• meet ongoing affordability requirements
• provide appropriate housing for those that are eligible
• remain in compliance with requirements that permitted the creation of the units

It is important for Westchester to conduct long-term monitoring of county-funded affordable rental projects. Monitoring ensures that properties are being maintained and rented to the intended income populations. There are clear monitoring requirements for developments that receive federal funding such as the HOME program. Westchester has adopted similar requirements for its housing funding programs under the Housing Implementation Fund and New Homes Land Acquisition Fund.

There are four primary areas that long-term monitoring focuses on:

• Unit condition:  The property must remain in decent, safe and sanitary condition to ensure health and safety of the tenants.
• Equal treatment of applicants: County- funded  affordable housing must be made available to all applicants irrespective of race, color, sex, age, religion, ethnic background, disability or familial status.
• Income-targeting and rent-setting:  Monitoring ensure that rental units remain occupied by low-income households and that the rents charged to these tenants are affordable.
• Future investment decisions: Monitoring of existing properties helps the county assess the performance of property owners and is a factor in future funding decisions.

Are there additional responsibilities to know about?
Some additional requirements are:

• Ensuring that property management and other personnel understand and implement program rules related to income, occupancy, rents, utility allowances, leases, affirmative marketing and fair housing
• Submittng annual reports and other documentation to show compliance with HOME and other county housing program rules and requirements
• Ensuring that the property is maintained in accordance with Housing Quality Standards
• Providing information and reports to the county as requested or required
• Providing notice to and making arrangements with tenants whose units will be inspected
• Providing files for review, as requested by the county
• Taking any corrective actions that may be identified by the county in response to findings through the monitoring activity   

Further information about compliance and monitoring requirements. Topics include:

• Tenant file for each tenant
• Annual certification of household income for each tenant
• Setting rents in affordable rental projects
• Tenant selection policies and criteria
• Occupancy standards for rental units
• A property’s standard lease
• Housing quality standards
• Lead-based paint removal requirements