Huntington Beach is an urbanized coastal community located in northwestern Orange County. Much of the City's residentially designated land has already been developed. Future residential development rests on the recycling of existing parcels, infill development, and development of the Holly Seacliff area. Surrounding Huntington Beach are Seal Beach to the northwest, Westminster to the northeast, Fountain Valley and Costa Mesa to the west, Newport Beach to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest.
The amount of Community Development Block Grant funds available for 1995/96 are $1,810,000 and HOME funds totalling $583,000 for a total of $2,393,000 for its Consolidated Plan.
There are two advisory bodies which recommend programs and services to the City Council for CDBG funding. At the beginning of the consolidated planning process, staff re-examined the two existing citizen participation plans previously adopted and found a need for more coordination in the process.
In the present system, different City Council liaisons are assigned to each body. It is envisioned that an improved system will occur when the same City Council representatives are assigned to each board, thus coordinating the goals and objectives of the City's entitlement programs.
Staff have increased their role in providing outreach to the community by
giving public presentations to other citizen groups. Copies of the draft Citizen
Participation Plan was available at each presentation and staff encouraged
review and comment. In addition, staff conducted a series of cable TV programs
on social service issues. After a 30 day review period, along with the
Consolidated Plan, the Citizen Participation Plan was presented for City Council
adoption on May 1, 1995.
The 1990 U.S. Census estimates the population of Huntington Beach to be 181,519 persons, ranking it the third largest among the 30 cities in Orange County. Huntington Beach's population grew by approximately 6.5 percent between 1980 and 1990. This population growth rate is lower than some of its surrounding communities and is significantly below the County average of 24.7 percent. This is indicative of the limited remaining residential development opportunities in Huntington Beach.
The devastating effects of the current recession and government
restructuring have been more far-reaching than ever imagined. Orange County in
particular has felt this decline in its local economy and must contend not only
with these initial problems, but with the compounded effects they have on the
entire business and residential community. As our state and local economies
shift from defense and related industries, a more aggressive approach will be
taken in developing a new employment base which will be critical to the future
economic health of Huntington Beach.
The median selling price in January 1995 for single-family homes in Huntington Beach ranged from $202,000 to $254,000. Overall, housing prices in Huntington Beach are higher than the County averages. Given the 1995 reported median for-sale price in the City is valued between $194,000 to $254,400, almost 50 percent of the City's households cannot afford an average-priced home.
One of the critical housing needs identified in the Consolidated Plan is the affordability needs of all renter and owner groups regardless of family size in the 1-50% of median group. Priority will also be given to providing home ownership assistance to all lower income families particularly female heads of households. Rehabilitation of renter units for renter groups regardless of family size in the 0-50% median group is also a priority need.
Over 75 percent of the City's residential development occurred between 1960 and 1979, and another 17 percent was built during the last decade. According to the Census, Huntington Beach had a housing stock of 72,736 units in 1990, representing a moderate 14.4 percent increase from 1980. While this growth rate is lower than the County's average rate of growth during the same period, it is considered reasonable for an older community like Huntington Beach. Also, between 1980 and 1990, the City's housing stock increased at a much faster rate than the City's population, reflecting the decreased household size in the City. In 1990, an estimated 2.5 percent (1,687 units) of the City's occupied housing units (68,879 units) were in substandard condition. Approximately 36 percent (608 units) of these substandard units are in need of replacement.
Overall, 73 percent of the City's lower and moderate income households experienced some kind of housing problem. The housing assistance needs among lower and moderate income renter (87 percent of 11,814 households) are greater than among lower and moderate income owners (54 percent of 8,619 households). Specifically, over 95 percent of the City's lower and moderate income large family renters were confronted with one or more housing problems.
The types of problems faced by the households vary according to household incomes, types and/or tenure. Severe housing burden is associated more with very low income households than with households of other income levels. Overall, renters experience more housing problems than owners, regardless of income.
The exact size of the homeless population in Huntington Beach is difficult to estimate because of the transient character of the homeless and their dispersed locations. Data about the homeless is augmented and updated by recent interviews with service providers, staff, and agencies involved in homeless issues. The City does not perceive itself as having a dramatic homeless problem, but more importantly finds a need for more affordable housing and finds a need to assist individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless.
Based on estimates by the Orange County Homeless Task Force, the County's homeless population consists of approximately 10,000 to 12,000 individuals, representing 0.4 to 0.5 percent of the County's population. The composition of this population is becoming increasingly heterogeneous and complex. It includes families, children, single women and the temporarily unemployed. As a beach community, the City attracts numerous individuals who congregate along the beach, under the pier, by the Santa Ana Riverbed, and in Central Park.
The facility and service needs of homeless families and individuals generally include emergency shelter, transitional housing, social services such as job training and counseling, and mental and general health services.
There are no public housing projects in Huntington Beach. Of the total 1,633 assisted units in Huntington Beach, there are 788 project-based tenant assistance units, consisting of HUD Sections 236 and 221 projects, as well as projects assisted with City Multi-Family Revenue Bonds and Redevelopment Set-Aside funds. Also, there are 845 tenant-based assistance units, comprised of Section 8 certificates and vouchers.
City Multi-Family Revenue Bonds were also used to assist the development of affordable housing in Huntington Beach. In exchange for preferential financing, 20 percent of the project units are required to be set aside for low and moderate income households for ten years. In addition, Redevelopment Set-Aside funds have been used to develop affordable rental housing. The Agency will also assist low and moderate income homebuyers to purchase units as in the 88-unit Seaview Village project and low income first time buyers in the 44 unit Brisas Del Mar.
The City contracts with the Orange County Housing Authority to administer the Section 8 Certificate and Voucher Programs. Currently, 816 very low income households in Huntington Beach are assisted under the Section 8 programs. According to the CHAS in 1994, 560 households were on the waiting list for Section 8 assistance. Among these applicants, 133 were elderly households, 310 were small families, and 117 were large families.
As a municipality, Huntington Beach can marginally influence the cost of housing without subsidies. Insufficient funds is the major obstacle to promoting affordable housing. Huntington Beach may influence affordability in the following ways: land use controls, zoning ordinances, growth limits, development fees and NIMBY ("Not in my back yard"). Otherwise, Huntington Beach has little influence over the following: market conditions, Davis-Bacon (prevailing wages), flood plain insurance, and tax policies of other government entities.
To encourage the development of senior housing, the city will allow for modified development standards including relaxed parking requirements and reduced lot sizes. Density bonuses pursuant to State Government Code will also be provided to senior and low income housing projects. Affordable housing projects will also receive fast tracking and priority processing status to reduce holding costs. The City has also appointed an Affordable Housing Committee to review policies and make recommendations on new ordinances.
The Orange County Fair Housing contracts annually with the City of Huntington Beach to provide tenant-landlord counseling, advocacy, and dispute resolution.
For estimating the number of housing units with lead-based paint, the age of the housing stock is the key variable. Starting in 1978, the use of all lead-based paint on residential property was prohibited. It is estimated that 75 percent of all residential property built prior to 1978 contains lead-based paint, older properties having the highest percentage of lead based paint.
Huntington Beach will assess the existing lead based paint hazards and incidence of lead poisoning in the City's housing supply. The City will also estimate the number of housing units with lead-based paint that are occupied by very-low and low-income families.
According to the 1990 Census, the unemployment rate in Huntington Beach was 3.6 percent, significantly below the County average of 4.8 percent. The unemployment rate varied by age and ethnicity. In 1990 3.4 percent of the White population in the civilian labor force was unemployed, compared to 7.9 percent of "Other" races, 7.0 percent of the Black population, 4.2 percent of the Asian population, and 3.8 percent of the Native American (these numbers include persons of Hispanic origin). As an ethnic group, persons of Hispanic origin had an unemployment rate of 6.2 percent. Job centers are needed to assist low income persons, especially those residing in the low income areas, to seek day labor work and receive referrals to agencies who may assist with job training programs.
The following areas were listed as community development needs: All of the existing parks and recreation facilities need to be retrofitted to meet the requirements of the American with Disabilities Act; more parking facilities; expansion of senior facilities, increase the capacity of child care facilities.
Services for seniors, handicapped individuals, youth services, transportation services, and crime awareness were also listed as community development needs.
The City's Economic Development Department is the primary City department responsible for the implementation of the Consolidated Plan. The City will work closely with non-profit housing organizations. The Orange County Housing Authority is responsible for the administration of the Housing Voucher and Certificate Programs (Section 8). The City will continue to contract for the provision of vouchers and certificates within its jurisdiction. Other entities involved are the Community Development Department and Housing Rehabilitation Program, Public Housing Department, Community Services Department Orange County Small Business Development Center, Community Colleges, Huntington Beach Adult Education Program, Fair Housing Council and the Federal National Mortgage Association.
The City of Huntington Beach will continue to meet with public and other
assisted housing providers and service agencies to use all available resources
to the maximum levels or effectiveness to provide for needs of Huntington Beach
residents. Communication between these parties will occur throughout the year in
order to endorse applications for funding and to discuss cooperative ventures.
The City's vision is to provide decent housing, suitable living conditions, and to expand economic opportunities principally for extremely-low, low- and moderate-income residents.
A high priority was given to addressing the affordability needs for all renter and owner households, rehabilitation of substandard rental units, reduction of overcrowded housing, and working with Community Housing Development Organizations to purchase and/or rehabilitate rental units. The need for services and housing for low income elderly persons ranked high and also the need for assisting persons with disabilities, including persons with HIV/AIDS. Homeless issues received a medium priority.
Goals and Objectives:
Non-housing community development priorities include public facilities, infrastructure improvements, accessibility, historic preservation, public services and economic development.
Goals and Objectives
The 1990 Census indicates that only 5.2 percent of the City's population were classified as living below the poverty level, somewhat lower than the County's 8.5 percent in poverty. Typically, a higher proportion of female-headed households experience poverty than other segments of the population. In Huntington Beach, almost ten percent of the City's female-headed households lived below the poverty level in 1990. Specifically, 15 percent of the City's female-headed households with children under 18 years of age and 22 percent of the female-headed households with children under five years of age lived below the poverty level in 1990.
California statues specifically make county governments the primary delivery source of public social, health, and related human service for indigent persons. The City will continue to cooperate with the State and County in the delivery of long-term and short-term anti-poverty services to poor families and persons. The City's Community Services Department has a staff person serving as the PS-S Program Coordinator to provide case management services to very low income single parents with minor children under the age of 18. Such services include providing contact to employers, social service agencies, educators, and/or institutional service providers. The City's strategy is also aimed at preserving and creating affordable housing and investing funds to improve the quality of the neighborhoods and facilities.
CDBG and HOME funds will be used to support Consolidated Plan activities. The City will use Housing Set Aside funds in achieving its affordable housing goals. Private resources will be used as available to assist the City in leveraging opportunities.
The City will coordinate and implement it's strategies through the following actions:
The Action Plan delineates the City's plans for one year use of federal funds for FY 1995. The plan describes the resources available for program implementation, the activities to be undertaken, monitoring, homelessness, an anti-poverty strategy, and coordination between agencies.
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).
