Contractor reports HUD praised site improvements at Potrero and Sunnydale; rent-collection outreach recovers past-due balances

Representatives for the contractors managing Potrero Terrace and Sunnydale told the Housing Authority Board on Feb. 8 that a recent HUD site visit yielded positive feedback and that outreach has improved rent collection and resident engagement.

An EVMC/EBMC representative summarized HUD’s walk as "very, very thorough" and said HUD officials noted a marked improvement since prior visits. The presenter said HUD and local teams jointly reviewed vacant units, exterior conditions, parking controls and cleanup efforts, and that residents responded positively during the tour.

Contractors reported operational changes aimed at improving ledger accuracy and collections, including sending historical account statements and weekly delinquency notices to households with balances. Staff said concentrated outreach recovered more than $36,000 in past rents at Sunnydale during the reporting period. The contractor also said 33 households entered repayment agreements in December.

Commissioners asked for clearer month-over-month comparisons on occupancy and vacancies. Staff acknowledged small discrepancies (vacant counts including units "on notice") and described plans for more consistent monthly reporting. The board and contractors discussed quality-control sampling and stepped-up unit inspections; contractors said interior inspections and targeted resident outreach were increasing occupancy on SROs and studios.

The board did not take a formal vote; staff said they will supply additional reconciled occupancy figures and details on which city programs provided direct assistance.