The city of Bessemer, Alabama is located approximately 15 miles southwest of downtown Birmingham in the ridge and valley terrain that marks the southern foothills of the Appalachian Mountain Range. The City includes over 45 square miles, a large portion of which resulted from two major annexations in 1985 and 1986. Transportation needs are well served by two interstates, two rail lines and a local switching line that services some of the area's older heavy industries. The City also owns an airport which serves the needs of general aviation.The City's health care needs are served by Bessemer Caraway Medical Center. The City educational needs are served by five elementary schools, four kindergarten through the sixth grades, one middle school, one high school and one junior college. The City's economy formally centered around the steel industry but is now in the process of converting to numerous diversified industries as it's economic base.
The City of Bessemer Consolidated Plan presents a plan for housing and community development in it's jurisdiction. It includes a one year action plan for spending approximately $1,482,000 of Community Development Grant funds in 1995. These funds are to be spent on housing rehabilitation, homeowner paint program, economic development, public improvements, summer youth recreation program, administration of the program and repayment of a section 108 loan.
A summary of the proposed Consolidated Plan was published in the Western
Star Newspaper on March 15, 1995 and interested paries were given 30 days in
which to review and comment on the completed plan. As of the date of the
beginning of HUD's regulatory 45 day review, no written comments had been
received. Comments received at the two public hearing revolved around specific
projects and offered support for projects such as Dunbar rehabilitation project,
McNeil rehabilitation project, historic preservation, downtown revitalization
and various public improvements. Overall public reaction to the Consolidated
Plan was favorable and no incidence of sharp disagreement or public dissention
was noted.
The City of Bessemer is located in the western section of Jefferson County. According to the 1990 census, the population was 33,497. This is up slightly from 31,279 in the 1980 census data. The majority of the population was/is black at 19,552 or 58.4%. The white population decreased from 48.5% in 1980 to 41.4% in 1990. The black population increased from 51.3% in 1980 to 58.4% in 1990.
In 1990 median family income was 21,013. It remains the same in 1995. 12,558
or 60% of the households are classified as low income households.
The City of Bessemer has experienced a remarkable economic recovery since the early recession of the 1980s left the area with over 35% of it' labor force unemployed. From 1985 to 1990 the City enjoyed a period of sustained economic growth. Due to an industry recruitment policy of attracting firms with diverse manufacturing classifications, the area was able to start moving from a dependency on steel related industries (Bessemer has a history of past dependence) to an economy driven by other types of manufacturers and distributors. The 1991 recession that much of the U.S. experienced did not have a severe effect on Bessemer. While Bessemer's unemployment rate remains above the national average (9.4% in September 95), the city has made important gains. This past year was the strongest year for the city in the terms of new business announcements and construction activity. Some of the largest firms in the city include, Southern Ductile, Bickerstaff Clay and Big B Drugs.
Twenty six percent of Bessemer households have extremely low incomes and poverty are significant factors affecting the City's housing market. Of these households, 68% of the renters and 63% of the homeowners are listed as having housing problems. As could be expected, the majority of these housing problems relate to cost burden. Black households make up 75% of the renters and 59% of the homeowners in the extremely low-income group. Of the households with any housing problems, black households represent 68% of renters and 65% of the homeowners. Black households represent a higher proportion share of extremely low-income households and extremely low-income households with housing problems (since black households make up a total of 52% of all households).
Overcrowding is a problem for renters households in the extremely low-income group. This represents 8.1% of all renter households in this grouping.
There were no current census data and no current conditions survey information available that would provide a means of estimating housing conditions in the City. However, the 1986 Housing Assistance Plan (HAP) does provide a means of estimate, that may be applied to 1990 census counts. According to the 1986 HAP, 26.4% of all renter occupied units and 30% of owner units were substandard. Of the total estimate of substandard housing units, the HAP reports that 77% of substandard rental and 83% of the substandard owner units are suitable for rehabilitation. Therefore, it is reasonable to estimate that 23% of the rental and 17% of the owner units are not suitable for rehabilitation.
There was a 73% increase in the vacancy rate (both rental and "for sale" units) between 1980 and 1990. It is surmised, that the majority of the "other vacant" units are deteriorated and either not marketable or unsuitable for rehabilitation. It is the City's policy to code enforce properties on a strictly compliant basis. Such complaints are received most often on vacant properties that have deteriorated to the level that they have become a nuisance and a health and safety threat to the community. City inspectors have noticed a sharp decline in demand for small "shotgun" houses that were once in great demand by low skilled factory workers. Due to the deteriorating conditions of these houses, approximately 1,000 have been ordered demolished since 1985.
Another type of housing unit contributing to the lack of demand is the larger upper-middle income houses that were prevalent in Bessemer in the early half of this century. These large houses and their neighborhoods are no longer attractive to upper income families who could afford their high maintenance cost. Therefore, many of these old homes are suffering from deferred maintenance and deteriorating from lack of attention. One of the tragedies is that even if middle and low-income families could be assisted in acquiring such units, the cost of maintenance and utilities would be prohibitive to them.
There is a satisfactory supply of affordable housing in the City of Bessemer. There is a high vacancy rate in the housing stock that is causing the side effect of deterioration.
The City has two shelters that provide housing for the homeless. One serves the homeless males and has an average of 11 per day. The other serves homeless females and their children (usually from domestic violence) and has an average of 5 women/6 children per day. The capacity of both of the shelters is well in excess of their use. The count of homeless in the City of Bessemer on March 20 and 21, 1990 showed 21 persons were unsheltered.
Unlike large central cities, Bessemer does not appear to have a large or persistent homeless population. The Bessemer Housing Authority and local social service agencies agree that in most instances, the homeless most often encountered are person or families, temporarily displaced by fire, change in economic conditions or domestic violence.
The Bessemer Housing Authority operates 1,416 conventional public housing units, of which 321 are zero or one bedroom units, 589 are two bedroom units and 506 units have three or more bedrooms. Also, the Jefferson County Rural Housing Authority has 80 units of conventional public housing located within the City limits. As of March 31, 1995, there were 34 units vacant. Of these, 16 are undergoing comprehensive modernization.
Recent renovations and modernization of a portion of the public housing stock means, that all units are now considered to be in standard condition. With the exception of 188 units in recently demolished East Village Courts, no other assisted housing inventory is anticipated to be lost due to demolition, conversion to home ownership, or voluntarily termination of a Federally assisted mortgage, or for any other foreseeable reason. Units demolished at East Village Court are to be replaced with newly constructed units.
The Bessemer Housing Authority currently operates 153 Section 8 Existing Certificates, 23 vouchers, 30 family self sufficiency vouchers and 142 two bedroom moderate rehabilitation units. In addition, the Authority operates the 120 unit Jess Lanier Manor, a Section 8 new construction high-rise apartment building for the elderly.
There is also a 50 unit apartment complex which is privately owned, HUD subsidized complex, and there is a ten bed group home facility for the mentally ill which was built under the HUD Section 202 program.
The City of Bessemer follows the Southern Building Codes, and has no unreasonable land use controls or exclusivity zoning. Property taxes and fees are among the lowest in the country and state law even provides for tax breaks for the elderly. The City has extremely low housing demand, which in large measure accounts for a lack of new housing starts.
The City has no strategy outlined to remove or ameliorate regulations or policies, since such existing policies are not seen as negative toward affordable housing.
The Operations and Compliance Division of the Alabama State HUD Office completed a review of the Consolidated Plan submission on April 28, 1995 (in connection with the CPD review) and there were no problems noted in the review. The City has no policy that it considers to be obstructive to Fair Housing.
One way of determining the potential for lead-based occurrences in residential housing is to look at the age of the units. Judging from the age of the housing stock of the City, approximately 67% of the possibly contain lead based paint. However, not all of these units are occupied by low-income households or households with children.
It is the policy of the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Rehabilitation Program, when small children live in the household, to test the housing for the presence of lead based paint. Of those units tested, approximately 60-65% tested positive for lead-based paint on some aspect of the structure. In every case, the lead based paint was abated.
No other issues were identified in this summary.
The City has a high priority established for public facility needs, infrastructure improvements, public service needs (youth, job training, homeless, elderly services), handicapped accessibility, historic preservation, economic development, planning and other community development needs (energy efficiency improvements, lead based hazards and code enforcement).
As part of the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy preparation
during 1994, the City of Bessemer, the Jefferson County Office of Planning and
Community Development and the United Way of Central Alabama held a joint public
hearing for the purpose of receiving input from providers of special needs
housing and social services. Also present, although not an official party to the
hearing, were representatives of the City of Birmingham Community Development
Department. This meeting was the beginning of a dialogue between these
governmental agencies and the many charitable and social service agencies in the
Metropolitan area. Follow up to the above hearing involved direct contact with
those agencies involved in the Bessemer community. Contacts with the Salvation
Army and Western Mental Health Center have led to implementing project that
address special needs. Each of the past two years have resulted in better
coordination of housing resources between the City of Bessemer Housing staff and
the staff of the Bessemer Housing Authority. Jointly operated and implemented
projects have been undertaken in both years and the coming year should also see
cooperative housing efforts.
The City intends to utilize it's available funds to improve it's public facility needs, infrastructure, public services (youth, job training, homeless, elderly services), handicapped accessibility, historic preservation program, economic development program, planning activities and other community development needs (energy efficiency improvements, lead based hazards and code enforcement).
The City plans to use available funds to continue its homeowner housing rehabilitation program. The Housing authority will continue it's programs in the public housing and assisted housing areas.
Rehabilitation of existing single family units is the highest priority in the housing area.
There is an abundance of affordable housing in Bessemer, therefore new construction is not a priority.
The City plans to use infrastructure improvements, public facility improvements, public services and economic development programs to improve the housing, lives and economic status of it's citizens.
Bessemer's main thrust toward reducing poverty has been in the areas of adult basic education, job training and economic development. Providing opportunities and encouraging poverty level persons to take advantage of those opportunities are the goals set by the Mayor and the City Council.
An Adult Learning Center has been opened in downtown Bessemer through assistance form the City and Bessemer Utilities. Operated by state education funds, this center provides adult basic education literacy training, GED preparation and skills necessary for obtaining a job.
Literacy classes area also taught at the public library and the Dunbar-Abrams Community Center.
The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) also offers a special employment program aimed at getting person off public assistance and helping them to become productive citizens. The City has assisted DHR to locate additional office space to enable them to expand services to their poverty level clientele. Long range plans call for the City to construct new, expanded facilities to house DHR.
Other job training programs funded under the Jobs Training Partnership Act (JTPA) are available at Bessemer State Technical College. Also, the Bessemer Area Vocational Center has courses provided through the Bessemer Board of Education to train students in a variety of vocational skills.
Emphasis will continue to be placed on job creation projects, especially jobs that can be available to the lower income residents of the City. In order not to preclude poverty level persons form applying, the City's focus will be on jobs that require a minimal amount of training and technical background.
Efforts are being made to tie affordable housing programs together with training and jobs in an attempt to move very low-income households from poverty to a more self sufficient lifestyle.
A formalized program known as Forward Bessemer was initiated by the Mayor's office during 1993. This program encourages volunteers and local businesses to become involved in doing "something positive" to impact community services and needs. It also publicize and informs the public of these services. The areas emphasized include crime prevention, education enrichment, youth development, housing enhancement, health care and community services.
The primary sources of funding to carry out the strategic plan come from the Community Development Block Grant, the program income generated from that grant, the funds provided to the public housing authority and state funds used indirectly to support the activities stated above.
As part of the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy preparation
during 1994, the City of Bessemer, the Jefferson County Office of Planning and
Community Development and the United Way of Central Alabama held a joint public
hearing for the purpose of receiving input from providers of special needs
housing and social services. Also present, although not an official party to the
hearing, were representatives of the City of Birmingham Community Development
Department. This meeting was the beginning of a dialogue between these
governmental agencies and the many charitable and social service agencies in the
Metropolitan area. Follow up to the above hearing involved direct contact with
those agencies involved in the Bessemer community. Contacts with the Salvation
Army and Western Mental Health Center has led to implementing projects that
address special needs. Each of the past two years have resulted in better
coordination of housing resources between the City of Bessemer Housing staff and
the staff of the Bessemer Housing Authority. Jointly operated and implemented
projects have been undertaken in both years and the coming year should also see
cooperative housing efforts.
The City One Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of $1,482,000 in CDBG funds and program income. These funds will be spent mainly on an array of activities including the following:
The location of the projects are primarily located in low-moderate income areas as determined by census track data, recipients are in low-moderate income households (as determined by income verification), slums/blighted area or there is a job benefit accruing to a low-moderate income person.
The lead agencies in implementation of the plan is the City of Bessemer, Bessemer Industrial Development Board, Bessemer Housing Authority and several of the local nonprofit organizations carrying out public service activities.
The City plans to assist 23 families through the housing rehabilitation single family loan program and 5 first time homebuyers. The Bessemer Housing Authority will house 1416 tenants and their families, through conventional public housing units, 150 section 8 voucher recipients, 30 self sufficiency program participants and 142 moderate rehabilitation projects. Additionally, 120 elderly will be assisted in the Jess Lanier Manor high rise apartment complex and 50 families will be assisted under the HUD Section 202 program.
MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.
MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and minority concentration levels.
MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and unemployment levels.
MAP 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 6 depicts Neighborhood Segments and proposed HUD funded projects.
