Minutes of the Public Housing Authority Commission Meeting of February 6, 2023

Meeting Minutes 
Public Housing Authority Commission  
Regular Meeting 
 
February 6, 2023, | 6:00 p.m. 
Chandler City Council Chambers  
88 E. Chicago St., Chandler, AZ 
 
 
Call to Order 
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Hartke at 6:03 p.m. 
 
Roll Call 
Commissioner Attendance 
 
 
 
Appointee Attendance 
Chairman Kevin Hartke 
 
 
 
 
Joshua Wright, City Manager  
Vice Chairman Matt Orlando 
 
 
 
Kelly Schwab, City Attorney 
Commissioner OD Harris  
 
 
 
Dana DeLong, City Clerk 
Commissioner Mark Stewart 
 
 
 
 
Commissioner Christine Ellis 
 
Commissioner Jane Poston 
 
Commissioner Angel Encinas 
 
Absent 
Commissioner Lisa Loring 
 
 
Scheduled/Unscheduled Public Appearances 
None. 
 
Consent Agenda and Discussion 
 Discussion was held on Consent Agenda Item No. 2 
 
1. 
Approval of Minutes 
Move to approve the Public Housing Authority Commission minutes of the Regular 
Meeting of November 7, 2022.

Page 2 of 5 
 
2. 
Resolution No. HO174 for the HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) 
Program 
Move the Public Housing Authority Commission pass and adopt Resolution No. HO174 
approving and authorizing an amendment to the Consolidated Annual Contributions 
Contract between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the 
Chandler Public Housing Authority for HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-
VASH);  Authorizing the Housing and Redevelopment Division, as the City of Chandler's 
Public Housing Authority (Chandler PHA), to utilize funding associated with ten (10) VASH 
vouchers; and Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to sign agreements and all related 
documents on behalf of the City of Chandler. 
 
CHAIRMAN HARTKE asked for a brief presentation on Consent Agenda Item No. #2. 
 
LEAH POWELL, Neighborhood Resource Director, called on Amy Jacobson, Housing and 
Redevelopment Manager, to talk about Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Vouchers. 
 
MS. JACOBSON presented the following presentation. 
• HUD-VASH Program 
o U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development- Veterans Affairs Supportive 
Housing  
• HUD-VASH 
o U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – Veterans Affairs 
Supportive Housing (VASH)  
o Permanent supportive housing to eligible homeless veterans 
o HUD-VASH vouchers are administered in accordance with the HCV tenant-based and 
project-based rental assistance regulations  
o 10 Vouchers for the City of Chandler  
o VA determines if Veteran is homeless, eligible for services, needs case management 
services and agrees to participate in services 
o VA refers Veterans to Chandler Housing Authority 
o Benefits of the program include: 
 Case managers make regular home visits 
 Multidisciplinary care 
 Liaison between Landlord and Veteran 
 Security and utility deposits 
 Maintain stable housing 
o Questions? 
 
CHAIRMAN HARTKE asked if the awarded vouchers are used within Chandler, can other 
jurisdictions’ unused vouchers be used.

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MS. JACOBSON said that may be a possibility if non-Chandler vouchers are available and if the 
veteran is willing to move to one of those jurisdictions. 
 
CHAIRMAN HARTKE asked if the VASH voucher program provided more flexibility for housing. 
 
MS. JACOBSON replied that was correct. 
 
COMISSIONER ELLIS asked how more vouchers can be attained to increase of assistance to 
veterans. 
 
MS. JACOBSON answered that there may be an opportunity for additional vouchers over the next 
few years and Chandler is ready to take on additional vouchers when available. 
 
COMMISSIONER ELLIS asked what mental health services are included with the vouchers in 
addition to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offered services and are there other 
options available to veterans who are not comfortable with their services. 
 
MS. JACOBSON said they try to find wrap-around services for veterans or other individuals that 
are homeless, the VASH vouchers come with a level of support for services veterans may need to 
stay successfully housed. 
 
COMMISSIONER ELLIS thanked staff for all the great work they are doing with the program. 
 
VICE CHAIR ORLANDO asked if there is a waitlist for the VASH vouchers. 
 
MS. JACOBSON answered that there is not a waitlist with the VASH program and the veteran is 
housed as soon as the referral is received from the VA, if there is not a VASH voucher available 
they will be housed through a regular Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. 
 
VICE CHAIR ORLANDO asked if there is priority placed on VASH program-eligible Veterans for when 
a home becomes available, that the current waitlist would not apply to them. 
 
MS. JACOBSON said that if the VA approves the VASH voucher, there is availability, and the landlord 
is willing to accept the voucher as payment, then the veteran will be housed. It does not go through 
a waitlist. 
 
VICE CHAIR ORLANDO said that there is priority placed on these vouchers because the VA is 
referring it.

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MS. JACOBSON said that is correct and it is based on VASH voucher referral and landlord 
acceptance. 
 
COMMISSIONER HARRIS expressed his appreciation for the program, thanked staff for their hard 
work and was glad to say that 19 veterans experiencing homelessness had already been placed 
in homes and 0 are currently on the waitlist. Commissioner Harris asked how voucher programs 
are marketed. 
 
MS. JACOBSON said voucher availability will be posted with all the information about the process 
and how to contact the VA. Chandler Connect navigation services are equipped to provide a 
referral to the VA when needed. 
 
COMMISSIONER HARRIS asked if we are ensuring that Chandler veterans are being provided with 
assistance first. 
 
MS. JACOBSON said that they ensure an individual that is identified as experiencing homelessness 
is being put in direct contact with the VA provider. 
 
COMMISSIONER HARRIS asked how homeless veterans are identified as Chandler residents.  
 
MS. JACOBSON answered that if someone is identified as being homeless, they do not screen for 
residency, but the VASH voucher program has some eligibility requirements through the VA and 
if the VA sends the referral that person will be placed.  
 
COMMISSIONER HARRIS asked if Staff could make sure the Military and Veterans Affairs 
Commission is informed of this program and can reach out to the community.  
 
COMMISSIONER ENCINAS asked if a veteran is granted a voucher and is living here in Chandler 
and then later decides to move to another jurisdiction if that would open a slot back up in 
Chandler. 
 
MS. JACOBSON responded that was correct, the voucher is transferrable to another jurisdiction. 
 
Consent Agenda Motion and Vote 
Commissioner Ellis moved to approve the Consent Agenda of the February 6, 2023, Regular Public 
Housing Authority Commission Meeting; Seconded by Commissioner Stewart.  
 
Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

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Adjourn 
The meeting was adjourned at 6:21 p.m. 
 
 
 
ATTEST:  _______________________  
______________________________ 
                       City Clerk                                                   Mayor