1985-86: Citywide Rental Rehab Program; Cincinnati, Ohio

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Hired as the key consultant to save a failing and under federal mandated to get clean up multi-family rental rehabilitation loan program (HOME and CDBG Funds), Mr. Alexander was given less than a year to turnaround a program and establish fundamental and programmatic changes. Once in place he then had the job of training City staff in the new overall processing & the checks and balance procedures, which had been reviewed and accepted by HUD’s legal and programming staff as being a great restart.

 

The fundamentals of the restructuring entailed resolving matters such as: analyzing a majority of past cases; construction bids as compared to costs estimates; bids relative to construction specifications; work performed and approved as compared to contracts and costs proposed; complaints of owners; codes non- compliance of projects having been rehabbed and signed off on; contractors having been paid, but subs and materials suppliers not getting paid; owners using funds for things others than what was intended; staff not knowing how to equitably administering the program.; developing a reporting system for HUD quarterly reviews that reflected clear accountability on staff’s part.

 

Facilitation: Key Groups/Participants

                                                Contractors who had participated in past program

                                                Owners of properties past participants and potential ones

                                                City Department of Community Development Staff

                                                City Building and Inspections Department

                                                Staff of Local office of HUD                                 

Results:

                                                HUD approved program procedures with excellent check and balance processes

                                                250 to 300 cases reviewed, recommended corrective measures to

                                                New master standards for specifications to be used in program

                                                New Cost estimate process/procedures with substantiation by independent person

                                                Contractor registration process and insurance requirements

                                                Owners’ requirements and verifications

                                                Direct Collaboration with Building Department on list of building with serious codes violations

                                                City Housing staff trained and more aware of HUD programmatic requirements

                                                Major marketing plan to unleash the new program and respond to negative history

                                                Increase in number of new applicants and new small general contractors participating