Just east of Los Angeles County, Fontana is located in San Bernardino County, California. It was originally established in the 1890s as a farming community. Gradually Fontana has evolved into an extension of the Los Angeles suburbs. As a result Fontana has seen its population increase by 207 percent during the past 10 years, rising from 34,119 to 105,000. During the next 5 years, the population is likely to increase at a moderate rate of about 5.4 percent annually.
Fontana's close proximity to three major transportation corridors and recreational activities has attracted a variety of families and individuals to the community. Many residents have decided to live in Fontana because its housing costs are more affordable than the costs in other cities in nearby Orange and Los Angeles Counties.
For Fiscal Year 1995-1996 of the Consolidated Plan, the city is requesting $1.5 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and $375,000 in HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Program funds. The city will augment these funds with $250,000 in local funds, $110,388 in program income, and $125,000 in State funds. The city will use these combined funds to finance 15 housing and community development projects.
Two focus group meetings were conducted to broaden the base of public participation. The city sent invitations to the general public as well as specific groups and organizations who had a vested interest in affordable housing and supportive service issues.
A public hearing was held in April 1994, and five additional meetings were
held in November 1994. All hearings were advertised in local newspapers. They
were conducted at various sites and times to encourage participation. Citizen
comments were summarized, considered, and integrated into the plan. On April 18,
1995, the Fontana City Council reviewed and approved the Consolidated Plan.
In 1990 Fontana had 26,385 households averaging 3.3 persons per dwelling unit, a 113- percent increase since 1980. The Asian-American population experienced an astonishing 1,110-percent increase, rising from 303 in 1980 to 3,665 in 1990. The African-American population also increased, rising from 1,302 to 7,299. The Hispanic population increased to 31,597, accounting for 36 percent of the population. The white population increased to 44,033, accounting for 51 percent of the population. Although the number of whites nearly doubled, their proportion of the overall population dropped by 20 percent. The Native- American population decreased, falling from 643 to 562.
The metropolitan statistical area's median family income (MFI) is $37,273. Although the median family income increased by 91 percent during the previous decade, the cost of homeownership outpaced it by nearly 40 percent.
Fontana's various ethnic and racial groups have the following household income statistics:
Fontana's dramatic population increase has placed additional burdens on public services and city infrastructure. Even though job creation and growth have not kept pace with the population increase, the potential labor force could supply the construction development, new light industrial, and retail jobs that the city anticipates creating within the next 5 to 10 years. The city expects its growing population and upward income trends to establish it as a leader in growth and development.
The city has identified numerous housing needs, including: more units of affordable housing, rehabilitation of single-family and multifamily residential units, assistance for first-time homebuyers, supportive services for persons with special needs, and transitional housing for the homeless.
In 1990 the city had 29,383 housing units, with approximately 9,449 being renter-occupied and 16,936 being owner-occupied. Of the total stock, 2 percent may be boarded-up or unsuitable for rehabilitation.
The majority of the rental units have two bedrooms, while the majority of the owner units have three or more bedrooms. Overcrowding occurs in 3,536 (13 percent) of the 26,385 occupied housing units.
Over half the housing stock has been built within the past 10 years. Older housing units are mostly concentrated in the neighborhoods surrounding downtown. An estimated 3,114 units are substandard and suitable for rehabilitation.
Housing costs for homeowners and renters have increased during the last 10 years because of inflation and population increases, which result in greater demand. Between 1980 and 1990, single-family home values increased by 130 percent, rising from $58,500 to $134,600. (Between 1994 and 1995, however, median home prices decreased to $109,200.) Higher costs have the most significant affect on low- and moderate-income households. The city does not expect property values to increase dramatically.
Although renter households have adequate housing opportunities, they report that cost burdens are the most significant housing problem they face. Fair market rents exceed low- income household affordability by 26-51 percent. The median contract rent in 1990 was $519 per month. Low-income households earning 50 percent of MFI can afford $513 in monthly rent, making the median contract rent unaffordable to nearly 3,391 households.
Housing affordability is a major problem facing extremely low-income renters. Of all extremely low-income households, small households have the highest incidence of cost burden. Over half of extremely low-income owner households experience severe cost burdens, paying more than 50 percent of their gross income for housing expenses.
Among low-income households, 70 percent experience cost burdens, paying more than 30 percent of their gross income for housing expenses, while over half experience severe cost burden, paying more than 50 percent. Although the maximum rent that a large low-income family can afford is $466 per month, the fair market rent is $734.
The estimated number of homeless persons is 263. Fontana does not have any emergency shelters, and the two major homeless shelters in adjacent communities have recently closed. Several social service groups in Fontana provide shelter vouchers that enable homeless persons or families to receive shelter at a local motel. The voucher stay varies from 1 to 7 days. Currently, the most reliable temporary housing is available from San Bernardino County's Department of Public Social Service in conjunction with administration of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program.
The majority of the homeless people who need housing assistance are single mothers with children, two-parent households with children, and single men. The city helped Fontana We Care, a homeless services provider, to acquire and rehabilitate a transitional shelter facility. The city and the non-profit Community Housing and Development Organization are working to purchase an existing four-unit apartment building that will be used as a transitional shelter.
At least 12 other facilities and services for the homeless and persons threatened with homelessness are available throughout the city. Non-profit organizations provide most of these facilities and services, while county agencies and Fontana We Care provide resources to assist these groups.
Fontana does not have any day shelters. However, many supportive service agencies provide counseling, offering a type of daytime shelter. The Women in Need Growing Stronger Program (WINGS) provides food, shelter, clothing, and legal and social services for victims of domestic violence and their children.
Fontana's housing inventory includes 35 units of public housing owned and managed by the Housing Authority of San Bernardino County. The Housing Authority continues to provide the city with modernization funds and rental assistance programs for low-income residents. Although the units are located in Fontana, they can be occupied by any person living within the overall metropolitan statistical area.
The city has 490 Section 8 rental certificates and vouchers available for low- and moderate- income residents. Currently, 101 elderly, 173 large families, and 216 small families receive this assistance. Another 377 applicants appear on the waiting list.
Two existing Section 202 elderly household developments, Sunrise Senior Housing and Oldtimers Steelworkers Senior Highrise, provide 251 housing units for senior citizens. In addition, 262 units located at 34 sites are suitable for physically and/or mentally disabled persons.
The major barriers to affordable housing are market-driven impediments associated with construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance. These impediments involve various costs that are beyond the control of local government, including the costs of labor and material, the purchase of land, and construction financing.
The residential use of lead-based paint was banned in 1979. Of all low- and moderate- income housing units, an estimated 7,739 have lead-based paint, with 2,545 being rental units and 5,194 being owner-occupied units. About 330 units have the greatest risk of containing lead-based paint because they were built prior to 1940.
Lead-based paint is a potential danger in public housing. The Housing Authority will pursue an aggressive abatement program, which will include: coordinating public and private efforts to reduce lead-based paint hazards and to protect young children, integrating lead hazard evaluation and reduction activities into existing housing programs, and providing public information and education.
Fontana has 53 residential facilities which contain supportive services. The city has not developed any supportive housing for non-homeless persons with special needs because most of these needs are filled by the city's social services network.
City-sponsored rehabilitation programs enable low-income elderly and disabled residents to modify their units as necessary so that they can remain in their homes.
The city does not have any housing for persons with HIV/AIDS. Although this population needs supportive housing, the city does not have an accurate count of the number of people with HIV/AIDS and cannot determine their housing needs at this time.
The city's major goal is to provide a suitable living environment while expanding economic opportunities for current and future residents. Non-housing community development needs include: graffiti abatement, sewer and street improvements, and increased police services for low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. The city will rely on CDBG and other Federal funds to restore deteriorating infrastructure in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.
The city's Community Development Department Housing Division was the lead
agency responsible for gathering the data used to develop the Consolidated Plan.
Throughout the process, the Community Development Department coordinated with
various local agencies and groups.
Fontana's housing priorities include:
Fontana's non-housing community development priorities include:
In 1990, 2,186 families (10 percent) were living below the poverty line. The city will reduce the number of households living in poverty through the Job Training Partnership Act and the Family Self-Sufficiency Programs administered by the County of San Bernardino.
In addition to the Federal sources cited, Fontana will apply for HOPE 3, Lead-based Paint, Supportive Housing, U.S. Department of Energy, and additional Section 8 community funding. The city may also apply for Supportive Housing for the Elderly, Emergency Shelter Grants, Shelter Plus Care, Surplus Housing for Use to Assist the Homeless, Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (non-formula application), and the Safe Havens Demonstration Program.
Fontana can access State programs to support planned activities, including: Mortgage Credit Certificates, California Housing Rehabilitation Program - Owners, and Single-Family Mortgage Revenue Bond Program. The city may also apply for BEGIN funds to provide low- income families with downpayment assistance.
City Redevelopment Set-Aside Funds will be used to provide single-family and multifamily property rehabilitation, downpayment and closing cost assistance, and new construction.
Various for-profit resources include investments from developers and investor-owner contributions for unit rehabilitation.
To provide needy residents with the maximum benefits of all available
resources, Fontana will coordinate with public and assisted housing providers as
well as private and governmental health, mental health, and service agencies.
The city and these agencies will meet regularly throughout the year to endorse
applications for funding and to discuss other cooperative ventures. Furthermore,
the city has established standards and procedures for monitoring activities,
including reviews, reports, and evaluations.
Fontana proposes the following projects for Fiscal Year 1995-1996:
Lead agencies in this effort include the Fontana Community Development Department Housing Division, the Public Safety Division, Building and Safety Division, the Fontana Police Department, and the Engineering Division.
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 is a map, sectioned by neighborhood, which depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 7 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within one of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.
MAP 8 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within another of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.
MAP 9 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded project(s) from a street level vantage point; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).
