Due to its natural physical beauty, tourism ranks as one of the area's primary industries. Also important to Redding is its more traditional industries that are centered around timber harvesting and wood product manufacturing. These industries are under increasing pressures as natural resources dwindle.
The Redding Consolidated Plan provides a vision for housing and community development. It includes a One-Year Action Plan for spending approximately $1.07 million of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The City has also been successful in the past in applying to the State of California for HOME Program funds. The last three years, the City has received almost $3.0 million in funds to undertake eligible activities. This year, the City will apply for another $1.0 million. Most of the CDBG and HOME funds will be spent on housing and neighborhood livability activities.
The City of Redding's Department of Planning and Community Development has the lead role in overseeing the preparation of the 1995-1999 Consolidated Plan for the City of Redding. Throughout the Consolidated Planning process other government agencies, the public, private entities, and local non-profit organizations were consulted to solicit their input in the preparation of the draft Consolidated Plan.
In preparation for the development of the Plan, community housing and
supportive service organizations were invited to participate in a series of
informal meetings specifically to solicit their ideas and input regarding
housing and community development needs. A public forum was held February 23,
1995, to advise citizens on the consolidated planning process and to discuss
activities previously undertaken. Public comment period was held from March 20,
1995 to April 19, 1995. The plan was approved by the City Council on May 2,
1995.
Redding has experienced rapid growth over the past two decades. The 1990 Census, showed that the population was 66,462, a 58% increase from 1980. The California State Department of Finance population estimate for Redding is 76,800 as of January 1994. A study shows that the population of Redding will grow faster than the State average of 2.2% a year. The study predicts an increase of 4.65% annually.
The 1995 median annual income for a family of four is $33,400. In comparison, the national median income for the same size household is $40,200, and the 1995 median family income for California as a whole is $46,600. The unemployment rate in Redding is higher than the State average, 12 percent compared to 9.2 percent. The 1990 Census indicated that approximately 8.3 percent of Redding's population have extremely low income, 14 percent have very low income, 17.8 percent have low income, and 8 percent have moderate incomes. Two areas of ethnic concentrations were identified. The two racial groups were of Asian and Native American descent.
Diversification of the area's industrial base has been a top priority throughout the Redding area. Hampered by the sheer distance from the State's primary market places of the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California, widespread industrial recruitment efforts have not been very successful. Redding experiences a year round unemployment rate which averages 2-3 percent higher than that for the State as a whole. Redding received a State Enterprise Zone designation in 1992. This and other municipal efforts to provide an attractive, cost efficient environment for business, should lead to increased economic opportunities for area residents in the future.
Two housing needs are identified in the Consolidated Plan: Increasing the affordability of housing and rehabilitating the existing housing stock. To address affordable housing needs, rental assistance is needed to reduce cost burdens. To address housing quality/condition problems, funds are needed to help low income persons maintain and repair their homes.
According to the 1990 Census, there were 27,238 housing units in Redding. According to figures compiled by the City of Redding Building Division, 9,513 new housing units have been constructed since 1985. Of the units constructed, 7,016 were single family homes and 2,497 were multifamily units. Redding's housing stock is dominated by single-family detached dwellings. This type of structure makes up 60 percent of the total existing housing units. Multifamily units make up 27.9 percent, and 8.2 percent are made up of mobile homes.
Redding has 17,903 existing housing units which were built prior to 1980. Structures built prior to 1960 comprise 23.1 percent. Structures that are 20 years or older are more likely to require higher degrees of rehabilitation to elevate them to the "standard" condition. In 1993, the City initiated a study to determine the condition of the housing stock. Phase 1 of the survey identified 2,280 (7.3 percent) structures needing some level of rehabilitation work. Also, the survey identified 1,490 units constructed prior to 1980 which displayed evidence of peeling paint.
According to the 1990 Census, Redding's vacancy rate for all types of dwelling units available for sale or rent was 2.1 percent. Over the last four years, the vacancy rate experienced in rental units has risen dramatically. January 1995, showed vacancy rates for rental units at 12-13 percent. For owner occupied units the vacancy rate is estimated to be 6 percent. This is considered an overbuilt market but does not mean that overall affordability is helped by this. Different price segments for various units may be overbuilt.
Roughly one fifth of all homeowners are overpaying for housing. Among lower income homeowners, 50.9 percent are overpaying. For rentals, 47 percent of renters were overpaying for their income amounts. However, of that amount, 74 percent of lower income households were overpaying. Strategies to address this include, first time homebuyers downpayment assistance and rental assistance.
Based upon figures from the 1990 Census, the homeless population count in Redding was 614 (.9 percent of the general population). Of these, 282 (46 percent) were unsheltered and 332 (54 percent) were counted in shelters. Nearly one third of the sheltered homeless were under the age of eighteen. Also, a majority of the homeless, both sheltered and unsheltered, were White (86.5 percent).
Ten governmental and non-profit organizations provide shelter, rental subsidies, and other services to the homeless. The agencies provide motel vouches, emergency shelter , and transitional housing. Most of the programs are directed toward families with children.
There are no public housing units within the City of Redding, however, there are a substantial number of rental units whose residents receive direct rental assistance under the HUD Section 8 Program.
As of January, 1995, 1,194 very low income households within the City of Redding were receiving government assisted housing subsidies administered through the Redding Housing Authority. The plan identifies eight projects that are "at-risk" to termination of federal mortgage or rent subsidies during the next five years. Approximately 500 units are "at-risk", 285 of these units are subsidized.
The City of Redding has adopted a Housing Element as part of its General Plan pursuant to State Government Codes. Information, goals, policies, and program contained in the Consolidated plan are consistent with those contained with the Housing Element. All housing development activities undertaken with the City of Redding are subject to review for consistency with the General Plan. The Element addresses constraints to maintenance, improvement, and development of housing, zoning policies, building code enforcement, on and off-site improvements, site development standards, fees and exactions, and processing and permit procedures.
Approximately 6,122 pre-1980 units occupied by lower-income households are at risk for lead based paint hazards. While discussions with local health care providers do not indicate a significant local health problem due to lead based paint, the potential for future problems exist as long as the paint is accessible to humans.
Redding has many long term and short term community development objectives. They include the elimination of slums and blight, elimination of housing conditions detrimental to health, safety, and public welfare, conservation and expansion of the housing stock, expansion and improvement of the quantity and quality of community services, increasing economic opportunities, and expansion of housing choice for low and moderate income families.
The success of the strategy outlined in the document will be the result of
the dedicated efforts of many different individuals and groups in the community.
The primary players consist of a variety of government bodies, varied non-profit
service delivery groups, and local business entities such as financial
institutions, housing developers and realtors. Government will largely provide
rehabilitation services for the conservation of the community's existing housing
stock, rental assistance to very low income populations, and various other
services. The City looks forward to building partnerships between local
business and the non-profit housing service sector.
Many of the housing problems for low income households, the elderly, and other special needs populations are primarily related to low income substandard units and the overall high cost of housing in the area. Housing priorities and strategies reflect those conditions. Housing objectives focus on the need to increase the supply of affordable units, as well as rehabilitating the existing stock. Community development objectives primarily address increasing the accessibility of public facilities, improving infrastructure, providing economic development opportunities, and providing social services and education.
One of the community's most crucial housing needs is increased availability of housing which is affordable to the area's lower income residents. The City intends to pursue the provision of affordable housing through a multi-faceted strategy which includes both moderate and substantial rehabilitation of the existing housing stock, provision of direct rental subsidies for extremely low and very low income households, and facilitation of the construction of new housing units affordable to lower income households.
Parks/Recreation/Cultural Activities: Handicapped improvements to area playgrounds and museum facilities; greater access to area cultural events for seniors, handicapped, and other special needs populations; and, improvements to or construction of neighborhood parks located in lower income areas.
Planning/Public Works/Economic Development: Updating the Redding General Plan; Development of neighborhood and area plans; computerization of the Planning Area base maps; undertaking a survey of current housing conditions; conducting a land survey for identification of potential sites for affordable multifamily housing development projects; improvements to existing infrastructure; and, activities to create or retain jobs held by lower income individuals.
Social Services/Education: Programs which address adequate provision of basic necessities, such as health care, shelter, safety, and food; programs which address basic life skills, such as supportive service programs for the homeless; and programs which provide preventive or educational services, such as literacy training.
Redding is actively involved in economic development activities which, if fruitful, stand the greatest chance of making a lasting difference in a poor family's ability to rise above poverty. City CDBG funds are used to fund a revolving loan fund for expansion of local manufacturing businesses with the requirement that lower-income individuals will be trained and hired as result of the expansion. Scarce City general fund dollars each year finance ongoing efforts to diversify the community's employment base. The successful establishment of a State Enterprise Zone will also increase employment opportunities. CDBG funding is assisting several different programs which target a variety of activities to very young children from poverty level families. The goal of these programs is to end the familial cycle of poverty and crime before it reaches another generation.
Redding utilizes many different Federal, State, and Local resources for its housing and community development needs. The primary Federal resources include HOME, CDBG, Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities, Supportive Housing for the Elderly, HUD Section 8 Rental Assistance Program, HOPE for Elderly Independence, Family Self-Sufficiency Program, Family Unification Program, Section 8 Homeless Program, Emergency Shelter Grant Program, Shelter Plus Care, and the Supportive Housing Program. Resources from the State include the California Predevelopment Loan Program, the Low income Tax Credit Program, Tax Exempt Mortgage Revenue Bonds, After-Care Program. Local resources include Redevelopment Low-Moderate Income Housing Set-Aside Fund, Density Bonus Program, Community Reinvestment Act Activities, and the Affordable Housing Program.
The City is an active participant at numerous levels in the effort to
coordinate provision of social services to the needy in our community. In 1992
the City's Community Development Advisory Committee undertook the preparation of
a comprehensive community-wide needs assessment study. Consultation with local
service providers, funding sources, and the general public were all critical
elements in the analysis. The conclusions reached through this very detailed
process will guide the expenditures of local CDBG and other public funds for
years to come.
The Redding One-Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of approximately $1.07 million in CDBG funds. These funds will be spent mainly in four general areas, including:
Most of the projects are available city wide to low income residents.
Highlights of Redding's housing goals for the first year include to provide low interest and deferred home-improvement loans to homeowners and investor owners to provide affordable housing for 50 low income housing units. Code enforcement inspection of 400 housing units. Provide emergency shelter and food to 700 homeless individuals during the winter. Provide support to homeless shelters and transitional housing that assist 550 people and 80 households.
MAP 1 shows points of interest in Redding.
MAP 2 shows points of interest and the location of the low and moderate income areas (51% of the population have income below 80% of the median income) within the City.
MAP 3 shows the low income areas and the minority vs. non-minority populations.
MAP 4 shows the low income areas and unemployment percentages in the City.
MAP 5 shows some of the low income neighborhoods in the City, levels of unemployment, and where non-citywide projects that were funded and covered by the Consolidated Plan; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).
