The City of Monterey is located on Monterey Bay and is a regional and national tourist destination. Fort Ord, a recently closed military base, is located nearby. The City also boasts several institutions of higher learning including the Defense Language Institute, which specializes in teaching foreign languages to military personnel; the Monterey Institute of International Studies, providing graduate degrees with emphasis on the international community, their customs, languages and business trends; and the Naval Post Graduate School that provides advanced degrees for military personnel. These institutions attract culturally diverse populations.
The City of Monterey's One-Year Action Plan includes $313,000 in 1995 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, $351,000 in anticipated CDBG program income and $279,330 in carry-over program income for a total 1995 CDBG budget of $943,330. An additional $1,017,207 in Redevelopment Agency funds will provide $1,960,537 in funding to implement the city's Consolidated Plan. The CDBG funds will be used primarily for public service activities, housing development and housing rehabilitation. Redevelopment Agency funds will be used for down-payment assistance loans and housing development.
Through formal and informal surveys, a variety of agencies, organizations
and individuals were solicited to develop data and provide ideas on needs and
strategies for the Consolidated Plan. Non-profit agencies played a key role in
providing information and recommendations in the development of the City's Plan.
Through a series of public meetings and public hearings additional public
comment was obtained. To ensure maximum participation, copies of the draft
Consolidated Plan were available for review by over 75 organizations and
individuals representing each neighborhood association, special needs subgroups
and low-income constituencies with an invitation for oral or written comments.
Monterey has a residential population of 33,000. Caucasians represent 85% of the population followed by Asian/Pacific Islanders (6%), Hispanics (6%), African-Americans (2%) and American Indians (1%). Tourism being its major industry, the population fluctuates between 50,000 and 70,000 people.
The median family income is $41,800. The total number of households in
Monterey is 12,683. Forty-three percent (5,511) are low and moderate income
(incomes below 80% of median). Of the 12,683 households, 41% (4,460) of
Caucasian households are low/mod, 73% (231) of Black households are low/mod, 54%
(402) of Hispanic households are low/mod, 56% (40) Native- American households
are low/mod, and 49% (378) of Asian/Pacific Islander households are low/mod.
The city has experienced a decline in the percentage of owner-occupied housing. By the year 2000 it is projected that the owner/renter mix will be 25 percent owners to 75 percent renters. The shortage of available housing development sites has made the city one of the most costly in the nation. The recent closure of Fort Ord, in the City of Marina, is expected to have a short to mid-term impact on vacancy and rental rates. The long-term impact, as a result of the loss of civilian jobs in the local economy, may have a more lasting effect. Increased unemployment and vacancy rates are expected to result in less rental housing development by the private sector.
Large renter households of five family members or more experience the most significant housing problems. Monterey has a large number of pre-1940 housing and the city's housing rehabilitation survey shows a substantial percentage of the housing is in need of rehabilitation. Many of these homes are owned by low-income seniors on fixed incomes who do not have the means to pay for the repairs or qualify for conventional financing. Homeless and persons at risk of becoming homeless and low-income non-homeless with special needs (frail elderly, disabled and those with HIV/AIDS) also have un-met housing and service needs.
The City of Monterey is almost completely built-out leaving little opportunity for housing development. Of the total dwelling units, 36 percent are owner-occupied and 64 percent are renter occupied. The vacancy rate is about 6 percent. It is estimated that, by the year 2000, 40 percent of the housing will be over 40 years old and in need of substantial rehabilitation.
The median price for housing in Monterey is $275,000, down from $310,000 but still beyond the means of most first-time homebuyers and nearly triple the national median price. Eighty-one percent of large renter households spent more than 51% of their income for housing and 100 percent live in housing with some type of physical problems. There is a great need for affordable homeownership programs, rental assistance programs, and rehabilitation programs to preserve existing housing stock.
Based upon a 1989 study of homelessness in Monterey County, the City of Monterey has between 150 - 250 homeless people at any one-time. Service providers report that the number of homeless has increased significantly since the study. Approximately one-third of the homeless are families with children, one-third are mentally ill adults and one-third are single persons, many with alcohol or drug abuse problems. Providers report growing numbers of underemployed young single males, many of whom need very little help to return to self-sufficiency. Homeless facilities within the County can provide emergency shelter or transitional housing for approximately 150 persons. Current facilities and services are not adequate to serve the growing need. Eleven housing and homeless service providers have formed the Fort Ord Homeless Services Coalition. A number of the agencies have been successful in obtaining base properties through the Title V program and McKinney Supportive Housing funding. They are experiencing difficulties, however, in the base property transfer process. The City of Monterey is providing financial assistance with a $50,000 grant to help facilitate the property transfer process. The costs associated with cleanup and rehabilitation may make the projects very difficult to put together or completely infeasible.
The Housing Authority of the County of Monterey owns and operates 13 units of public housing in Monterey. The units are well maintained and there are no vacancies. A total of 234 units are under project or tenant based Section 8 contract. Other assisted units include 26 units of 202 elderly housing and 15 units financed under the 236 Program.
Lack of land for affordable housing development, land costs, a limited water supply and complex financing for housing development all make developing new affordable housing very difficult. The city continues to examine is policies to reduce unnecessary barriers and to encourage housing development.
The city continues to promote affirmative marketing and to monitor compliance with fair housing policies. There are no current court orders, consent decrees or HUD-imposed sanctions that affect the provision of fair housing remedies.
According to 1990 census data, 3,079 lower income renters and 98 lower income homeowners reside in housing units that have a 62 percent or greater likelihood of lead- based paint usage. Almost 100 percent of the pre-1940 housing units are likely to have lead-based paint. The Monterey County Health Department reports no recorded cases of excessive exposure from the City of Monterey.
None.
The greatest community development needs include services for children, youth, seniors, the homeless and the disabled and education and employment programs for the under- employed and unemployed.
The City of Monterey coordinates with other housing and support service
agencies to ensure that available resources are fully utilized and leveraged.
Applicants for funds administered by the city are encouraged to combine federal,
state and private resources with grant or loan funds from the city. The city's
progress toward meeting its Consolidated Plan goals will be monitored on an
on-going basis with annual reports going to the City Council for public review.
In addition, financial and program audits are conducted annually. During the
budget process each proposed project is evaluated for past compliance with
program requirements and goals.
The City of Monterey intends to use its available resources to increase the supply of affordable housing, provide rental assistance to alleviate rental cost burden, provide financial assistance to first-time homebuyers, address the needs of those with special needs, promote homeownership opportunities, reduce lead-based paint hazards, alleviate overcrowding, assist those in public housing achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency, address the needs of the homeless, and provide increased housing choice and opportunity for minority and low-income citizens.
Priorities for affordable housing include increasing the supply of large family rental housing through new construction, preservation and rehabilitation of existing rental housing, providing rental assistance to those with the most severe cost burden, providing housing rehabilitation loans to preserve and improve existing single family ownership housing stock, providing down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers.
Priorities for assisting the homeless include providing financial assistance to non-profit agencies offering emergency shelter, rental assistance and supportive services to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Priorities for assisting those with special needs, particularly the elderly and disabled, include providing financial assistance to non-profit agencies to develop housing and services for these groups.
Priorities for non-housing community development activities include services for families, youth, seniors, and the disabled, public improvements, and economic development.
The goals of the City of Monterey are to stabilize and improve all aspects of the living environment by promoting employment, productivity and housing opportunities and providing needed social and medical services. There is a special focus on economic development which has the most direct link to furthering the goal of reducing the number of persons in poverty by increasing income levels.
Funding sources for the projects that will meet the needs and goals identified in the city's Consolidated Plan include the Community Development Block Grant Program, Redevelopment Agency, Public Housing Authority, State HOME Program and local and county non-profit housing and social service agencies.
The Housing and Property Management Department has the lead responsibility
for the implementation of the Consolidated Plan and works in concert with the
Redevelopment Agency, city and county agencies, the Monterey County Public
Housing Authority, the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments and local
and county non-profit housing and social service agencies to ensure that
available resources are fully utilized and leveraged in order to carry out its
Consolidated Plan.
The City of Monterey's One Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of approximately $943,000 in CDBG funds, CDBG carryover funds and anticipated program income. These funds will be spent mainly on the following activities:
All projects will benefit low-income residents on a city-wide basis.
The City Housing and Property Management Department will be the lead agency for implementing the City's Consolidated Plan and the Community Development Block Grant Program.
Through the city's CDBG funded housing rehabilitation program, 62 low-income households are expected to be assisted.
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).
Bob Humel, Housing and Property Management Director
Telephone Number: 408-646-5615
