HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit AMoving Up Preference
Memorandum of Understanding
between the
Miami -Dade County Homeless Trust and City of Miami
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), dated _ , outlines the agreement
between the Miami -Dade County Homeless Trust (MDHT), lead agency for the Miami -Dade Continuum of
Care (CoQ and the City of Miami, collectively referred to as "the Parties," for the Moving Up Preference
(MU Preference). This MOU is designed to describe the collective intent of the Parties to work toward the
achievement of the goals outlined below.
The Parties hereby agree upon the following:
1. Purpose of the Preference:
The Moving Up strategy establishes a Mainstream Voucher preference targeting non -elderly
disabled persons (18-61) living in permanent supportive housing (PSH) who are ready to move
into affordable housing options in the community ("Moving Up Preference or "MU Preference").
Tenants with stable housing histories and who no longer need the intensive support of PSH will
be able to access new affordable housing resources in the form of a voucher from the City of
Miami Mainstream Voucher Program, which is administered under the same rules as the Section
8 Housing Choice Voucher program.
To be eligible for the MU Preference, PSH tenants will need to demonstrate health, income, and
housing stability, as determined by a common assessment tool created for the Moving Up
strategy.
Once participants under the MU Preference are housed in a new unit in the community, the now
available PSH unit will be targeted to a homeless household in accordance with the Miami -Dade
Continuum of Care's Orders of Priority and referred through the MDHT Coordinated Entry
process.
2. Targeted Households
Priority for the City of Miami's MU Preference will be given to households that currently reside in
CoC PSH within the City of Miami or if residing in CoC PSH outside of the City of Miami, have had
contact with the City of Miami, as evidenced by records in the CoC Homeless Management
Information System (HMIS), a local information technology system used to collect client -level data
on the provision of housing and services to homeless individuals and families.
3. Roles: The Parties will adhere to the following roles within the Moving Up Strategy:
a. City of Miami
The City of Miami is allocating twenty (20) Mainstream Vouchers under the MU
Preference. Eligible participants will receive a voucher from the City of Miami
Mainstream Voucher Program. The City of Miami will participate in monthly referral
status update conference calls convened by the MDHT. The City of Miami will solicit the
MDHT's guidance and/or input on policies and procedures governing the MU Preference.
The City of Miami will share its data with MDHT to assist the MDHT's analysis of the MU
Preference.
b. Miami -Dade County Homeless Trust
The MDHT Housing Coordinator will refer MU Preference applicants who have been pre -
assessed by CoC PSH Agencies as meeting the criteria outlined above. The MDHT will
convene monthly referral status update conference calls with the City of Miami and PSH
Agencies designated to serve MU Preference participants, provide guidance and/or input
on the City of Miami's policies and procedures governing the MU Preference, and collect
and analyze data related to program delivery and outcomes of the MU Preference.
Permanent Supportive Housing Agencies
Under separate agreement with MDHT, PSH Agencies will assess their PSH tenants or
participants for MU Preference eligibility, using the common Moving Up assessment tool
to identify those individuals and families that are good candidates for a successful
transition from PSH to a Housing Choice Voucher, provide assistance in completing HCV
paperwork, provide the participant with housing navigation services as may be necessary,
support participants in acclimation to community-based settings and conduct follow-up
reporting. PSH Agencies also will assist with owner conflict resolution, together with
MDHT's RentConnect Landlord Recruitment Director and/or his designee for a designated
period of time.
4. Policies and Procedures: Parties will adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in the
document "Moving Up Handbook", which may be modified from time to time.
5. Responsibility: Each Party to this agreement is solely responsible for the acts and omissions of its
employees, grantees, volunteers and agents. All parties respect the confidentiality of the
participants and adhere to communicate and correspond in secure mediums.
6. Termination: This agreement can be terminated through written notice at any time and without
cause upon thirty (30) days notice to the Parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this agreement the day and year written above.
Victoria L. Mallette
Executive Director
Miami -Dade County Homeless Trust
George Mensah
Director, Housing & Community Development
City of Miami