MOHCD reports Dahlia rollout, COP statistics and plans to implement AB 1584 expansion to descendants

The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) briefed the commission on Jan. 18 on the Certificate of Preference (COP) annual marketing and outreach report for fiscal year 2020–21, the Dahlia application portal, and steps to implement AB 1584 to extend COP eligibility to direct descendants of original displaced households.

Pam Sims, senior development specialist for MOHCD, summarized the COP program and usage figures, saying the program provides a priority for qualified low‑ and moderate‑income households displaced by redevelopment agency activity. Sims said there were 899 active COP holders in the outreach pool and 311 individuals who have used their certificate once. MOHCD reported that for the projects covered in the FY20–21 report, outreach reached 889 COP holders; 155 applications were submitted and roughly 70% of applicants were not housed through those applications during that period. MOHCD staff attributed much of the nonresponse and withdrawal rate to COVID‑related hesitancy and to applicants choosing not to pursue opportunities after initial contact.

Maria Benjamin and Pam Sims described Dahlia, the city’s web‑based housing lottery and application portal, which processed almost 124,000 electronic applications citywide since launch. The Dahlia partners portal gives developers tools to manage lotteries and streamline leasing; MOHCD staff said the portal is accessible on phones and that MOHCD and digital services conduct user testing, including with seniors, to improve accessibility.

On AB 1584, MOHCD staff said a COP expansion working group secured legislation that Governor Newsom signed, enabling the city to accept applications from direct lineal descendants of displaced households. Staff said MOHCD is accepting descendant applicants beginning Jan. 1, 2022, and that descendants must provide documentation such as a birth certificate linking them to the originally displaced household. Staff said MOHCD will hire expansion program staff, modernize historic records to locate displaced households, and include descendant language in project marketing starting in 2022.

Commissioners probed access and outreach: Vice Chair Rosales asked about Dahlia analytics and how to reach seniors and people with limited tech access; MOHCD said outreach includes postcards, libraries and community partners, and that leasing agents follow up by email, phone, text and mail and may call alternate contacts if applicants cannot be reached. Commissioners also asked about wait‑list mechanics; MOHCD explained that a COP holder can be placed at the top of a former‑redevelopment building’s wait list when lists open, and staff described coordination with HSH and other housing partners for subsidy and placement referrals.

The matter was presented as a workshop and required no action.