HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-1467 - Proclaiming joint support for the preservation of farmers home administration low-income senior citizen housing,
CIT Y 0 F MAR Y S V ILL E
Marysville,Washington
RESOLUTION NO./i~1
I
PROCLAIMING JOINT SUPPORT FOR THE
PRESERVATION OF FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION
LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZEN HOUSING
WHEREAS,there has been a proposed prepayment of
Farmers Home Administration loans for subsidized senior
citizen housing at pilchuck Apartments;and
WHEREAS,prepayment of these project loans and
subsequent loss of subsidized rental units,would materially
affect the housing opportunities of low-income,senior
citizen,and minority populations in the City of Marysville;
and
WHEREAS,there is presently a serious shortage of
subsidized housing in Marysville as evidenced by the size of
waiting list for subsidized housing maintained by the
Housing Authority of Snohomish County;and
WHEREAS,it is projected in the report "Elderly
Housing needs 2000",prepared for the Snohomish County
Division on Aging,that despite the potential addition of a
significant number of new units,there will be an unmet
demand for 3514 subsidized units for low income senior
citizens in the year 2000;and
WHEREAS,it is imperative that existing units of
subsidized low income senior citizen housing be preserved.
NOW,THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and
the City Council of the City of Marysville do jointly
recognize the need to preserve the subsidized low income
senior citizen housing at pilchuck Apartments,and encourage
such preservation through the offering of incentives by the
lender to the borrower,transfer of ownership to the Housing
Authority of Snohomish County,or such means as may be
available to the Farmers Home Administration.By reference
to the Document entitled "FmHA Must Consider Tenant Comments
Before Accepting Prepayment,"the Marysville City Council
wishes the FmHA to give special difference to any responses
provided by tenants and the community regarding the need for
low-income senior housing.
RESOLUTION NO./i~J
PAGE 2
PASSED by the City Council and APPROVED by the Mayor this
II day of ~I 1991.
THE CI OF MARYSVILLE
~<.~C~ty,e&;~
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City Attorney
av:ss
letter:tenants.com
..'
FmHA Must Consider Tenant Comments
Before Accepting Prepayment.
On January 15,1991 the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA)
sent a letter to each tenant at ",the Pd.Lchuok Apartments.This
letter stated that the 'owner oflthe pilchuck Apartments planned
to prepay its FmHA loan and remove the housing from the FmHA
program.This letter also stated that all tenants had,30 days to
"present evidence contrary to the basis for:this determination."
FmHA also told Duj ardin property Management:, Company to post
another letter stating that the;tenants had'"thirty (30)days to
respond in writing to FmHA,or your office and state their
ability or inability to find other adequate subsidized housing."
Neither letter adequately explained why tenant comments were
important,what information FmHA wanted,or where to send the
comments..
Under current regulations the FmHA District Office must make
a determination of whether the Pilchuck Apartments are r needed.
If FmHA finds that the housing~s not needed it may ac~ept
prepayment and allow the owner to remove the housing from the
FmHA program.On the otherhand,if the housing is needed FmHA
will offer the owner additional financial incentives to stay in
the program and require the owner to offer to sell the project to
a non-pro~it organization if theEfeal the incentives are
inadequate.In deciding whether the pilchuck Apartments are
needed the District Office must "eview letters it receives from
the tenants during the 30 day co ent period.:
. As a precautio~.tenant~at.Jne Pi~chuck Apartments should
wrlte letters to the FmHA Dlstrl~t Offlce.These should be
mailed to District Director I,F~rmers Home Administration,400-
15th SW Auburn,Washington 98001.All letters must be received
by February 15.1991.t
f
The letters should explain to FmHA how the tenant would be
personally affected by the anticipated rent increases that would
follow a prepayment.In particular,each tenant should discuss
whether or not they could affordtthe anticipated rent increase?
What percentage of their income would the tenant have to spend on
rent?Would the tenant have to move or risk eviction for .
nonpayment of rent?The letter 'should also discuss the tenant's
ability to find other vacant,safe,decent,and affordable rental
housing in the local area.Has the tenant looked for other
housing?What did they find?l~short,the tenant's letters
should explain why the Pilchuck Apartments are needed.Tenant
letter are critical to saving the Pilchuck Apartments as low
income senior citizen housing (
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