The City of Norwalk, California, is located in Los Angeles County approximately 20 miles south east of Los Angeles and is a largely suburban community. The Consolidated Plan serves as a planning tool developed with input from all of the community; an application for formula based Federal funds; a strategy to be followed in carrying our HUD programs; and an annual action plan that provides a basis for assessing performance. The City's plan establishes broad goals in the areas of housing, social services, and public works projects.
For program year 1995, the City's action plan allocates $2,142,773 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to benefit low and moderate income persons. Projects include residential rehabilitation, gang prevention programs, a wide variety of social services, and several public improvement projects. In addition, as a first year participant in the Housing Investment Partnership program (HOME), the City will allocate $500,000 to various housing activities targeted to low and moderate income residents and low income housing service providers.
In January and February of 1995, the City held three public forums to obtain
input form citizens on the community's housing and non-housing community
development needs. Questionnaires were distributed at these forums and mailed
separately to community housing and social service providers. A public notice
published in a paper of general circulation informed citizens that the proposed
Consolidated Plan was available at various locations throughout the city for the
purpose of review and comment. The City received numerous comments, which are
summarized and incorporated in the Plan. The Plan was adopted by the City
council in a public hearing conducted on May 16, 1995.
As of January 1994, the City's population was 97,303 persons. 11.4 percent of the population is extremely low-income; 11 percent very low income; 17.3 percent low income; 10.8 percent moderate income; and 49.5 percent above moderate income levels.
Racially/ethnically, as percentages of the total population, the City is comprised, in persons, of 47.9 percent Hispanic; 36.7 percent White; 11.6 percent Asian; 3 percent Black; and 0.5 percent Native American. Concentrations of racial minorities are found in tracts 5500 (28.9 percent); 5523 (23.5 percent); and 5546 (29.3 percent).
Among extremely low income groups, 1,670 rent units and 1,345 own; among
very low 1,349 rent and 1,577 own; among low 1,931 rent and 2,674 own; among
moderate 1,010 rent and 1,845 own; and among those above moderate income 3,087
rent and 10,060 own. Trends indicate a slight decrease in homeownership rates
along with increases in income, housing costs, overcrowded and large households.
Norwalk is almost entirely built out with very few vacant parcels remaining in the City. there are 27,409 dwelling units, 19,925 of which are single family detached units (73 percent). Home values declined during the mid-1990 recession because of decreased demand due to significant job losses, higher unemployment, personal bankruptcies and foreclosures. More recently, home values have stabilized and increased slightly.
Housing need exists for cost-burdened households, overcrowded households, and those households living in substandard conditions. 11 percent of the City's housing stock is in need of minor and/or major rehabilitation, of this number 65 percent are owner occupied with the remainder occupied by renters.
Trends for the past decade show a decrease in overcrowded and large households. The owner-occupied rate is now at about 65 percent and has decreased three percent between 1980 and 1990. 26,548 of these units are occupied with an average household size of 3.14 persons per household. 62 percent of the housing stock was built between 1950 and 1970; by the year 2,000, an estimated 4,800 units will be over 50 years old indicating a need to continue housing conservation programs.
The median value of all housing units in the City was $164,700. Approximately 15 percent of the owner-occupied housing stock had an estimated value of more than $200,000.
Median gross rents are $706. About 51 percent of all rental housing had monthly rents of more than $700. It is assumed than many of the housing units with high monthly rents were renter-occupied single family homes. An estimated 14 percent of all the rental housing units has monthly rents of less than $500.
There are an estimated 1,672 lower income renter households that are cost burdened with the majority of these paying more than 50 percent of their incomes on housing costs. Section 8 rental assistance is insufficient to meet the needs of all cost burdened households with 537 persons/families currently on the waiting list (59 percent of those on the list meet Federal preference criteria).
Among renter households below 80 percent of median income, 28.6 percent experience some degree of overcrowding; among owner households, 17.6 percent of those below 80 percent of median income experience overcrowding. Among renter households below 80 percent of median income, 54.7 percent occupy substandard housing while 32 percent of all owner households occupy substandard housing.
The extent of homelessness in Norwalk is difficult to quantify. According to the census there are 88 persons in sheltered facilities and one person visible on the street. Further efforts to determine the needs of the homeless population have been made by the public safety department and indicate that some of the homeless are reluctant to obtain needed services. The homeless population in Norwalk includes the mentally ill, persons with alcohol and drug addiction, victims of domestic violence, and those with HIV/AIDS related diseases.
Persons on the Section 8 waiting list may have severe financial problems and be doubling up, living in overcrowded living arrangements and deteriorated housing , and be on the verge of homelessness. Extremely low income and severe cost burdened renters - those at 30 percent or less of median income and paying more than 50 percent of income for housing costs, could be threatened with homelessness.
The Rio Hondo Temporary Home provides shelter to 100 - 110 persons every night. There are three shelters in the area which receive CDBG funds providing shelter to battered or abused women and children. There are no private organizations operating food or hotel voucher programs for homeless persons in Norwalk. The City's Social Service Department provides some services to the homeless including referral to shelters, emergency lodging, emergency food, and crisis shelters. The SSD also provides services which may alleviate symptoms of homelessness - general rehabilitation, welfare, disability, SSI, and social security. The Department also implements a rent and utility allowance program for those families unable to pay for these services.
The assisted housing needs of the special needs population in the City is estimated as follows: 33 severely mentally ill persons; 22 persons who are developmentally disabled; 455 who are physically disabled; 624 who abuse alcohol; 86 who abuse drugs; 66 with AIDS or HIV related diseases.
The Norwalk Housing Authority administers 721 Section 8 tenant based rental assistance certificates and vouchers. There are 207 elderly households and 514 families receiving assistance. Other assisted housing inventory includes: Norwalk Christian, 185 units of senior housing; New Brittany Terrace, an 18 unit 221(d)(3) project; Los Alisos North, 48 units of Section 221 (d)(4) housing; Soroptimist Village, 46 units of elderly housing; and Civic Center Place, 39 units of affordable multi-family housing.
Several institutional factors may serve as barriers to the development of affordable housing: land use and zoning; city ordinances and building codes; concept design reviews; development fees and exactions; environmental reviews; and lack of sufficient infrastructure. The City would point out that in most of these categories, the City is extremely sensitive to administrative constraints and consistently strives to reduce these types of barriers to development.
A fair housing assessment was conducted in December of 1991 by the Fair Housing Foundation of Long Beach. The City was found to be in compliance with fair housing regulation and there were no reported findings of non-compliance against the City. The City contracts with the Fair Housing Foundation of Long Beach for housing assistance with special needs groups ensuring that fair housing services are provided.
Approximately 4,500 very low and low income housing units may contain lead based paint. Currently, the Los Angeles County Health Department is developing a data base to identify these units more specifically by address. The City will monitor these efforts and design a program as the data becomes available.
High priority needs: parks and recreational facilities, street and sidewalk improvements, senior services, handicapped services, youth services, substance abuse services, employment training, crime awareness programs, fair housing counseling, and tenant and landlord counseling. Medium priority needs include: senior centers, youth centers, neighborhood facilities, child care centers, water improvements, sewer improvements, transportation and child cares services. Low priority needs include: health and parking facilities. Categories identified as no such need are solid waste disposal improvements, flood drain improvements, and asbestos removal.
The city has coordinated its efforts with citizens, public agencies,
churches, social service agencies and nonprofit housing organizations.
The City's overall goals include continued support of the residential rehabilitation program, ensuring the affordability of the existing housing stock; providing increased opportunities for homeownership for low income residents; and the expansion of the housing stock for all segments of the community.
The City's housing priorities for the next five years were established in light of the resident's housing needs and the financial resources available from the Redevelopment Agencies low and moderate income housing fund and the Agency's housing strategy for the next five years which was adopted in December of 1994.
During the next five years, the City is projected to receive 9 million dollars in CDBG funds. Based on past funding allocations, housing rehabilitation would be allocated about 4 million during this five year time span. In the same time period, the Redevelopment Agency is projected to accumulate additional funds allocated to the Agency's low and moderate income housing fund.
In addition to CDBG and Redevelopment Agency funds, the City will have available $500,000 of HOME funds.
High priority was selected for the cost burdened renters in all household categories and having median incomes in 0-50 percent income brackets. This priority reflects that Section 8 rental assistance is available for extremely low and very low income groups. This relative priority is based upon the assumption that the Section 8 rental assistance program will be continued during the next five years.
High priority is given to renter households residing in substandard housing because the city has established a program to address this need. Low priority was given to overcrowded conditions experienced by renters because the City has not implemented a program to address these needs.
High priority is assigned to cost burdened owner households in all income groups because the City has initiated a homeownership program and tax exempt bond financing is available to assist first time homebuyers to acquire and rehabilitate existing homes in the City. In addition, the City will implement a first time homebuyers program utilizing HOME funds.
High priority was given to owner households living in substandard and overcrowded conditions. The City's CDBG funded homeownership rehabilitation program contributes to meeting these needs.
High priority needs include those that have been addressed by non-profit organizations and social service agencies. The medium priority needs include code enforcement as the City may fund this activity over the next five years. Low priorities encompass these that will not funded by CDBG but which the City would support service by other entities. Those identified as no such need include activities primarily funded by the City general fund or other resources.
Poverty is defined at the household level at $12,674 for a family of four. The 1990 census indicated that eight percent of all persons in Norwalk lived in households with annual incomes below the poverty level.
The essential elements of the City's anti-poverty strategy include: Section 8 rental assistance; Norwalk Housing Authority Section 8 Self Sufficiency Program; incomes supplemented with food, clothing, and health and medical services at no cost to the client; the Self Help and Exchange program which is a volunteer service and food program; and other services provided by the City's SSD.
For fiscal year 1995, the City will receive CDBG funds in the amount of $2,142,773 and $500,000 in HOME funds. Non-Federal resources expected to be available to leverage Federal resources include the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency's Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund and funding made available through the Tri-City Housing Finance Agency. The project information discussed in the Action Plan focuses on activities and programs funded by CDBG and HOME funds. The City's HOME funds include $364,000 provided by HUD and $136,000 provided by the City of Norwalk Housing Authority's operating reserve fund.
The City has and will continue to coordinate efforts with citizens, public agencies, churches, social service agencies, and non-profit housing organizations.
Monitoring will be carried out on a regular basis to enure that statutory
and regulatory requirements are being met. The city will ensure contract
compliance of subrecipients involved in the public service category. The city
will also prepare performance reports as required by HUD.
The amount of CDBG funds projected for each category of activity is itemized as follows:
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.
MAP 6 depicts Neighborhood Segments and streets with proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 7 depicts Neighborhood Segments and streets with proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 8 depicts Neighborhood Segments and streets with proposed HUD funded projects.
TABLE (without associated map) provides information on the project(s).
