The City of Riverside will receive a total of $6,096,000 in Federal funds: $3,765,000 in CDBG, $1,113,000 in HOME, $1,109,000 in HOPWA and $109,000 in ESG. The City will allocate funds from its General Fund Budget through the Human Services Fund to assist agencies that provide services to City residents for operating expenses for Domestic Violence, Shelters, Information and Referral, and other programs that augment the federal funds.
The City makes affirmative efforts to give adequate information to citizens especially low and moderate income residents. During the months of December and January, each resident and property owner in HUD neighborhood area is mailed an invitation to the public Advisory Committee meeting for the neighborhood. Persons unable to attend this public meeting may submit their request to the Office of Neighborhoods for consideration at the public meeting. Sign language and bilingual interpretation is available at all public meetings. In addition, a calendar of all public meetings will be posted on cable television, at city libraries, City Hall Information Center, School Districts and Recreation Center. An Advisory committee assist with outreach/recruitment efforts to involve low and moderate individuals at the meetings.
The City distributes to public agencies, community agencies and interested
persons, the public meeting calendar, anticipated amount of assistance, along
with an explanation of the range of activities to be undertaken. Technical
Assistance is provided to individuals submitting proposals.
In 1990, 21% of the City of Riverside total household were very low income,
16% were low income and 8% were moderate income. Thus lower income household
comprised 37% of the City's total household. The 1990 Census also documented
the City's racial breakdown as 61.5% white, 25.5% Hispanic, 7.1% Black, 5.0%
Asian and less then 1% Native American and other. Hispanics has the highest
proportion of lower income household, 50%; blacks 48%, Asians 47%, whites 31%,
and 31% of Native American households are lower income. A very low income
household has a median income at or less than $18,627, a low income household
has a median income up to $29,818, and a moderate income household has a median
income up to $35,409.
Data from the City's 1990 Housing Assistance Plan (HAP) indicates that 6.4% of the City's housing stock is considered substandard, 72% of all existing substandard units are considered suitable for rehabilitation. The remaining 28% are in need of replacement. Riverside has a relatively old Housing stock. Nearly 35% of its housing units are over 30 years old. Based on age alone, an estimated 36,911 to 48,952 units (46-61%) of the City's total housing stock may potentially contain Lead Base Paint of which 11,543 - 15,569 units may be occupied by very low and low income households. Riverside had a housing stock of 80,240 units in 1990 representing a 25% increase over 1980. Single-family units make up 66.9% of the City's housing stock; multi-family units makes up 29.5% and mobile homes make up 3.6% of the City's housing stock.
The City's policy towards annexing the committed vacant agricultural land has provided resources to support dramatic residential growth. The City indicates that enrollment at the universities and colleges is projected to increase. With the increase in the student population, additional housing will be needed.
Housing needs in the City of Riverside include: rehabilitation of rental units for large size families, development of permanent low-cost housing for very low income households, and development of transitional living centers. The most serious housing need in Riverside is related to affordability. Overcrowding, particularly among large renter-households, is another important housing issue which relates both to affordability and availability of housing.
The current state-wide economic recession has curtailed increases in home prices. The median selling price in Riverside range from $95,000 - 139,000. Overall, housing sale prices in Riverside are lower than the surrounding communities.
Housing affordability is income dependent. Housing affordable to very low income household, especially those earning at or less than 30% of median income, is extremely limited. While the City does have a surplus of housing units affordable to "other" low income household this surplus would more likely benefit those at higher income levels than those with very low income. As a result 79% of the City's lower income owner-households and 52% of the lower income renter-households had a housing cost burden in excess of 30% in 1990. In 1980, the median contract rent in Riverside was $249 per month, the 1990 Census reported a city-wide median rent of $512 per month which shows a significant increase.
The City has five homeless shelters operating. In addition the National Guard Armory provides overnight shelter accommodations for individuals and families in inclement weather. Other emergency shelters include Catholic Charities, and Seven Day Adventist Community Serve, if funds are available, and Operation SafeHouse. Currently emergency shelters in Riverside, house approximately 150 person per night. This number increases to 300 during the winter months. TAFT is the only transitional housing facility in the city and it contains 72-beds. It is a rehabilitation center for homeless families and single women and provides for a 45 day stay.
AID to Families with Dependent Children helps move families into permanent housing. It provides a family up to $2,000 to pay the last months rent and deposit for the unit.
Soup kitchens and other daytime facilities provides needs for the homeless. Catholic charities offers a limited number of vouchers for area motels (an average of 8-10 shelter nights per month) as well as the Salvation Army and Seventh Day Adventist Community Services.
There are a total of 635 units assisted with projected-based Section 8 contracts, 268 of those units are for the elderly household and 367 of the units are for families. A total of 684 housing units are at risk of converting to market rate housing. Out of 3,085 assisted units in Riverside, there are 1,699 project-based tenant assistance units, consisting of Section 202 elderly, other HUD or State subsidized projects, and mortgage revenue bond projects and 1,386 tenant-based assistance units. comprised of Section 8 certificates and vouchers. There is one public housing in Riverside and it has 68 units.
According to information received form the Housing Authority, there are a total of 3, 768 households on the Section 8 waiting list. Of these households, 1,484 are waiting for a one- bedroom unit, 1,554 are waiting for a two-bedroom unit, 641 are waiting for a three- bedroom unit, 73 are waiting for a four-bedroom unit, and 16 are waiting for a five-bedroom unit
The high cost of development fees can discourage or prevent the development of affordable housing. The planning and permit processes, and the reviews of various boards and commissions are perceived by developers as cumbersome and time-consuming. Affordable housing developers consider the time associated with processing plans to be detrimental to construction of affordable housing in the city. The cost to develop affordable housing is impacted by a variety of local, state, and Federal governmental policies and availability of government funding. The Savings and Loans industry has experienced hardships and have become more conservative in lending practices. Code compliance caseload continues to grow, however, the city's budget has not experienced significant increases in this division. NIMBY, the "Not In My Back Yard" syndrome has surfaced as an impediment to the construction of new affordable housing in the City. Discrimination on the basis of race, creed sex, marital status, employment, sexual preference, family status, disability and color is considered a common barrier in the supply of affordable housing.
The Office of the City Manager, Neighborhoods and Community Services division has completed an assessment to the impediments to fair housing and has developed a proactive fair housing program with specific actions and procedures that will have a significate impact on preventing/reducing unfair practices.
The local Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) program is the program responsible for screening and detection of elevated blood levels in children age six months to six years. If CHDP cannot identify the cause, the County Industrial Hygiene Department will continue the investigation. The City of Riverside recognizes the need to develop an action plan for evaluating and reducing LBP hazards over the next five years, especially in those census tracts which evidence concentrations of documented lead poisoning. The City will continue to distribute brochures to inform public of LBP hazards and pursue LBP testing resources.
Removal of architectural barriers for disabled or physically challenged individuals which includes providing auditory signals, curb cuts, and wheel chair ramps and any appropriate devices. Improve facilities that serve senior citizens. Elimination of slums and blight will be undertaken to respond to the problem of abandoned or dangerous structures. A city-wide program for property clean-up, beautification and graffiti removal exists. Funds are also utilized to assist community agencies that provide supportive services for low and moderate income persons.
To enhance the coordination and delivery of housing related services
provided by public, private, and other agencies, the City of Riverside has been
working with Community Housing Developer Organization (CHDO) to provide services
lacking at the City and County level to preserve and develop affordable housing
and supportive services and coordinating with other community organizations,
government and citizens to meet the special needs of the community.
The City of Riverside allocations for Fiscal Year 1995-1996 will be $7,765,000 in CDBG. The City plans to expend funds for the following activities: Housing programs $1,105,448; public improvement, $797,640; Public facilities, $624,875; Clearance activities, $15,000; Public Service activities, $299,000; Economic Development Assistance Program, $100,000; Administration and Planning, $752,600: Contingency, $58,437. The contingency account is provided as a fund from which allocations can be made to cover unanticipated cost over runs; Repayment, $12,000. This will place funds back into the Downtown Housing Revolving Loan Fund; Program Income, $150,000.
The City plans to expend the allocation of $1,113,000 in HOME funds in the following manner: Administration $113,600; M/F Rehabilitation, $800,000; S/F Rehabilitation, $199,400.
The City of Riverside was designated as the jurisdiction for dispersing $1,109,000 in HOPWA funds throughout Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The planned expenditure of funds is as follows: Housing services $980,570; Clinic Based Primary Care, $95,160; and Administration, $33,270.
The City plans to expend $109,000 in ESG for Alternatives to Domestic Violence, Lutheran Social Services, Riverside Men's Shelter, Operation Safehouse, Whiteside Manor, REACH site, and Administration.
The City's five year goal is to preserve existing housing stock through the following methods: rehabilitating 500 single-family houses. Retain and rehabilitation 150 deteriorated multi-family homes. Provide 500 individuals with supplemental amenities. Provide funding for shelter services and transitional housing, assist 800 persons. Provide funds for food, clothing, transportation and counseling assistance to 500 homeless and at risk homeless population. Provide Mental Health Counseling for 100 mentally ill homeless persons. Create 25 accessible units for physically challenged individuals. Provide supportive services for 200 substance abuse victims. Assist 250 persons with AIDS/Families with housing and supportive services. Assist 50 mentally ill homeless individuals with housing and services.
Improve the quality of life for low and moderate income person through public improvements, infrastructure and recreational facilities. Improve housing stock through housing rehabilitation programs and neighborhood improvement programs. Improve physical access such as public facilities for the physically challenged. Improve facilities that serve senior citizen and the physically challenged. Eliminate and prevent slums and blight. Increase employment opportunities for low and moderate income persons through Economic Development projects.
The City has identified several programs to produce and preserve affordable housing. The implementation programs such as the Home Rehabilitation Loan and Grant program will assist in maintaining liveable conditions for lower income persons. In addition, the various programs funded through the CDBG program, couple with various social services, childcare programs, shelter, food and counseling programs provide city residents opportunities to utilize programs at little or no cost, thereby reducing financial burden. The City's Economic Development Assistance program also includes opportunity to low income persons to obtain employment.
The City is assisted by various competitive programs such as HOPE 1, HOPE 2, HOPE 3, ESG, Supportive Housing, HOPWA, Safe Havens, Rural Homeless Housing, Section 202 Elderly, Section 811 Handicapped, Moderate Rehabilitation, SRO, Rents Vouchers/Certificates, Public Housing Development, Public Housing MROP, Public Housing CIAP and LIHTC. The City is also assisted by the Entitlement program and Public Housing Comprehensive Grant along with numerous private agencies.
The City of Riverside maintains contact with many agencies to provide the
City with housing and supportive services resources. The City will continue to
review, support, and offer comment on the Comprehensive Plans, applications for
funding, contracting, and procurement, proposed development sites and any other
issues occurring in the City's limits. Through its working relationship,
jointly funded projects for mutual benefit will continue.
Participants at public meetings in the Arlanza/La Sierra neighborhood identified the following needs: infrastructure, maintenance of semi-rural lifestyle, park and recreation improvements, crime and gang awareness, visual improvements to neighborhood and commercial areas, code compliance, youth programs, business revitalization, centralized social service facility.
Participants at public meeting sin the Arlington neighborhood identified the following needs: part and recreation improvements, youth programs, infrastructure improvements, code compliance, business revitalization, graffiti/gangs/vandalism awareness, crime awareness, child care/after school care, property maintenance, homeless issues, business revitalization.
Participants at public meetings in the Casa Blanca neighborhood identified the following needs: park and recreation improvements, infrastructure improvements, housing crime and gang awareness, employment, youth activities, redevelopment activities, day laborer issues, air quality, traffic controls, employment, code compliance.
The Downtown neighborhood identified the following needs: code compliance, historic preservation, retrofit of historic structures, housing programs for "above-income" citizens, infrastructure improvements, graffiti removal, crime awareness, traffic and circulation issues, neighborhood improvement, traffic and circulation issues, downtown grocery store.
Eastside neighborhood identified the following needs: infrastructure, park and recreation improvements, crime and gang awareness, visual improvements to the neighborhood, redevelopment activities, home rehabilitation, improvement of University Avenue, multi- family rehabilitation programs.
Magnolia Center neighborhood identified the following needs: infrastructure, park and recreation improvements, youth programs and activities visual improvements to neighborhood, code compliance, property maintenance, graffiti and vandalism concerns, housing programs, traffic controls/traffic enforcement, crime awareness/additional police, concerns about future of municipal airport.
Northside neighborhood identified the following needs: infrastructure, park and recreation improvements, crime awareness, visual improvements to neighborhood, housing programs, grocery store.
The following area, or portions of those areas have been targeted: Arlanza/La Sierra, Arlington, Casa Blanca, Downtown, Eastside, and Northside.
The City Manager's Office of Neighborhoods and Community Services is the lead department for the City of Riverside in Developing and carrying out the Comprehensive Plan.
The City's one year housing goals include: The rehabilitation of 95 single-family homes. Rehabilitation of 30 deteriorated multi-family homes; assist 50 individual sin obtaining permanent housing and achieve homeownership; create 5 accessible units for physically challenged individuals to maintain independent living.
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.
TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).
