Fullerton is situated in Southern California's Orange County, just north of Anaheim, home of Disneyland. With easy access to three primary freeways and the Fullerton Municipal Airport, the community has attracted prominent corporations such as Kimberly-Clark, Hunt-Wesson, Hughes Aircraft, and Beckman Instruments. Fullerton is home to five accredited colleges and universities, and the city has an excellent public school system.
In Fiscal Year 1995, Fullerton is scheduled to receive approximately $1.8 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program funds and $494,000 in HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) program funds. The city will fund projects in the areas of infrastructure, accessibility, housing, public facilities, and services for frail elderly and homeless persons.
Fullerton sponsored two hearings on April 17, 1995, and May 1, 1995, so that citizens could review and comment on the draft of the Consolidated Plan. To increase participation in the Consolidated Plan's development, the city mailed notices to more than 100 individuals and organizations interested in housing and community issues. All notices for the hearings were advertised. The formal review period for the draft plan lasted from April 10, 1995, to May 10, 1995. A public notice and summary were published in the Fullerton News Tribune on April 20, 1995. The city sponsored two additional hearings on January 9, 1995, and March 16, 1995, to solicit community input.
At the time of the 1990 census, Fullerton's population was 114,144, an 11-percent increase from 1980. The census reported that about 64 percent of the population were white; 14 percent were Hispanic; 12 percent were Asian American; and 2 percent were African American. Over 5,000 of the city's households had five or more members, and about 2,000 households were headed by single females.
The 1990 median family income (MFI) for a family of four living in Orange County was $51,269 per year. The income breakdown of Fullerton households was as follows:
The number of substandard housing that can be rehabilitated includes 619 ownership units and 449 rental units. About 52 ownership units and 102 rental units need to be replaced.
Market constraints include land and construction costs as well as availability of land and financing. According to the California Association of Realtors, the November 1991 median price of a single-family home in Orange County was $234,934. Comparing this figure against the county median income results in a monthly housing-cost-to-income ratio of 47 percent. This ratio far exceeds the 30 percent housing-cost-to-income ratio which is considered the threshold of affordability.
Approximately 57 percent of Fullerton households own their own homes. Recent losses by major Savings and Loan institutions have lead to stricter regulation and reduced availability of funds, rates have stayed low, averaging 9 percent for a 30-year fixed-rate loan.
At the time of 1990 census, Fullerton's median home value was $234,600, which translates into an approximate housing cost of $2,150 per month. The median rent was $659 per month. The 1990 census also indicated that 8,601 rental units had monthly rents either at or below the $659 level, while 9,436 rental units had rents above $659 level. Generally, moderate-income households can afford rents in Fullerton.
The 1990 census indicated that there were 125 homeless people in Fullerton. Of these, 98 were sheltered, and 27 were visible in street locations. Shelter providers believe that the census figure is low and that at least 150-250 homeless people are regularly in Fullerton.
The census data indicated that over 4,000 households were earning less than 30 percent of MFI. This income category represents the largest portion of the population that is threatened with homelessness. Of these households, over 70 percent were paying more than 50 percent of their gross income for housing expenses.
Four emergency shelters serve the city. The Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Service (FIES) provides one- and two-night emergency vouchers for use in hotels. FIES also offers food baskets and coupons, which can be redeemable at local supermarkets. Overall, FIES assists more than 7,000 families per year, providing nearly 75 families with monthly lodging vouchers.
Western Youth Services provides food and shelter for up to eight troubled or runaway youth at one time. The program helps youth to return to their families by offering counseling and securing bus tickets. Housing Emergency Assistance Reserved for the Handicapped (HEARTH) offers assistance to disabled individuals and families, including placement at HEARTH or local motels, financial assistance to avert evictions or cover move-in costs, and support services needed for transition into permanent housing. HEARTH can accommodate up to six people at a time, allowing a maximum stay of 30 days. The National Guard Armory serves as an emergency shelter during rainy or cold weather and offers 125 beds.
The city also has two transitional shelters. The 48-bed New Vista Shelter is Fullerton's only long-term shelter available for homeless families. It allows a maximum eight-week rent-free stay for families who pledge to save 80 percent of their income to achieve independence from the program. The Interfaith Shelter Network provides transitional housing for 12 homeless single adults, arranging for maximum 120-day stays in local churches, with a maximum 2-week stay at any one congregation.
Section 8 rental assistance helps more than 400 Fullerton households. However, the waiting list for Section 8 certificates is more than 5 years in length, and all tenant-based rental certificates are currently being used. Furthermore, the city does not have any public housing units.
Some of the impediments to creating affordable housing, alleviating overcrowding, and promoting new homeownership opportunities include:
The city's general plan and zoning code as well as other State laws inhibit housing development by limiting density and by requiring various time-consuming approvals that increase holding costs. However, these costs do protect the established character of the city. For each month of processing delays, holding costs add an estimated 1.1-1.8 percent to the overall cost of a house.
The city has adopted the Uniform Building Code as its minimum standard for construction. Although these standards result in corrections that increase housing costs because of delays in construction, they are established to protect public health, safety, and welfare.
Fees and exactions also add to housing costs because they are usually passed on to the consumer. However, even at current levels, the city's fees do not cover all of the administrative costs necessary for plan reviews and inspections. A recent survey conducted by the Building Industry Association found that the city's fees are near the median level exacted countywide.
The city will use CDBG funds to support the Fair Housing Council of Orange County, which provides tenant-landlord counseling services. The city will also affirmatively advance fair housing and prepare an analysis of impediments.
Based on guidelines suggested by the National Center for Lead Safety, the estimated number of units that could contain lead-based paint hazards is 23,239 units. Lead-based paint hazards pose the greatest threat to low- and moderate-income households, who occupy an estimated 5,887 renter units and 556 owner-occupied units. The Orange County Health Care Agency has documented 10 cases of childhood lead-based paint poisoning in Fullerton.
Although the Orange County Health Care Agency does not track lead-based paint poisoning cases using any geographical indicator, the agency has received a grant to create a database that will tracking lead-based paint poisoning cases. Fullerton will use any new information to target lead-based paint hazard reduction strategies.
As part of the city's rehabilitation programs, the Development Services Department will consider which of the following options or requirements which will be included in the program:
In 1990 over 9,000 Fullerton residents reported that they had some form of mobility impairment or self-care limitation. A majority of the disabled population earn less than 50 percent of the county's MFI.
AIDS Response of Orange County indicates that 46 people with AIDS or related diseases are living in Fullerton. County Department of Social Services staff estimate that during the next 5 years, between 25 and 50 people in Fullerton will contract AIDS annually. The city continues to support the Orange County in its Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS applications submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Housing was identified as a major issue for AIDS victims because the cost of health care and loss of employment may deplete housing funds. Estimates suggest that fewer than 12 beds are available for every 1,500 persons with AIDS, and these beds are located in Tustin, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana. Using rental assistance programs, individuals can remain in their current residences or find other affordable facilities. There are affordable housing developments in Laguna Beach and Santa Ana.
Fullerton identified a number of community development needs ranked as high, medium, and low priority. High priority needs will be funded by the city during the 5-year period. Medium priority needs will receive funding based on availability. Low priority needs are not likely to be funded.
High priority needs include the following:
Medium priority needs include the following:
The main objective of the Community Development Plan is to preserve and rehabilitate neighborhoods in order to provide safe and sanitary housing.
In order to reach its long-term goals, Fullerton is using available resources to meet the community's immediate needs. The city has identified several problems that need to be addressed and prioritized. During the next 5 years, the city also plans to focus on the following groups:
The main objective of the community development plan is to preserve and rehabilitate neighborhoods to provide safe and sanitary housing. Resources have also been allocated to address the immediate needs of the community through public improvements, code enforcement, and public service activities.
Some of the community development activities include:
The antipoverty strategy accounts for poverty factors the jurisdiction can control. The 1990 average poverty threshold for a family of four was $12,674. At the time of the census, about 5 percent of Fullerton families lived below the poverty line. The county administers several programs that specifically target households in poverty. One program helps impoverished households to achieve self-sufficiency by using Job Training Partnership Act Federal funds to provide at-risk youth and unemployed adults with job training.
The Family Self-Sufficiency program, supported by the county, is designed to reduce poverty by identifying and removing economic barriers to make each household self-sufficient. Operation Bootstrap, also supported by the county, provides financial assistance to Fullerton residents.
The city will continue to coordinate its antipoverty strategy with the Orange County Housing Authority, the New Vista Shelter, the Women's Transitional Living Center, and Interval House. These organizations manage programs which receive financial support or cooperative referrals from Fullerton. The city believes that these organizations provide families who are trying to improve their economic situation with the most effective and efficient level of services.
In addition to Federal funds, the city will receive State and local funds. Through the State, Fullerton will have access to the Home Buyer Assistance program, which offers mortgage credit certificates and Federal tax credits for moderate-income homebuyers who have not owned a home in the past 3 years.
One local program offers redevelopment set-aside funds for various activities, including: acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction; homebuyer downpayment assistance; rental assistance; and homeless prevention activities. These funds are flexible and provide the city with the resources to match Federal program funds. The redevelopment funds come from tax increments collected annually from designated redevelopment areas.
The city also has access to private resources. One for-profit investment resource comes from developers who participate in the Density Bonus or Bond Financing programs. Another resource is a rehabilitation program that allows investor-owners of multifamily housing units to contribute a substantial portion of the rehabilitation funding while the city provides gap financing.
In order to use all available resources to provide for needy residents, Fullerton will collaborate with public and assisted housing providers, private contractors, and government health, mental health, and service agencies. These parties will meet regularly throughout the fiscal year in order to discuss potential cooperative ventures and to review, award, and monitor program progress. Furthermore, city staff meet regularly with these organizations to implement affordable and supportive housing programs and to monitor the progress of organizations that receive city funding.
In Fiscal Year 1995, Fullerton is scheduled to receive approximately $1.8 million in CDBG funds and $494,000 in HOME funds. Some of these funds will be spent on the followingprojects:
MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction.
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; as well as, provides a table with information about the project(s).
Linda Morad
City of Fullerton
303 West Commonwealth Avenue
Fullerton, California 92632
714-738-6878
