THIS ISSUE THE IDP UNITS THAT ARE WHO ARE ASSIGNED DOING A LOTTERY PROCESS AND THEN WHEN THAT TENANT LEAVES THE UNIT THE IDP UNIT IS THERE. I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE LAG TIME BETWEEN YOU KNOW WHEN A UNIT BECOMES VACANT AFTER IT WAS INITIALLY LEASED AND THEN WHEN IT COMES ONTO THE SECOND OR THIRD LEASE LIKE HOW MANY LIKE THIS IS THIS IS ANOTHER CONUNDRUM LIKE IS THERE A LITTLE LATENCY IN THE SYSTEM WHERE THERE'S MORE CAPACITY THAT WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY USING? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RELEASING THOSE THOSE UNITS YOU'RE AND I'M SURE YOU KNOW THIS THAT AFTER THE INITIAL LOTTERY WE IT IS ON THE DEVELOPER IT IS ON THE DEVELOPER TO KEEP A WAIT LIST OF THOSE THAT WERE IN THE LOTTERY AND TO FILL UNITS AS THEY BECOME VACANT WE DO CHECK OCCUPANCY ONCE A YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UNITS ARE OCCUPIED IN THE RIGHT PERSON IS IN THAT UNIT. YOU KNOW THAT THE PERSON WITH THE RIGHT INCOME IT'S NOT LIKE YOU KNOW OKAY THAT PERSON THAT QUALIFIES FOR THAT UNIT IS IN THAT UNIT IS NO MOTIVATION. YES SORRY THERE MIGHT BE SOME FEEDBACK THERE AND I THINK AGAIN I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WOULD BE NO, IT WOULD BE A MOTIVATION THAT I PAID FOR MARKET RATE BUILDING AND I ARE WELL IN MARKET.  YES. SO I CAN SAY THAT HASN'T COME TO THAT THAT SOMEONE IS JUST PULLING OUT.  SO THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IS JUST AS WE SEE OUR AGING POPULATION THAT FOLKS WHO MAYBE HAVE BEEN LONG TERM RENTERS IN A TWO FAMILY OR THREE FAMILY HOME AND THE OWNERS OF THE HOME AGING AS WELL AND THEY WANT TO SELL AND THEIR ELDERLY TENANTS THEN ARE SUDDENLY FOUND TO GO OUT INTO THE MARKET AND FIND A SPACE AND IT'S REALLY I THINK IT'S A TSUNAMI THAT'S ABOUT TO JUST CRASH OVER US AS THIS IS HAPPENING AS WE ALL WE ALL GET OLDER AND WE ARE WE DOING ANY WORK ON THAT SPACE? YEAH. SO IT IT'S NOT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING AT US. IT'S HERE. YES. WE GET A LOT OF CALLS WHERE OLDER RESIDENTS HAVE LIVED IN UNITS FOR DECADES. YES. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S A NEW OWNER.  THEIR RENTS HAVE BEEN THEY'VE EVEN BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE AND THEY ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE TO LEAVE LIKE ASAP. RIGHT. BECAUSE THEY GET A LETTER SAYING YOU HAVE TO LEAVE AND WE HAVE TO TELL THEM THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE RIGHT AWAY AND THAT YOU'VE GOT RIGHTS OR THEIR RENTS DOUBLED AND THEY'RE SCARED AND UPSET AND SO THE OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY UNDER DANIELLE JOHNSON'S LEADERSHIP WORKS VERY CLOSELY.  WE ALSO HAVE ON CONTRACT NONPROFITS WORK WITH THIS POPULATION REALLY VERY SKILLFULLY THEY'RE THEY HAVE CASELOAD SO WE OPERATE SOMETIMES WE KEEP THE CASES OURSELVES OFTENTIMES WE REFER OUT TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE REALLY FEEL REALLY KNOW HOW TO ISAC ELLERBE BMC REALLY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH SENIOR POPULATIONS AND I WILL SAY AND ONE THING THAT I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY ABOUT AND IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR OR TWO THAT WE HAVE WE ARE CREATING A LOT OF SENIOR HOUSING RIGHT NOW AND IT'S ALWAYS A YOU KNOW YOU NEVER WANT TO SAY WE SHOULD CREATE SENIOR HOUSING OR A FAMILY OR FAMILY OVER SENIOR WE SHOULD CREATE IT ALL BUT WE ARE CREATING A LOT OF NEW SENIOR HOUSING. IT'S IT'S WE HAVE A VERY, VERY LARGE PIPELINE. IT'S LIKE TEN PROJECTS RIGHT ALL WITH SOME OF THEM HAVE PROJECT BASED SUBSIDIES FROM THE VHA AND OTHERS ARE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE THEY'VE GOT SERVICES AND THEY'RE ACROSS THE CITY. SO I THINK WE JUST NEED TO REALLY AS WE WORK WITH SENIORS VERY TO GET THEM SAFE, WE ALSO JUST NEED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR SENIOR HOUSING PORTFOLIO AND I WAS VERY HAPPY TO BE AT THE TWO LIFE JJ CARROLL IT WAS GREAT RENOVATION AND REBUILD AND THEY'RE AND THEY'RE DOING SIGNAGE AND THEY'RE DOING MORE IN MATTAPAN THAT THAT ORGANIZATION AND RIGHT IT'S IT'S VERY EXCITING YEAH THANK YOU THANK YOU MR CHAIR THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, DEREK.  THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  AND, UH, COUNCILOR BRAYTON MENTIONED TO LIFE A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AND TO THOSE WHO WEREN'T THERE A RESIDENT CAME UP AND TALKED ABOUT HOW SHE FOUND COMMUNITY AT THE NEW AT THE AT THE NEW VERSION OF OF OF THE COMMUNITY THERE AND SHE SHOUTED OUT A RESIDENT THAT SHE MADE FRIENDS WITH HEY JEROME AND IN MY OFFICE HEY JEROME IS IT IS NOW SOMETHING WE SAY WHEN WE'RE MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND WE'RE BUILDING COMMUNITY SO JUST WANT TO SHOW OFF THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AND THE GREAT WORK THAT YOUR OFFICE IS DOING. DANIELLE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FIRES YOU HAVE HELPED US PUT OUT PROBABLY TWO TODAY AND HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE HELPED US PLACE INTO PERMANENT PERMANENT HOUSING OR TEMPORARY HOUSING.  SO JUST MY HAT'S OFF TO YOU. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR FLOWERS FOR ALL OF THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT YOU DO IN THIS ROLE. SO THANK YOU.  FIRST QUESTION IS JUST ABOUT THE BUDGET INCREASE TO BE ABOUT A OVER A $4 MILLION INCREASE FOR WORTHY CAUSES. RIGHT? THIS IS ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT I THINK IF WE WERE REALLY US BELIEVE HOUSING IS THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE HOMELESS THIS ISSUE WE GIVE THIS OFFICE MORE MONEY IT LOOKS LIKE $1,000,000 FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND RESIDENTIAL DECARBONIZATION $1,000,000 TO THE BPA HOUSING POLICY COMPLIANCE TRANSITION 165,000 TO NONUNION GENERAL INCREASES WHICH IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT. WE LIVE IN EXPENSIVE CITY AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR CITY WORKERS.  AND THEN $2 MILLION FOR THE HOUSING ACQUISITION FUND SEED INVESTMENT.  ONE TALK A LOT ABOUT THIS FUND AND HOW IT COMPARES TO AOP. SO IF YOU COULD JUMP INTO I'LL START AND THEN RICK IS RICK CAN ANSWER OUR AD SO THE THE 2 MILLION WE ARE OUT SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT AOP IT REALLY HAS TWO SOURCES OF OF FUNDING AND THE DEVELOPMENTS IT'S GOT CITY SUBSIDY AND IT'S GOT A LOAN ALONE A FIRST MORTGAGE, AN ACQUISITION THAT STAYS IN FOR A WHILE OR THAT BECOMES A PERMANENT LOAN OR SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE SEMI-PERMANENT AND IT'S BEEN VERY CHALLENGING LATELY WITH HIGH INTEREST RATES FOR NONPROFITS AND FOR PROFITS TO GO OUT AND ACQUIRE GOOD OPPORTUNITIES EXISTING PORTFOLIOS, TENANTED BUILDINGS BECAUSE INTEREST RATES ARE SO HIGH. SO WE THE THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS YEAR AND WE'VE SORT OF TAKEN UP THE CHARGE THAT WE WANT TO REALLY CREATE A VERY ROBUST LOW COST FUND THAT WOULD ALLOW OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO GO OUT ACQUIRE AND BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE DEBT ON A PROPERTY BECAUSE AT A LOWER INTEREST RATE. SO THE 2 MILLION IS THE THE START OF THAT FUND WE HOPE TO THE CITY TO FIND OTHER RESOURCES TO BRING THAT UP TO ABOUT FIVE AND NOW WE ARE OUT ACTIVELY TRYING TO FUNDRAISE TO HOSPITALS, FOUNDATIONS AND OTHER FINANCIAL PARTNERS WITH OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A $25 MILLION VERY LOW COST FUND SO THAT WE CAN SAY TO OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS GO OUT AND ACQUIRE AND THEN THEY'LL PUT TOGETHER A MORE PERMANENT FINANCING PACKAGE AND THEN THAT MONEY WOULD BE YOU RECYCLE BACK IN. SO REALLY IT'S A RESPONSE TO THE VERY, VERY HIGH INTEREST RATE CLIMATE. IT'S A RESPONSE TO HIGH INTEREST RATE CLIMATE BUT IT'S ALSO THOSE ARE WHO WOULD END UP APPLYING FOR THE THIS FUND THE SEED INVESTMENT MONEY COULD ALSO BE A COULD ALSO BE RECEIVING FUNDS VIA AOP SO IT'S I YES IN A SENSE IT'S SERVING AS A IT'S AN ADDITION IN ADDITION YES YES AND SO I ASK THIS BECAUSE YOU KNOW AOP ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES ARE BECAUSE SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS HUGELY SUCCESSFUL AND IMPORTANT AND NOT ENOUGH MONEY WE ON THE COUNCIL INVESTED $27 MILLION VIA ARPA INTO AOP AND THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE OF THE HIGH INTEREST ON THE CHOCOLATE THE GREATER BOSTON THREE LAND TRUST CAN ARE YOU ARE ARE YOU SEEING THIS FOR COMMUNITY TRUST AS WELL IN ADDITION TO NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS AND SO YET SO A LAND TRUST COULD CERTAINLY OF PEOPLE ON THE LIVESTREAM CANNOT HEAR ME OKAY OKAY GO TO THE PERIPHERY SAYS DIDN'T DO IT AGAIN FOR THAT I'M BACK AND GET WE'RE BACK IN SESSION. COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO OUR GREAT COUNCIL TEC STAFF FOR WORKING ON THE ISSUES. I MEAN THE QUESTION I WANTED TO CONTINUE WITH IS YOU KNOW SO I ASKED ABOUT THE SEED FUNDING FOR THE HOUSING ACQUISITION FUND INVESTMENT GRASS SEED INVESTMENT GRANT AND HOW THAT COMPARES WITH A&P.  I THINK BOTH ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE US TRYING TO ENSURE COMPETITIVENESS BETWEEN NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE MARKET RIGHT? THERE'S SO MUCH SPECULATION HAPPENING STILL THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ASSESS NONPROFITS THAT ARE THAT WANT TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT BY BUYING PROPERTIES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE LAND IN EXTRACTIVE HANDS. SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS REALLY IT'S A COMMON QUESTION BUT THIS COUNCIL THROUGH OPERA INVESTED SIGNIFICANT MONEY IN HOUSING AND WE STILL I'M OUT IN COMMUNITY AND MY COLLEAGUES ARE IN COMMUNITY AND WE STILL HEAR DEEPLY ABOUT THE DEEP HOUSING NEEDS AND YOU STILL SEE IT EVERYWHERE ABOUT HOW EXPENSIVE THE CITY OF BOSTON IS, HOW THIS IS INTUITION ESOTERIC QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE AND TO POINT TO PROOF OF THIS TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENT TO RESIDENTS AS PROOF THAT LIKE THIS WE'RE WORKING ON THE ISSUE IN A TRANSFORMATIVE AND AND I SAY THAT NOT TO SAY THAT WE AREN'T DOING THE WORK BECAUSE WE ARE MAYBE PART OF MY QUESTION TOO IS ASKING AT WHAT POINT RIGHT LIKE IN AUSTIN,  TEXAS THEY WERE DEALING WITH THE HOUSING CRISIS BUT AND THEY AND THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO BUT NOW LIKE WE'VE SEEN A DROP IN RATES RIGHT WITHOUT RENT STABILIZATION WITHOUT ANYTHING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND I'M WONDERING WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHOW PEOPLE THIS IS THE RESULT OF OUR FRUIT AND WE CAN DO THAT ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND WE DO IT ALL THE TIME WHEN WE PLACE A CONSTITUENT IN HOUSING . HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE HOUSING NEEDS OF THE TWO PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE FOR US TO SEE IT ON A LARGER SCALE WHAT IS IT GOING TO FOR PEOPLE AND RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO FEEL IT? WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE? AND I'M NOT SAYING IT THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE CIVILIZATION BECAUSE THAT SHOULD BE IT A BILL IN FROM THE STATE HOUSE THERE'S REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEES, THERE'S TAPAS. THERE ARE ALL THESE LIKE WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR RESIDENTS USING TO FEEL THE TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE? YEAH, I'LL START THAT BUT PLEASE TO MY COLLEAGUES IT'S A VERY BIG QUESTION SO PROBABLY NEEDS MULTIPLE ANSWERS.  I THINK WHEN I WHEN I LOOK AT THAT WHAT WE'RE WE'RE SPENDING ARPA ON IT IT IT I'M CONVINCED THAT IT IS THE RIGHT SET OF ACTIVITIES WE ARE VERY MUCH INCREASING HOMEOWNERSHIP RATES. WE ARE BUILDING A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR ACQUIRING A LOT OF HOUSING THAT WE CAN CONVERT.  WE'RE GREENING OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I THINK WHAT IT WILL TAKE FOR RESIDENTS TO REALLY FEEL IT IS THAT KIND OF SUSTAINED INVESTMENT YEAR OVER YEAR OVER YEAR.  RIGHT? WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES THAT ARE RENT BURDENED. WE'VE GOT HOMEOWNERSHIP INEQUALITIES AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UNITS TO TO TO RIGHT THE WRONG AND FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE I NEED A UNIT AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT YEARS AND YEARS OR DECADES TO GET ONE YOU RENT AND TRANSFER FEE AND THAT IS THAT IS THE IT HAS BEEN A IT HAS BEEN A JOY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS TO HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE'VE HAD TO ACTUALLY JUST BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAN WE EVER HAVE HELP MORE HOMEOWNERS AND I JUST IF WE COULD SUSTAIN THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT AND TRANSFER FEE WOULD HELP US DO THAT THEN THEN IT WOULD BE YEARS, MAYBE A DECADE WHERE PEOPLE WOULD REALLY FEEL LIKE THERE'S THERE'S THE CITY'S STARTING TO HAVE WHAT IT NEEDS.  I'M VERY PLEASED THAT WE HAVE THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE HAVE. I MEAN WE HAVE MORE AS A PERCENTAGE THAN ANY MAJOR CITY. WE HAVE A FUNCTIONING HOUSING AUTHORITY. WE'VE GOT LOTS OF GREAT PROGRAMS. WE JUST NEED TO SCALE. WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO. WE NEED TO SCALE AND IT WILL TAKE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO THAT. AND I'M WE'RE ALL WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD ON TRANSFER FEE BECAUSE IT IT IS THAT TYPE OF POLICY THAT WILL ACTUALLY ALLOW RESIDENTS I THINK TO FINALLY FINALLY GET WHAT THEY NEED. THANK YOU. PLEASE. YEAH, I MEAN A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WOULD SAY. ONE IS THAT I MEAN IT SHOULD BE SAID AUSTIN DIDN'T MAJOR HOUSING PRODUCTION RIGHT LIKE REALLY SIGNIFICANT UP ZONING AND QUITE A LOT OF HOUSING BEING BUILT. I THINK SOMETIMES THAT UNFORTUNATELY THE WAY THAT LIKE HOUSING POLITICS CONVERSATIONS PLAY OUT IS LIKE THERE'S IT'S LIKE WE'RE HAVING THIS ARGUMENT ABOUT LIKE THERE'S 100 UNITS OF HOUSING SHOULD THEY BE EXACTLY HERE OR EXACTLY THERE OR EXACTLY THERE? AND ACTUALLY THE ANSWER IS THEY SHOULD BE IN ALL OF THOSE PLACES THAT YOU JUST IDENTIFIED BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY NEED TO DO LIKE A THOUSAND NOT JUST 100. AND I THINK YOU KNOW, WE JUST THERE IS NO THERE IS NO WAY AROUND THE NEED TO JUST LIKE PROVIDE MORE HOUSING BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH DESIRE TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES LIKE THE WHAT'S FRUSTRATING TO ME I TALKED ABOUT HOW THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM IS CONNECTED, RIGHT? LIKE WHAT'S FRUSTRATING TO ME IS THAT SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT IT LIKE WELL IF SOME OF THE HOUSING THAT'S BEING BUILT ISN'T FOR THE POOREST THEN WE SHOULDN'T BUILD IT. BUT THE CHALLENGES THAT WHEN WE DON'T BUILD ANY HOUSING THAT'S AVAILABLE NEW HOUSING AVAILABLE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER OR THE HIGHEST BIDDER GOES AND BUYS UP THE APARTMENT IN THE TRIPLE DECKER WHICH WAS FORMERLY THE ONE ACTUALLY THAT PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY RIGHT. SO IT'S LIKE THERE IS ACTUALLY NO WAY TO BLOCK OUT THE MARKET DEMAND EXCEPT LIKE AND EXCEPT THROUGH THE PROVISION OF DEED RESTRICTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHICH IS WHAT SHEILA AND I SPEND ALL OF OUR TIME DOING. BUT BECAUSE OF THE SHEER COST OF DOING THAT LIKE IT CAN'T BE THE ONLY PIECE. SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO LIKE EAT THE PROBLEM FROM BOTH ENDS. AM A BIG BELIEVER THAT THE FLIP SIDE IS IT DOESN'T WORK TO JUST BUILD SUPPLY.  RIGHT? BECAUSE THE PEOPLE LIKE LOW INCOME PEOPLE AND FOLKS ON A FIXED INCOME WHO ARE TRYING TO KEEP IN THE CITY OF BOSTON ARE SO MUCH POORER THAN WHERE THE MARKET IS RIGHT NOW JUST WITH LIKE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH REALLY HIGH SIX FIGURE JOBS THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPPLY AND THE TRICKLE DOWN THERE ACTUALLY WOULD BE A STABILIZATION OF RENTS BUT IT WOULD NOT BE SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO REACH THOSE FOLKS. WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO TO ME YOU HAVE TO EAT THE PROBLEM FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS REALLY DRAMATICALLY AND CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH WHAT SHEILA JUST SAID LIKE TRANSFER FEE IS LIKE IT FOR US IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH ARPA AND JUST HAVING IT LIKE ALL STUFF AND I THINK IT'S IF IT IF IT ALL STOPS IT'S REALLY GOING TO FEEL LIKE A DROP IN THE BUCKET WHEREAS FOR IF WE CAN KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING IT WILL START TO FEEL TO PEOPLE LIKE OH THERE'S REAL THINGS COMING ONLINE EVERY YEAR THAT I CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD.  SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY, REALLY BIG. BUT YOU KNOW, I JUST I FEEL LIKE WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING AS A CRISIS AND THEN WHEN WE ACTUALLY PROPOSE THINGS TO DO IT'S LIKE OH THAT SEEMS A LITTLE DRAMATIC, RIGHT? AND IT'S LIKE YEAH, WELL WE'VE REACHED THE DRAMATIC POINT. THANK YOU. I THINK YOU MENTIONED ABOUT FOR YOU. FELICIA YEP, I AGREE WITH YOU ON APPROACHING IT FROM BOTH ENDS AND I AM HAPPY TO SEE YOU LEADING THE BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY IN THE VISION THAT YOU'RE BRINGING THERE. I HAVE ONE QUESTION TO YOU. I KNOW THAT HAILEY SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE THE CAPITAL AND THE FINANCING STRUCTURE THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE. BUT BEFORE I GET TO THAT, I JUST WANT TO I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME. I HAVE 1715 SECONDS. I WANTED TO JUST PUT ON THE RADAR AND I'LL WAIT FOR MY SECOND ROUND ON THIS. OKAY.  I WAS ON APARTMENTS IN HYDE PARK, MATTAPAN, WHATEVER HYDE PARK I THINK TECHNICALLY YOU JUST NEED A REALLY IN NEED OF A LOT OF REPAIRS AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT OF THE UNITS THERE ARE REALLY AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING OVER THE ENTIRE PORTFOLIO I JUST I PROMISED THE RESIDENTS THAT I WOULD CONTINUE TO UPLIFT THE NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE AND IT'S ON APARTMENTS. A LOT OF OUR SENIORS I THINK IT'S EXCUSE MAYBE IT'S TAXES SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S EXCLUSIVELY SENIORS BUT A LOT OF SENIORS IN THAT BUILDING IT'S ELDERLY AND ELDERLY, THE ELDERLY DISABLED AND THEY'RE THERE PHENOMENAL AND AMAZING AND THEY DESERVE HOUSING THAT MATCHES THEIR BEING AMAZING IN THEIR DIGNITY. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME REPAIRS.  I KNOW IT'S INDIVIDUAL UNITS BUT IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THE ENTIRE BUILDING AS WELL THAT WOULD BE GREAT.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VICE-CHAIR PEPE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  THANK YOU CHAIR AND SO MUCH TO THE PANELISTS FOR FOR BEING HERE TODAY. COUNCILOR SANTANA SAID IT BEST WHERE THIS TOPIC REALLY IS IF NOT THE MOST ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS WE HAVE IN THIS CHAMBER.  AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ALL DO AND ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD TODAY. I THINK IT WAS VERY VALUABLE TO START WITH THAT JUST TO SET A TONE FOR THE MEETING, I WANT TO JUST ELEVATE THE COMMENTS JUST MADE BY OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT. BUT THE HASSAN APARTMENTS ARE BEAUTIFUL DEVELOPMENT IN MY IN MY DISTRICT SO I JUST WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT AS WELL AND THAT SAME SENTIMENT I ALSO WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FAIRMONT HOUSING THOSE UNITS HAVE BASEMENTS IN THEIR IN THEIR APARTMENTS. THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE DO THEIR LAUNDRY. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FLOODING CONCERNS.  THE WATER MITIGATION OVER THERE NEEDS SOME ASSISTANCE WHICH IS CAUSING A LOT OF MOLD AND JUST TERRIBLE CONDITIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT ON DAILY BASIS. THE ARCHDAILY PUBLIC HOUSING THERE'S A LOT OF UNITS WITH LEAKY ROOFS WHICH IS AGAIN LEADING TO TO MOLD AND I ACTUALLY WENT INTO ONE OF THE BUILDINGS RECENTLY HAD MUSHROOMS GROWING UM AND THE ROOF SO I JUST THESE ARE I WANT TO BE AS EXPLICIT AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THIS IS THESE ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ELEVATING IT TO PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE FACING AND THEN UM JUST OVERALL A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES BROUGHT THIS UP.  I KNOW THAT VHA IS FED MOST OF IT IS FEDERALLY FUNDED BUT IF WE CAN JUST PRIORITIZE THOSE KIND OF RENOVATIONS IN OUR UNITS ACROSS THE CITY NOT JUST IN MY DISTRICT THAT WOULD BE A HUGE WIN FOR OUR VHA FAMILIES UM, IN THE MINE IN THE IN THE THEME OF OF BAD SHAPE I DO WANT TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE UM YOUR SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER HOLDERS PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO GET DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE WHAT'S THE EXACT NUMBER THAT THEY QUALIFY FOR HOW MANY OPPORTUNITIES DO WE HAVE AND HOW MANY FAMILIES HAVE ALREADY BENEFITED FROM THAT PROGRAM?  SORRY COUNSELOR, CAN YOU REPEAT THOSE LAST FEW QUESTIONS AGAIN? I JUST I WAS LOOKING TO SEE IF MEGAN WAS STILL HERE BUT SHE'S HAD TO LEAVE SO JUST REPEAT THEM AGAIN FOR ME . YEAH, OF COURSE. UM, HOW MUCH DO FAMILIES ACTUALLY QUALIFY FOR?  HOW MANY ARE THERE AVAILABLE AND HOW MANY HAVE ALREADY BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM? GREAT. SO YEAH, FOR THE EXACT FACTS AND FIGURES I'LL PASS IT DOWN FOR A FRIEND TO KAREN. WE'RE PAST IT BECAUSE REALLY THE HOME CENTER AND OUR FIRST HOME PROGRAM UNDER MEGAN WORKED VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER ON THIS.  UM, SO WE HAVE SERVED CLOSELY TO I THINK 50 HOMEOWNERS AND THEY CAN GET $75,000 TO PURCHASE A HOME AND THEY ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE ONE PLUS BOSTON PROGRAM WHICH GIVES THEM AN INTEREST RATE BY DOWN SO THEY DO GET 75,000 AND THEY COULD WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CITY OF BOSTON.  ALSO IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVE TO OTHER PROGRAMS YOU COULD FIND THAT TOO. YES. OH, THAT'S GREAT. YES. OKAY. AND HOW MANY FAMILIES HAVE ALREADY BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM? DO WE KNOW THAT 5052 IS 50? SO YEAH. SO IN ONE YEAR BECAUSE WE WE HAD OUR FIRST FAMILY CLOSE IN LATE APRIL OR EARLY MAY OF LAST YEAR SO IT'S BEEN IN ONE YEAR 50 FAMILIES. OKAY. THAT'S AND THE BEAUTY OF THIS PROGRAM IS THAT IT ALSO HELPS FIRES THAT ARE REALLY BELOW THE 80% OF OUR MINE AND THEY'RE BUYING A LOT OF THE MARKET RATE PROPERTIES AS WELL. GOOD.  AND THIS IS FEDERALLY FUNDED OR IS IS FROM THE CITY THE CITY THIS IS CITY ARPA AND AS I MENTIONED THEREFORE IT'S CURRENTLY WE DON'T HAVE A WAY OF EXTENDING THAT FUNDING. OKAY.  SO HOW LONG IS THE PROGRAM GOING TO BE ABLE TO LAST? WELL THE PART WHERE WE SO THE PART SO THE FAMILIES GET AN ADDITIONAL 25,000 ON TOP OF THE 50,000 THAT'S BEING PROVIDED THROUGH THE MORTGAGE PROGRAM. SO I WON'T SPEAK TO THE AMOUNT EACH BIT BUT AS I SAID I THINK THE ADDITIONAL 25,000 WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO KIND OF COVER THAT WE THINK UNTIL OCTOBER NOVEMBER BASED ON WHO WE HAVE IN THE QUEUE BUT WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF THAT ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY THIS YEAR. OKAY. SO IN CURRENTLY FOR THE FOR THE BOSTON HOME CENTER, WE'RE OUR AVERAGE AWARD. IT'S ABOUT 40 TO $50000. SO IT'S REALLY JUST THAT EXTRA 25,000 THAT WE GO SEE THAT MIGHT BE CHALLENGING BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW EVERYONE IS GETTING CLOSE TO 50 IF NOT EVEN MORE AND WE DID I MENTIONED THIS IN A HEARING A FEW WEEKS AGO BUT WE HAVE YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN SEEKING GRANTS AND APPLYING TO FOLKS AND WE DID ACTUALLY GET SOME GREAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM BETH ISRAEL FOR THIS PROGRAM $850,000 BUT IT'S TARGETED AT FAMILIES BUYING IN THE CATCHMENT AREAS THAT SURROUND THE HOSPITAL. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT SOME FOLKS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR BUT IT DOESN'T JUST SORT OF RECHARGE THE PROGRAM GENERALLY.  SO WE'RE DEFINITELY IT'S DEFINITELY WE'VE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL AND MEGHAN AND TESTS ON HER WHOLE TEAM HAVE REALLY CRACKED THE NUT OF HOW TO LIKE SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES THROUGH THE HOME BUYING PROCESS WHICH IS THE KIND OF QUALITATIVE ASPECT OF IT THAT WAS REALLY HARD BEFORE.  SO I THINK WE FEEL LIKE WITH THAT QUALITATIVE STAFF SUPPORT THERE WE'D REALLY LOVE TO ALSO HAVE THE QUALITATIVE PIECE CONTINUE.  THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I AM JUST FOR SOME REASON THIS CONVERSATION IS JUST MAKING ME THINK OF MAHA SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT FOR FOR HELPING OUR RESIDENTS APPLY FOR THESE PROGRAMS. I MET WITH THEM A FEW WEEKS AGO SO I JUST WANT TO ELEVATE THEIR EFFORTS FROM THE COMMUNITY SIDE AS WELL SO SHOUT OUT TO THEM I'M IN REGARDS TO THIS SAME VEIN I WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE THAT THE STATE HAS A SECTION EIGHT HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM BUT INSTEAD OF A DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE IT'S A YOU CAN USE YOUR VOUCHER TO PAY FOR MONTHLY HOMEOWNERSHIP EXPENSES IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF BOSTON IS ALSO USING? DO YOU MEAN BY EXPENSES COUNSELOR? DO YOU MEAN THE MONTHLY MORTGAGE OR DO YOU USE MONTHLY MORTGAGE? YEAH, NO. SO THAT IS THE SAME THING. SO SO FOR US THE NICE THING IS THAT WHEN OUR RESIDENTS ARE BUYING IN SECTION EIGHT TO HOMEOWNERSHIP THEY'RE GETTING TWO THINGS THEY'RE GETTING THIS DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE THE 75,000 THAT HELPS THEM LIKE JUST AFFORD THE PRICE OF THE HOUSE BUT THEN THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO USE THEIR VOUCHER AT THE PAYMENT STANDARD THAT IT'S ELIGIBLE FOR AS A MONTHLY WAY TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE. SO THAT'S IT'S REALLY THOSE TWO THINGS COMBINED THAT ARE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO AFFORD HOUSES THAT ARE MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO OTHERWISE FOR I FOR 15 YEARS CORRECT UNLESS THEY HAVE A DISABLED RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT SO THAT YEAH SO SO THAT THAT THAT MORTGAGE SUPPORT CONTINUES FOR 15 YEARS EXCEPT FOR ELDERLY DISABLED BUYERS WOW WOW I DID NOT KNOW THAT THAT WAS BOTH OKAY AND COUNSELOR CAN I JUST SAY QUICKLY ON BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED A FEW MAINTENANCE ISSUES I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT ON THE FAIRMONT BASEMENTS WE WERE ACTUALLY IN THOSE BASEMENTS WITH SECRETARY AUGUSTUS AND YOUR COLLEAGUE REP CONSALVO AND I FEEL LIKE YOU AND HE ARE REALLY LIKE THE FAIRMONT ALLIANCE WHICH WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND AND SO I KNOW HE'S BEEN HE'S BEEN PUSHING AND THE SECRETARY HAS BEEN VERY OPEN TO THE IDEA OF GETTING SOME CAPITAL SUPPORT TO FAIRMONT TO HELP US WITH THAT ISSUE. THAT'S A STATE PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. SO IT'S PART OF THIS OVERALL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO GET MORE MONEY INTO THE STATE PUBLIC HOUSING PORTFOLIO FOR MAINTENANCE. AND SO YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT SECRETARY AUGUSTUS FOR BEING SUPER FRIENDLY AND SUPPORTIVE ON THAT ISSUE AND IT'S SOMETHING WHERE ACTUALLY JOHN WALL WHO'S HERE AND I WE WERE OUT AT A MEETING WITH THE FAIRMONT RESIDENTS JUST LAST MONTH TALKING THROUGH CAPITAL NEEDS AT THE SITE AND PRIORITIZING AN APPLICATION AND I THINK WE'VE ALSO PUT IN A YOU KNOW, FINGERS CROSSED A CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING EARMARK APPLICATION WITH CONGRESSWOMAN PRESSLEY'S OFFICE AND THE ROOFS THAT ARE STILL ARE DUE TO BE TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR.  SO THANK YOU FOR THAT I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE RESPONSES TO THIS GOOD TO LEARN OF SOME JUST STUFF THOSE VOUCHER PROGRAMS AND I'LL SAVE MY QUESTIONS FOR THE SECOND ROUND THANK YOU SO MUCH THANK YOU VICE-CHAIR JUST QUICKLY $75,000 WENT TO 50 FAMILIES FOR DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. YES. SO YES FOR THE YEAR THAT WAS THREE POINT BUT BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR SO BUT OF THAT 7550 WAS OUT OF MY WAGES FUND.  OKAY AND 25 WAS OUT OF THE VHA LIKE DEDICATED PIECE. OKAY. SO THAT'S THE THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.  ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. COUNT HERE THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  THANK YOU, CHAIR AND I'M GLAD THAT WE GOT OUR MIKES THINGS APPRECIATE THAT. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.  SO I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS . WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO START OFF WITH I ALREADY GAVE SOME SHOUT OUTS TO DANIELLE AND HER TEAM.  THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE CALL OR ONE EMAIL THAT WE HAVE SENT YOUR OFFICE THAT YOU HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO DIRECTLY. OFTENTIMES YOU DO AND SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU AND SO DO THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WE'RE ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF . SO SHEILA, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU BOTH ARE ON THOSE EMAILS AND I CAN SEND THEM AT 11:00 AT NIGHT AND I'M LIKE WHY YOU ARE RESPONDING TO ME ? AND THE SAME GOES YOU KNOW IT'S YOU. ADMINISTRATOR BOURQUE I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU ON SOME OF THE CASES THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE COUNCILOR WEBER IN CERTAIN SPACES AND PLACES THAT WE'VE BEEN IN AND SO SOME OF MY QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO BE ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORTS AND THEN SOME OF MY QUESTIONS IS GOING TO BE OVERALL BUT I'M GOING TO SPECIFICALLY JUST KIND OF START OFF WITH MY FAVORITE TOPIC WHICH IS IDP. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS OF THE CITY USE THE IDP AND LINKAGE MONEY ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OPERATING BUDGET TO FINANCE THE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPECIFIC.  DOES THE CITY MAKE AWARDS TO DEVELOPERS SUCH AS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS AND THEN COMBINE THESE FUNDS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY TO BUILD NEW AFFORDABLE UNITS SO THE ANSWER IS YES THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT OPERATING AND LINKAGE FUNDS AND INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENT FUNDING TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY EVERY YEAR AND WE'RE FUNDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO LEVERAGE SAY IN FEDERAL MONEY. IT'S JUST DEVELOPMENT IS VERY EXPENSIVE SO THAT ALLOWS US TO DO A LOT MORE UNITS.  SO YES, WE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE IDP UNITS NOW ARE REALLY BEING BUILT ON SITE WE HAVE SEEN THOSE NUMBERS DECREASE SOME AS YOU KNOW AS WE DON'T LOVE CASH OUTS AS MUCH AS WE USED TO OR WE DON'T WE LIKE THEM IN SOME CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WHEN THEY CAN BE DEVELOPED ON SITE WHERE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT TYPICALLY YEAH.  AND HOW MUCH MONEY DOES THE CITY ALLOCATE FOR THESE PURPOSES? I'M JUST CURIOUS LIKE HOW MANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS DOES THIS THIS FUNDING HELP BUILD AND WHAT PORTION OF THIS FUNDING COMES FROM THE CITY BUDGET? AND WHILE YOU FIGURE THAT OUT, I WOULD LIKE TO GET ANOTHER QUESTION UNLESS YOU HAVE THE ANSWER TO IT. YEAH AND I ONLY HAVE LIKE FIVE WOMEN MINUTES LEVEL MY LORD.  YEAH SO YEAH SO I JOB BEFORE ME IS THAT SO THIS YEAR ALONE WE COLLECTED ALMOST $15 MILLION IN IDP PAYMENTS SO FAR THIS YEAR $183 MILLION AND SOME OF WHICH TOOK OVER THE IDP FUND IN 2014. WE'VE DEVELOPED WITH WHAT THE IDP FUNDS OVER 3000 UNITS SINCE THE START OF THE PROGRAM 2700 OF THOSE ARE RENTAL 676 OWNERSHIP AND WE CAN GET YOU ANY WAY YOU WANT US TO SLICE AND DICE THE NUMBERS COUNSELOR WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING RECEIVED ANY ADDITIONAL CITY FUNDING, WOULD THERE BE THE CAPACITY IF YOU GUYS WERE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WHY WOULD THERE BE THE CAPACITY TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDE MORE FUNDS TO NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS FOR BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOW SHOULD THIS BE DESCRIBED IN THE BUDGET AS AN INCREASE FUNDING AWARD TO DEVELOPERS TO BUILD NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR SHOULD IT BE TIED TO A SPECIFIC PROGRAM NAME? YES. SO I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE NAME BUT WE WE HAVE A VERY HEALTHY PIPELINE OF PROJECTS AND WE SOURCE WE STAY WITHIN OUR BUDGETS BUT WE CAN ALWAYS FIND GOOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS TO TO SPEND MONEY AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY WE DID INCREASE OUR LINKAGE REQUIREMENTS. WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT APPLYING FOR FEDERAL FUNDS OR PRIVATE FUNDING. SO WE WE PRETTY MUCH CAN SPEND ANYTHING THAT COMES OUR WAY THAT'S GREAT. AND SO IF YOU KNOW THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOUSING IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTRATING AWARDS FOR BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I'M JUST CURIOUS COULD IT BE SET FOR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS? FOR EXAMPLE, COULD IT COULD WE ALLOCATE EXTRA MONEY FOR DEVELOPMENTS THAT INCLUDE MORE FAMILY OR SENIOR UNITS OR FOR PROJECTS WITH MORE PROJECT BASED SUBSIDIES TO ACHIEVE LOWER RENTS AND CATER TO LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS? SO EVERY YEAR WE PUT OUT OUR PS WITH PREFERENCES AND WE CERTAINLY WE HAVEN'T DONE WE HAVEN'T DONE AN OUR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR JUST SENIOR HOUSING OR JUST FAMILY HOUSING BUT WE ARE TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, TWO OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES, RIGHT? WE WANT TO DO AFFORDABLE FAMILY HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR SENIORS AND THE SECTION EIGHT WE WE LOVE WHEN WE HAVE PROJECT BASED SECTION EIGHT OR MRV PS OR CITY VOUCHERS IN OUR DEVELOPMENTS CAUSE WE CAN REACH A LOWER POPULATION. WE DON'T USUALLY REQUIRE THAT BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS IN NEGOTIATION WITH OUR PARTNERS TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH WE ACTUALLY CAN MAKE AVAILABLE THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS. BUT WE WELCOME VOUCHERS IN OUR IN OUR DEVELOPMENTS.  VERY MUCH SO. THANK YOU. SO I'M GOING TO SWITCH GEARS REALLY QUICK AND THEN HOPEFULLY I'LL HAVE A STICK AROUND TO COME BACK AT SOME QUESTIONS.  SO I WANT TO SHARE THE LOVE IN TERMS OF QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO GO NOW OVER TO ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK SO WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH SOME OF OUR ADVOCACY IS THAT A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE UNDER VHA WILL OR THEY HAVE CHILD WHAT DO YOU CALL IT CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS OR NOT THAT THE FATHER OF THE CHILD WILL JUST GIVE THE MOM AN ADDITIONAL $200 ONE MONTH? BUT IT'S NOT CONSISTENT. BUT DURING RECERTIFICATION WHAT SOME OF THE FOLKS HAVE ADDRESSED TO ME OR EVEN THERE WAS ANOTHER PARENT WHO WAS FUNDRAISING FOR HER DAUGHTER TO GO AWAY FOR A LEARNING TRIP AND I THINK I SHARED THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU COUNSELOR BOB I MEAN ADMINISTRATOR MARK AND YOU KNOW IT'S THESE VERY SPECIFICS AND AREAS IN WHICH PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY LOW INCOME DURING THE RECERTIFICATION PROCESS THAT THEY HAVE AN EXTRA $200 IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT.  THEY SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS MAY BE PUT TOWARDS THEIR INCOME. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO PEOPLE SO THAT WHEN THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THESE SITUATIONS THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO? YEAH, SURE.  SO AND I MIGHT ASK DAVID TO COME UP AS WELL AND TO SPEAK TO THIS A LITTLE BIT SO THE SO YOU KNOW THE THE GOOD THING THE THING THAT WE THINK MAKES FEDERAL AND STATE ACTUALLY PUBLIC HOUSING VERY RESILIENT IS THE FACT THAT THERE'S THIS ABILITY TO RECERTIFY INCOME SO THAT IF PEOPLE LOSE A JOB OR SOMETHING AND THEIR INCOME DROPS THEIR RENT ALSO DROPS. I THINK THE THING THAT'S MUCH MORE CHALLENGING FOR OUR FAMILIES IS THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT WHICH IS WHEN YOUR INCOME INCREASES YOUR RENT INCREASING.  BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING IS THE MOST CHALLENGING SITUATION IS IF SOMEBODY IS INCOME HAS INCREASED BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY OR WHEN THEY HAD A ONE IS NOT REALLY AN INCREASE AND YEAH I JUST WANT TO NAME IT IS SOMETIMES IS JUST THEY GOT IT A FEW ADDITIONAL $200 MAYBE THREE TIMES THAT YEAR OR THEY WERE FUNDRAISING TO PAY FOR THEIR DAUGHTER'S X YOU KNOW TRIP AND NOW BECAUSE OF THAT THEY HAVE $3,000 IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT BUT IT WENT TOWARDS SOMETHING ALSO THEY'VE HAD TO PRODUCE SO MUCH PAPERWORK TO PROVE THAT THAT'S THAT THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY WENT TOWARDS. I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE PAPERWORK AND HOW WE CAN RECONCILE THAT. YEAH, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALMOST LOST THEIR HOUSING BECAUSE OF IT. LET ME JUMP IN BECAUSE I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REALLY WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STAFF ON THESE ISSUES. NUMBER ONE, IF PAYMENTS ARE SPORADIC AND NOT REGULAR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THEY'RE NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN INCOME. NUMBER TWO IS THAT LIKE YEAH, WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS ARE OFTEN LIKE NOT REGULAR. SO YOU KNOW WE DO HAVE TO INCLUDE PAYMENTS THAT ARE REGULAR.  SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS LOOK BACK OVER THE ENTIRE YEAR AND TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME REASONABLE AVERAGE. I WILL SAY THAT I'VE SEEN INSTANCES WHERE WE GO A LITTLE BIT OVERBOARD AND WE TRY TO SAY OH THIS IS WHAT THEY SHOULD BE PAYING AND SO WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S INCORRECT. SO WE ARE IN PROCESS OF RETRAINING ON THAT ISSUE SPECIFICALLY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT OVERCHARGING OUR RESIDENTS.  AND SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE HELPFUL IN THAT REGARD. THE THIRD THING IS THAT WE DO NOT WE ARE NO LONGER ON THE PUBLIC HOUSING SIDE REQUIRING PEOPLE TO REPORT INCREASES INTERIM INCREASES IN INCOME. THEY DON'T HAVE TO REPORT AN INCREASE IN INCOME UNTIL THEY COME IN FOR THEIR ANNUAL RECERTIFICATION AND SO THAT JUST STARTED AS WELL. SO THAT SHOULD HELP PEOPLE AT LEAST SET ASIDE A LITTLE BIT EXTRA MONEY THAT THEY'RE GETTING AT LEAST TILL THE NEXT ANNUAL RECERTIFICATION.  SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE HERE AND I DO HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR THIS DEPARTMENT SO I KNOW MY TIME IS UP AND AWAY FOR THE SECOND ROUND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR FITZGERALD, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK YOU PANEL FOR COMING WITH US TODAY. IT'S GOOD TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU AGAIN. MANY I'VE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST.  I GUESS I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH A LARGER QUESTION RIGHT WHEN I THINK OF THE HOUSING AND I THINK OF HOMELESSNESS. I WENT TO A HOMELESS COURT THE OTHER DAY AT PINE STREET AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE WITH JUDGE COFFEY GETTING TO SEE PEOPLE GET A SECOND CHANCE THERE.  AND I WAS TALKING WITH LINNEA AND THE OTHER DAY IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PINE STREET INN AND I ASKED HER ABOUT WHAT THE TIMELINE OF MIGRANT HOUSING CLOSING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. ARE WE SEEING AN UPTICK AT ALL? AND SHE SAID VERY MUCH SO. AND SO I KNOW THAT THEY'RE ADDING 80 MORE BEDS IN THIS RATE BUT THAT'S NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH.  AND I SAID, WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE HELPFUL TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THIS RIGHT IF WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM COMING DOWN THE LINE IT'S BEHOOVE AND I'M ON THIS BODY TO TRY AND PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE AND I KNOW THERE'S THERE'S ONLY THIS THERE'S HOUSING WHICH YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD. RIGHT. THAT'S ONE THING. BUT THEN THERE'S THE SETTING FOLKS UP FOR SUCCESS AND I THINK ABOUT IT YOU KNOW, PROGRAMS LIKE BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT THAT HAVE HOUSING AND THERE'S TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND THERE'S A WHOLE OTHER PIECE THAT GOES WITH IT ESPECIALLY AROUND YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AND MAKING SURE THESE FOLKS ARE READY TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND BE ON THEIR OWN.  ARE WE IN ORDER TO ENSURE SUCCESS, ARE WE AS A CITY DO YOU THINK INVESTING ENOUGH IN IN IN THINGS PROGRAMS LIKE THAT OR IS IS DOES THE CITY SHOULD WE BE DOING MORE IN-HOUSE AROUND THINGS LIKE THAT IN THAT TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND SETTING FOLKS UP FOR SUCCESS RATHER THAN JUST FINDING THEM A PLACE?  I JUST DON'T THAT'S NOT SAYING IT'S NOT A YES OR NO QUESTION OR ANYTHING.  JUST WONDERING HOW YOU FEEL WE'RE DOING THERE. I I'LL START AND THEN CERTAINLY ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TO TO ADD I YOU KNOW HOMELESSNESS IS IS SUCH A COMPLICATED TOPIC BECAUSE SO THE POPULATIONS NEEDS SUCH DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS RIGHT. THE THE THE MIGRANT A LOT OF THE MIGRANT POPULATIONS THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR INDIVIDUAL SHELTERS RIGHT NOW ARE WORKING FOR WORK AUTHORIZATION AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO GET SOME RESOURCES AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO LEAVE OR SEND MONEY BACK HOME. AND SO WE'RE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WHAT DO THOSE INDIVIDUALS NEED TO LEAVE SHELTER AND ACTUALLY GET WHAT THEY NEED AND SIGN MASS HEALTH SIGN UP FOR SOME BENEFITS.  WORK AUTHORIZATION IN CONNECTION WITH EMPLOYERS AND HOW DO THEY LEAVE THE SHELTER SYSTEM? YOUTH IS WE'VE WE'RE VERY LUCKY IN BOSTON AND WE HAVE SOME VERY GOOD YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS BREAK TIME BRIDGE JUSTICE SO GYRI SO WE REALLY ARE SUPPORTING THEM THROUGH OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE AND THEY KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH YOUTH. THEY KNOW WHAT YOUTH NEED THEY'RE DOING MENTAL HEALTH,  THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTS. SO I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO YOUNG ADULTS AND YOUTH WE REALLY DO HAVE A VERY GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE'VE SEEN REALLY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS WITH YOUTH HOMELESSNESS RECENTLY BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN INVESTING VERY HEAVILY IN THOSE POPULATIONS.  WHAT'S PROBABLY MORE DIFFICULT IS OLDER INDIVIDUALS WITH LOTS OF BARRIERS MENTAL HEALTH,  SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, PHYSICAL PHYSICAL DISABILITIES THOSE MANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS NEED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD IS AS MUCH AS WE CAN. SO YOUR QUESTION IS A GOOD ONE AND WE THINK ABOUT IT A LOT. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT THE POPULAR EVEN WITHIN THOSE POPULATIONS IS GREAT VARIATION, RIGHT? I DON'T WANT TO I DON'T WANT TO PUT ALL YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LUMPED THEM TOGETHER INTO GROUPS BUT REALLY IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT DOES THAT INDIVIDUAL NEED SO THERE'S MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS BUT WE ARE INVESTING HEAVILY IN OUR NONPROFIT NETWORKS AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I THINK THEY ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE HAVE A VERY GOOD CONTINUE.  WE KNOW WHO'S HOMELESS. WE KNOW HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR THAT WE KNOW WHAT THEY NEED AND WE'RE WORKING HARD TO GET THEM. BUT THE SHELTER SYSTEM HAS BEEN UNDER A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT STRAIN. IT WAS COVID THEN.  IT WAS CERTAINLY THE OPIOID CRISIS AND NOW IT'S IT'S THE THE THE THE VERY LARGE POPULATION MIGRANT POPULATION. SO EVEN IN THE BEST OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, I MEAN I THINK WE KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT IT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY COMPLICATED THREE YEARS. YEAH. I JUST WONDERED IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN AS YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THAT PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN. YEAH, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT . I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION AND THE COMMENT AND WE'VE DEFINITELY AT THE BEACHSIDE BECAUSE WE'VE SO YOU KNOW WE'RE ACTUALLY IN CHARACTERISTIC OF HOUSING AUTHORITIES NATIONWIDE IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH WE PRIORITIZE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES HOUSED A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE A SUBSET OF WHOM NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT. AND I THINK THERE'S THIS I'M PERSONALLY A BIG BELIEVER IN HOUSING FIRST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S HARD TO GET ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GONNA SLEEP AT NIGHT. BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOUSING FIRST AND HOUSING ONLY WHICH IS I THINK WHAT YOU'RE POINTING TO.  AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE REALLY STARTED TO DEVELOP ARE REALLY SIGNIFICANT REFERRAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH ONGOING SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDERS INCLUDING BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER INCLUDING YOU KNOW, FOLKS FOLKS LIKE HEARTH AND PINE STREET AND OTHERS WHO REALLY ARE GOING TO KEEP TRAVELING THAT JOURNEY WITH RESIDENTS. AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE US IS THAT WE'VE BEEN USING OUR VOUCHERS SPECIFICALLY OUR PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS TO SUPPORT THESE DEVELOPMENTS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT SHEILA REFERENCED.  SO I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY ON TO A REALLY KEY PIECE OF THE ECOSYSTEM. THANK YOU.  I KNOW THAT WAS A BIG QUESTION BUT THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE FULL ANSWER THINKING TO THIS KIND OF A BIG ONE BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER AS LONG THE IDEAS OF HOW TO OPEN UP MORE OF THE EXISTING HOUSING STOCK BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THAT NEW GROWTH IS SORT OF SLOWED OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE SAYS AND IT'S OUT THERE AND WE SEE IT IN THE NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT. BUT ARE THERE ANY IDEAS THAT YOU GUYS ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO UP?  LIKE WHAT'S THE CARROT TO OPEN UP EXISTING HOUSING STOCK BESIDES HOUSING MORE STUDENTS ON UNIVERSITIES, RIGHT. OH THAT'S YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. YOU KNOW THE MAYOR AND THE BPA AS YOU KNOW HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT HOW TO INCENTIVIZE THE 30,000 UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND I THINK THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING AT LOTS AND LOTS OF BUDGETS AND MODELING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S BEST. I WILL SAY WE HAVE HAD AND I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT WITH ME AND MAYBE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES IT BUT WE HAVE SEEN AN ENCOURAGING YEAR COMPARED TO THIS TIME COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN MARKET RATE PRODUCTION BY ABOUT 70% I THINK MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE HIGHER THAN AND WE'RE SEEING IT OUTSIDE THE CITY, THE DOWNTOWN CORE WE'RE SEEING IT WITH THE SMALLER DEVELOPMENTS DONE BY SMALLER DEVELOPERS AND THAT'S FINE. I MEAN WE WANT IT WE WANT TO UNLOCK I THINK ADMINISTRATOR BOK IS RIGHT. WE NEED TO BUILD A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE NEED TO SEE A LOT OF MORE MARKET RATE PRODUCTION AND SO I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO TALK INTERNALLY ABOUT INCENTIVES FOR THE LARGER DEVELOPMENTS. BUT WE ARE SEEING FINALLY WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME PRODUCTION IN THEIR OUTER NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH WE'RE RELIEVED ABOUT SEVEN 76%, 76% INCREASE. GREAT. AND I WON'T I WON'T REPRISE MY WHOLE SPEECH FROM THE SOCIAL HOUSING HEARING THAT COUNCILOR SANTANA HELD. BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK WE THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING PIECE OF THE PUZZLE. I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR FAIRCLOUGH INITIATIVE WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE PUT PUBLIC LAND AND PUBLIC HOUSING RESOURCE INTO THE MIX. AND IT'S INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT EVEN THOUGH THE FAIRCLOTH UNITS ARE FOR DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS BECAUSE THEY'RE AT MARKET, THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO MAKING A PROJECT MOVE. GREAT 900 MORE AS WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY JUST HOW MUCH OF THE CITY PROVIDE IN FUNDING OR DID WE? I GUESS I JUST DON'T KNOW. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTION. THE CITY PROVIDED ACQUISITION FUNDING.  I WANT TO SAY WE PROVIDED $10 MILLION AND THAT WILL BE THE CONTRACT THAT WILL BE OUR ONLY CONTRIBUTION TO THAT PROJECT. THE REST OF THE MONEY WHICH IS IF FAR EXCEEDS THAT WILL BE FUNDED BY THE STATE AND PRIVATE EQUITY. THANK YOU. I KNOW I GET 5 SECONDS SO I JUST THOUGHT I'D NOTICE THAT THE HOUSE THAT YOU GUYS SHOWS FOR THE HOME WORKS PROGRAM ON DRAPER STREET IS ACTUALLY THE HOUSE ONE OF MY STAFFERS GREW UP IN AND SO SHE JUST THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS PRETTY COOL. SO IF IF YOU'RE TRYING TO BUTTER ME UP, IT'S WORKING.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PANEL. THANK YOU, JEFF. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WEBER, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  NO THANK YOU, CHAIR ADMINISTRATOR BACK I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CITY HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM.  SO DID YOU JUST WE HAD IT WAS 11.7 MILLION LAST YEAR. WAS THAT WHAT WAS RESOLVED TO DISTRIBUTE IT?  SO YES. SO THIS IS PART OF WHAT'S CONFUSING. SO BASICALLY THE BAG CURRENTLY IS LIKE KIND OF UP TO WHAT THE FULL 11.75 LIKE WILL COST. BUT THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS THAT HAVEN'T COME ONLINE YET. SO AS A RESULT WE SORT HOLD THAT AMOUNT IN ESCROW FOR WHEN THOSE COME ONLINE.  SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A MORE COMPLICATED OKAY, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF I DON'T HAVE IT BUT I HAD THAT NUMBER CALCULATED FOR ME SO I CAN GET IT FOR YOU. OKAY. I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME. OKAY. YEAH. I MEAN I'D SAY I FOLLOWING UP ON OUR WE HAD A SECTION EIGHT DISCRIMINATION HEARING AND WHAT YOU HEARD WAS PEOPLE INDIVIDUAL BASED VOUCHERS THERE WAS WIDESPREAD DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE TRYING TO USE THOSE VOUCHERS. SO IT SEEMS LIKE PROJECT BASED THAT'S ONE GREAT TOOL TO USE TO MAKE SURE THE HOUSING GETS BUILT AND USED BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER IS IS USING IT SO DO YOU KNOW I GUESS SO IN THAT LAST YEAR DID YOU HAVE ANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SEEKING CITY HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAMS WHO COULDN'T GET THEM OR MAYBE I JUST UNDERSTAND. YEAH. SO BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A SORT OF GENERALIZED WAITLIST FOR THE CITY HOUSING VOUCHERS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RIGHT. IT WOULD BE INSTANTLY SWAMPED.  SO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GOTTEN THOSE TENANT BASED VOUCHERS HAVE GOTTEN THEM THROUGH REFERRAL PARTNERSHIPS. SO WE MENTIONED THE BEEPS FAMILIES THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THE FAMILIES WITH MIXED STATUS WHO DON'T QUALIFY FOR THE FEDERAL WE USE THOSE VOUCHERS FOR WE ALSO HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE OFFICE OF RETURNING CITIZENS WITH JUSTICE FOR HOUSING ALTHOUGH MAYBE THAT WAS THE FEDERAL ONES. NO. OKAY. YEAH. JUSTICE FOR HOUSING AS WELL. SO BOTH OF THOSE FOR RETURNING CITIZENS AND THE OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY DANIELLE'S SHOP SO THAT'S KIND OF SO WE DON'T WE DON'T MAINTAIN A KIND OF SEPARATE INDEPENDENT WAITLIST FOR THOSE OKAY AND IF THIS IS FOR YOU OR FOR DANIELLE BUT DO CAN WE HELP THE FAMILIES THAT WE WERE WE TRACKING THAT IN TERMS OF DO WE HAVE FAMILIES WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THIS HELP?  DO ALL OF THEM GET IT? I DON'T KNOW. NO, NO. SO ACTUALLY I'M GOING TO HAVE DAVID COME UP AND ADDRESS THIS. BUT BASICALLY I MENTIONED IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP. WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF IT. I THINK 1500 WAS THE LAST NUMBER. I HAVE GOT MORE THAN THAT. BUT THE THING I WAS GOING TO SAY IS WERE THE LION'S SHARE OF THOSE HAVE BEEN FEDERAL VOUCHERS AND WERE ON TEMPORARY SHORTFALLS THAT WE DON'T GET NEW FEDERAL VOUCHERS RIGHT NOW IN THIS CALENDAR YEAR. SO THEN WE STARTED DOING THE CITY ONES BUT SO WE DON'T WE'RE NOT ABLE TO SERVE EVERYONE OKAY YEAH BEFORE YOU START, I'M ALSO JUST CURIOUS HOW THAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN YEAH, YOU KNOW THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND PEACE WORKS SO IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SURE YEAH HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THAT. SO FIRST OF ALL NOT ALL THE FAMILIES THAT DPS HAS THAT ARE HOMELESS WITHIN THAT NETWORK ARE TO RECEIVE VOUCHERS. WE'RE IN SHORTFALL RIGHT NOW IN OUR FEDERAL PROGRAM AND WE'RE KIND OF LIKE AT BUDGETARY CAPACITY WITH OUR CITY PROGRAM SO WE CAN'T ACCEPT MORE REFERRALS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. WE DO STILL HAVE SOME FAMILIES GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS BUT THE WAY THAT THE PARTNERSHIP WORKS IS THAT THE VHA HAS A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH DPS.  BP HAS A FAMILY AID, A THIRD PARTY SERVICE PROVIDER THAT WORKS DIRECTLY WITH FAMILIES SO THEY REFER FAMILIES WITHIN THE BP NETWORK THROUGH THEIR HOMELESS LIAISON.  SO THEY COME TO VHA, WE DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY AND THEN THEY GO GET ISSUED A VOUCHER AND THEY GO OUT AND SEARCH WITH THEIR VOUCHER FAMILY AID IS THE SERVICE RIGHT? IT HELPS THEM SEARCH AND FIND HOUSING AND THEN PROVIDE SOME ONGOING SUPPORT SHOULD THE FAMILY NEED IT. SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW THE PARTNERSHIP WORKS. DO WE LINK THEM TO LEGAL SERVICES?  THEY THEY CAN ACCESS LEGAL SERVICES IF THEY NEED THEM BUT THAT HASN'T TYPICALLY BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE.  OKAY. OKAY. THANKS I GUESS MY MY NEXT QUESTION IS DANIELLE, COULD WE YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, IF IF WE HAD ATTORNEYS I DON'T KNOW IF JBL'S IF WE BOOSTED THEIR CAPACITY, COULD WE PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES, YOU KNOW, FOR FOR FOLKS IN FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING, YOU KNOW, HOMELESSNESS OR OR UNDER THREAT AT RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS? I'M SURE I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS BECOMES WHAT PART OF THE PROCESS THEY'RE THAT THEY WOULD NEED AN ATTORNEY SO IF THEY ARE FACING VOUCHER TERMINATION THERE'S HARVARD LEGAL AID BUREAU THAT PROVIDES VOUCHERS, TERMINATION ASSISTANCE THERE'S LESS AS WELL. OBVIOUSLY IF THEY'RE IN THE EVICTION PROCESS THEY CAN ALSO USE THE OFFICE OF HOUSING STABILITY AND GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES. SO I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHERE IN THAT PROCESS THEY ARE FOR WHICH THEY'D NEED AN ATTORNEY.  BUT YES, TO YOUR QUESTION THEY TO DEFINITELY UTILIZE LEGAL SERVICES. OKAY. OKAY. FOOD THOUGHT JUST A LOT TO COVER I GUESS BACK TO ADMINISTRATIVE BACK. CAN YOU JUST DESCRIBE IN THE CITY VOUCHER PROGRAM IS THE RAPID REHOUSING THERE IS IS THAT PART OF THAT BECAUSE I WAS I WAS LOOKING AT SOME DATA AND IT'S OFFER WHETHER IT'S FOR RETURNING CITIZENS THAT IS THAT VERY FAMILIAR CHIEF DILLON SO THAT'S A SEPARATE PROGRAM BUT I'LL LET THE CHIEF SPEAK OKAY I CAN JUST EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO. RIGHT. RAPID REHOUSING IS A SHORT TERM RENTAL RENTAL PAYMENT ALONG WITH SUPPORT SERVICES THAT WE USE TO GET INDIVIDUALS OUT OF THE SHELTER SYSTEM OR OFF THE STREET VERY QUICKLY. IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY THEIR PRIORITY FOR LONGER TERM HOUSING OR OTHER MORE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BUT IT DOES IT IT PROVIDES A YEAR SOMETIMES TWO YEARS OF RENTAL PAYMENTS WITH SUPPORT SERVICES 100 100% SURE. WELL I THINK I THINK THEY'RE THEY PAY UP TO 30% THEY PAY 30% OF THEIR INCOME WHICH IS OFTEN IF THEY'RE BEEN ON THE STREET OR THEN SHELTERS A VERY, VERY LOW PAYMENT. AND WHAT'S THE YOU KNOW, ARE WE EXCEEDING THE DEMAND? YOU KNOW, IS THE DEMAND EXCEEDING THE FUNDING WE HAVE OR WHAT HAS THAT PROGRAM DOING? YES. YES.  I MEAN WE CAN ALWAYS USE, YOU KNOW, RENTAL PAYMENTS TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF OUT OF SHELTER.  YOU KNOW, IT'S A IT'S A TRICKY PROGRAM BECAUSE WE AS SOMEONE'S IT'S BEST USE FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE RUN INTO SOME TEMPORARY DIFFICULTY AND THEN THEY NEED SOME TIME TO STABILIZE BEFORE THEY'RE YOU KNOW, ABLE TO GO BACK OUT AND RENT IN THE MARKET OR WE'VE BEEN USING IT IN A MORE AN EMERGENCY NATURE SO IT'S HARDER WE GOT TO REALLY USE THAT TIME WELL WHEN WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IF THEY NEED IT SO JIM, HOW MUCH IS IN THAT PROGRAM FOR FOR NEXT YEAR FOR I DON'T I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER. IT'S I MEAN IT'S IT'S IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CITY FUNDING THAT GOES INTO RAPID REHOUSING PLUS CONTINUUM OF CARE DOLLARS AS WELL BUT WE CAN GET YOU THE OKAY AND THEN JUST I GUESS PROBABLY THE LAST QUESTION IS YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HOUSING CRISIS. YOU KNOW, TWO THINGS I FEEL LIKE ARE EXACERBATING THAT CRISIS. WHEN ARE YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS? ONE ARE INVESTORS WHO ARE BUYING UP THE HOUSING IN BOSTON. WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THAT? AND THEN THE BOSTON GLOBE RAN A VERY EDUCATIONAL ARTICLE FOR ME ON THE THE RESPONSE TO THE MBT AID COMMUNITIES IN IN COMMUNITIES AROUND BOSTON WHO ARE JUST SIMPLY REZONE AN ALREADY EXISTING AREA OR HOUSING AREA.  SO NO NEW LIKE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE 2000 UNITS BUT IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE NOW NO NEW UNITS WHAT WHAT WERE YOUR RESPONSES TO THAT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE HOUSING BUILT YOU KNOW MORE HOUSING USED HERE AND MORE HOUSING BUILT OUTSIDE OF BOSTON WHICH MAY BE OUTSIDE YOUR PURVIEW. I THINK YOU'RE RAISING TWO VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PHENOMENONS. I MEAN WE ABSOLUTELY NEED THE REGION TO BUILD MORE HOUSING. WE NEED OUR ARE PART OF THE REASON BOSTON AS HOUSING POPULATION OUR HOUSING SITUATION IS SO STRAINED IS BECAUSE THE COMMUNITIES ARE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES ARE NOT BUILDING ENOUGH HOUSING AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS BUT I THINK YOU WOULD ALL BE SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT REACH OUT TO US. ABSOLUTELY IN A PANIC CALLING FROM OTHER OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND BOSTON BEGGING FOR HELP.  SO WE REALLY DO NEED THAT SUPPLY. I WAS SURPRISED TO BY THE REZONING OF AREAS THAT WERE ALREADY EXISTED.  SO IT WAS IT WAS A IT WAS I LEARNED THROUGH THAT ARTICLE AS WELL. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE STATE AS THEY REALLY TRY TO TO MAKE THAT YOU KNOW, MAKE THAT PROGRAM HAPPEN . WE ARE SEEING AN UPTICK AND I I'VE HEARD NUMBERS THAT 20% OR MORE ARE OF PROPERTIES ARE MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES ARE BEING BOUGHT BY OUTSIDE INVESTORS. WE ARE THAT'S WHY THE AOP PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE IN THAT SPACE AND WE CAN ACTUALLY HELP BETTER NONPROFITS AND OUR IN REALLY GOOD GOOD NONPROFITS ARE FOR PROFITS BY IT AND COMPETE AND MAKE SURE THOSE UNITS OF TENANTS CAN STAY IN THOSE UNITS BECOME AFFORDABLE LONG TERM I DO THINK WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP WE'RE GIVING A LOT OF THOUGHT TO THIS AND I'D BE GLAD TO TO MEET WITH YOU ON IT AT A LATER DATE IF THEY'RE SMALL MULTIFAMILY THEY'RE TWO AND THREE FAMILIES AND THEY'RE BEING BOUGHT BY OUTSIDE INVESTORS LIKE HOW DO WE HELP HOMEOWNERS COMPETE? THEY'RE MORE THEY'RE MORE COMPLICATED PURCHASES.  THEY WANT TO DO INSPECTIONS, THEY NEED A MORTGAGE, ETC. AND SO WE ARE THINKING A LOT ABOUT ESPECIALLY WITH WITH MAHA ANOTHER PARTNERS HOW DO WE HOW DO WE HELP A HOMEOWNER COMPETE WITH THE CASH BUYER AND DO WE NEED TO INTERVENE AND I THINK COUNCILOR WORRELL HAS ALSO BROUGHT THAT UP TO ME HOW DO WE HOW DO WE HELP A HOMEOWNER BECOME ALMOST A CASH BUYER TO COMPETE SO I THINK WE HAVE TO GIVE SOME MORE THOUGHT TO THAT. IT COULD BE I DON'T WANT PUT ANY HOMEOWNER IN ANY KIND OF DANGEROUS POSITION BY MOVING TOO QUICKLY AT THE SAME TIME IT'S VERY, VERY HARD FOR THEM MANY TIMES TO REALLY BUY THE HOUSE AND COMPETE WITH AN INVESTOR. OKAY.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DUNCAN, THE FLOOR IS THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CHAIR AND I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE WITH MY PREDECESSOR ADMINISTRATOR BOK AND EVEN MORE SO REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE WITH SHEILA DILLON WHO HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON THIS STUFF FOR OVER A DOZEN YEARS. I FEEL LIKE I'M HONORED TO SEE THE NEW GUARD AND HOUSING IN MY PREDECESSOR MCKENZIE BOK AND THEN SEE SEE YOU SHEILA AS REALLY SOMEONE WHO I LOOK UP TO EVERY DAY LIKE I THINK YOUR DEMEANOR WITH COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IS JUST LIKE YOU KNOW, BEING EIGHT MONTHS IN THIS ROLE I COULDN'T THINK OF SOMEONE I WANT TO EMULATE MORE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M HONORED TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU . THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGING WE'RE IN CHALLENGING TIMES TO FINANCING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND I THINK I'VE MADE MY POSITION ON HOUSING VERY CLEAR SUPPORTING WAIVERS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, SUPPORTING SQUARES AND STREETS, SUPPORTING OFFICE TARAZI AND I, I THINK I HAVE A MORE NUANCED POSITION ON HOUSING THAN SIMPLY YIMBY OR NIMBY. BUT IF I HAD TO FIT MYSELF INTO ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES, I KNOW WHICH ONE IT WOULD BE AND BUT IT IS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S NUANCED AND IT'S FOR EVERY COMMUNITY AND IT'S FOR A COMMUNITY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO ENGAGE IN THOSE DISCUSSION ENDS AND HOW CAN WE BOSTON YIMBY USA HOW CAN WE GET PEOPLE TO SAY YES I WANT THIS IN MY COMMUNITY? YES, I HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO SAY THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO SEE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING. THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO SEE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO YOU KNOW NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT ALL LEVELS OF AFFORDABLE HOW CAN WE HOW CAN WE GET THERE AND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES TO FINANCING AFFORDABLE HOUSING?  WOW. AND SO I THINK I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING ACROSS ALL INCOME BANDS AND YOU ARE RIGHT WE WE SOMETIMES RUN INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T WANT TO SEE ADDITIONAL HOUSING . I WILL SAY THOUGH THAT IT HAS BEEN THAT WITH ALMOST I THINK WITHOUT EXCEPTION NEIGHBORHOODS ARE WELCOMING MORE THE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS JUST BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN SO MANY OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS OR NEIGHBORS BEING PRICED OUT AND I THINK THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN EASIER. I THINK THE MAYOR HAS GOT IT RIGHT WHEN SHE'S REALLY FOCUSED ON PLANNING.  I KNOW THERE'S THESE EVEN EVEN WITH THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS BUT I KNOW THE BPD IS IS REALLY SORT OF APPROACHING NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISCUSSING WHAT IS WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO SEE, STAY WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM. BUT AT THE SAME TIME REALLY ENCOURAGE NEIGHBORHOODS TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY WANT TO GROW AND HOW THEY SHOULD GROW. SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GOING TO KNOW COME IN AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO WHAT WE WANT WHERE WE WANT IT BUT INSTEAD I THINK THERE'S BEEN REALLY GOOD DIALOG ABOUT GROWTH AND WHAT GROWTH SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND B AND SO I THINK I'M FEELING HOPEFUL BECAUSE THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN SO GOOD AND SO RICH THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE INCREASED PRODUCTION BUTTONS DONE IN SUCH A WAY THAT NEIGHBORHOODS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO STILL HAVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AT THE OTHER AT THE OTHER SIDE. SO AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE TAKING ON, YOU KNOW, SOME DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT YOU'VE YOU KNOW, VERY, VERY MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT PUBLIC LAND FOR PUBLIC GOOD.  COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE HAD A GREAT HEARING ORDER TO THAT EFFECT AND WE HAVE A LOT OF EXAMPLES IN MY DISTRICT FROM THE WEST END LIBRARY TO GARDEN STREET AND RFP AS HAVE COMING PARKER TERRACE WHICH IS A GREAT MODEL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON CITY OWNED LAND AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO OPEN. WE LEARNED THROUGH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HEARING THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OPEN SURFACE PARKING LOTS OF THE BPA OWN. SO IT'S ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS THAT LAND IS ONE OF THE MAIN REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE BPA AND AS THE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION CHAIR I WAS KIND OF SALIVATING AT THE IDEA THAT WE CAN BUILD HOUSING ANYWHERE AND IT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT IS THE CITY DOING? HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS?  I KNOW I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC POTENTIAL PUBLIC FUNDING AND THE PUBLIC FUNDING OF BURBANK TERRACE WHICH WAS IN THE EAST FENWAY BUT WAS IN MY DISTRICT UNTIL UNTIL JANUARY ONE AND THEN 140 CLARENDON WHICH I KNOW THE CITY WAS PARTNERING WITH BANK OF AMERICA AND ALL OF THESE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND THEN WITH THE WEST END LIBRARY JUST YOU KNOW, POHA AND KASS CAPITAL WINNING THAT BID A LOT OF AND I KNOW ADMINISTRATOR BOK YOU WERE ON THAT PANEL TO CHOOSE THAT AND I ACTUALLY DIDN'T GET WHO I WANTED BUT IT CHECKED ALL THE BOXES FOR ME SO SO JUST CURIOUS HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THOSE YOU KNOW BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON PUBLIC LAND.  YEAH SO AND I ACTUALLY INVITE TAYLOR CAIN, MY CHIEF OF STAFF TO COME UP AND JUST SAY A FEW WORDS BECAUSE SHE'S SITTING HERE ALL THIS TIME AND AND SHE'S ONE OF THE PEOPLE REALLY RUNNING POINT ON OUR FAIRCLOTH INITIATIVE BECAUSE FOR US THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF THE PUZZLE AT VHA IT'S BOTH HOW DO WE USE OWN LAND?  I MENTIONED AT THE START THAT WE WE WE'VE DONE SOME CAPACITY STUDIES USING SOME MONEY THAT THE COUNCIL GAVE US BUT ALSO HOW DO WE PARTNER WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE BPA?  YOU KNOW BUT EVERYBODY YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY THE LIBRARY IS A CASE THEY'RE BIG PIECE RIGHT? JUST LIKE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ADD.  SO I DON'T KNOW TAYLOR IF YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THAT. YEAH, I THINK WE WERE REALLY INSPIRED BY THE WORTH OF THE CITY DID WITH THE LAND AUDIT AND REALLY TAKING INVENTORY OF CITY OWNED LAND AND REALLY APPLYING A CLOSE TO THE PARCELS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED THAT PART THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND KIND OF PAIRING THAT WITH THIS WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AROUND THE FAIR CLOTH INITIATIVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT ROLE CAN WE PLAY WITH THE LAND THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO SOME OF WHICH ARE OUR PARKING LOTS BUT OTHERS OF WHICH ARE KIND OF OPEN PARCELS OF LAND THAT THE VHA MAINTAINS OWNERSHIP OF THAT COULD BRING ADDITIONAL HOUSING TO THE CITY AND THEN WE'VE ENGAGED IN SOME REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS WHERE WE COULD PLAY A KIND OF MEANINGFUL ROLE AS KIND OF BRINGING THIS NEW FEDERAL RESOURCE WITH THE FAIR COST SUBSIDY TO CITY OWNED LAND TO KIND OF BRING HOUSING TO BEAR THAT PROBABLY WOULDN'T OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO BE BUILT. SO WE'RE REALLY KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT THAT TO DEEPEN THAT WORK ON KIND OF BRINGING NEW HOUSING TO CITY ON LAND.  THANK YOU. AND I KNOW WE CAN MAKE TOO WE CAN WORK TO MAKE OUR CITY MORE LIVABLE IN EVERY REGARD FROM GREENSPACE TO TRANSIT. BUT IF HOUSING IS NOT AFFORDABLE THEN OUR CITY IS NOT LIVABLE. I KNOW WGBH RAN SOMETHING THAT SAID THE AVERAGE BOSTONIAN RENTER SPENDS 47% OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING IN SEATTLE IT'S 28% AND I KNOW THAT WITH THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE WE'RE ALL WORKING TO CLOSE THE GAP THERE AND I THINK I THINK AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS PART OF IT.  BUT IT'S NOT IT'S NOT REALLY THE WHOLE PICTURE AND I DO THINK THE SPECULATIVE MARKET IS REALLY YOU KNOW, IT HAS A HUGE IMPACT AND YOU KNOW, HAVING A LOT OF SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT SO MANY UNITS JUST DISAPPEAR AND ARE BOUGHT BY ELSIE'S. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO'S BUYING THEM. SO I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO BUT I KNOW WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE TABLE AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND EVERYTHING YOU DO AND I GUESS I'LL WAIT FOR ROUND TWO. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR STAFF. I GUESS I'LL START WITH WELCOME HOME BOSTON. I DO SEE ANTONIO UP THERE SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THAT PROGRAM AN INITIATIVE KEEPER. CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT NEXT YEAR WELCOME ON BOSTON WILL LOOK LIKE AND THEN ALSO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WELCOMING BOSTON HOW MUCH CITY VACANT LAND DO WE HAVE NOW IN STOCK?  OKAY SO I CAN ANTONIO JUST BE ON CALL SO IN CASE I GET SOMETHING WRONG I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION BUT SO THE CITY NOT THE BPD BUT THE CITY OWNS ABOUT A THOUSAND PARCELS AS WE SAID IN OUR PRESENTATION ABOUT HALF OF THOSE ARE URBAN WILDS LEDGE JUST THEY'RE NOT BUILDABLE. WE PUT THE YOU KNOW SO THERE SO WE TAKE THAT THEN WE'VE GOT ABOUT 500 PARCELS THAT WE COULD DO SOMETHING WITH AND ABOUT HALF OF THOSE ARE IN COMMUNITY PROCESS RFP ARE OUT THAT INCLUDES THE 150 SITES THAT WE'VE WE'VE WORKED ON IN YOUR OFFICE WITH TO TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO WELCOME HOME BOSTON SO WELCOME HOME BOSTON WE HAVE SARGE TOO SO HOW MANY ARE NOT AWARDED ARE NOT PART OF THE WELCOME ON BOSTON OKAY ABOUT 250 BUILDABLE BUILDABLE OR USABLE BUILDABLE ARE USE RIGHT YEAH YEAH YES SO IS THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE LAND AND WE CAN CERTAINLY ANY COUNCILOR WHO'S INTERESTED IN I'VE DONE THIS FOR FOR SOME OF YOU ANY COUNCILOR THAT'S INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT COUNCILOR BREADON THERE'S NOT MUCH I KNOW BUT WHAT WE HAVE THE SIZE, WHAT WE'VE ANALYSIS WE'VE DONE WE JUST WE WOULD BE GLAD TO GET YOU THAT AND THEN WELCOME HOME. BOSTON WAS AN INITIATIVE AND WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH YOUR OFFICE ON THIS. THE MAYOR WANT TO MAKE SOME OF THE BUILDABLE LOTS OF OUR BEST REMAINING BUILDABLE LOTS AVAILABLE FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED 150 LOTS AND WE'VE HAD TWO ROUNDS OF OF WHICH YOU TO OUR PIECE HAVE GONE OUT AND WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH YOUR OFFICE AND COMMUNITY. WE HAVE DESIGNATED NOW OH GOSH I DON'T KNOW NINE NINE DEVELOPERS 80% OF THOSE DEVELOPERS ARE MWP OR BIPOC AND AND IT'S BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL WE ARE HOPING THAT PHASE ONE DEVELOPERS START BREAK GROUND THIS YEAR AND WE ARE JUST STARTING TO MEET NOW WITH PHASE TWO TO MAKE SURE THEY START DOING DESIGN REVIEW BUT ALSO SUBMITTING TO ESD ON ANY REJECTIONS OR ZONING RELIEF THEY MAY NEED. WE ARE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ROUND THREE CAN COULD BE. WE ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT MONEY. A LOT OF THIS FIRST TWO ROUNDS WE WERE USING ARPA FUNDS SO WE'RE LOOKING AT COULD WE DO SOMETHING THAT IS A BIT MORE MARKET DRIVEN BUT MORE FOR OUR WORKFORCE? WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT MONEY WE HAVE REMAINING TO MAKE THOSE UNITS AFFORDABLE SO ALL OF THAT RIGHT NOW IS IN PLAY AS WE START LOOKING AT CRAFTING A THIRD RFP. GOT IT. AND ANY ANY FUNDS THAT WERE USED TO HELP DRIVE THE DIVERSITY WITH DEVELOPERS AND CONTRACTORS THAT WAS ARPA. Q CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO PUT ON THE OPERATING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING BIPOC CONTRACTORS?  YES. SO WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SUPPORT A LOT OF THESE DEVELOPERS ARE NOT NEW TO DEVELOPMENT PER SE. THEY'RE SMALLER DEVELOPERS BUT THEY'RE NEW TO US. SO ANTONIO AS YOU MENTIONED HAS DONE A GREAT JOB, MEETS WITH THEM WEEKLY. WE MEET WITH GROUPS THE COHORTS WEEKLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER, WE'RE LEARNING FROM THEM AND WE'RE IDENTIFYING ISSUES THEY MAY HAVE SO WE'RE BEING RESPONSIVE.  WE'VE MADE $2 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR PRE-DEVELOPMENT FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SO IF A DEVELOPER TEAM DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPITAL TO TO BRING THEIR PROJECTS, WE'RE PROVIDING PRE-DEVELOPMENT LOANS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IF THEY NEED HELP SORT OF LOOKING AT ANYTHING APPLYING FOR OTHER FUNDING OR PUTTING PERFORMANCE TOGETHER OR ADDITIONAL ARCHITECTURAL SUPPORT,  ENVIRONMENTAL YOU NAME IT. SO WE'RE PUTTING SOME RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE EARLY STAGE PRE-DEVELOPMENT. THESE ARE NEW DEVELOPERS.  THEY'RE NOT LARGE SO THEY REALLY THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TAKE OUT MORTGAGES ON THEIR OWN PRIMARY RESIDENTS TO MAKE THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAPPEN.  SO IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THOUGH I THINK AS WE AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH WITH THESE DEVELOPERS AND NEW DEVELOPERS TO CONTINUE TO FIND FUNDING FOR FOR THIS PROGRAM AND THAT $2 MILLION IT WON'T HAVE BE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THAT.  OH NO, NO, NO, NO. WE'RE JUST MAKING THAT AVAILABLE. OKAY. IT'S WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE IT LAND BUT IT'S PRE-DEVELOPMENT MONEY AND IT WILL BE PAID OUT WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT START. SO WHEN A DEVELOPER STARTS THEY WILL PAY BACK THAT PRE-DEVELOPMENT LOAN SO WE CAN RECYCLE IT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. ON PAGE 284 OF THE BUDGET BOOK SAYS PROGRAM THREE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SOME OF YOUR TARGET FOR 24 FOR 25 IS BELOW THE PROJECTED FOR 24. CAN YOU SPEAK TO TO WHY I'M ASSUMING IT'S PART OF THE OFFER BUT YEAH I MEAN IT COULD BE IT COULD BE FUNDING IT COULD BE ARPA RELATED.  IT COULD ALSO BE COSTS GO UP. SO IF OUR FUNDING STAYS FLAT BUT COSTS GO UP, WE ASSUME THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO PRODUCE OR ACCOMPLISH AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE. I ALSO YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO OUR TARGETS, RIGHT? SO THAT'S THE MINIMUM THAT WE HOPE TO DO AND HOPEFULLY LIKE YOU KNOW THIS IS OUR LAST YEAR WE'LL GO ABOVE THOSE TARGETS THAT WE CAN IN AND WHERE IT IS A FUNDING ISSUE. ARE YOU GUYS ABLE TO PROVIDE A FUNDING ISSUE. ARE YOU GUYS ABLE TO PROVIDE ME , YOU KNOW, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT TO FILL IN THE GAP TO GET IT BACK TO THE PROJECTED? YEP, YEP, YEP.  UM AND THEN JUST TO GET MY NUMBERS STRAIGHT ON THE WHOLE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE IT SOUNDS LIKE MY WAGE HAS MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE THAT MEETS LAST YEAR'S DOLLAR AMOUNT. CORRECT OR EXCEEDS IT? NO.  SO IT MEETS LAST YEAR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO YOU GUYS ARE FINE. IT'S VHA THAT NEEDS THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.  WELL, IT IT BE IT IS $2 MILLION FOR THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR FIRST HOME IS ARPA MONEY AND IT'S GOING TO AT OUR CURRENT PACE RUN OUT SOMETIME IN OCTOBER NOVEMBER. GOT IT.  AND THEN THERE IS A TRANSFER POSITION FROM THE BPD AID TO MO H WHERE THESE NEW POSITIONS LIKE OR WERE THEY BACKFILLING VACANT POSITIONS? CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT?  YEAH THERE WERE I THINK THERE WERE TEN POSITIONS THAT WERE TRANSFERRING OVER FROM THE BPD A FROM THE HOUSING POLICY AND COMPLIANCE DIVISION. SO THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ADMINISTER THE INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, THE ONSITE AND OFF SITE UNITS SO THEY'RE ALREADY EMBEDDED WITH THEM WHICH LIKE I SAID EARLIER WE WE SIGNED THEM AWAY WITH THE PDA TO START THAT TRANSITION EARLIER AND GET THEM KIND OF ACCLIMATED AND TRY TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION.  I THINK THEY WERE AND THEN THERE WERE A FEW A FEW THE POSITIONS WERE VACANT. MOST OF THEM WERE FILLED.  WE'VE ALREADY FILLED SOME OF THE ONES THAT WERE VACANT AND WE'LL WE'LL FILL THE REMAINDER OF THEM IN THE COMING MONTHS. THANK YOU. AND THEN FOR TAX FORECLOSED PROPERTY I BELIEVE THAT LIVES UNDER M H. MM HMM. HOW MUCH TAX FORECLOSED PROPERTIES DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE? WELL, THE PARCELS THAT I MENTIONED A LOT OF THOSE WERE ACQUIRED DECADES AGO THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE. IT IS RARE THAT WE HAVE ANY ACTUAL BUILDINGS NOW THAT AREN'T REDEEMED. SO WHEN SOMETHING IS FORECLOSED UPON THE FORMER OWNER HAS A YEAR TO REDEEM AND IT IS RARE THAT THAT PROPERTY'S ONE THAT THE VALUES ARE SO HIGH THESE DAYS IF SOMEBODY IS IN TAX DIFFICULTY THEY OFTEN WILL SELL BECAUSE THEY THE PROPERTIES ARE WORTH SO MUCH OR AFTER IT'S FORECLOSED THEY REDEEM. SO WE DON'T HAVE I CAN GET YOU A LIST OF THE BUILDINGS BUT IT'S IT'S MORE TYPICAL THAT WE GET A BUILDING AND THEN IT GETS REDEEMED AND COMES OUT OF OUR INVENTORY VERY QUICKLY. BUT I WILL GET YOU A LIST. THERE'S NOT MUCH I THINK THERE'S THERE IS ONE OR TWO IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT PEOPLE ARE USING NOW TO TO ANYWAYS TO PARK CARS AND THINGS BUT BUT WE DON'T OWN MANY GRANITE BY THAT LIST. THANKS AND THEN AOP I KNOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT EXPANDING IT I WOULD LOVE IT TO BE EXPANDED TO COMPETE MORE WITH SINGLE FAMILIES CONDOS TO FAMILIES HOW THOSE CONVERSATIONS MATERIALIZE AND CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON AOP YEAH I I TOO AM VERY INTERESTED LIKE WE MENTIONED EARLIER TO BE TALKED TO PROVIDE MORE COMPETITION TO CASH BUYERS AND THEN THINK ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT RESELL A PROPERTY TO A FIRST TIME HOME BUYER. UM IT'S IT IT'S IT WOULDN'T BE CHEAP AND IT WOULD BE VERY VERY RETAIL INTENSE RIGHT WE'D BE WE'D HAVE WE'D HAVE TO FUND A DEVELOPER OR NONPROFITS I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT'D BE GOOD USE THAT THE CITY COULD DO IT BUT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BE OUT THERE ACQUIRING FOR CASH AND THEN SELLING TO A FIRST TIME HOME BUYER MAYBE AFTER SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.  WE DID EXPLORE THIS WITH MARJA. I THINK YOU MENTIONED MARJA.  I THINK WE NEED TO EXPLORE IT WITH THEM AGAIN. I THINK IT'S REALLY TRYING TO FIND A NIMBLE PARTNER THAT WE COULD WORK WITH. I'M VERY INTRIGUED BY THE IDEA BUT WE HAVEN'T ACTED ON IT YET. ALL RIGHT. AND I'LL START MY TIME NOW JUST AS A I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION AND WE'LL GO BACK TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY BACK TO MY COUNCILORS WILLISTON RESIDENT WHERE WAS HE? WHERE WAS I? YOU KNOW WHAT?  I JUST GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY NOW. SORRY I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT WHEN I MADE THAT JOKE.  WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME PLEASE COME DOWN. I STATE YOUR NAME,  ORGANIZATION, RESIDENCE OR AFFILIATION AND YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES TO TESTIFY. AMANI OH JOHN BEFORE JUST HI THERE. YES. AND BEFORE WE START PLEASE NOTE NO CELL PHONE IN THE GO TURN YOUR CELL PHONES OFF AND PLEASE DON'T USE YOUR CELL PHONE WHILE IN THE CHAMBER.  THANKS FOR JOINING US. I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING LOTS OF REQUESTS FOR INCREASES. I'M HOPING THAT THE REPORTS THAT I LEFT ON THE TABLE AND MY TO SEND IT STATEMENT WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE THE CITY RENT SUBSIDY INCREASE ONE OF THOSE PRIORITIES IS YOU CAN LOOK AT THE REPORTS IN DETAIL LATER THEY'RE VERY SURFACE BUT FOR INSTANCE IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECOND REPORT WHICH IS THE NUMBERS OF DISPLACED I WORK WITH HOUSING WORKS WE HANDLE THE WAITLISTS FOR MAYBE YOU HAVE TO KDKA'S IN THE CITY IT'S PRETTY MUCH AN OVERLAP WITH WITH THIS BOX OF POPULATION BUT WE HAVE THE LUXURY OF COLLECTING DATA AND PUBLISHING IT THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T. SO THESE ARE REAL TIME NUMBERS ON DISPLACEMENT I DIDN'T SEE A TREND ON THIS ONE BUT IT'S LARGER THAN LAST YEAR IF YOU LOOK AT IT NUMBER THREE AND FOUR WAITLIST TIMES ARE REALLY STILL AROUND FOUR YEARS BUT ODDLY ENOUGH IT'S ACTUALLY CAUSE VACANCIES IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TAX CREDIT PROPERTIES. THAT'S A NUANCE YOU WON'T SEE HERE AND THE RISK WILL IT'S TOO COMPLICATED TO GO INTO. I WOULD ONLY SAY THAT THE REASON I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS FUNDING INCREASE IS THAT IF YOU CAN STABILIZE HOUSING FOR MORE PEOPLE THEN THAT BENEFITS MANY OTHER PROGRAMS THAT MIGHT NORMALLY NEED MORE MONEY. BUT YOU CAN SLOW OR REVERSE. WE'VE KNOWN THIS FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF HUNDRED YEARS. I LEFT WITH A QUOTE FROM CHARLES DICKENS THAT HE WROTE IN 1840 WHICH IS AT THE BOTTOM . BUT BASICALLY WHAT HE SAID WAS WITHOUT THAT STABLE HOUSING THERE ARE WHOLE CLASSES OF PEOPLE WHO BECOME SO DESPERATE AND SO MISERABLE THEY BEAR WITHIN THEMSELVES THE SEEDS OF RUIN TO THE ENTIRE CITY.  AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY TRUE. WE NEED TO BUILD SOCIAL CAPITAL MORE THAN ANYTHING AND THIS PROGRAM IS A GREAT WAY TO DO THAT. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REPORTS MIKE CONTACT INFORMATION IS THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AMANI.  HEY EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.  MY NAME IS ARMANI WHITE AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RECLAIM ROXBURY AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ECHO WHAT JOHN AND OTHERS IN THE CITY RENTAL SUBSIDY COALITION HAVE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS THE NEED TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE CITY RENTAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM BY 4 MILLION TO 16.75. AND THE REASON IS KIND OF LIKE THREE FOLD FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO SEE CHANGES, YOU KNOW, AS A AS A PART OF THE COALITION FOR TRULY AFFORDABLE BOSTON CHANGES TO THE CITY'S ITP POLICY WHICH REQUIRED 3% OF UNITS USING CITY RENT OR SUBSIDIES AND IT'S JUST REALLY GOOD TO SEE THAT AS A STRATEGY TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. AND WITH THAT IN MIND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY MEET THAT NEW REQUIREMENT. AND SO THIS THIS YOU KNOW, ASK TO INCREASE IS TO MEET OUR OWN GOALS THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT THERE TO, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE FAIR HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY.  AND YOU KNOW, IT WAS GOOD WE WERE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THE ADP POLICY WOULD WOULD CHANGE IN THE ZONE, SEE LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF THE THE THE FINALIZED VERSION IS THAT YOU KNOW COMMUNITIES IN ZONE C LIKE ROXBURY WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS WELL AND THE REASON THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE EXCLUDED WAS DUE TO WAS WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS FEASIBLE TO ACTUALLY INCLUDE THEM. SO WE'RE HAPPY THAT IT WAS FEASIBLE. AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE HOPING YOU KNOW THAT THE CITY TAKES SERIOUSLY THE RESEARCH COMING OUT OF HOUSING WORKS. YOU KNOW THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE 60% ARMY UNITS THAT WERE YOU KNOW MARKETING AS UNITS FOR OUR COMMUNITY ARE NOT BEING ABLE TO BE FILLED BECAUSE YOU KNOW, FOLKS CAN'T AFFORD THEM AND SO IF THOSE UNITS ARE VACANT AS HOUSING IS SAYING AND HAS DATA TO PROVE HOW CAN WE USE THESE CITY RENTAL SUBSIDIES TO ACTUALLY MAKE MAKE IT SO THAT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN AFFORD TO STAY IN ROXBURY THE AVERAGE RENTER MAKES AROUND 30 TO 40% AMI SO WHEN YOU HAVE 60% UNITS YOU KNOW THAT AREN'T BEING FILLED THERE IT'S NO SURPRISE. SO YEAH, WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS EVIDENCE AND JUST THE SITUATION THE DIRE SITUATION AT HAND OF DISPLACEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES CONVINCES FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 4 MILLION IN THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME TO PUBLIC TO TESTIFY PUBLICLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND THEN MY QUESTION BASED ON THE ADVOCACY WITH THE CITYWIDE VOUCHERS, DO WE ACCOUNT FOR BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING THE VOUCHER HOLDERS HOLDING IT FOR MULTIPLE YEARS DO WE ACCOUNT DO WE BUILD WHAT DO WE BUILD IN FOR RENT INCREASES? YEAH. SO SO IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS IN WHICH YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY THE CITY STARTING A CITY VOUCHER PROGRAM IS KIND OF A IT'S A NEW IT'S A NEW ADVENTURE FOR A CITY NOT MANY CITIES IN AMERICA DO AND WE SEE LIKE IN OUR OVERALL VOUCHER PORTFOLIO WE GET THESE RENT INCREASES REQUESTS AND THIS YEAR I THINK THEY'RE AROUND 10%. RIGHT. THEY'RE GOING UP. I MEAN IT'S LIKE KIND OF IT'S SO THAT THIS IS ON THE FEDERAL AND STATE SIDE. SO REALLY THE REASON THAT THE THAT THE LIKE BUDGET AMOUNT THIS YEAR CAN BE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR HAS TO DO WITH THAT SPACE BECAUSE OF THE LAG IN GETTING THE PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS LEASED UP BUT I WOULD SAY THAT FROM THE BJ'S PERSPECTIVE FOR THE LONG TERM THIS IS A BUDGET THAT IS GOING TO NEED TO FACTOR IN RENTAL INCREASES BECAUSE YES WE ARE SIGNING LONG TERM CONTRACTS AND MAKING COMMITMENTS TO CONTINUE HOUSING WHETHER IT'S THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY, IF IT'S TENANT BASED OR A CONTRACT WITH A PROJECT OWNER IF IT'S PROJECT BASED. SO I THINK WE'RE YOU KNOW, OUR OUR MODELING WE THINK THAT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE LAG OF THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO JOIN LATER IN THE FISCAL YEAR ON THE PROJECT BASED SIDE WHERE OKAY FOR SOME OF THE RENTAL BUMP IN THE COMING YEAR BUT I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT ONE COULD EXPECT TO FLAT FUND IN GENERAL AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW WE WE THINK WE THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM AND WE WILL DO AS MUCH OF IT AS WE CAN. THANK YOU. GO BACK TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND ORDER ARRIVAL COUNCIL BREAK IN THE FLOORS YOU GUYS THANK YOU.  UM, DIRECTOR BUCKLEY, I KNOW WE WERE AT THE HOLDEN APARTMENTS. IT MUST BE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO LIKE WE WERE LOOKING AT THE THE ENERGY RETROFIT AND AND THINKING ABOUT FOSSILS FOSSIL FUEL FREE HOUSING. CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE'RE AT WITH ALL THAT BECAUSE VERY IMPORTANT. YES, ABSOLUTELY. I'D LOVE TO HAVE MY DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND CAPITAL TRANSFORMATION JOHN WILL COME UP AND SPEAK TO THAT.  IT'S A REALLY CORE GOAL AND IN FACT, YOU KNOW, JOEL'S OVER OUR ENTIRE CAPITAL AND REDEVELOPMENT AND PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENTS ALL OF THEM BUT WE PUT SUSTAINABILITY RIGHT IN THE TITLE OF WHAT HE'S DOING BECAUSE IT'S AN OVERARCHING GOAL FOR US IN THE VHA. SO IF JOAKIM SPEAK TO THAT. SURE. GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING . THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. SO I'M THRILLED TO CHAT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR SUSTAINABILITY PLANS BROADLY AND THE FOSSIL FUEL FREE TARGET SPECIFICALLY SO AS A AS A QUICK REMINDER, THE MAYOR HAD SET OUT THIS GOAL FOR VHA LAST JANUARY SO WE'RE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR INTO THAT AND IT IS ADDITIONAL AND SOMEWHAT SEPARATE FROM THE BERTO REQUIREMENT THAT THE COUNCIL WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN TO MAKING INTO LAW WHICH MEANS THE VHA FOR OUR BUILDING EMISSIONS WE'RE PLANNING ALONG TWO DIFFERENT PATHS. ONE IS A PATH TOWARDS ELECTRIFICATION HOW DO WE GET RID OF FOSSIL FUELS WHICH DOES OF COURSE REDUCE EMISSIONS TRANSFORMATIVE AND THEN ALSO A BLANKET ACROSS THE PORTFOLIO ABOUT 2025, 2030, 2050 TARGETS. SO WE'VE BEEN DOING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PIECES. ONE IS THAT WORKING MUCH MORE STRATEGICALLY THAT EVERY FEDERAL OR STATE OR CITY DOLLAR WE'RE SPENDING THINKING ABOUT HOW ARE THESE DECARBONIZATION PROJECTS? PART OF THIS IS JUST ANALYZING WITH THE ROUGHLY 36 MILLION FEDERAL CAPITAL DOLLARS ABOUT 5 MILLION STATE CAPITAL DOLLARS ANNUALLY.  EACH OF THOSE NEEDS TO GO NOT JUST TOWARDS CAPITAL REPAIRS BUT WHEREVER POSSIBLE IT NEEDS TO BE AN EMISSION REDUCING DOLLAR.  SO THAT MEANS THAT WHEN WE'VE HAD PROJECTS LIKE AT FRANKLIN FIELD OR AT ASHMONT APARTMENTS WHERE WE WERE GOING TO DO LARGE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR HEATING SYSTEM REPLACEMENTS INSTEAD OF BEING A GAS BOILER OR A GAS BOILER, WE MADE THOSE HEAT PUMP PROJECTS SO ASHMONT APARTMENTS AS A SMALL EXAMPLE FRANKLIN FIELD AS SOME YOU MAY KNOW WE HAVE A LARGE GEOTHERMAL PILOT THAT'S IN DEVELOPMENT SO VERY DIFFERENT SCALE BUT I MENTIONED THOSE BECAUSE OF ULTIMATELY WE PIVOTED MILLIONS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS AWAY FROM REINVESTING IN GAS INFRASTRUCTURE TO MOVE TOWARDS DECARBONIZATION.  WE ALSO HAVE A TRACK OF WORK THAT IS PLANNING LONG TERM IMPROVEMENTS PARTICULARLY ON OUR ELDERLY HOUSING AND NOW LOOKING AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR FAMILY PROPERTIES.  SO BY THAT I'M LOOKING AT SAINT PETER FROM THE BACK BAY, DORIS APONTE IN ROXBURY AS WELL AS AGAIN THE PORTION OF BUILT IN MILDRED HALEY IN JAMAICA PLAIN THAT IS RETAINED ON THOSE PROJECTS. WE ARE TURNING THEM ESSENTIALLY INTO NOT JUST CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OR MODERNIZATIONS BUT EFFECTIVELY REDEVELOPMENT BASED ON REDEVELOPMENTS THAT INCLUDE IF DEEPER EFFICIENCY AND ELECTRIFICATION MEASURES. I WOULD SAY MILDRED HALEY WHICH WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS YEAR IS IS REALLY A FLAGSHIP IN THE SENSE OF THE LEVEL OF ENERGY REDUCTION WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE BUT OTHER PROJECTS AS WELL WE'RE TAKING THE GAS TO MYSTIC HOT WATER SYSTEMS IN HIGH RISES AND SAYING THAT NOW HAS TO MOVE TOWARDS ELECTRIC SO SO THERE'S THERE'S THE INDIVIDUAL HEATING SYSTEMS, THERE'S THE SORT OF LARGER MORE TRANSFORMATIVE REDEVELOPMENTS AND THEN THERE'S JUST WHAT WE SEE IS THE OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT? SO ONE OF THE RESOURCES WE'RE TAPPING EVERY YEAR FOR WHATEVER IT CAN GIVE IS THE MASS PROGRAM OR THE UTILITY FUNDED REALLY RATEPAYER FUNDED YOU AND I FUNDED ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. SO TO TRY TO EXPLAIN HOW THAT ACTUALLY COMES INTO A VHA BUILDING OVER THE PAST YEARS WE BASICALLY GONE THROUGH MUCH OF THE PORTFOLIO SO SOMETHING YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT VHA PROPERTIES IS THAT WHILE THEY ALL NEED CAPITAL REPAIRS MANY OF THEM HAVE MOST OF THEM HAVE LED LIGHTING BECAUSE WE'VE GONE THROUGH THEM SO MANY TIMES ON THE EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. SO EVERY YEAR IT'S WHAT CAN WE GET COVERED THERE THAT EITHER WE COULD AFFORD NOW OR THAT THE PROGRAM IS NOW ABLE TO INVEST IN SO PROBABLY ABOUT 500 UNITS THIS YEAR ARE GETTING INSULATION THAT WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY DOABLE BUT THAT THERE'S THE DELIVERY METHOD CHANGED SOMEWHAT SO NOW WE CAN INSULATE HIGH RISES IN A WAY THAT HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT ENERGY REDUCTIONS.  THAT IS SOME OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THEN YOU HAVE WHAT'S NOT COVERED BY ANY OF THOSE. RIGHT. WHICH IS IS IT THOUSANDS OF UNITS?  SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE MEANTIME HAS BEEN THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS IT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE ON THE REMAINDER OF THE PORTFOLIO.  IT'S NOT PLAN FOR A HUGE CAPITAL INVESTMENT. IT DOESN'T HAVE AN EXISTING YOU KNOW, ITS HEATING SYSTEM IS NOT KIND OF FAILING AT THE MOMENT OR A NEW ONE'S NOT YET BEING DESIGNED. SO FOR THOSE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST PATHS AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT IS IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOSSIL FREE HOW MANY FOSSIL FUEL APPLIANCES DOES IT HAVE LEFT? IS IT JUST THE HEATING SYSTEM? IS IT HEATING SYSTEM A STOVE? IS IT LAUNDRY?  RIGHT. IS IT HOT WATER? SO I THINK WE HAVE SOME SITES WHERE IT'S WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL FOUR OF THOSE AND WE HAVE SOME MORE LIKE THIS IS THE ONLY THING LEFT AND THEN IT'S ALL ELECTRIC AND CAN WE CAN WE BUILD THAT IN AND THAT'S I THINK SOME OF THE EQUITY ANALYTICAL EXERCISE WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH OVER THE PAST YEAR AND CHANGE AND THE ONE ADDITIONAL CATEGORY I'LL NOTE IS THAT WITH A FEW OF OUR PROPERTIES NAMELY MERRILL MCCORMICK AND CHARLESTOWN WE HAVE DISPOSITION REDEVELOPMENT. THOSE BUILDINGS WILL PHYSICALLY COME DOWN RIGHT IN THE MEANTIME WE'RE GOING TO INVEST IN THEM BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THE HOLISTIC MODERNIZATION THAT WE WOULD DO IF IT WAS STAYING STANDING OVER IT. YOU KNOW, SO THE QUESTION THERE IS WHAT'S THE INTELLIGENT WAY TO HELP ON CLIMATE CHANGE WHILE THE BUILDING IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO BE DEMOLISHED SO THAT'S A THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL CATEGORY THAT'S A LITTLE BIT COMPLEX BECAUSE WE NEED TO JUSTIFY THE PUBLIC SPENDING. BUT IT'S LIKE A MARY ELLEN MCCORMICK WHERE WE'LL IT'LL STILL BE THERE IN 2038. I'LL STILL BE THERE IN 2039 IN SOME CAPACITY. SOME OF THE OLDER BUILDINGS WELL WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE LOWER COST INTERVENTIONS WE CAN DO TO GET THOSE PROPERTIES OFF OF HIGHLY EMITTING FUELS.  SO I HOPE THAT'S HELPFUL. I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. JOE, IF I COULD JUST ADD CANCER THE BRAIN ON AN APARTMENT WE FUNDED THAT IN ITS LAST FUNDING ROUND AND IT'S NOW AT THE STATE AWAITING A FUNDING AWARD. WE'RE WAITING HOPEFULLY WE'LL KNOW MORE IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. WE DID THE SAME WITH THE CAIRO KIND OF THEY DID A HOME RETROFIT AS WELL. AND ONE LAST QUESTION THE OLSEN BRIGHTON HOMEOWNER FUND AND THE EXTERNAL FUND PROJECT DO YOU HAVE EASILY LIKE HOW MUCH IS LEFT AND HOW MANY AND HOW MANY PROJECTS WE HOW MANY HOMES WE WERE ABLE TO HELP WITH? I CAN I HAVE A GREAT OKAY WELL I DON'T HOW MUCH IS LEFT AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE FUNDED 31 HOMEBUYERS JUST UNDER $2 MILLION SO FAR IT'S UNDER A MILLION JUST UNDER A MILLION. SO THERE'S ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILLION THAT'S VERY GOOD. EXCELLENT. AND YOU AND COUNCILOR BREADON,  IF I CAN JUST JUST FROM YOUR FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONING WHAT YOU KNOW SO WE HAVE RENOVATED BOTH THOSE APARTMENTS AT 9195 WASHINGTON STREET, THE ONES THAT HAD THE FIRE. BUT THE VERY LAST THING THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED ON ONE OF THEM IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDOW. SO YOU WILL STILL SEE BUT BUT IT IS SCHEDULED THE WINDOW IS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS SO IT WILL GO AWAY. BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY INSIDE OF THOSE BUT WE DIDN'T DO THE WINDOW FIRST. SO YEAH, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOU GO YEAH, SO WE'RE SORRY . I AM SORRY FOR THE EYESORE AND WE ARE WORKING ON IT DILIGENTLY SO CERTAINLY ONE HOME'S A THANK YOU AND KENSI 31 HOMES AND $1 MILLION. SO THAT'S THAT'S VERY GOOD BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF MY I GOT ELECTED AND THEN THAT ARLINGTON YARDS PROJECTS THAT WERE GETTING $2 MILLION AND I WENT IN AND SAID RIGHT, WE NEED MORE THAN THAT. SO WE GOT A COUPLE OF MILLION OUT OF THEM SO I'M GLAD IT'S BEEN SPENT WELL 3131 HOMEOWNERS. THAT'S WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.  COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I WANT TO GO BACK TO A QUESTION THAT I BROUGHT UP IN MY FIRST ROUND. IT'S ABOUT MILDRED HALEY JUST THE FINANCING. DO YOU KNOW ADMINISTRATOR BOB WHAT THE FINANCING IS LIKE FOR THAT REDEVELOPMENT?  CAN YOU REMIND ME ABOUT WHETHER IT'S A 1 TO 1 REPLACEMENT FOR ALL OF THE INCOME RESTRICTED UNITS AT MILDRED HALEY AND WHETHER WE'RE ADDING IN MIXED INCOME? YEAH. SO MILDRED HALEY IS VERY COMPLICATED BECAUSE THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO PROJECTS GOING ON BOTH OF WHICH IN A SENSE ARE REDEVELOPMENT. SO THERE'S THE ONE THAT WE'RE DOING IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY BUILDERS URBAN EDGE AND DC AND SO THERE'S TWO BUILDINGS RIGHT NOW UNDER UNDER ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION BY TCB THEN THERE'S ANOTHER TWO BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN SHEILA PIPELINE FOR ONE URBAN EDGE AND ONE IN DC THAT ARE THE NEXT TWO AND THEN THERE'S SOME MORE BUILDINGS PLANNED AFTER THAT AND THOSE ARE YES, DOING ONE FOR ONE REPLACEMENT AND ALSO ADDING ADDITIONAL UNITS MIXED INCOME MOSTLY STILL AFFORDABLE BUT JUST SOME MIXED DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS OF AFFORDABLE BUT IT IS ADDING SIGNIFICANT DENSITY. I'M BLANKING RIGHT NOW ON THE NUMBER OF BUT IT'S SOMEBODY WILL THAT GET IT TO YOU THE NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL SO BUT QUESTION YEAH THE AFFORDABILITY FOR THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE LIKE MAYBE LIKE 70% AFFORDABILITY WHAT'S THE SUBSIDY WHAT'S THE SUBSIDIZATION MECHANISM?  SO SO A NUMBER OF THOSE ARE TAX CREDITS. THEY PROBABLY WON'T BE AT 70, THEY'LL PROBABLY BE AT 60 BECAUSE THAT'S THE TAX CREDIT CUTOFF. OKAY.  LIKE LOW TECH LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS. EXACTLY.  AND SO AND THAT'S PART OF WHY THOSE THOSE ONES ARE THEY'RE NOT JUST WAITING ON MONEY FROM SHEILA'S SHOP AND IN FACT IN MANY CASES THEY HAVE IT ALREADY BUT THEY'RE WAITING ON STATE TAX CREDITS AS WELL. SO BUT AS I SAID, THOSE TWO ACTIVELY BEING BUILT BY TCB ARE CRITICAL BECAUSE AS WITH ALL OF OUR REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS NOW LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO MINIMIZE OFFSITE RELOCATION SO WE ACTUALLY NEED THOSE FIRST TWO BUILDINGS ONE, TWO AND ONE B TO BE FINISHED BY THE COMMUNITY BUILDERS. SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FOLKS WHO HAD TO MOVE OFF BACK AND FOLKS WHO ARE STILL ON THE MILDRED HALEY SIDE STREET INTO NEW APARTMENTS. BEFORE WE DO ANY MORE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS. BUT THAT WHOLE FOOTPRINT FOR THAT WHOLE PLAN IS JUST ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE SITE IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF UNITS AND THEN THE OTHER TWO THIRDS OF MILDRED HALEY WE'RE DOING THIS VHA OWNED AND LED REDEVELOPMENT WHERE WE KEEP THE BONES OF THE BUILDINGS.  WHAT WE'RE DOING BASICALLY LIKE GUT REHAB, DEEP ENERGY RETROFIT AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY. WE'RE STARTING ON THE HEATH STREET SIDE AND WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE LIKE ONE YOU KNOW, ONE SMALL BUILDING. THEY'RE MOSTLY 1618 UNIT BUILDINGS AT A TIME AND HAVE FAMILIES OUT FOR ONLY FOUR MONTHS AND MOVE THEM BACK INTO SOMETHING. IT'S GOING TO FEEL LIKE A TOTALLY NEW UNIT AND THAT'S JUST THROUGH VHA FUNDING. THAT'S THAT'S THROUGH IT'S THROUGH THAT TRANSFORMATIVE $50 MILLION THAT THE MAYOR GAVE. SO THE CAPITAL BUDGET NO CAPITAL BUDGET AND THEN AND THEN ALSO BECAUSE AND JOEL'S REALLY LED THE WAY ON MAKING THIS HE MENTIONED IT AS LIKE OUR POSTER CHILD LIKE THIS IS LIKE A DEEP GREEN ENERGY RETROFIT. IT'S REALLY GOING TO SET THE STANDARD IN PUBLIC HOUSING.  AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT WE'VE ALREADY WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING MONEY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESOURCES OF THE STATE WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PURSUE A LOT OF DIFFERENT GREEN FUNDING RESOURCES FOR THAT PROJECT RELATED SO THERE'S A RE REDEVELOPMENT HAPPENING ON IN CHARLESTOWN, SOUTH BOSTON 1 TO 1 REPLACEMENTS FOR ALL LIKE THAT'S THE BARE MINIMUM RIGHT? YEAH YEAH THE BEACH WE'RE ALL ABOUT ONE FOR ONE REPLACEMENT AND OBVIOUSLY LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ADD IN SO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADD IS THAT WILL THAT ALWAYS BE WELL OKAY IS THAT WHAT IS THE THEORY FOR ADDITION IS IT THEORY FOR ADDITION MIXED INCOME LIKE YOU SEE IT IN HAILEY AT DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES THAT ARE YOU KNOW GOING TO BE I GUESS TO BE A THROUGH VHA IN THE SENSE THAT WE UNDERSTAND IT SO SO IT'S A IT'S A WHOLE MIX SO I THINK LIKE WE'RE ALSO YOU KNOW WE HAVE VARIOUS REDEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED AT VARIOUS POINTS OVER THE LAST DECADE AND SO THEY REFLECT SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THEORIES. SO FOR INSTANCE, CHARLESTOWN AND MARY ELLEN BOTH ALMOST TRIPLE THE DENSITY WELL IN MARILYN'S CASE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN TRIPLE. SO DENSITY IN CHARLESTOWN A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN TRIPLE DENSITY AND PARTLY AS A CROSS SUBSIDIZATION MECHANISM. AND SO THEREFORE THE ADDITIONAL UNITS ARE MOSTLY MARKET UNITS WHERE I THINK IN BOTH CASES STILL PURSUING POTENTIAL FINANCING VEHICLES FOR HAVING SOME MIDDLE INCOME UNITS BECAUSE WE'D LOVE TO SEE THAT. BUT THE ORIGINAL PROJECTS THAT WERE PENCILED IN PLAN WERE FOR IT TO BE THE REPLACEMENT UNITS PLUS THE ADDITIONAL DENSITY BEING MARKET UNITS AND ONE OF THE REASONS THOSE SITES WERE CHOSEN FOR THOSE ORIGINALLY WAS BECAUSE THEY'RE HIGH MARKET SITES WHERE THE MARKET RENTS COULD HELP CROSS-SUBSIDIZE THE DEAL MEANINGFULLY. THEN YOU'VE GOT YOU KNOW IN MILDRED HAILEY, THE NONPROFIT PARTNERS WHO WERE WORKING WITH THEY AS YOU KNOW OWN AND OPERATE A LOT OF THIS TAX CREDIT TYPE OF HOUSING.  SO FOR THEM IT'S KIND OF LIKE A BREAD AND BUTTER THING THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO DO AND SO ADDING IT TO THE ECOSYSTEM, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A IS A REAL LOGICAL THING. WE YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOW LOOKING TO I THINK WHEN WHEN ALL THOSE DEALS CAME ABOUT WE DIDN'T REALLY THINK IT WAS PLAUSIBLE THAT WE COULD ADD MORE PUBLIC HOUSING DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS. BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE REGS CHANGED AROUND FAIR COST TO MAKE THOSE A LOT MORE BUILDABLE. IT USED TO BE THAT WE'D HAVE HAD TO BUILD NEW PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS AND HAVE THEM GET PUBLIC HOUSING RENTS WHERE THE FEDS ONLY GIVE US HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH PER UNIT INSTEAD OF THE THOUSANDS THAT YOU GET ON THE MARKET. BUT NOW THAT WE CAN UPGRADE THOSE TO VOUCHER STYLE RENTS WE CAN ACTUALLY PRODUCE NEW DEEPLY AFFORDABLE AGAIN. SO THAT'S BECOME A REAL FOCUS OF OURS IS THAT IS THAT MY TIME COMMENT YEAH YES THAT TIME I DON'T KNOW IF I TRUSTED YOUR TIME I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BUT WE COULD DO A THIRD ROUND. I'LL WAIT FOR A THIRD ROUND IF THAT'S A CHAIR. YES REQUIRED VICE-CHAIR PEPEN THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU CHAIR MY FIRST POINT IS NOT NECESSARILY A QUESTION BUT MORE OF A SUBSTANTIVE SLIDE FOR YOU CHIEF THE ONE FOR WALTER STREET PROJECT I HAVE IT FOR HUMANITY PROJECT GREAT PROJECT IN MY DISTRICT.  HOWEVER, THEY'RE FACING SOME OBSTACLES. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THROUGH THE DEVICE D OR THROUGH PERMITTING BUT I JUST WANT TO I ,I CHECKED ON THAT TODAY NOT IN PREPARATION FOR THIS HEARING BUT BECAUSE I'M BEEN IT DAILY THEIR PERMITS ARE READY TO BE PICKED UP. AWESOME THAT'S THAT IS GREAT NEWS SO THANK YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. SURE THAT'S GOOD NEWS TO BRING BACK TO THE DISTRICT I THINK COUNCILOR SO COUNCILOR MEJIA AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BRIAN BROUGHT THIS UP IN A WAY BUT I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT IT.  I WANT TO KNOW IS THERE IS THERE A PIPELINE TO HELP FAMILIES TO GET OUT OF VHA HOUSING AND THE REASON WHY I BRING THAT UP IS FOR MANY INSTANCES AND SOME OF THEM IN PARTS CLOSE TO ME AS FAMILIES THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE FAMILIES DON'T WANT TO LEAVE VHA BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT SORRY THEY DON'T WANT TO GET A NEW JOB BECAUSE THEN THEY WILL QUALIFY TO CONTINUE TO HAVE VHA OR THAT OR THAT JOB ISN'T PAY ENOUGH TO THEN PAY FOR MARKET RENT SO THEY'RE CAUGHT IN THIS LIKE MIDDLE GROUND AND THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO WHICH IS WHY THEY PREFER TO STAY WITH THAT JOB THAT WAS PAYING THEM LESS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD RENT SO I WANT TO KNOW IS THERE ANY PROGRAM IN PLACE TO HELP RESIDENTS IN THAT SITUATION TO BE JUST HAVE A BETTER ECONOMIC STANCE TO HELP THEM FIND A JOB THAT CAN HELP THEM I DON'T KNOW PAY FOR RENT OR LIKE WE'RE SEEING WITH SOME OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WHERE YOU GET IN AT A 40% AM I BUT THEN YOU CAN EARN UP TO 80% SO THAT YOU CAN SAVE MONEY AND JUST GIVE THEM MORE OF AN INCENTIVE TO TO BECOME MORE FINANCIALLY FREE. YEAH, SO IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. KESSLER AND YEAH, I THINK WE CALL THAT THE CLIFF EFFECT, RIGHT? THAT THING WHERE IF SOMEBODY GOES TOO HIGH THEN THEY FALL OFF THE CLIFF AND IT'S A HUGE PUBLIC POLICY ISSUE AND I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN PLACE ALREADY TO COUNTER IT SO THE INCOME THAT YOU HAVE TO BE AT OR BELOW IN ORDER TO QUALIFY TO GET INTO THE VOUCHER PROGRAM OR PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM IS MUCH LOWER THAN THE INCOME AT WHICH YOU BECOME INELIGIBLE ONCE YOU'RE IN IT.  SO THERE IS SOME OF THAT ROOM THAT YOU WERE JUST DESCRIBING LIKE FOR YOU TO GROW YOUR INCOME WHILE STILL REMAINING ELIGIBLE. AND I THINK IN GENERAL WHEN VHA HAS HAD LIKE WHEREVER WE HAVE LIKE FLEXIBILITIES FROM HUD TO FOR INSTANCE LIKE THERE ARE THERE ARE QUITE THERE ARE SORT OF OPTIONAL RULES YOU CAN ADOPT ABOUT HOW STRICT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABOUT PEOPLE'S ASSETS OR WHATEVER. WE HAVE TRIED TO BE MAXIMALLY PERMISSIVE BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD WEALTH EXACTLY LIKE YOU'RE DESCRIBING. I THINK PROBABLY OUR BIGGEST THE BIGGEST FEDERAL PROGRAM ON THIS AND THE ONE THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THE MOST ADVANTAGE OF RECENTLY IS CALLED FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY FSS AND WHAT IT IS IS A PROGRAM AND I'LL HAVE DAVID COME UP AND SPEAK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT IT'S A PROGRAM WHERE FAMILIES CAN ONCE THEY REGISTER IN IT THEN WHEN THEIR INCOME INCREASES INSTEAD OF PAYING THAT ADDITIONAL RENT TO US THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GET TO PUT THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY INTO A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR AN ESCROW ACCOUNT FOR THEMSELVES AND THEN THEY CAN JUST KEEP ACCUMULATING THAT SAVINGS OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD AND AT THE END OF THE FIVE YEARS THEY GRADUATE FROM FSS AND THEN THEY HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE MONEY IN THAT SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND THEY CAN USE IT FOR THINGS LIKE A DOWN PAYMENT PAYING OFF CREDIT CARD DEBT, GOING TO SCHOOL, WHATEVER IT IS THEY WANT TO DO. BUT DAVID, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT HOW THAT'S EXPANDED? SO YEAH, WE PARTNER WITH NONPROFIT CAMPUS WORKING CAPITAL AND THEY DO THIS WORK WITH FSS PROGRAM NATIONALLY AND ACTUALLY THEY HAVE SOME PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE THIRD LARGEST FSS PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING THE THIRD LARGEST HOUSING AUTHORITY AND SO WE HAVE ABOUT 1500 ALMOST 1500 FAMILIES ENROLLED IN THAT PROGRAM WITH ASSETS APPROACHING I BELIEVE IT'S OVER $7 MILLION COLLECTIVELY IN ESCROW. AND SO SOME FAMILIES HAVE SMALLER ESCROWS. IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH THEY'RE EARNED.  INCOME HAS INCREASED SINCE THEY ENTERED THAT FSS PROGRAM AND AT THE END OF THEIR THEY CAN TAKE OUT AN INTERIM DISBURSEMENT AS LONG AS IT GOES TOWARDS ONE OF THEIR GOALS. A LOT OF FAMILIES GOALS OF COURSE IS HOME OWNERSHIP BUT IT CAN BE USED FOR EDUCATION OTHER TYPES OF GOALS THAT THEY'VE SET FOR THEIR FAMILY AND SO IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS FOR VERY PROUD OF THAT AND WE'RE CONTINUING OUR WORK WITH THIS WORKING CAPITAL. WE JUST CAME TO THE END OF A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT AND WE JUST RENEWED IT FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS. SO WE ANTICIPATE A LOT OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE SO FAR IN THE VOUCHER PROGRAM BUT WE'RE REALLY DOING SOME HEAVY, HEAVY RECRUITING IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING WORLD AS WELL RIGHT NOW. SO DOES EVERYONE QUALIFY FOR THAT OR IS THERE A CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS? SO THE ONLY SO IN ORDER TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN INCREASE IN EARNED INCOME. OTHERWISE YOU DON'T SET ASIDE IN ESCROW BUT YOU CAN STILL BENEFIT BECAUSE THERE IS A FINANCIAL COUNSELING COMPONENT OF THAT PROGRAM AND ACTUALLY THAT'S THAT'S THE PART THAT COMPANIES DOES FOR US. WE SO ONCE YOU REGISTER FOR THE PROGRAM YOU GET TO TAKE PART IN THEIR FINANCIAL COUNSELING COURSES.  THEY SET YOU UP WITH AN INDIVIDUAL COUNSELOR.  IT'S MORE INTENSIVE IN THE FIRST YEAR AND THEN KIND OF TAILS OFF AS MUCH AS YOU WANT IT TO IN THE IN THE REMAINING FIVE AND THE REMAINING FOUR YEARS. WELL BUT WE WOULD DEFINITELY LOVE COUNSELOR IF YOU AND ANY COLLEAGUES WE IF YOU'RE TALKING TO RESIDENTS AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE CLIFF EFFECT ISSUES SAYING HEY IF YOU SIGN UP FOR FSS LIKE WE WOULD LOVE WE'VE IT REALLY HAS EXPLODED WHEN I FIRST WENT TO WORK FOR THE VHA IT WAS 150 FAMILIES SO THAT EXPANSION HAS REALLY HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF THIS FIVE YEAR PARTNERSHIP WE'VE HAD WITH COMPASS AND LIKE LIKE DAVID MENTIONED WE HAVE AN AMAZING WOMAN IN OUR ON OUR TEAM NAMED KELLY CRONAN WHO'S BEEN REALLY RUNNING POINT FOR US ON THIS ON THE VOUCHER PROGRAM SIDE AND SHE IS NOW TRYING TO BRING THAT SAME EXPANSION TO THE PUBLIC HOUSING SIDE AND YOU KNOW, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IF WE COULD GET THERE THEN WE'D YOU KNOW WHY WHY SETTLE FOR THIRD PLACE WE'D LOVE TO, YOU KNOW, BE THE BIGGEST FSS PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY. RIGHT. THAT IS AMAZING. WOULD WOULD YOUR TEAM BE ABLE TO SEND THAT TO ME ? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. JUST SO I COULD HAVE AN ON HAND. YEAH. WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT PRESENTATIONS ON IT. THANK YOU. UM, AND MY MY LAST QUESTION I'LL START WITH FIRST SENSE OF GRATITUDE AND THEN ASK THE QUESTION. I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR DANIEL JOHNSON FOR BEING SUCH A POWERHOUSE IN HELPING ME WITH SO MANY CASES NOT ONLY AS A CITY COUNSELOR BUT WHEN I WAS BACK IN NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DEALING WITH THE FAMILIES THAT WERE DISPLACED WITH WITH BECAUSE OF A FIRE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND FOR JUST GUIDING ME THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THEN IT MAKES ME LEE TO MY TO MY QUESTION AND IS THIS A PROPERTY THAT COMES TO MY MIND I FORGET THE EXACT ADDRESS BUT IT'S ON BLU AVENUE RIGHT NEXT TO THE MATTER PANTENE CENTER THERE WAS A FIRE THERE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. THERE'S ABOUT 14 UNITS THERE THAT 1333 1333 BLUE THANK YOU CHAIR THAT IS STILL BOARDED UP. SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT ROLE THIS IS CITY HAVE IF ANY IN BRINGING BACK TO LIFE UNITS BECAUSE THAT'S 14 UNITS WHERE PEOPLE COULD LIVE BUT THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO THE FIRE HAPPENED. DO WE PLAY A ROLE IN THAT? IT IT'S WE WE DO A SURVEY EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS ON ABANDONED PROPERTIES OR PROPERTIES THAT AND WE REACH USUALLY REACH OUT TO THE THE OWNERS SO WE DO A SURVEY OF WHAT PROPERTIES LOOK ABANDONED OR IN THIS CASE I KNOW A BUILDING WELL IS ARE NO LONGER YOU KNOW OCCUPIED OR IT'S BEEN DAMAGED AND THEN WE COME BACK AND WE RESEARCH WHO OWNS AND THEN WE SEND OUT YOU KNOW LIKE A LETTER SAYING HEY, HOW CAN WE HELP?  BUT I DO THINK WHEN BUILDINGS SEEM UNSAFE AND I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER IF THIS WAS BOARDED UP PROPERLY, I THINK EVEN THE UPPER FLOORS ARE OPEN. IF I HAD TO GUESS THEN IT'S AN ESTATE ISSUE. I JUST DROVE BY THE OTHER DAY AND I SAID THIS BUILDING IS I REMEMBER THE FIRE. I REMEMBER HOW OCCUPIED IT WAS. I REMEMBER THE OWNER.  SO I WAS JUST THINKING MYSELF WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT AND REACH OUT TO THE OWNER AND SEE WHAT HE NEEDS. SO BUT YES IT IS TYPICALLY AN ESD ISSUE BUT IF A BUILDING IS COMPLETELY, YOU KNOW, BOARDED UP PROPERLY AND SAFE AND NOT THEN THERE IS THERE'S LITTLE WE COULD DO BUT WE DO REACH OUT PROACTIVELY TO OWNERS SAYING IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP AS A CITY?  AND SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I KNOW THAT THIS IS RIGHT ON THE BORDER OF COUNCIL DISTRICT AND MY DISTRICT WELL YEAH, WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT ONE THOUGH. I JUST SAW IT THE OTHER DAY AND THOUGHT THE SAME THING SO WE'LL FOLLOW UP AND LET YOU BOTH KNOW ONCE WE LEARN. YEAH. ACTUALLY YOU KNOW SO INTERESTING I EMAILED THEM LAST WEEK. OH YEAH. SO I MET WITH THEM A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.  THEY WERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH A DEVELOPER AND A LAWYER.  I'M TRYING TO GET IT BACK ONLINE SO I'M GOING TO BE FOLLOWING BACK UP WITH DON'T I KNOW IT'S ALSO A A A TOPIC THAT NOT ONLY THE RESIDENTS BUT STATE REP HOMES KNOW GREAT. WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. I JUST WILL RAISE ONE ISSUE AND ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP WE HAVE NOTICED ESPECIALLY THE LAST YEAR THAT OWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN IN BUILD THEIR OWN HOMES FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND HAVE VERY SMALL MORTGAGES OR NO MORTGAGES DON'T HAVE PROPER FIRE OR PROPERTY INSURANCE AND IT'S HAPPENING LIKE I KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING A LOT OF OUTREACH LATELY BUT WE'RE TRYING TO THINK OF A CAMPAIGN TO REALLY NOTIFY OWNERS YOU DON'T NEED YOU DON'T NEED PROPERTY INSURANCE JUST WHEN YOU HAVE A MORTGAGE YOU REALLY NEED IT. SO IT'S IT'S CRINGE WORTHY. A FIRE WILL HAPPEN, IT'LL BE OWNER OCCUPIED AND WE'LL SAY DO THEY ARE THEY PROPERLY INSURED AND WITH SOME FREQUENCY THEY ARE NOT. SO WE REALLY DO NEED TO THINK AS A CITY AND I KNOW THAT OUR FOLKS ARE REALLY THINKING THIS THROUGH HOW DO WE GET THE WORD OUT THAT THEY'VE GOT TO BE PROPERLY INSURED? AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY FIRST IS JUST THANK YOU AND THAT REMINDS ME OF THE SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS A HUGE WATER MAIN BREAK IN JAMAICA PLAIN A FEW YEARS AGO AS WELL AND THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT KIND OF INSURANCE HOMEOWNERS SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT DON'T COVER THAT SPECIFIC YOU KNOW, WITH THE OLD PIPE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON THAT WE SHOULD REALLY BE DOING A CAMPAIGN AROUND THAT AS WELL. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING ALL THE QUESTIONS. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU.  AND SHOUT OUT TO COMPANIES FOR DOING AMAZING WORK ON FSS CASSIM HERE THE FORTUNATE OH I SEE HOW YOU WORK YOU KNOW PUT THAT LITTLE TIME WHERE I CAN SEE HOW HE'S WORKING PRESIDENT COUNCIL CAN YOU PUT HIM ON A TIMEOUT? OKAY.  THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.  SO CHIEF DYLAN, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE CLIFF EFFECTS AND I REMEMBER IN 2008 I AM DATING MYSELF HERE. YOU WERE AT A CONFERENCE THAT I WORKED ALONGSIDE THEN DIRECTOR DONNA HAIG FRIEDMAN WHO WAS THE DIRECTOR FOR CENTRAL FOR SOCIAL POLICY AT UMASS AMHERST AND WE HOSTED A MEETING WE HOSTED A CONFERENCE AROUND REDESIGNING ANTI-POVERTY POLICIES AND YOU WERE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS I KNOW 2008 WAS A LONG TIME AGO AS THIS IS A LONG I'VE BEEN AT THIS WORK Y'ALL. BUT YOU WERE THERE AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT JUST THAT AND THAT WAS A HUNDRED YEARS AGO AND NOW THAT YOU ARE IN A POSITION HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CLIFF EFFECT THAT IS STILL A VERY THAT'S STILL AN ISSUE THAT IMPACTS SO MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS IS THAT THEY ARE SOMETIMES DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO EARN AN $10 RIGHT.  AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FOLKS WHO HAVE HAD TO TURN DOWN PROMOTIONS SO THAT THEY CAN GET INTO AN APARTMENT.  AND I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT HOW DO YOU THINK WE CAN STAND IN THAT GAP BECAUSE YES, I APPRECIATE CAMPUS AND I APPRECIATE THIS FUN BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOME SOME SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO FROM A POLICY SPACE TO REALLY GET AT THIS GAP . SO I THINK IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY WHEN WHEN UNITS ARE RENTING UP. RIGHT. YOU HAVE LOTTERY YOU HAVE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE VYING FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF UNITS. I, I AM RELIEVED THAT NOT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC HOUSING RIGHT NOW BUT TAX CREDIT PROJECTS OR SUBSIDIZED PROJECTS WHERE YOU MAY BE QUALITY QUALIFIED A 50% AMI BUT YOU CAN GO UP TO 140% AMI SO THERE REALLY IS THERE REALLY IS LOTS OF ROOM TO TO INCREASE YOUR INCOME ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES FOLKS EXCEED IT.  THAT'S WHY HOMEOWNERSHIP IS I MEAN I'M NOT I'M NOT TRYING TO GET AROUND THE QUESTION BUT IT'S TRUE THAT'S WHY HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAMS ARE SO GOOD, RIGHT? BECAUSE EVEN IF WE'RE HELPING HOMEOWNERS THAT ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME MODERATE INCOME ,THEY OWN THAT HOME AND THEY ARE NEVER GOING TO BE ASKED TO LEAVE OR NEVER BE ASKED TO MODIFY THEIR INCOMES AT ALL. THEY CAN STAY THERE BECAUSE IT IS THEIR HOME.  WELL UNLESS THEY THE PROPERTY TAXES GO UP IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH LUXURY DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING RIGHT. THAT IMPACTS YOUR AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES AND THAT THEN ENDS UP IN THAT ISSUE. SO HOW DO WE RECONCILE THAT?  WELL, I'M NOT A PROPERTY TAX EXPERT ALTHOUGH WE CAN'T REDUCE JUST THE RATES I MEAN IT'S ALL OF THAT SORT OF REGULATED AT THE STATE AS I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY. AND IF IT'S AN AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP UNIT IT IS PRICED ON THE VALUE OF THE HOME NOT NOT THAT IT'S THE LOWER VALUE OF THE HOME, NOT THE HIGHER VALUE OF THE HOME.  SO I AGREE WITH YOU IT'S AN IMPERFECT SYSTEM ALTHOUGH I DO RECOGNIZE WHY THERE HAS TO BE SOME GUARDRAILS ON QUALIFYING FOR UNITS OR IF YOU ARE MAKING LOT MORE INCOME THAT YOU ACTUALLY THAT YOU MAYBE WANTED OR WE KIND OF LIKE YOU TO LEAVE. SO WE CAN HELP OTHER FAMILIES THAT NEED THAT HOUSING AT A POINT IN TIME NOT A PERFECT SYSTEM I MEAN I THINK IN THAT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE JUST NEED MORE INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING SO PEOPLE CAN MOVE THROUGH MORE FREELY.  YEAH NO I, I AGREE AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPTY APARTMENTS RIGHT NOW.  I GUESS THERE WAS AN ARTICLE THAT WAS WRITTEN I THINK IT WAS IN JANUARY THERE WAS LIKE THAT THE UNITS THAT YOU GUYS WERE HAVING A HARD TIME FILLING THEM WELL THIS WAS I REFERENCED THIS THIS WAS SO STATEWIDE IN THE STATE PUBLIC HOUSING THEY WERE HAVING SOME VACANCY ISSUES.  AS I SAID, WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE SPECIAL HELP FOR THAT BECAUSE OUR STATE UNITS WERE NOT AS VACANT AS THE ONES THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BUT THEY'RE I HAVE HEARD OF CASES YOU KNOW, THERE'S I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO NAME THE I DON'T WANT TO I'M A PUBLIC RECORD HERE BUT I DON'T WANT TO SHAME ANYONE BUT THERE IS SOME SITUATIONS OUT THERE WHERE SOME OF THE CDC OR SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO BUILT AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAVE HAD EMPTY UNITS FOR MONTHS AND WE HAVE PEOPLE ON WAITING LISTS GETTING INTO THEM. SO THERE'S BEEN A BACKLOG OR SOME FOLKS HAVING A HARD TIME. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT HOW WHAT WHAT WHAT THE ISSUE IS THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE EMPTY ALLEGEDLY. WELL, I KNOW I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THAT FROM SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS BUT WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? SO IF THERE ARE VACANT UNITS IN THEIR THEIR UNITS THAT WE'RE MONITORING AND WE MONITOR NOT WE DON'T MATCH THE VHA UNITS BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY MONITORING MOST OF THE INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING IN THE CITY.  LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE MONITOR ONCE A YEAR WE LOOK AT THE RENT ROLLS OR YOU KNOW, ARE PEOPLE IN THERE WITH THEIR WITH THE RIGHT INCOMES AND WE LOOK FOR VACANCIES UNUSUAL VACANCIES BUT IF THERE'S EVER AN INSTANCE AND I HATE TO DO IT CASE BY CASE BUT IF THERE'S EVER AN INSTANCE WHERE YOU COME ACROSS BUILDINGS WHERE WHERE YOU'RE YOU'RE CONSTITUENTS ARE NEAR THE TOP OF THE LIST AND IT'S TAKING IN AN INORDINATE OF TIME PLEASE JUST CALL US AND WE'LL LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU. I'M GOING TO GIVE I'M GOING TO OFFER I STILL HAVE 2 MINUTES I'M GOING TO OFFER A RECOMMENDATION. I THINK THAT I HAVE SEEN BECAUSE I HAVE WALKED PEOPLE THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT THE AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK AS I UNDERSTAND THERE'S FEDERAL YOU KNOW THEIR STATE HAS ALL THESE DOLLARS. IT IS VERY TIME CONSUMING. RIGHT. AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE PROCESSING THE PAPERWORK ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE LOCK WITH THE PAPERWORK LOG. RIGHT. AND THEN PEOPLE WAITING FOR MONTHS FOR SOMETHING TO GET SIGNED OFF. SO I THINK THAT THERE IS A DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD WITH FOLKS WHO ARE TAPPING INTO THESE RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE TO GET PEOPLE INTO THESE APARTMENTS AND NOT CAUSE YOU KNOW, I IF I COULD JUST SAY ONE THING AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE VHA AND I'M SURE THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT AS WELL WHEN THE MAYOR CAME IN SHE WANTED US VERY MUCH TO LOOK AT HOW LONG IT WAS TAKING PEOPLE TO GET INTO OUR AFFORDABLE UNITS BOTH INCLUSIONARY AND UNITS THAT WE FUND AND WE, YOU KNOW, MAPPED IT ALL OUT AS YOU DO IN A PROCESS REFORM AND WE STARTED REALLY ONLY REQUIRING YOU KNOW, WE STARTED TAKING OUT STEPS AND I THINK IT'S A MUCH BETTER PROCESS AND SO I'M GOING TO JUST BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE 47 SECONDS LEFT FOR MAINTENANCE I WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS TO, YOU KNOW, COUNCILOR AND ADMINISTRATIVE WALK IT'S CALLED DYING TO LIVE LITERALLY LIKE PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN CONDITIONS THAT ARE REALLY NOT HEALTHY IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE WHETHER WHETHER IT BE MOLD, WHETHER IT BE MICE OR YOU KNOW, RAT YOU KNOW, JUST ROACH INFESTED LIKE I'VE I'VE SHOWN YOU PICTURES, YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT KIND OF LIKE WHAT CAN WE DO AND ADVOCATE FOR ON THE BUDGET BECAUSE.  THIS IS THE BUDGET SEASON IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO JUST THROW OUT PROBLEMS. I REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO BE SET UP FOR SUCCESS SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME OF THESE ISSUES RESOLVED QUICKER. YEAH.  SO THANK YOU COUNSELOR MEJIA AND I THINK IT'S I MEAN UNIT MAINTENANCE IS SOMETHING THAT I AND MY TEAM THINK ABOUT AND FOCUS ON EVERY DAY AND IT'S DEFINITELY PROBABLY OF ALL THE RESOURCE LIMITATIONS ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY THE MOST FRUSTRATING ONE TO ME WE DON'T GET ENOUGH MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENTS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPERTIES AND SO WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT WE'RE SENDING WE HAVE VERY HARD WORKING TRADES FOLKS WHO WORK FOR THE VHA WHO ARE RUNNING AROUND CONSTANTLY CHASING THESE WORK ORDERS AND JUST LIKE YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S A VERY FRUSTRATING SITUATION. I A COUPLE OF THINGS. I MEAN ONE THING IS WE ALWAYS DO WANT COUNSELORS TO TO DRAW TO OUR ATTENTION AND ANY ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE SEEING THAT LOOKS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT. WE WANT TO ADDRESS IT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING RIGHT NOW IS WE'VE JUST WE'VE JUST LAUNCHED THIS PILOT. IT'S BEEN GOING FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW AT ONE OF OUR SITES TO TAKE OUR ENTIRE WORK ORDER SYSTEM OFF OF PAPER AND ONTO A DIGITAL TRACKING SYSTEM . SO WHICH YOU KNOW WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD THING TO DO SOONER BUT BUT WE'RE REALLY GLAD THAT WE'RE DOING IT NOW. AND I THINK ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES TO ME OF THAT IS THAT IT'S GOING TO PUT ME IN MUCH MORE OF A SITUATION TO LIKE IF YOU FLAG A UNIT IMMEDIATELY LIKE KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND FIGURE OUT LIKE HOW YOU KNOW WHY HAS THIS HAPPENED YET? WHAT'S THE PRIORITY IN THE Q BUT I THINK LIKE IN TERMS OF I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK THAT OFTEN WHAT'S HAPPENED FOR US IS THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL RAISE A SPECIFIC UNIT AND WE WILL SEND RESOURCES TO THAT UNIT BUT WE MIGHT BE PULLING THEM OFF OF ANOTHER UNIT, RIGHT. AND SO AND ACTUALLY WE MIGHT BE PULLING THEM OFF OF TURNING A VACANCY WHICH MIGHT THEN MEAN THAT THAT UNIT SITTING EMPTY. RIGHT. SO I THINK YOU KNOW, SURGES OF MAINTENANCE ARE REALLY HELPFUL FOR US. SO YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS SHOULD WE SHOULD WE ALMOST THINK OF IT AS A EXPENSE AND HAVE SOME KIND OF LIKE DEDICATED ADDITIONAL LIKE SWAT TEAM THAT WE COULD PUT ON THAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO TACKLE SOME OF THESE SITES? WE'VE WE'VE DONE THAT IT WE'VE DONE THOSE TYPES OF SWAT TEAMS BUT INTERNALLY WE'RE JUST PULLING THEM FROM OTHER PLACES AND SAYING OKAY LIKE THESE 20 FOLKS JUST SPEND ALL YOUR TIME AT MILITARY HAILEY FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME AND REALLY FOCUS ON IT AND AND WE'VE MADE BIG HEADWAY AT SPECIFIC SITES BY DOING BUT AGAIN WE'RE ALWAYS TAKING THEM FROM OTHER SITES SO I THINK IT IS IT IS A PROBLEM THAT MONEY HELPS US WITH AND I, I THINK THAT THE ONE OF THE BIG ADVANTAGES TO US OF THE DIGITAL SCHEDULING IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE US TO HAVE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM WHERE IF I'VE GOT A YOU KNOW, PLASTERING PROBLEM IN ONE UNIT THAT I CAN IMMEDIATELY PULL ALL THE OTHER PLASTERING PROBLEMS IN THE ADJACENT UNITS MORE EASILY AND AND BUNDLE THOSE THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON. BUT WE WERE REALLY YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A REALLY, REALLY HARD WORKING TEAM. THERE IS NOBODY THERE LIKE THERE'S NOBODY IN THE PRIVATE MARKET WHO WOULD TRY TO MAINTAIN THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE GET. I MEAN ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SIDE DEPENDING ON THE PUBLIC HOUSING DEPARTMENT LIKE IT'S SOME IT'S BETWEEN 400 AND $600 A UNIT A MONTH. SO IT IS JUST LIKE A REAL RESOURCE ISSUE. BUT I FOR ME IT'S SOMETHING THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT BECAUSE MAINTAINING UNITS SO THAT FAMILIES CAN HAVE SAFE, DECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS LIKE THAT'S OUR CORE MISSION. SO WE CARE A LOT ABOUT IT AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY ON IT.  OKAY. CASTLE DURKIN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIR SO WE'VE I'LL JUST GET THROUGH TO IT.  WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IDP PAYMENTS VERSUS VERSUS YOU KNOW, DEMANDING THOSE UNITS ON SITE AND GIVEN THAT I REPRESENT SOME OF THE DENTISTS BUT ALSO SOME OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACES TO BUILD IN THE CITY, I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW I CAN ADVOCATE FOR EITHER ON SITE AFFORDABLE UNITS OR THERE ARE CASH PAYMENTS, HOW I CAN ADVOCATE FOR THOSE TO BE SPENT IN TRANSIT RICH NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PEOPLE ARE REALLY HAVE ACCESS TO TO THOSE UNITS AND TO JOBS AND TO OPPORTUNITIES. YEAH IT'S IT'S A IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND WE'RE ALWAYS AND WE'RE ESPECIALLY THIS THIS THIS WILL THIS QUESTION AND THIS ISSUE WILL RISE UP AGAIN BECAUSE WELL WE'LL START TO SEE AS INTEREST RATES COME DOWN YOU KNOW PRODUCTION REALLY TO START UP AGAIN. SO NOW I KNOW YOUR YOUR DISTRICT PRETTY WELL AND THERE'S SO FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY WANT TO SEE THE UNITS ON SITE BECAUSE IT'S SO HARD TO BUILD IN PARTS OF YOUR DISTRICT. SO I THINK IT'S REALLY DURING THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS LISTENING AND LISTENING TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS BUT ALSO WHAT IS A COMMUNITY NEED RIGHT? WHERE DO WE HAVE LOW PERCENTAGES OF OF INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING? WELL IN THOSE AREAS PROBABLY WE SHOULD KEEP THE UNITS ON SITE AND ALSO I FEEL PRETTY STRONGLY THAT IF NOT THAT WE CAN DO IT ALL THE TIME BUT IF MONEY'S GENERATED CAN WE SPEND THE IN IN THE GENERAL IMPACTED AREA RIGHT.  SO I THINK IT'S REALLY YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPERS ARE OFTEN COMING TO YOU ALL EVEN BEFORE THEY COME TO US AND THEY'RE REALLY YOU KNOW, WANTING TO WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THINK ABOUT THEIR DEVELOPMENT PLANS. I THINK THAT IS A TIME TO REALLY MAKE YOUR VOICE KNOWN AND THE EARLIER THE BETTER ON ALL OF THIS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENTS ARE SHAPED AND THE THE LONGER THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS GOES ON, THE MORE THE THE MORE DIFFICULT IT BECOMES FOR DEVELOPERS TO REALLY CHANGE WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING. SO YOU KNOW, I VALUE THE THE ELECTED OPINION ON THIS. I REALLY DO AND I YOU'VE GOT YOUR EAR TO THE GROUND ON WHAT THE CONSTITUTION WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT TO WHEN I DO THINK ABOUT SOME PARTS OF THE CITY AND THE AFFORDABILITY RATES ARE AT 6% AND THEN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE THEY'RE AT OVER 50% WE REALLY DO NEED IT. IDP IS ONE OF THE ONLY WAYS THAT WE'RE GOING INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.  SO I THINK OFTENTIMES MAKING THOSE ON SITE MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE. SO OPINIONS ARE WELCOME ESPECIALLY EARLY ON. IT'S VERY HARD TO CHANGE THINGS AFTER THINGS HAVE BEEN PRETTY BAKED AND SOMEONE COMES IN AND SAYS OH THEY'D LIKE TO CHANGE THINGS UP.  BUT EARLY ON I THINK IT'S REALLY IT'S GREAT TO HEAR FROM FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS ESPECIALLY CITY COUNCILS WHO ARE ON THE GROUND. THANK YOU AND YOU KNOW, I HEAR A LOT FROM NONPROFITS AND CDC AND AND OTHERS ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THEM TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I WAS JUST CURIOUS, CHIEF, HOW YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS MEAN TO THE CITY AND AND HOW THOSE RELATIONSHIPS FLOURISHING CAN DELIVER ON SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE NEED IN BOSTON.  SO THERE REALLY BOSTON IS VERY FORTUNATE I THINK THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING IT'S NOT ENOUGH AND I'M NOT HERE TO SAY THAT IT'S ENOUGH BUT THE NETWORK OF REALLY TALENTED FOR PROFIT AND NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS INCOME RESTRICTED DEVELOPERS HAS HAS JUST I THINK IT'S REALLY I SAY IT OFTEN AND I THINK IT SAVED BOSTON REALLY BOSTON WOULD BE A VERY VERY DIFFERENT PLACE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE SUCH STRONG NETWORKS OF PARTNERS. I THINK IT'S WHAT'S BECOMING HARDER FOR US AT MY AGE AND AND I KNOW THE VHA IS SUFFERING FROM THIS A LITTLE BIT AS WELL IS THAT THE CONSTRUCTION COST AND THE COST OF DEVELOPMENT IS SO HIGH AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE BIG PIPELINES AND NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES IN THE WORLD.  RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE KEEP HARPING ON TRANSFER FEE AND OTHER LIKE REALLY BIG POTS OF MONEY. SO WE CAN KEEP THESE PARTNERSHIPS STRONG. IT IS GOING TO BE HARD FOR SOME OF THESE DEVELOPERS TO MAINTAIN STAFF AND MAINTAIN OPERATIONS IF THEY CAN'T KEEP A HEALTHY PIPELINE.  SO I TOO I WORRY ABOUT THAT A LOT BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT GOOD PROJECTS.  THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN MOST CASES THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND I THINK WE COLLECTIVELY JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP THEM GET IT DONE AND PART OF THAT IS RESOURCE AND THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED AND FRAUGHT QUESTION SO EXCUSE ME IF I FUMBLE IT I THINK YOU GUYS CAN PICK UP WHERE I LEAVE OFF BUT OFTENTIMES URBAN DESIGN AND DESIGNERS AND FOLKS IN THE PUBLIC REALM CAN ACTUALLY MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MORE EXPENSIVE GIVEN THE IDEA OF LIKE WE WANT THE DORMER HERE OR WE WANT THIS TO LOOK LIKE THIS OR THIS IS OUR STANDARD FOR DESIGN AND THERE IS A CONVERSATION SORT OF IN WITHIN YOU KNOW, ARCHITECTS WORLD ABOUT LIKE WHAT IS THE ROLE OF URBAN DESIGN AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF BEAUTY WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE. WE'RE TRYING TO DELIVER ON A NEED AND YOU KNOW, REPRESENTING HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT BEAUTY IS TO OUR CITY AND AND THOSE THAT WALK THROUGH. BUT I WAS JUST CURIOUS HOW YOU ALL WEIGH IN WITH THAT SORT OF NATURAL FRICTION THAT EXISTS WITHIN TRYING TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE BUT ALSO KEEP THE BEAUTY STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR CITY.  I'LL START AND I KNOW KENZIE HAS MANY THINGS TO SAY ON THIS AS WELL.  YOU KNOW, I WAS OUT IN SAN FRANCISCO WITH MY MY HOUSING DIRECTOR EARLIER LAST WEEK AND THEY WERE ALL LIKE TALKING ABOUT THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION. WE'RE ALL YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH IT AND AND HER ROLLING THEIR EYES ABOUT DESIGN REVIEW AND LIKE DESIGN AND THINGS YOU KNOW WE SHOULD JUST BUILD BUILD BUILD AND I HAD TO DISAGREE WITH THEM I REALLY DO BELIEVE WE CAN DO BOTH I THINK WE CAN HAVE I THINK WE CAN HAVE REALLY WELL-DESIGNED BUILDINGS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE AND YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE GOTTEN SO EXPENSIVE. I REALLY QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD WATCH THESE ARE PUBLIC REMARKS.  BUT I REALLY I REALLY DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A VERY HIGH STANDARD WITH DESIGN, ESPECIALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON A LOT OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS WERE DEMOLISHED AND REALLY HARMED BY URBAN RENEWAL AND WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BUILDINGS ARE BEAUTIFUL AND THAT THEY'RE THAT THEY'RE CONTEXTUAL AND THAT THEY'RE RESPECTFUL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH THEY'RE BEING BUILT. AND I YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS AN INTERNAL STRAIN ABOUT THAT AND HOW MUCH THEY COST. SO I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT. WE'RE TRYING TO FIND, YOU KNOW, REASONABLE MATERIAL RULES BUT OFTENTIMES IT'S NOT A GREAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WELL-DESIGNED BUILDING THAT'S THAT'S RESPECTFUL TO WHAT'S LEFT TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT AND REALLY POORLY DESIGNED BUILDING.  AND I SO I THINK WE ARE WE CAN'T WE CAN'T BE UNREALISTIC. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT BOTH ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.  YEAH. AND I'LL JUST SAY I THINK THAT I THINK A PIECE OF THIS IS TRYING TO FIND LIKE GREAT BEAUTIFUL DESIGN SOLUTIONS THAT ARE REPLICABLE BECAUSE I DO THINK A PIECE OF IT IS THAT LIKE WHEN EVERYONE HAS TO DO DIFFERENT SHOP DRAWINGS FOR LIKE EVERY STAGE OF EACH BESPOKE DEVELOPMENT LIKE THAT GETS CRAZY EXPENSIVE.  I THINK THAT LIKE IF WE CAN FIND WAYS TO WORK THROUGH YOU KNOW LIKE OKAY THESE ARE LIKE REALLY NICE MODELS DESIGNS AND I THINK THAT EMMA DOES SOME OF THAT WITH THEIR WITH THEIR KIND OF LIKE MORE STANDARDIZED DESIGN REVIEW DOCS FOR FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT YOU KNOW IT'S IT'S ALSO LIKE IT'S AN INTERESTING EYE OF THE BEHOLDER QUESTION I MEAN THE WHEN ANTI-IMMIGRANT FORCES IN BOSTON WERE ATTACKED IN THE TRIPLE DECKERS AS LIKE SLUM HOUSING THAT WASN'T WORTHY OF THE CITY AND THAT WAS REALLY ACTUALLY WHAT DROVE THE DOWN ZONING OF SO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT YOU CAN'T BUILD THE TRIPLE DECKERS THAT ARE THERE LEGALLY TODAY. I THINK NOW OF COURSE BOSTONIANS WANT TO KEEP THOSE TRIPLE DECKERS AND THINK THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL. SO YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF I THINK YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SPECTRUMS AND TASTE.  BUT I ALSO THINK THAT A LOT OF THE I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO PUT PIT BEAUTY VERSUS VERSUS FUNCTION HERE. BUT I DO THINK THAT THINKING THOUGHTFULLY ABOUT OUR PROCESSES AND HOW DO WE PUT SMART DESIGN DECISIONS UPSTREAM SO THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING PEOPLE TO SPEND AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THEM DOWNSTREAM IS PROBABLY THE KEY TO SQUARING THAT CIRCLE. AND I'LL JUST SAY AND KEEP SAYING IF HERNANDEZ AND SETH REISMAN AND THOSE REMEMBER ARE LISTENING I LOVE YOUR DESIGN WORK BUT I JUST WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT FRICTION BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT EXISTS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. I DO WANT REALLY THANK DIANA FERNANDES . SHE'S BEEN WONDERFUL PARTNER. I THINK SHE REALLY GETS IT SO GREAT.  THANK YOU.  COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS FOR ME . ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MEAN I I'M HAPPY THAT WE ADVOCATED FOR MORE MONEY FOR CITY VOUCHERS LAST TERM TO OFFER.  I'M ALSO STANDING UP THAT SECTION EIGHT HOMEOWNERSHIP WILL GET IN THE POSITION MEG HAS BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, I DREAM OF IS YOU KNOW, ARE OUR LENDING INSTITUTIONS COME AROUND TO KIND OF CATER TO NEW LOAN PRODUCTS THAT YOU KNOW ,ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THE CITY OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS YOU KNOW, BACKING THIS INDIVIDUAL. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS I MEAN I THINK THE ONLY WAY THAT THAT HAPPENS IS IF WE SCALE RIGHT. SO WHAT CAN WE HOPE TO SCALE TO OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND WHAT WOULD THAT FUNDING LOOK LIKE FOR THE FOR FOR YOU KNOW, ACROSS FIVE YEARS ON WHICH PROGRAM BOTH SO THE SECTION EIGHT AND THE CITY VOUCHER THAT SPECIFICALLY SPEAKS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP. MM OKAY. YEAH BUT SPECIFICALLY THE HOMEOWNERSHIP PIECE I MEAN YOU KNOW WE WE HAVE IT'S 17,000 FEDERAL VOUCHERS.  YEAH, IT'S ABOUT 60. YEAH. YEAH. SO WE HAVE SO WE'VE 17,000 FEDERAL VOUCHERS WHICH IS IT'S THE FEDERAL VOUCHERS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SECTION EIGHT TO HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM. I SHOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER 2000 STATE VOUCHERS JUST FOR ANYBODY WHO'S TRYING TO SENSE THE PORTFOLIO.  BUT SO YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WE WOULD LOVE A WORLD IN WHICH INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT 50 IN A YEAR. RIGHT. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LIKE 500. I MEAN THAT WOULD BE AWESOME, RIGHT? BUT I I THINK AND AND IT'S WORTH SAYING THAT IT IS I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT THAT IT'S WORTH DREAMING AT THOSE SCALES PRECISELY BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ACTUALLY BRINGING SO MUCH MONEY TO THE TABLE IN THESE INSTANCES.  RIGHT. LIKE THE SECTION EIGHT TO HOMEOWNERSHIP VOUCHERS IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT SUPPORTS THESE MORTGAGES. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT SCALE THERE. I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS LIKE THE ANSWER TO WHY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN BEFORE WAS DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE LIKE A SIGNIFICANT PIECE IS MEAGAN AND TESSA AND TEAM AND THE AND THE WORK RATE AND NOT JUST THE WORK WITH VOUCHER HOLDERS BUT THE WORK WITH THE LENDERS TO YOUR POINT. RIGHT AND LIKE THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM TO UNDERSTAND. RIGHT AND LIKE THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM UNDERSTAND BUT A SIGNIFICANT PIECE IS DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF IF A SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS IS REALISTIC BUT THAT WOULD BE IT WOULD BE AWESOME TO GET THEIR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. WELL, JUST JUST IN TERMS OF LIKE WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT'S THE LIMIT ON BECAUSE IT'S IT'S I COULD THINK ABOUT US GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE WE COULD SUPPORT THAT KIND OF VOLUME LIKE STAFF WISE, RIGHT? WE WOULD NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE STAFF CAPACITY BUT WE COULD GET THERE.  I CAN SEE HOW IT WOULD HAPPEN BUT HOW WE WOULD GET TO DOING 500 WOULD IT WOULD YOU WOULD NEED THE DOWN PAYMENT AS A DOWN PAYMENT. GOT IT.  GREAT TO KNOW. AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO THIS I KNOW YOU GUYS HIT A SNAG OR WANTED TO RESTART THE CITY ABOUT YOUR OWNERSHIP HOMEOWNERSHIP HAS THAT PROCESS BEEN RESTARTED? YEAH SO AND I SHOULD SAY SO IT HAS BEEN CONTINUING FROM THE BEGINNING WITH A FEW OF THE FOLKS IS JUST AS YOU KNOW WE HAD A PROBLEM WHERE WE DID A WE DID A LOTTERY TO EARLY RIGHT AND THEN IT TURNED OUT THAT A BUNCH OF THE FOLKS WHO HAD WON THE LOTTERY WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT MADE US GO BACK. SO IT'S JUST IT'S I MEAN SHEILA SHOP IS FAMILIAR WITH THESE CHALLENGES OF LIKE YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET ALL THE DUCKS IN A ROW BEFOREHAND. SO WE'RE KIND OF WE'RE SHIFTING IT SO THAT WE CAN SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE WHO WERE ADMITTING TO THAT PROGRAM ARE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN IT. BUT YES, IT IS WELL UNDERWAY. I THINK WE HAVE MEGHAN AGAIN IS GONE BUT I MY I THINK WE HAVE SEVEN OR EIGHT PEOPLE ACTIVELY SEARCHING WITH THAT RIGHT NOW AND THEN A BUNCH MORE WHO ARE IN PROCESS SO YEAH AND THEN ANY STATUS UPDATES ON THE STATUS OF THE SCATTERED AND TO USE THIS GOT A SIDE PROJECT THAT WAS GETTING CONVERTED TO HOME OWNERSHIP YEAH YEAH SO WE SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS THIS THIS IS RELATED TO WE HAVE 140 STATE PUBLIC HOUSING SCATTERED SITE UNITS WHICH ARE BOTH VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE VHA TO MAINTAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST LIKE ALL OVER THE CITY IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE MORTGAGE PORTFOLIO AND AND THEY'RE A NUMBER OF THEM ARE REALLY GOOD HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES SO THE FIRST STEP IN THAT PROCESS FOR US BECAUSE BASICALLY WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN WHERE WE WOULD TURN SOME OF THOSE INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS PUTTING VHA RESIDENTS SPECIFICALLY THE RESIDENTS OF THOSE RIGHT AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE. BUT THEN WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE A SINGLE UNIT OF PUBLIC HOUSING. SO WE ALSO WORKED WITH THE STATE AROUND A FUNDING SOURCE TO TO REPLACE ONE FOR ONE THOSE PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS WITH PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE CONCENTRATED ON A SINGLE SITE WHERE THEY'RE MUCH EASIER FOR US TO MAINTAIN. SO WE GOT THAT STATE FUNDING WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING AND THEN THE ARPA FUNDING FROM US IS A PIECE OF THAT PUZZLE TOO.  AND THEN THE FIRST COUPLE OF STEPS HAVE BEEN DOING APPRAISALS OF ALL OF THE ALL OF THE RELEVANT SITES PARTLY BECAUSE WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO THAT BUT BUT PARTLY LIKE AN APPRAISAL PLUS INSPECTION TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE STATE OF THE PROPERTIES BECAUSE WE ONLY WANT TO TURN INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS. WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE A UNIT WITH A TON OF LIKE HUGE CAPITAL NEEDS THAT'S JUST GOING TO LIKE LAND ON SOMEBODY AND THEN BE A DOG. SO SO SO WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF THAT ASSESSMENT AND THAT ASSESSMENT HAS CHANGED SOMEWHAT WHICH UNITS WE'RE PUTTING IN THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THAT. SO WE THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE RIGHT NOW TO HAVING AND IT SORT OF UPDATED SET OF OF THE LIKE FIRST SORT OF 25 UNIT FLIGHT THERE BECAUSE IT'S THAT BECAUSE WE GOT 25 UNITS OF REPLACEMENT FUNDING SUPPORT FROM THE STATE . SO I THINK WE YOU KNOW WE SHOULD BE IN A POSITION SOON COUNSELOR TO TO GIVE YOU KIND OF CHAPTER AND VERSE ON THAT BUT IT'S IT'S VERY EXCITING FOR US. WE THINK THERE'S SOME REALLY REALLY GREAT PROPERTIES THERE AND WE LOVE THAT AS YOU KNOW,  INVENTORY IS A BIG PIECE OF THE PUZZLE WITH FINDING HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR FOLKS RIGHT NOW. SO THE IDEA THAT VHA ITSELF COULD BE A SOURCE OF SOME OF THAT INVENTORY IS REALLY APPEALING AND THE 25 REPLACEMENT YOU'RE GETTING FROM THE STATES IS SOMETHING THAT YOU GO BACK TO ON A YEARLY BASIS OR NO? I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUED NEGOTIATION WITH THE STATE BUT I THINK THE 25 FELT LIKE A NUMBER THAT WE COULD SORT OF REALISTICALLY DO LIKE DO THAT BECAUSE BECAUSE THE ARPA MONEY WE'RE PUTTING INTO FIXING UP THE UNIT SO THAT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE ASSIGNING THOSE FIRST TIME HOME OWNERSHIP. SO THAT FELT LIKE A GOOD FIRST TRANCHE. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN YOU KNOW, THE CITY OFFERS A LOT OF GREAT PROGRAMS WHETHER IT'S THE SECTION EIGHT, THE HOME OWNERSHIP, THE CITY VOUCHER, WHETHER IT'S FSS. HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE THAT TO LIKE VHA RESIDENTS? IS THAT COMMUNICATED LIKE AT LEAST SIGNING LIKE HERE GOES ALL THE GREAT STUFF THAT THE CITY DOES AND I KNOW ANOTHER TOUCH POINT IS RECERTIFICATION IN LIKE WHAT ARE WE YOU KNOW TELLING OUR RESIDENTS AT LEAST SIGNING AND RECERTIFICATION YEAH SO I THINK I THINK RECERTIFICATION IS PROBABLY A BETTER OPPORTUNITY.  ONE OF THE THINGS WE FIND WITH LEASE SIGNING IS THAT BECAUSE WE'RE HOUSING SO MANY PEOPLE OUT OF HOMELESSNESS, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE JUST SO RELIEVED TO BE GETTING AN APARTMENT THAT I THINK A LOT OF THE LIKE AND HERE'S TEN OTHER PROGRAM STUFF JUST LIKE GOES ONE IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER SO WE FIND IT'S BETTER IT'S THE SAME WAY THAT ACTUALLY SOME OF OUR HOUSING SEARCH SUPPORTS TO HELP PEOPLE YOU KNOW THEY WANT TO FIND A PLACE CLOSER TO THEIR JOB OR LIKE CLOSER TO A KIDS SCHOOL OR WHATEVER. THEY'RE GENERALLY MORE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THAT WITH US ONCE THEY'RE ALREADY STABLE HOUSED. SO BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, RESEARCH IS DEFINITELY AN OPPORTUNITY. THE OTHER THING WE'VE BEEN YOU KNOW, EXPERIMENTING WITH LATELY IS THAT WE DO HAVE A TEXTING SERVICE NOW AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE AND MORE OF OUR RESIDENTS SIGNED UP AND WE'VE ACTUALLY THAT WAS QUITE USEFUL IN US IN PUSHING OUT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CITY RENTAL RELIEF FUND WHEN IT WAS STILL OPEN AND WE FOUND THAT LIKE YOU KNOW, SENDING THAT DIRECTLY TO FOLKS FUNDS HAS BEEN REALLY EFFECTIVE AND SO I THINK WE'RE DEFINITELY INTERESTED I MEAN EVERYONE KNOWS THAT YOU'RE ALSO GETTING LOTS OF LIKE TECH SPAM OUT IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW SO YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU I MEAN JUST IN GENERAL THIS WORLD WHERE LIKE THERE'S WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION COMING IN FROM ALL SIDES AND HOW DOES THE VHA BREAK THROUGH IS LIKE A CONTINUING OR CONTINUING CHALLENGE. BUT WE ALSO WILL SOMETIMES PUT FLIERS INTO THE MONTHLY RENT LIKE MAILINGS THAT WE DO SINCE THAT CAN ALSO BE AWARE THAT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OPEN THAT ENVELOPE, GO TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR A THIRD ROUND OF QUESTIONS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  THANK YOU MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING THE CLOCK. I HAVE I HAVE ALMOST DID AND I AGREE I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS ONE AND I THINK IT COMES UP TO THIS I A FEW WEEKS AGO I MET WITH ALL OF THE SOCIAL WORKERS IN BOSTON AT THE SCHOOLS AND WHAT WAS SURPRISING TO ME EVEN AS A HOUSING ATTORNEY AS JUST WELL IT WAS JUST SO SURPRISING HOW THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN TO ME FROM OUR BPA SOCIAL WORKERS WAS THAT ON ISSUES OF HOUSING AND I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT HEARD ABOUT THE HOUSING THE THE HOMELESS EDUCATION RESOURCE NETWORK AND ABOUT WHETHER THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE ADEQUATELY RESOURCED.  AND I THINK THAT THERE'S MORE WORK THAT WE CAN DO THERE SHARING THAT WITH YOU HERE I'LL ALSO SHARE WITH VEEP'S TROY STREEP ON THAT BUT I SAY THAT TO SORT OF UNDERSCORE THE NEED FOR THE CITY VOUCHERS AND FOR EXPANSION OF THE CITY VOUCHER PROGRAM, IT WAS REALLY I WAS REALLY TAKEN ABACK BY THAT WAS AND I SAY THIS AND AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE MORE SUPPORTS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND MORE SOCIAL WORKERS AND MORE FAMILY LIAISONS AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE MORE IN OUR SCHOOLS THIS IS WHAT YOU GET YOU GET PEOPLE REALLY TIED INTO THE ISSUES THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE FACING AND IT'S ONE OF HOUSING. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A QUESTION THERE OTHER THAN LIKE WHAT CAN WE DO TO BETTER SUPPORT OUR SOCIAL WORKERS IN OUR SCHOOLS WHO FEEL OVERWHELMED IN THE WAY THAT WE FEEL OVERWHELMED BY THE HOUSING ISSUES THAT THEY FACE WITH THE STUDENTS THAT WE TRY TO HELP EVERY DAY IN THEIR FAMILIES? YEAH, I MEAN I DO THINK ONE THING THAT IT MIGHT BE GOOD IS FOR US TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE LIKE HOW DO WE KIND OF REPORT BACK TO THAT GROUP SPECIFICALLY SEE SOME OF THE ENORMOUS EFFECT THAT THEIR WORK HAS HAD BECAUSE AS DAVID SAID, LIKE ALL 1500 OF THOSE FAMILIES THAT WE'VE HOUSED WITH VOUCHERS HAVE REALLY COME THROUGH THE HOMELESSNESS LIAISONS AND AND MOST OF THE TIME THOSE HAVE BEEN THE SOCIAL WORKERS. SO LIKE I THINK ONE PIECE IS I MEAN YOU MENTIONED THIS EARLIER IT'S NOT JUST HOW DO WE DO GOOD WORK, HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE, HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE AND HOW DO WE LIKE ENCOURAGE OURSELVES AND WHAT CAN OTHERWISE FEEL LIKE A VERY HOPELESS SITUATION AROUND THE FACT THAT ACTUALLY LIKE THIS IS AN ENORMOUS THING ? I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT'S FOCUSED IN THIS WAY ON IT'S LIKE SCHOOL AGE, FAMILY POPULATION AND REALLY DEDICATED VOUCHERS TO THAT IN THIS LIKE WAY THAT'S REALLY BEEN MOVING AND THAT HAS BEEN COMING FROM A SCHOOL GROUND UP BASIS. SO THAT'S THAT'S ONE THING I THINK THAT WE SHOULD THAT WE SHOULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO TOGETHER IS COMMUNICATE THAT BACK TO THEM. BUT I ALSO THINK IT SHOULD IT JUST NEEDS TO UNDERSCORE FOR EVERYBODY LIKE THERE'S THIS LARGER COMMUNICATIONS CHALLENGE OF SAYING LIKE HOMELESS FAMILIES ARE OUR FAMILIES, THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, THEY ARE OUR BEEPS KIDS LIKE WHEN PEOPLE SAY I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT HOMELESS FOLKS LIVING AT THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING TO GO UP ON MY BLOCK. IT'S LIKE NO, NO, NO THAT'S FOR THE FOLKS WHO LIVE HERE ALREADY BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY UNLESS WE MAKE IT. SO I THINK LIKE THAT'S A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE TOO BECAUSE I THINK PART OF PEOPLE'S HORROR IS THE IDEA THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO SO MANY REGULAR PEOPLE IN BOSTON THAT HOUSING INSTABILITY IS JUST LIKE SUCH A REGULAR EXPERIENCE IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW IN THIS LIKE REALLY HORRIFYING WAY AND THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD TO THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY RESPONSIVE. CERTAINLY DANIELLE'S TEAM ANY OF US GET A CALL ABOUT A PARENT WITH A KID. THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THAT WE JUST YOU KNOW, RESPONSE IS A FIRE AND THERE'S KIDS THERE OR SOMEONE CALLS UP AND THEY'RE SCARED OR THEY NEED THIS OR THAT. I MEAN IT'S KIND OF LIKE DROP EVERYTHING AS A KID. BUT WHAT WHAT WE HAVEN'T DONE AND I THINK YOU'RE RAISING A VERY GOOD POINT IS I THINK WE PROBABLY WE DO NEED TO EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCE WE NEED TO LET THE SOCIAL WORKERS AND THE LIAISONS AND THE SCHOOLS KNOW WHAT WE DO HAVE. RIGHT. HERE'S A NUMBER YOU CAN CALL HERE'S WE DO HAVE RENTAL RELIEF IF SOMEONE'S BEHIND THE RENT LIKE WHAT WE HAVE THEY SHOULD KNOW THEY SHOULD THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY PROVIDE THAT TO THE KIDS IN THAT AND THE PARENTS THAT ARE WALKING IN THEIR OFFICES.  SO I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THROUGH MORE. YEAH. AND MAYBE IT COULD BE JUST LIKE A AND THEY MEET EVERY MONTH. YEAH AND YOU KNOW HAVING HEARD MLH BEING JAY HAS INSTABILITY OBVIOUSLY PRESENT BECAUSE I WAS FIELDING QUESTIONS AND I WAS I WAS GETTING OVERALL AND I WAS LIKE OKAY LOTS OF QUESTIONS, LOTS OF THINGS HAPPENING AND PART OF IT WAS LIKE OH YOU DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS THAT I THOUGHT YOU HAVE OR THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE MORE TOOLS. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THESE ARE MORE TOOLS AVAILABLE SO JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE.  WE'LL FOLLOW UP. THE SECOND QUESTION IS I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING WITH SHANI FLETCHER, THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN AGRICULTURE THIS MORNING AS WE WERE CELEBRATING WE'LL BE DAY BOX, A NATURE CENTER SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE GREAT WORK THEY'RE DOING. WHY IS WHY WHY WHY IS GROW BOSTON IN MY WAY? WHAT'S THE VISION THERE WHY IS WHY IS IT SEE TO THERE MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE IT BECAUSE WE LOVE BECAUSE WE LOVE THEM. OKAY.  YOU KNOW THE GRASSROOTS PROGRAM WAS ALWAYS AT END THEN AND NOW MORTGAGE AND WE HAVE ACCESS TO LAND RIGHT? WE'VE GOT FEDERAL RESOURCES THAT THE PROGRAMS USE. SO EVEN THOUGH WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON HOUSING I WILL SAY THAT GROW BOSTON AND GRASS ROOTS DON'T GET SHORT SHRIFT. I MEAN THEY REALLY HAVE ACCESS TO OUR PROPERTY AND OUR FEDERAL FUNDING AND OUR PUBLIC THE PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMISSION TO GET THINGS APPROVED AND OFTENTIMES WHEN WE'RE OUT TALKING TO MY YOU KNOW,  HIGHLAND PARK, WE'LL GO OUT TO HIGHLAND PARK AND WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING AND WE'RE ALSO BE TALKING ABOUT THE FARM THE HALEY HOW FARM AND THE COMMUNITY GARDENS IN THE OPEN SPACE. SO OFTENTIMES THERE REALLY IS A NATURAL I DON'T KNOW IT'S IT'S IT'S NATURAL FOR US TO GO OUT TO A NEIGHBORHOOD AND TALK ABOUT BOTH BUT I THINK IT'S THERE'S A LONG HISTORY OF US WORKING TOGETHER AND WE REALLY DO LOVE HAVING THEM WITH US. YEAH. YOU KNOW THIS IS REALLY JUST LIKE WHY YEAH WHY I THINK IT IS JUST THE HISTORY. YEAH. AND THE VHA WOULD LIKE TO THINK GROW BOSTON FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY GARDENS WITH OUR RESIDENTS AGAIN AND OTHER HOUSING AND GARDEN ACCESS. THANK YOU.  QUESTION IS FOR DIRECTOR JOHNSON. HOPEFULLY YOU FEEL THAT WE FEEL IN THIS CHAMBER THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO.  YOU KNOW I JOIN WITH COMES A WEBER IN CALLING FOR AND WORKING FOR RIGHT TO COUNCILOR OBVIOUSLY ONE ON THE STATE LEVEL WANT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO HERE THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL AND THERE'S SO MANY OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP PROTECT OUR TENANTS THAT DEPEND ON STATE A STATE PARTICIPATION WHETHER IT'S TENANT OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE ACT RENT STABILIZATION I'M A BIT WORRIED OKAY I WON'T PUT MY WORRY OUT ON PUBLIC BUT I HOPE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET IF OUR OF OUR HOUSING VISION DEPENDS SO MUCH ON NEW REVENUE STREAMS I HOPE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO REALLY ACQUIRE THOSE NEW REVENUE STREAMS AND IF AND I WILL SAY THAT SHORT OF THAT I HOPE REGARDLESS OF THOSE NEW REVENUE STREAMS THAT WE ARE STILL ABLE TO POINT TO TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY SEE AND FEEL EVEN IN THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS. THAT'S SORT OF BEEN A SIDE THAT I MEANT TO TRY TO GO BACK TO DR. JOHNSON I'M GLAD TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE BUDGET FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.  YOU KNOW OFTENTIMES THE SOLUTION TO SO MANY OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE OF CONSTITUENTS IS LIKE GIVE PEOPLE MONEY, HELP THEM SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. THEY KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GUARANTEED INCOME IT PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS ONCE THEY ARE GIVEN THE RESOURCES.  WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU FACE ON A DAILY BASIS IN RESPONDING TO CONSTITUENT CONCERNS CONSTITUENT COMMUNITIES THAT WE BRING YOU AND HOW CAN WE BE HELPFUL IN HELPING YOU SOLVE SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS?  SURE. AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. AND I THINK PART OF THE RESPONSE YIELDS BACK TO WHAT SHE'S DOING WHICH WAS MENTIONING EARLIER AROUND SUSTAINABILITY. I THINK A LOT OF TIMES AND A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS WE GET FROM CONSTITUENTS ARE JUST THAT OF HOW WILL THIS HELP ME , HOW WILL THIS SUSTAIN ME AND THERE IS ANOTHER SIX MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD AND I DON'T HAVE THINGS LINED UP EVEN WHEN YOU THINK OF IT FROM THE LEGAL PERSPECTIVE OF I RECEIVED THIS NOTICE TO QUIT WHAT WILL HAPPEN THREE FOUR MONTHS FROM NOW AND WILL I BE SUSTAINED IN MY CURRENT HOUSING?  SO I THINK THERE'S THAT ISSUE BUT ALSO WE'VE TAKEN A LOT AT OHSU AND WE TRY TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE INCLUDING ANSWERING COUNCILOR MCGEE IS EMAILS AT 11 P.M. BUT I THINK YOU KNOW CAPACITY IS DEFINITELY A HUGE ISSUE IN THAT SPACE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE MAKE THE WORK EQUITABLE FOR STAFF AND ALSO THINK ABOUT BURNOUT AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT COME WITH TAKING IN SO MANY PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS WHILE ALSO DEALING WITH OUR OWN INTERNAL PROBLEMS THAT THAT MAY COME ABOUT. SO I THINK STAFF CAPACITY IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT WITHIN THE OFFICE WE HAVE A FEW POSITIONS THAT WE ARE HIRING FOR.  WE HAVE WE INCREASED FROM LAST YEAR FROM THREE HOUSING CRISIS COORDINATORS TO AN ADDITIONAL ONE PLUS A SENIOR HOUSING CRISIS COORDINATOR. SO THAT HAS HELPED BUT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE STILL SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NEED FOR CONSTITUENTS WHO JUST NEED TO FIGURE OUT WELL WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES FOR ME IF I'M FACING A LEGAL ISSUE OR HOW CAN I ACCESS METRO LIST SO TRYING TO FILL THOSE CORES WHILE ALSO TRYING TO ADDRESS OC FOR THE STUDENT THAT JUST WAS DISPLACED BECAUSE OF A FIRE WE HAVE TO DROP THAT NOW PAY ATTENTION TO THAT BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERYONE'S NEEDS ARE IMPORTANT. SO I WOULD THINK THOSE ARE THE THE MAIN ISSUES. YOU KNOW FUNDING IS OBVIOUSLY A GREAT NEED.  PEOPLE STILL NEED RENTAL ASSISTANCE. BUT BACK TO WHAT CHIEF DILLARD HAD MENTIONED EARLIER THINKING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND HOW CAN WE KEEP THIS GOING FOR SO LONG AND RESPONDING TO CONSTITUENTS WHICH WE'RE HAPPY TO DO BUT DOING IT IN AN EQUITABLE AND A MENTAL HEALTH WAY THAT DOESN'T CREATE STAFF BURNOUT DOESN'T CREATE RETENTION ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THANK YOU, MR MAYOR. I KNOW I SAW THIS.  SHE JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM WITH YOU. I WANT IF YOU WOULD SHARE THE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR ME . I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE AND I'D LOVE TO SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES SO THAT WE CAN UPLIFT THAT. AND I ALSO HOPE THAT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, SOME THAT WE DID ON THE COUNCIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO. WE HAD BPC COME IN AND THEY DID A TRAUMA INFORMED TRAINING SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OTHERS AND HOPEFULLY YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED SUPPORT OR I HOPE THAT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU KNOW WHETHER IT'S WORK FROM HOME DAYS OR FLOODS DAYS OR WHATEVER IT IS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WORKING IN DIRECT SERVICES WHICH IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING IT'S IT'S IT'S TAXING. I DID THAT AS A STUDENT AND IT'S IT'S A LOT SO I WHATEVER WAYS YOU NEED US TO SUPPORT HOW DO YOU MAKE IT A SOFTER ENVIRONMENT FOR WHAT IS REALLY DIFFICULT ISSUES IT'S A DELUGE OF INTAKE SO WHETHER THAT'S MORE YOU KNOW STAFF BONDING ACTIVITIES OR YOU KNOW OUT IN THE COMMUNITY MAYBE THAT HELPS MORE OF BEING ABLE TO TO TO BE PRESENT IN COMMUNITY OR WHATEVER IT IS. I JUST WANT US TO BE THINKING CREATIVELY ABOUT HOW WE HOW WE SUPPORT THAT. YOU KNOW, I WILL ALWAYS SAY THAT THE BEST WAY THAT YOU SHOW PEOPLE RESPECT IS THROUGH THEIR PAYCHECK AND IN MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE AFFIRMING THEIR DIGNITY BY PAYING THEM ACCORDINGLY FOR THE REALLY HARD WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ESPECIALLY IN DIRECT SERVICES WHERE WE NEED TO OFTEN UNDERPAY PEOPLE. SO I THINK AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD WE HAVE HAD TWO TRAININGS ON TRAUMA INFORMED CARE WHICH HAS BEEN HELPFUL AND THANKS TO CHIEF DILLON'S LEADERSHIP OF ENCOURAGING THAT IT'S VERY HELPFUL FOR STAFF TO SEE THAT REFLECTED IN LEADERSHIP OF WE WANT YOU TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BURN OUT. SO JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE HAD THOSE TRAININGS AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DO THOSE CHANGES. THANK YOU AND REMEMBER THAT REBECCA ROBERTS I JUST WANT TO I DON'T HAVE ANY DIRECT QUESTIONS FOR YOU BUT I WANT TO JUST SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AROUND HOMEOWNERSHIP AND HOW CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IT IS TO NOT GOING TO SOLVE RACIAL WEALTH GAPS BUT BEING PART OF THAT SOLUTION AND AS A TWO YEAR OLD HOMEOWNER MYSELF, I KNOW THAT IT'S REALLY A DAUNTING ACT ADOPT AN ACTIVITY AND THAT YOU ARE THERE HELPING OUR FAMILIES HOLDING THEIR HANDS IN THE PROCESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.  YOU KNOW WHATEVER YOU NEED FOR MORE MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COSTS AND EDUCATION WE'RE HAPPY TO BE CHAMPIONS FOR EVERYONE HERE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MEJIA THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE HERE BEFORE SEVEN. I ONLY HAVE 30 QUESTIONS. I'M JUST LOOKING TO START THAT TIMER AGAIN SO I. I WANTED TO PICK UP ON THE BEEPS SITUATION BECAUSE I GET A LOT OF EITHER INSTAGRAM DMS FROM STUDENTS WHO WHEN I SPEAK AT THEIR SCHOOL, YOU KNOW THEY'LL THEY'LL START FOLLOWING ME AND THEN THEY'LL START SHARING THEIR SITUATIONS.  AND I'VE HEARD FROM TWO YOUNG WOMEN OVER THE LAST FIVE OR SIX MONTHS BOTH WHO ARE OVER 18 AND ARE UNACCOMPANIED. THEY DON'T HAVE FAMILY RIGHT. OR AT LEAST THE FAMILIES THAT THEY WERE STAYING WITH ARE NO LONGER WANTING TO ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS KIND OF LIKE HOW ARE WE MEETING THE NEEDS OF BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HOMELESS CRISIS AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEDS, I THINK THAT SOMETIMES THE STUDENTS WHO ARE 18 AND OVER THAT ARE STILL IN OUR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS GET LOST AND THE BRIDGE OVER SOME TROUBLED WATER IT MAY NOT BE THE THE BEST YOU KNOW, FOR THEM. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT IF ANY OPPORTUNITIES EXIST AND WHAT IS OUT THERE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE THAT LITTLE PIECE.  SO COUNSELOR, I CAN START BUT I DON'T HAVE ALL OF THAT ANSWER. I MEAN I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT BIPS IS PROVIDING 18 YEAR OLDS THAT ARE STILL IN THEIR SYSTEM. I DO KNOW THAT WE WE ARE PROVIDING THROUGH A LARGE ARRAY OF NONPROFITS SERVICES FOR YOUNG ADULTS THAT FIND THEMSELVES HOMELESS OR HOUSING INSECURE.  THE NUMBERS HAVE AND WE'VE WE'VE BEEN INVESTING IN THIS IN THIS COHORT WE'RE PROVIDING SOME SOME RENTAL ASSISTANCE CERTAINLY PROGRAMING THERE HAVE BEEN LIKE BRIDGET BRIDGE AND OTHERS HAVE LIKE GROUP FACILITIES WHERE PEOPLE YOUNG ADULTS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE OR HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY'RE LIVING ,YOU KNOW, IN SAFE SPACES WITH SUPPORTS. SO THERE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT PROVIDED YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS OF HOMELESS YOUNG ADULTS HAS GONE DOWN. HOWEVER HOWEVER, IT'S A VERY, VERY HARD POPULATION TO COUNT SO I NEVER WANT TO ASSUME THAT OH YEAH, THERE'S 172 HOMELESS YOUNG ADULT UP RIGHT. WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE BECAUSE SOME OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY LIVING EXACTLY. THEY ARE COUCH SURFING. RIGHT. AND THEIR TIME IS IT'S A GROSS UNDERCOUNT. EXACTLY. SO I JUST THINK THAT THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID IN TERMS OF SUPPORTS. RIGHT. SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO IS JUST DO SOME MATCHMAKING, SAY HEY, YOU BOTH ARE IN THIS SITUATION.  IS THERE IS THERE A WAY WHERE YOU ALL CAN SHARE A ROOM TOGETHER AND SPLIT THE COST OF THAT ROOM AND MAYBE PUT TO BUNK? I KNOW WE'RE JUST TRYING TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND TRY TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE MEET THAT NEED AND SO THAT'S HOW WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT SUPPORTING IT. BUT WE DO HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF PERSON UNIT WORKING ON THIS COHORT SO BE GREAT. MAYBE THERE'S A FOLLOW UP HEARING TO SET UP A MEETING JUST SO YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO HAVE AND WHAT WE DON'T HAVE YET BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD BECAUSE I THINK YOU YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD A KNACK FOR BEING IN TOUCH WITH THAT POPULATION. SO I THINK IT'D BE REALLY GOOD FOR OUR OFFICES TO TO LOVE THAT AND THAT AND I SEE YOU STANDING UP. YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? JUST WE HAVE A IT'S A SMALL SEGMENT BUT WE DO HAVE A FOSTER YOUTH PROGRAM WITH DCF REFERRAL BUT THEY'RE NOT FOSTER KIDS. THESE AREN'T THESE ARE YOUNG WOMEN WHO THEIR PARENTS JUST ARE EITHER NOT HERE.  YEAH. SO I WILL SAY THAT THE REFERRAL PROGRAM THAT WE DO WITH GPS IS FOCUSED ON FAMILIES. IT'S NOT JUST HOMELESS, IT'S HOUSING INSECURE. SO SO THEY QUALIFY SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIKE I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YES ABOUT IDENTIFYING THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND SO I'LL TELL YOU WHAT SCHOOL SO THAT YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THEM PUT THAT ON ITS BOSTON INTERNATIONAL BANKER. THERE ARE TWO YOUNG WOMEN THERE RIGHT NOW WHO ARE IN NEED OF SOME INTERVENTIONS AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO THINK THROUGH THIS ISSUE SO I'M PUTTING IT ON Y'ALL TO FIGURE IT OUT AND THEN LET ME KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR. AND THEN SO I WANTED TO JUST ASK ABOUT BECAUSE I THINK WE AT I LIKE TO BE A PROBLEM SOLVER. I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S IS FAIR FOR US TO JUST COME HERE WITH LIKE SO I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM A LOT OF ELDERS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY TAXES AND SOME OF THESE ELDERS HAVE EMPTY ROOMS RIGHT.  AND I'M CURIOUS IF WHAT IF ANY IF YOU'VE HEARD OF ANY PROGRAMS THAT EXIST NOT HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON OR MAYBE OTHER SPACES AND PLACES IN WHICH ELDERS CAN OPEN UP THEIR HOMES FOR MAYBE A REDUCED PROPERTY TAX RATE LIKE ARE THERE ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO DO SOME MATCHMAKING BETWEEN SOME ELDERS AND SOME YOUNG PEOPLE OR FAMILIES THAT POTENTIALLY NEED HOUSING? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. MAYBE IT'S CRAZY BUT I THINK THAT IF THERE'S A WIN WIN EVERYBODY SHOULD IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE I'D LOVE TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES.  SO MY ONLY COMMON IS THAT THROUGH THE HOUSING INNOVATION LAB WE STARTED A PROGRAM MATCHING GRADUATE STUDENTS WHO NEEDED A CHEAP , YOU KNOW, CHEAP PLACE TO LIVE WITH SENIORS THAT HAD ARE OLDER ADULTS WHO HAD ROOMS AVAILABLE TO RENT AND WE LAUNCHED IT WITH GREAT FANFARE AND THEN COVID HIT LIKE WE WE DIDN'T WANT ANY YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT WERE GOING TO COLLEGE AND ELSEWHERE BEING BRINGING COVID INTO THERE WAS ALSO AND WE'RE WORKING WITH A REALLY GOOD NONPROFIT ON IT AND DOING A LOT OF OUTREACH. IT DIDN'T PICK UP THE WAY THAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD. NOW COVID MADE IT MUCH MORE COMPLICATED BUT EVEN BEFORE THAT THE MONTHS PRECEDING THAT THERE I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF HESITANCY OF WE WERE GOING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE SENIORS AND WE HAD A FEW CASES. I THINK THERE WAS HESITANCY BETWEEN THE GRADUATE STUDENTS THAT WANT TO MOVE INTO LIKE A STRANGE OLDER PERSONS HOUSE AND THEN THE OLDER PERSON WAS LIKE A LITTLE HESITANT ABOUT HAVING A STRANGER SO IT NEVER SO MAYBE WE DON'T DO WE GRADUATES IN THERE TOO. I WOULD RATHER DO IT IF WE COULD RUN A LITTLE PILOT PROGRAM WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM BEEPERS WITH PEOPLE WHO LIKE I DON'T KNOW THIS IS CRAZY TALK MAYBE I'M JUST LIKE I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT HERE BUT I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE AND 33 SECONDS SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP BECAUSE YEAH, IT'S NOT THAT DEEP. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW I HELP MY KIDS BECAUSE I DON'T I, I DON'T SLEEP AT NIGHT. FAIR ENOUGH. AND SO THEN GOES TO MY THE RENTAL RELIEF WE YOU KNOW DIRECTOR JOHNSON WE GET A LOT THAT'S THE WAY YOU ARE AND I ALWAYS LIKE OH WHAT CAN WE DO AND WE TEND TO TAP INTO OUR PERSONAL NETWORKS SO THAT WE CAN HELP PROVIDE EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR SOME FOLKS. BUT I'M CURIOUS WHAT WHAT WHAT IS THAT AMOUNT HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE AND IS IT ALL GONE? NO, IT IS IT IS NOT ALL GOING SO WE HAD TO CHANGE THE GUIDELINES OF OUR IT'S NOW CALLED THE TENANT STABILIZATION FUND. IT IS NOW THE MAX IS $5,000 THAT A HOUSEHOLD CAN RECEIVE AND THAT INCLUDES FIRST MONTH'S LAST MONTH'S SECURITY IF THEY'RE MOVING. BUT ALSO COVERS ARREARAGES UP TO $5,000. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE FROM THE RENT RELIEF FUND IS THE CAP IS LOWERED AND IT DOESN'T COVER FUTURE FUTURE RENTS. RIGHT. SO BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN SCENARIOS IN WHICH THERE'S ANOTHER CASE THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT IS THAT THE THE TENANT NEED IT FOR A LAST MONTH AND SECURITY AND I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT VHA COVERED A PORTION OF THAT AND THERE'S JUST BEEN SOME LACK OF FLAHERTY BECAUSE NOW THE THE TENANT IS ALREADY HOUSED BUT THE LANDLORD IS PUSHING FOR THAT SECURITY DEPOSIT AND I JUST DON'T KNOW WE WE CENTER OVER TO THE TENANT STABILIZATION AND TO GET THAT FUND BUT I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT VHA COVERED IT SO CAN YOU FOR THE RECORD JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY WHO'S LISTENING BECAUSE PEOPLE DO FOLLOW US CAN YOU STAY FOR THE RECORD WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE PROTOCOL AND WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO DO SO THAT THEY DON'T FIND THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS? DO YOU WANT IT SO WE SO WITH A SPECIFIC IF IT'S A BIG VOUCHER HOLDER WE SHOULD TALK OFFLINE. YES.  THAT PERSON SPECIFICALLY WE WE HAVE SOME PROGRAMS PARTLY WITH LIKE TEMPORARY DOLLARS AND STUFF THAT HAVE HELPED US DO SECURITY DEPOSIT STUFF BUT WE DON'T WE AREN'T GENERALLY PUTTING GENERALLY WE DON'T COVER SECURITY DEPOSIT. WE TYPICALLY TRY TO WORK WITH A NONPROFIT. WE DO HAVE SUPPORTED HOUSING AGREEMENTS LIKE FOR EXAMPLE WHEN WE WORK WITH DPS THEY GIVE US SOME FUNDING TO PROVIDE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SECURITY DEPOSIT AND POTENTIALLY LIKE FIRST MONTH'S RENT OR BROKER'S FEES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT TYPICALLY IF IT'S A VOUCHER WITHOUT A SUPPORTED HOUSING AGREEMENT THAT'S NOT COMING THROUGH A REFERRAL AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE MONEY, WE TYPICALLY WE'LL SEND PEOPLE TO RAFT, WE'LL TRY TO WORK WITH THE LANDLORD TO SAY LIKE LET'S FOREGO A SECURITY DEPOSIT AND THE VOUCHER WILL POTENTIALLY PAY FOR DAMAGES AT THE END IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. SO WE HAVE OTHER WAYS TO GET AROUND THAT.  BUT LIKE YOU KNOW ALSO THAT'S A THAT SOUNDS LIKE ALSO A KIND OF A LEGAL SNAFU TOO BECAUSE NOBODY SHOULD YOU KNOW, A LANDLORD SHOULDN'T LET ANYBODY MOVE IN UNLESS THEY HAVE WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR AS WELL. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD TRY TO WORK ON SPECIFIC CASE. YEAH. SO WE SHOULD DEFINITELY CHASE THAT CASE DOWN. BUT I WOULD SAY UNFORTUNATELY THE FEDS DON'T GIVE US MONEY FOR SECURITY DEPOSITS AND THEY ALSO DON'T YOU KNOW, NOT EVERY PART OF THE COUNTRY HAS OUR INSANE BROKER'S FEES SITUATION SO THEY ALSO DON'T GIVE US MONEY FOR BROKER FEES. SO LIKE DAVID SAID, WE TRY TO FIND WAYS TO AVOID THOSE OR WORK WITH THESE PARTNERS BUT AND AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH IS THE IDEA OF WHAT HE SAID WHERE LIKE INSTEAD OF TAKING A SECURITY DEPOSIT, WHY DOESN'T THE BANK SORT OF BACKSTOP THE GUARANTEE AROUND DAMAGE OR SOMETHING? SO WE'RE WE'RE WORKING I APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW I'VE GOT LIKE TIMER BUT THANK YOU.  SO I GUESS I'LL JUST WRAP UP BECAUSE I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL EVERYONE'S TIME INCLUDING THE CHAIR WHO'S DONE AN AMAZING JOB KEEPING US ON TRACK.  I'M JUST REALLY HOPING TO LEARN I'VE BEEN ASKING EVERYONE THIS QUESTION AND I THINK IS BECAUSE SOMEONE ASKED IT AT A DIFFERENT HEARING AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD QUESTION TO ASK IS THAT SOMETIMES WE WANT TO INCREASE BUDGETS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL NEED MORE OF MORE MONEY. RIGHT? OF COURSE. BUT I'M CURIOUS IF YOU WERE TO YOU KNOW, DO YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO EXECUTE IF YOU'VE GOT AN INCREASE IN YOUR BUDGET, WHAT WOULD YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO REALLY BE SET UP FOR SUCCESS? DOES IT REALLY MAKE SENSE FOR US TO ASK FOR THINGS IF YOU'RE NOT READY TO RECEIVE THEM?  WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT?  I WOULD SAY WE HAVE THE CAPACITY NOW IF YOU SAID WE WERE GOING TO GET 200 AND $300 MILLION I'D SAY WE PROBABLY NEED SOME STAFF.  BUT I THINK GIVEN THE THIS BUDGET CYCLE AND SEASON AND OTHER DEMANDS WE HAVE CAPACITY AND AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT VALUES AND HOUSING I THINK CAN GET AT SO MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH IT TACKLES VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS TIE BACK TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A PLACE TO LAY YOUR HEAD. AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY HERE IN THIS CYCLE TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES AND WHERE DO WE NEED TO PUSH IMPORTANT SO THAT YOU WILL HAVE THE TOOLS THAT YOU NEED AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET ALL OF THESE THINGS ON THE RECORD BECAUSE THEN IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY THINK THROUGH WHAT ARE THE PAIN POINTS, WHAT ARE WHAT ARE THE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO EXPAND. AND SO I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR YOU ALL I THINK THAT THE WORK THAT I DO WITH YOUR OFFICE OR A LOT OF MY TEAMMATES NOT JUST ME BUT LIKE IT IS I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IN IMPORTANT DEPARTMENTS IN AND WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION. RIGHT. BECAUSE IT IS WHAT WE GET THE MOST CALLS FOR. IT'S ALWAYS HOUSING AND I'M SO HAPPY TO KNOW AROUND THE HOME OWNERSHIP I'VE SEEN YOU IN SO MANY EVENTS AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP AND I'M REALLY EXCITED AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN. I LOVE WHAT YOU SAID, SHEILA ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE TO BECOME HOME OWNERS BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE FIRST LAST MONTH THAT SOMETIMES CAN BE THE DOWN PAYMENT ON A CONDO AND THEN THAT IS STABILIZING THE MARKET AND I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR. A LOT OF THE WORK THAT THE COUNCILOR THE CHAIR RIGHT NOW WAYS AND MEANS HAS DONE BEFORE HIS TIME IN THIS SEAT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SIGNING MY NAME ON 20 AMENDMENTS THAT HELP SUPPORT THE HOUSING CRISIS HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND AND DANIELLE, YOU KNOW WE GO WAY BACK I LOVE CALLING YOU AND EMAILING YOU AT I'M NOT GOING TO CALL YOU ANYMORE. I MET TONIGHT AND TARA AND I AFTER 11:00 CALLS. YES.  THERE WILL BE NO MORE OF THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYONE COUNT TO THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS SO I'M NOT GOING TO TURN ON THE TIMER. I'M JUST AND IT'S JUST ME NOW BUT I'VE BEEN ALSO I HAVE A REQUEST THAT WE SHOULD END AROUND SEVEN BUT I WILL KEEP YOU GUYS HERE THAT LONG OR AT LEAST I THINK NOT CONDOS.  YOU KNOW, I THINK CONDOS ARE LIKE THE NEW START OF HOMES AND WE NEED TO JUST KIND OF EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE DEBT. THE NEW STARTER HOME BUT WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONDOS IS THE CONDO FEES THAT I GET WORRIED ABOUT. I KNOW I BROUGHT THIS UP TO YOU BEFORE CHIEF DEALING HAS A CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW DO WE PLAN ON SOLVING FOR THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUAL THAT'S INSIDE OF A CONDO AND NOW THEIR ROOF NOW THE FURNACE NOW THE PORCH NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. THERE'S THERE'S TWO THERE'S TWO THINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN AFFORDABLE THE AFFORDABLE CONDO LAND AND ONE OF THEM IS MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE SET A SALES PRICE THAT THE CONDO FEE REFLECTS REALLY WHAT THE CONDO FEE IS GOING TO BE RIGHT. AND I'M NOT SAYING THE DEVELOPERS ARE OUT THERE LOWBALLING OR PUTTING BUT WE ARE NOW SCRUTINY SCRUTINIZING WHEN WE GET A DEVELOPMENT IN FOR FUNDING OR PEOPLE COME INTO US LOOKING FOR FOR LAND THAT WE'RE REALLY SEEING THAT THEY HAVE A REALISTIC CONDO FEE BECAUSE EVERYTHING GETS PRICED OFF OF THAT GETS PRICED OFF OF THAT AND INTEREST RATES AND BUT WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THE CONDO FEE IS HIGHER THAN WHAT IS BEING WHAT THEY CAME IN AT AND WE ARE WE THINK IT SHOULD BE THEN PROBABLY THE SALES PRICE HAS TO DECREASE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO KEEP THE HOUSING COSTS AT 30% OR YOU KNOW, 35% OF SOMEONE'S INCOME. SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S RIGHT FROM THE FROM THE BEGINNING WE ARE AND I'M GOING TO HAVE KAREN JUST OUTLINE WHAT WE'RE DOING.  WE ARE SEEING JUST AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF CONDO ASSOCIATIONS COMING IN THAT WERE EITHER THAT THAT HAVE AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THEM AND THEY'RE MORE MARKET OR 100% AFFORDABLE AND THE ASSESSMENTS ARE JUST KILLING THE OWNERS AND SO WE'VE BEEN WE HAVE A PERSON ON CONTRACT NOW JUST WORKING WITH CONDO ASSOCIATIONS TO GET THEM HEALTHIER AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY I'M IN MORE MEETINGS THAN I CAN COUNT WITH CONDO ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE REALLY DEALING WITH ASSESSMENTS. THEIR WINDOWS ARE FAILING, THEIR ROOFS FAILING.  THE CONDOS ARE NOW LIKE 2030 YEARS OLD. SO WE DO ASSESSMENT PAYMENTS AND KAREN CAN TALK ABOUT THIS BUT SOME OF THEM NEED MUCH MORE THAN JUST HELP WITH A FEW OWNERS GET IT PAYING THEIR ASSESSMENTS. THEY NEED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ACTUALLY BE COMPLETELY RENOVATED SO THAT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION. THAT'S MORE LIKE A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. BUT KAREN, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH THE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS THAT CAN'T AFFORD THE ASSESSMENTS? YES. SO SO AS CHIEF DYLAN MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A SMALL A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM AND IT'S VERY SMALL. WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH BUDGET THERE.  WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WHAT'S THE BUDGET SORRY IT'S RIGHT NOW IT'S 250,000 AND YOU KNOW SOMETIMES I USE FROM MY OTHER SOURCES FROM MY OTHER FUNDING THAT I HAVE BEING ABLE TO MOVE MONEY AROUND. AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS WITH THIS HOMEOWNERS IS THAT THOSE THAT ARE UNDER 14 UNITS WE ASSESS THE PROPERTIES, WE WORK WITH THIS VENDOR, WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SEE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AND WE TRY TO HELP THEM WITH THE HELP AND SAFETY OF THE PROGRAM AND ALSO THE OF THE HOME RIGHT AND REALLY WORK WITH THEM NOT ONLY TO PRESERVE THEIR HOME AND TO FIX THEIR HOME BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE THEM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATE THEM IN REALLY REVIEWING THE BUDGET WITH THEM AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY CHANGES THAT THEY HAVE TO DO IN THE BUDGET FOR FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.  SO WE STARTED REALLY SMALL AND NOW WE HAVE A PIPELINE IN THE WAY THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM IS TO REALLY FIRST SEE SAFETY, HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS FROM FROM THE HOMEOWNERS AND THAT IS THAT IS A VERY BIG CONCERN THAT WE ALL HAVE. WE CONSTANTLY HAVE MEETINGS. WE EVEN CREATED A COMMITTEE SO INTERNAL LIST SO WE REVIEW THIS PROJECT SO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HANDLED THESE PROJECTS IN A FAIR WAY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.  SO WE ALL REALLY CHECK IN IN CONTACT THE RESIDENTS RIGHT AWAY AND TRY TO SEE HOW WE CAN SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS.  BUT IT'S IT'S IT'S TOUGH IT'S IT'S TOUGH. I MY MY BIG TAKEAWAY LATELY BECAUSE THERE'S JUST SEEMS TO BE LIKE SO MANY OF THEM THAT THEY'RE NOT WE HAVEN'T STRUCTURED THEM PROPERLY FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY AND IN CONDO ASSOCIATIONS DON'T HAVE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEED TO REALLY RAISE CONDO FEES ON THEMSELVES LIKE IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO BUT THEY'VE GOT TO DO IT DO ASSESSMENTS NOW AND AGAIN LIKE REALLY HAVE A A HEALTHY CAPITAL RESERVE ACCOUNT. SO THERE'S JUST SOMETHING STRUCTURALLY THAT WE REALLY NEED TO IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WE OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD CONDOS. THEY'RE HERE AND AND THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.  WE'VE GOT TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW TO STRUCTURE THEM IN A HEALTHIER WAY.  RIGHT. ONE THING IF I CAN ADD IS THAT WE ARE WE MADE A HUGE CHANGE IN OUR CONDO CLASS AND WE'RE WORKING WITH NONPROFITS LIKE MY HI THIS THIS MOMENT AND ALSO ALLSTON BRIGHTON CDC. THEY HAVE A GREAT CONDO CLASS THAT WE CHANGE THE CLASS CURRICULUM THAT ARE ACTUALLY ENFORCED MORE FOR THE NEW HOMEOWNERS TO SEE IF THE CONDO IT'S AN OPTION FOR THEM AND FOR THEM TO ALSO TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS EVERYTHING THAT ENTAILS OWNING A CONDO AND UNDERSTANDING ALL THE CONDO DOCUMENTS AND EVERYTHING THEY'RE GETTING EVEN HOW TO SEE A BUDGET AND TO BE REALLY THE THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THAT INPUT FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE AND THE ASSOCIATION RIGHT NOW AND I THINK THAT EDUCATION IS A GREAT POINT TO MAKE ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE BUILDING NEW WHAT WE'RE BUILDING IS A LOT MORE CONDOS AND JUST HOW YOU PURCHASE A CONDO IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM HOW YOU PURCHASE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. YOU KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT CONDO DOCS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE RESERVES IT'S JUST COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. SO THE 250,000 HOW MANY HOMEOWNERS WERE YOU ABLE TO SERVE?  AND I MEAN IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ALREADY RAN THROUGH TO TO 50 BECAUSE YOU TALKED ABOUT EXTERNAL FUND THAT YOU PULL AND IN WHAT'S LIKE THE REAL DEMAND LIKE HOW MUCH DO WE NEED TO SCALE IT TO MEET THE DEMAND OUT THERE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE ME YOU GIVE ME HALF OF WHAT THE REAL NUMBER IS. I DON'T WANT TO SCARE YOU, RICK. YOU WANT TO HELP ME THERE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SCARE WITH MY REAL NUMBER. YEAH, I MEAN IT'S IT'S LIKE IT'S MILLION IT'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THAT THAT THE CONDO ASSOCIATIONS ARE COMING TO US WITH WITH ME IT'S IT'S YEARS AND YEARS OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE HAVING BEEN BUILT UP SO AND I THINK THE REASON WHY HAD SO MANY SO IT IS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THEN WHAT IS THE REAL PLAN AND THE GO AHEAD WELL I MEAN THE PLAN IS I THINK YOU KNOW, THE REASON I THINK WHAT KAREN WAS HEDGING A LITTLE BIT ON THE BUDGET AS WELL AS BECAUSE WE DON'T YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS IS NEW TERRITORY FOR US AND WE DON'T HAVE THIS KIND OF LINE ITEM IN OUR BUDGET. WE'RE PULLING FROM OUR DEVELOPMENT BUDGET, WE'RE PULLING FROM PARENTS HOME REPAIR BUDGET TO PRIORITIZE THE LIFE SAFETY TO TRULY LIKE WHAT'S THE ONE OR TWO PROJECT THAT WE CAN FUND THIS YEAR SO THAT THIS YOU KNOW, PROPERTY DOESN'T FALL APART AND THEN SO IT'S GOING TO BE I THINK FOR RIGHT NOW IT'S GOING TO BE SPACING THEM OUT AND KEEPING THEM UP OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS WITH IT WITH THE $250,000 AVAILABLE. YEAH. IF THEY'RE REALLY IF THEY'RE REALLY LARGE, WE'RE TAPPING INTO OUR DEVELOPMENT BUDGETS SO FAR BUT IT IS A LOT OF THAT OUR $4 THAT YOU TAP IT OH I KNOW IT'S A NO OKAY ALL OF THE ALL OF THE ABOVE BUT NOT YEAH IT'S NOT WE DON'T HAVE THAT'S NOT A LINE UP WE DIDN'T GET ARPA APPROVAL FROM THE COUNCIL TO DO THAT BUT I THINK RICK IS RIGHT WE'RE PICKING WE'RE STARTING TO YOU KNOW WHEN PEOPLE CONTACT US WE'RE STARTING TO SEND SOME FOLKS OUT TO DO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEN WE'RE PICKING THEM OFF ONE BY ONE AND TRYING TO TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP THEM STABILIZE.  NOW YOU GUYS JUST BUT AT A GREAT HERE'S OH I BUT I THINK I THINK SHEILA'S POINT IS REALLY CORE ABOUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO BUILD BETTER AUTOMATIC BUDGETS RIGHT BECAUSE THE MAIN THING IS IS LIKE YOU KNOW THE THE CHALLENGES THAT LIKE HOMEOWNERSHIP IS A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD AS EVERYONE RIGHT IT'S LIKE IT'S A GREAT WAY TO BUILD WEALTH BUT YOU'VE ALSO TO MAINTAIN RESERVES AND THE PUBLIC CAN'T SUBSIDIZE PEOPLE WHO DON'T PUT RESERVES ASIDE FOR 30 YEARS AND THEN DISCOVER THAT THEY NEED A NEW ROOF.  SO I JUST WANT TO SAY AS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT LIKE WE CAN'T WE CAN'T BE IN THE BUSINESS OF JUST SAVING EVERYBODY FROM, NOT PUTTING THE MONEY ASIDE FOR DECADES ON THE PRIVATE SIDE.  RIGHT. BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SO MANY MAINTENANCE NEEDS ON THE PUBLIC SIDE. SO I DO THINK LIKE I DO THINK THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S THE REFORM THAT HELPS PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO PUT MONEY TO THE SIDE BIT BY BIT ALONG THE WAY THEN I MEAN NOBODY'S GOT THE SAVINGS TO GO FIND THESE AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE IN THE SITUATION OF YOU GOT LIFE SAFETY ISSUES AND PEOPLE DON'T HAVE SAVINGS BUT I THINK WE ALSO JUST NEED TO BE REALISTIC WITH PEOPLE THAT LIKE NOBODY.  I JUST I THINK ABOUT FLORIDA AND HOW LIKE EVERYTHING IN MIAMI IS HAVING THESE MAJOR ISSUES BECAUSE NOBODY'S PUT ANY MONEY ASIDE TO DEAL WITH THE LIKE MAJOR FLOOD STRUCTURAL ISSUES AND THE REALITY IS LIKE THERE ISN'T ENOUGH GOVERNMENT MONEY IN THE STATE TO BAIL EVERYBODY OUT OF THAT SITUATION . SO DO YOU THINK IT'S LIKE HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT SETTING PEOPLE UP FOR SUCCESS BUT RECOGNIZING THAT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS HAVE TO HAVE SUSTAINABLE CONDO ASSOCIATION BUDGETS AND HOMEOWNERS DON'T? I MEAN HOMEOWNERS TOO DON'T PUT THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY. THEY'RE NOT PUTTING MONEY ASIDE AND THEY'RE NOT I MEAN IT'S I THINK IT'S THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE CONDO IS IS YOU KNOW, NO ONE THINKS LIKE WHEN THE FIRST FLOOR OR THE THIRD FLOOR PORCH GOES DOWN IT'S GOING TO AFFECT EVERYONE'S PORCH. RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S THE OR THE ROOF RIGHT LIKE THAT THE GUY ON THE THIRD FLOOR IS GETTING LEAD DONE BUT IT'S NOT HIS SOLE RESPONSIBILITY. THREE FAMILY HOMES THAT ARE TRYING TO INTO IT'S VERY COMPLICATED, RIGHT? YEAH RIGHT SO I THINK IT'S A LITTLE I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY CONFUSING IN SOME HOMEOWNERS MINDS WHEN THEY BUY INTO THE THREE FAMILIES OR THESE YOU KNOW SMALLER COMPLEXES BUT I DO I DO AGREE WITH YOU MY MY LAST COMMENT OR QUESTION IS I LIKE HOW THE PANEL SPOKE ON THE PIPELINE OF HOUSING AND HOW ALL THE RELIEF IS IS LAYERING WHETHER IT'S YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE AFFORDABLE INCOME RESTRICTED HOMES COUPLED WITH THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE THAT COULD GET COUPLED WITH THE SECTION EIGHT OR THE CITY VOUCHER PROGRAM.  I JUST LIKE HOW ALL THAT IS COMING TOGETHER AND I JUST SAY ALL THAT TO SAY LIKE I AM A BIG ADVOCATE FOR RESTRICTED DEEDS AND I'M GOING TO SAY THAT ON RECORD JUST BECAUSE WE NEED ALL LEVELS YOU KNOW WE NEED TO CONTINUE THOSE PIPELINE OF HOUSING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, HAVING STABILITY AT EVERY LEVEL. SO I'M A BIG ADVOCATE OF IT. I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE INVENTORY THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO THAT WOULD PROTECT US STABILITY. SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO RESPOND TO THAT, FEEL FREE TO BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON RECORD.  I, I DO I'LL JUST SAY THAT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU KNOW AS, YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN WE WE HAVE REALLY LOOKED AT HOW WE MODIFY SOME OF OUR DEED RESTRICTIONS. WE'VE MADE IT EASIER FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO BUY THE NEWER ONES OR 30 YEARS WHERE WE'RE JUST WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE DO COMPLIANCE DIFFERENTLY.  SO WE REALLY ARE I MEAN I THINK WE'VE TAKEN SOME OF THE CRITICISM ABOUT THE PROGRAM TO HEART AND I THINK WE'VE FOUND, YOU KNOW, A GOOD WAY FORWARD. BUT I DO APPRECIATE WE ONLY HAVE 2000 DEED RESTRICTED HOW LONG SMALL HOMES IN THE CITY AND I THINK THEY ARE INDEED A VERY GOOD STARTER HOME AND MANY PEOPLE STAY THROUGHOUT AND THEY WAIT THE 30 YEARS AND THEY AND THEN OTHERS STAY.  I THINK THE AVERAGE I WANT TO SAY IS LIKE TEN OR 12 YEARS FOR A PROPERTY THEY SELL AND THEN THEY TYPICALLY BUY IN THE MARKET. SO I THINK IT IS A IT'S A PROGRAM THAT THAT THAT DOES WORK BUT WE'RE ALWAYS YOU KNOW, ALWAYS OPEN TO TO TALKING ABOUT IT. RIGHT. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO AGREE WITH YOU COUNSELOR AND SAY THAT YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE VERY AWARE OF IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING WORLD IS THAT ENGLAND DID A BIG PROGRAM CALLED RIGHT TO BUY WHERE THEY LET THEIR PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS THEY CALL THEM COUNCIL HOUSING TENANTS THEY'RE BY THEIR PUBLIC HOUSING UNIT THIS WAS MAINLY DURING THE THATCHER ERA THAT THE PROGRAM GOT STARTED AND OF COURSE IT WAS LIKE AN ENORMOUS BENEFIT TO THE SPECIFIC FAMILIES WHO WERE ABLE TO DO THAT BUT THEY WERE NOT RESTRICTED AND THEN NOW YOU'VE GOT HUGE SECTIONS OF THE COUNTRY AND OF LONDON THAT DON'T HAVE HARDLY ANY COUNCIL HOUSING BECAUSE IT ALL GOT SOLD AND SO I THINK LIKE WHEN YOU'RE A CITY LIKE BOSTON YOU HAVE TO THINK IN TERMS OF LIKE THE LONG LONG TERM AND ASK THIS QUESTION OF LIKE HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE IN THE CITY IN DECADES TO NOT JUST NOW AND LIKE I THINK SO MUCH ABOUT THE FACT THAT LIKE SO MUCH OF THE HOUSING THAT PEOPLE ARE RELYING ON IN THIS MOMENT WAS LIKE DEED RESTRICTED IN THE SOUTH END 40 YEARS AGO AND IF IT HADN'T BEEN IT JUST LIKE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU GOT IT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THOSE GREAT MARKET OPPORTUNITIES. WE'RE REALLY GLAD THAT SO MANY VHA RESIDENTS ARE BEING ABLE TO BUY STRAIGHT INTO THOSE MARKET UNITS LIKE IT'S SO CRITICAL. BUT I DO REALLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT YOU GOT TO HAVE ALL OF IT INCLUDING THE DEED RESTRICTIONS. RIGHT? BECAUSE I MEAN FOR ME JUST HEARING YOU SAY THERE'S ONLY 2000 IT'S 42,000 PEOPLE ON THE WAITLIST WOULD BE THE 17 VOUCHER HOLDERS SAY THAT INVENTORY NEEDS TO BE NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED AND IF IT'S CREATING YOU KNOW, THOSE 2000 FAMILIES THAT ARE INCOME RESTRICTED HAVE A PRIORITY.  THEY WANT TO GRAB A VOUCHER THE CITY VOUCHER TO BUY INTO OPEN MARKET. MAYBE IT'S GIVING THEM THAT PRIORITY OPPOSED TO LIFTING THAT RESTRICTION OFF OF WHAT IS IS LIKE A MOBILE IT'S A MOBILE FLIGHT. IT'S LIKE IT'S A MOBILE VOUCHER. THAT'S HOW YOU DEFINE IT'S NOT A MOBILE VOUCHER BUT IT'S A DEED RESTRICTED ON IT. SO JUST WANT TO SAY WE NEED TO PROTECT IT. I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR PROTECTING IT AND JUST TRYING TO FIND DIFFERENT PIPELINES TO PRIORITIZE THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO BUY IN THE MARKET. BOTH THANK YOU GUYS. WANT TO JUST GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO MY TEAM CENTRAL STAFF BPD TO MY MS. IN ANY WAY YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK I MEAN IDR FOR MAKING ALL HAPPEN AND THE DOCKET DOCKET NUMBER 067020678 IS ADJOURN