Action Plan

The City of Woodland Consolidated Plan presents a strategic vision of housing and community development in the community. It includes a One-Year Action Plan for spending $2.337 million of federal funds. It includes $620,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; $160,000 for Special Grant for the Homeless and $803,000 for Public Housing Improvements and Resident Initiatives and $754,000 for Anti-poverty Strategies in 1995.

Citizen Participation

The City of Woodland took the following actions as its Citizen Participation Plan:

1. The City encouraged citizens to participate in the development of the Consolidated Plan by providing notices of the public hearing to the media, nonprofit groups and agencies that serve low income groups.

2. The notices provided information on the amount of assistance available and a summary of the Plan. Copies of the Plan were available in the Community Development Department in City Hall and the City Library.

3. The City provided access to records concerning Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program in the Community Development Department in City Hall.

4. The City provided technical assistance to groups representing low income persons that requested assistance in developing proposals . The City had applications and an explanation of the CDBG process available to the public.

5. The City held four (4) public hearings with 30 days notice indicating times and locations in considering the Consolidated Plan and the Annual Action Plan.

6. The City considered comments and views received on the Plans and made changes as suggested. All comments were accepted and addressed by the City.

Woodland is a community of 42,474 people located 20 miles northwest of the City of Sacramento. It is the County seat for Yolo County and is a diverse community with a large industrial area, a commercial area that includes the largest shopping center in Yolo County and residential areas that provide a variety of housing types. The major industries are agricultural related and large distribution warehouses. The warehouses which range in building size form 10 to 15 acres have developed in the last ten (10) years because of Woodland's central location on Interstate 5. The commercial area has three major types of activity - (1) the older downtown which contains a number of historical structures, (2) the auto oriented uses along Main and East Streets and adjacent to Interstate 5, and (3) County Fair Mall a 40 acre shopping center that is the main retail center of Yolo County. The residential area includes a variety of housing types. The most noteworthy residential area is the area south of downtown which contains a number of older historic homes that have been maintained over the years.

The economic factor that has affected the availability of affordable housing in Woodland is the increase in housing costs over the past ten (10) years. In 1980 the median price of a single family home was $66,200; and in 1990 the median price of a single family home was $131,300. This is an increase of $65,100 which represents a 98% increase. The median rent in Woodland has increased for $204 a month in 1980 to $431 in 1990. This is a $227 increase which translates into a 113% increase. The price for new tract housing ranges from $110,000 to $160,000.

Woodland's population is predominately white (69%). The largest ethnic minority in the community is the Hispanic population which is 26% of the City population. Other minority groups are less than 5%. The most significant trends are the percentage increase in the Hispanic population (52%) from 1980 to 1990, and the increase in the Asian and Pacific Islanders (59%) in that same time frame. Figure 1 shows the census tracts in the City, Figure 2 indicates low income areas and Figure 3 outlines racial/ethnic concentration.

Conditions

Housing Needs

• 34% of the households in Woodland had housing problems. These problems include paying more than 30% of their income and overcrowding.

• First time homebuyers have difficulty in meeting down payments.

Housing Market Conditions

Between 1985 and 1988, Woodland experienced a residential building boom, followed by a decline in construction, especially of multifamily units.

About 1.5 percent of housing units in Woodland were classified as substandard in 1990. Almost 76 percent of these units were suitable for rehabilitation.

Affordable Housing Needs

Households with incomes at or below 50 percent of MFI (24 percent of all households) have the greatest housing cost burden. They need rental assistance and affordable housing options. Moderate-income first time homebuyers need down payment assistance, and credit counseling.

Homeless Needs

Needs of Homeless Individuals - Ninety five (95) percent of the homeless youth in need of service are not being served because those working with the homeless have a limited role.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

Service providers for special needs populations indicated the following needs, in addition to affordable housing:

• Elderly and frail elderly need assistance with activities of daily living and transportation.

• Persons with mental, physical, or developmental disabilities need accessible housing and assisted living alternatives such as group homes or shared housing.

Barriers to Affordable Housing

Rents are too low to build new projects so that an investor receives an acceptable rate of return.

A number of prospective homeowners do not qualify for new ownership because of their low income.

Development costs have increased at a more rapid rate than the salaries of the people that want to own a home.

Development fees have increased in the last ten (10) years because of the erosion of City revenue sources.

Fair Housing

Lead-Based Paint

Community Development Needs

Yolo County Community Partnership has the following policies to assist low income people in the community:

1. Coordinating efforts with businesses coming into the community in order to fulfill their labor market needs.
2. Coordinate with the State Employment Training Panel to secure grants for training for businesses who hire economically disadvantaged.
3. Coordinate with the Yolo County Community Development Department to assist expanding or start-up businesses with low income loans through the Revolving Loan Fund. First source hiring agreements are also required.
4. Provide staff services and promotional materials for new businesses.
5. Provide 50% reimbursement for extraordinary costs of training time for employers.

Housing and Community Development Objectives and Priorities

The City of Woodland has the following housing and community development objectives:

Affordable Housing Objectives

The City has the following priorities:

	Priority #1 -	Provide 48 housing units and retain 80 housing units for very low income people (households earning 50% or less of the City median income).
	Priority #2 -	Provide 119 housing units and retain 76 housing units for low income people (households earning between 51% and 80% of the City median income).
	Priority #3 -	Provide 178 housing units for moderate and above moderate income people (households earning between 81% and 95% of the City median income).

Homeless Service Objectives

The City has the following priorities for homeless services:

	Priority #1 -	Provide Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing.
	Priority #2 -	Provide Transitional Housing
	Priority #3 -	Prevent Homelessness

Non-housing Community Development Priorities

Priorities for other community development activities include public facilities improvements (parks, recreation, and youth centers), and public services provision (including fair housing counseling and planning).

Anti-Poverty Strategy

Yolo County Community Partnership has the anti-poverty programs:

1. Vocational counseling and assessment
2. On-the-job training
3. Vocational training
4. Work experience
5. Job search
6. Career exploration
7. Dislocated worker assistance
8. School to work transition
9. Summer youth employment

Housing and Community Development Resources

The City and Yolo County provide services to the community. The primary Federal resources include CDBG, HOME, Section 8, public housing, and the Supportive Housing Program. Private programs include nonprofit groups providing a range of needed services to low income people.

Coordination of Strategic Plan and Lead Agencies

The City of Woodland is responsible for the Consolidated Plan activities, but a variety of public and private organizations are involved in administering plan components.

The City of Woodland feels that it has a well developed network of government agencies and nonprofit organizations to carry out its Consolidated Plan. Some gaps in the delivery of services exist. These gaps include the following:

1. There is not enough money to provide housing to address the needs of the homeless, very low income, low income and moderate income people that have housing problems.
2. There is a lack of financing for multiple family projects.

Public Housing Improvements and Resident Initiatives

The Yolo County Housing Authority will take the following actions in Woodland:

1. $731,127 will be spent on improvements for Yolano Village and Donnelly Circle.
2. $62,510 will be spent on Management Improvements Administrative Costs and A & E Fees.
3. $10,000 will be allocated to Hopes and Dreams Association for technical assistance.

Anti-Poverty Strategies

Community Partnership will expend $754,000 on five (5) anti-poverty programs.

Locations

Over half of the projects in the One-Year Plan are dedicated to the low residential areas. In addition, significant funds are allocated to nonprofit service groups and anti-poverty programs that aid the low income people.

Housing Goals

Highlights of City of Woodland housing goals for the first year include retaining 75 very low units in the Hotel Woodland, retaining 76 low income units in the Leisureville Mobile Home Park, a supportive housing grant and public housing improvements.

Description of Key Projects

The action plan lays out the proposed uses of the $620,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) finds; $160,000 for Special Grant for the Homeless and $803,000 for Public Housing Improvements and Resident Initiatives and $754,000 for Anti-poverty Strategies.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds

The City of Woodland will spend $620,000 of 1995 CDBG funds. The key projects are as follows:

Supportive Housing Grant

The City will spend $160,000 for the homeless under a Supportive Housing Grant funded by HUD.

Public Housing Improvements and Resident Initiatives

The Yolo County Housing Authority will take the following actions in Woodland:

1. $731,127 will be spent on improvements for Yolano Village and Donnelly Circle.
2. $62,510 will be spent on Management Improvements Administrative Costs and A & E Fees.
3. $10,000 will be allocated to Hopes and Dreams Association for technical assistance.

Anti-Poverty Strategies

Community Partnership will expend $754,000 on five (5) anti-poverty programs.

Maps

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.

MAP 6 depicts Neighborhood Segments and streets with proposed HUD funded projects; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).

Mr. Paul Hanson
PH: (916) 661-5820