Buena Park's 1995 Consolidated Plan constitutes a strategic vision for housing and community development. The purpose of the Consolidated Plan is to streamline the HUD grant application process and to ensure that funding decisions are made in the context of the city's Comprehensive Development Plan. This summary offers city residents a quick overview of Buena Park's housing and community development needs, the 5-year goals of the Consolidated Plan, and the strategies and actions for carrying out those goals in 1995.
This plan includes residential and commercial building rehabilitation assistance, graffiti removal, code enforcement, removal of architectural barriers, public facilities improvement, social services and fair housing. The entire budget, including administrative costs is $1,229,194.
Four public hearings and one neighborhood meeting were held on the proposed Consolidated Plan. Notice of the meetings were advertised in both English and Spanish speaking newspapers. An ad was placed in the Pennysaver, a local general merchandise and service circular reaching every household in Buena Park. Finally, 2,700 fliers were distributed with grade school children in the low and moderate income areas of the city. All this was done to reach out and solicit citizens input into the plan.
The City coordinated with social service agencies, housing providers and adjacent jurisdictions.
Buena Park is a southern California residential community, with a population
of 72,016, located in Orange County with slightly over half (57.7%) of its homes
being single family and owner occupied.
A community with an average housing stock - overall 23,592 housing units, with 95% in adequate conditions. Of the 5% of housing units in substandard condition and in need of rehabilitation, 55% are owner-type units and 45% are renter-type units.
As of 1995, there are 7,620 households with incomes below 80% of the median income. Forty per cent of these households are owners and 60% are renters. About 3,100 extremely low and very moderate income renter households have annual incomes that make them eligible for rental financial assistance under the provisions of HUD's Section 8 Program. Moderate income renters are a source of demand for first-time home buyer assistance. The moderate income renters and the moderate and above moderate income owners are meeting their housing needs without assistance.
The 1990 census reports that the median value of all housing units was $204,000. Almost 15% of the owner occupied housing had an estimated value of more than $250,000. Recent sales data shows that there may be a recent slight price decrease in some sales markets.
There are an estimated 4,900 lower income households that are spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs. there are 2,657 extremely low and very low income renters that are cost burdened, and the vast majority of these households are paying more than 50% of their income on housing costs. Overcrowding has been increasing in the city's households. In 1990 23 % of the city's households had more than 1.5 person to the room (excluding bathrooms, kitchens, porches and hallways.
There is no consensus on the number of homeless in the city. The Buena Park Coordinating Council reports that, in the last 2 years, 95 unduplicated persons from Buena Park sought homeless services. In 1993 the Coordinating Council reported 39 homeless persons in Buena Park.
There is no public housing in the city, and only one 100 unit Section 202 housing for the elderly development, and one 28 unit Section 236 development.
There are no accurate figures on how many buildings and households contain
lead based paint and are a potential health problem. However Orange County
figures indicate that due to the explosive growth in Orange County's population
and the construction of new, post 1950's housing, old lead based paint in
domiciles is not a likely source of exposure for most County residents.
High priority includes reducing the cost of housing for renters in the 50% of median income bracket and below through use of Section 8 rental assistance; rehabilitation of housing for very low and low and moderate income renter households, residing in overcrowded or substandard conditions; cost burdened owners of properties; and owner households living in overcrowded or substandard conditions.
High priority include: street and sidewalk improvements, commercial rehabilitation, and the needs that have been addressed by non-profit organizations and social service agencies. Priority needs include a range of services and activities that the city may fund during the next 5 years, such as economic development activities.
CDBG and some HOME programs make up the bulk of the resources.
The County and the Redevelopment Agency and several county wide social
service agencies will coordinate to carry out the goals and objectives.
The City Development Services Department has lead responsibility for implementation of the City's housing programs. The Economic Development Division is responsible for implementation of all single- and multifamily housing rehabilitation and first-time home buyer programs. The Section 8 rental assistance program is administered by the Orange County Housing Authority. The city has established a redevelopment agency. Pursuant to state law, the agency has created a low and moderate income housing fund (20% set aside).
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, and proposed HUD funded projects; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).
