Norwich is located in south-eastern Connecticut along the Thames River. Founded in 1660, Norwich has been known as a trade center, and later an industrial manufacturing center. Norwich has suffered many years of decline and now struggles to redefine itself amidst numerous social and economic problems.
HUD's Consolidated Plan regulations require local governments to identify and describe housing and community development needs and priorities and to establish a comprehensive 5 year strategy for addressing those needs with federal and other resources. The Consolidated Plan replaces the previously required Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy, combining several separate planning and application submissions into a single document. For the first year of the plan, the City of Norwich is requesting 1,291,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. This money will be used to finance housing, community development, and support service activities planned for fiscal year 1995 through 1996.
For Norwich, the first year of the consolidated planning process is reflective of the past citizen participation process merged with a newer and broader planning process.
In December of 1995, the City kicked off its consolidated planning process by sponsoring a "Walk-A-Mile" campaign. The purpose was to gather residents, social service providers, business representatives and City representatives to "Walk-A-Mile" in different sections of the City. The "Walk-A-Mile" was held again in May, 1995.
Public meetings were conducted to discuss needs and eligibility requirements by the Community Development Advisory Committee. On June 6, 1995 a public hearing was held to solicit additional input on housing and community development needs, programs and activities.
On May 15, 1995, the City Council held a public hearing to discuss development needs and specific activities designed to address those needs.
On June 9, 1995, a public comment period began with newspaper advertisements
that specified goals and recommended funding levels for various activities.
Copies of the draft Consolidated Plan were made available at City offices, the
public library, and the Regional Planning Agency. The public comment period was
open until July 10, 1995.
The City of Norwich, an old architecturally significant city, is a distressed municipality, and like most urban centers is surrounded by upper and middle income bedroom communities. Most neighborhoods targeted in Norwich's Consolidated Plan are densely populated and plagued with problems including: abandoned and/or blighted housing, poorly maintained infrastructure and vacant buildings. The lack of economic stimulus, downsizing of the military and closing of the Norwich State Hospital has placed a great burden on the City's human service system.
According to the 1990 census data, the median household income for the State was $41,721; for the region $37,488; and for the City of Norwich $29,354.
The lower than average median household income coupled with the fact that almost 50 percent of the City's housing stock was built prior to 1940 indicate a City on the verge of crisis.
The number of vacant and/or under-utilized residential, commercial and
industrial buildings create an unstable tax base. In addition, due to the lack
of regional programs and responsibility the City of Norwich provides a
disproportionate share of social services to meet the needs of the regions lower
income population.
The 1990 Census shows that Norwich has 16,472 housing units, 9.0 percent of which are vacant. Most vacant units are either available for rent or ownership and if in need of rehabilitation, would be habitable. A significant number of households are severely cost burdened. There are also a large number of persons living in over-crowded conditions.
Almost 50 percent of Norwich's housing was constructed prior to 1940, 69 percent before 1960 and 90 percent to 1980. The age of the housing stock lends favorably to the architectural and historical significance of the area but often places a severe economic burden on those residents least able to afford the costs of maintenance. Due to the age of the housing, number of rental units and lower than average median household income of Norwich residents many of the older homes are in violation of housing codes.
Due to the aging housing stock, and number of vacant residential dwelling units there is a significant need to rehabilitate the City's existing housing stock as a means to stabilize neighborhoods and provide decent affordable housing. The cost of rehabilitation of homeowner units frequently exceeds the means of the homeowner whose income fall below the median. A high percentage of the homeowner households experiencing cost burden problems are elderly homeowners.
According to 1990 Census data Norwich and New London County as a whole had adequate vacancy rates within their housing stock to provide for a range of choice in housing. The vacancy rates for Norwich's owner-occupied units was 4.9 percent and 4.3 percent for renter occupied units.
The median value of owner-occupied housing for New London County according to 1990 Census data, was $149,200 and $125,200 for the City of Norwich. The median monthly rent for the area was $493 and $444 in Norwich.
Although the housing costs were lower than the area median, income levels in Norwich were also significantly lower.
In Norwich 73 percent of extremely low income households pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing - more than half are severely burdened, paying 50 percent of their income on housing costs. The majority of residents who are cost-burdened are renter households. Although it was estimated that only 153 extremely low income units were owner-occupant households, 100 percent of these were occupied by elderly residents.
Overcrowding is a problem in Norwich with 31 percent of all large renter households living in overcrowded conditions. Housing costs and an increasing number of vacant and condemned units appear to be the cause of the problem.
The estimated homeless population, based upon data collected by shelters servicing the city is 613. This includes 444 persons in homeless families. Emergency shelters provided shelter for 446 persons and transitional facilities provided shelter for 167 persons.
Many of the homeless persons the City provides shelter for are new to the Norwich area or have relocated to the City for their social service needs.
The number of persons in transitional housing and success of the programs indicate a need for additional transitional housing - located within the region.
The City of Norwich has 2,114 publicly assisted units -37 percent of the regions total.
The Housing Authority manages 686 units of assisted housing, 283 units of elderly housing and 403 family units. There are 52 families and 24 elderly persons on a waiting list.
The authority administers 280 Section Certificates, 190 for private market use. The State administers 201 certificates and vouchers within the City.
The waiting list for Section 8 is closed at present.
Norwich has identified the age of the housing stock as a significant barrier to affordable housing. While the majority of the buildings are structurally sound there is an increasing need for maintenance, rehabilitation and modernization.
In addition, the Public Housing Authority has indicated a need to develop a Family Self-Sufficiency Program which is necessary for Norwich to obtain additional Section 8 tenant-based assistance.
As an older city with an aging housing stock Norwich is ranked number 6 in the state for potential incidence of lead paint. The use of lead-based paint was suspended in 1979 but HUD estimates that 90 percent of the housing units built prior to 1940 will contain lead-based paint; 80 percent of the units built between 1940 and 1959 will have lead; and 62 percent of those constructed between 1960 and 1979 will have lead.
In Norwich, 90 percent of the housing stock was constructed prior to 1980. Estimates suggest that 5,698 renter units and 625 owner units are at risk.
There is a clear need to provide a proactive prevention and abatement program which would significantly reduce the risk of lead paint poisoning.
Norwich has developed a detailed outline of its community development needs. Below is a summarized list of non-housing needs drawn from this:
Neighborhood Revitalization - maintaining housing quality and choice, providing infrastructure, recreational facilities, and improving the neighborhood environments.
Human Service Needs - increase economic opportunities, coordinate services especially for education, employment, and youth services.
Economic Development - provide job training and development, expanding the job base encouraging development.
Norwich is committed to providing growth with stability, direction with
purpose, the aptitude for change, the ability to listen to its citizens, to
remain abreast of all beneficial regional, state and federal programs and to
strive for economic stability.
Norwich's goal is to provide a decent and suitable living environment for its residents by providing safe affordable housing and economic opportunities. These goals are consistent with HUD's goal for community planning and development.
An estimated $10,115,000 is needed to address Norwich's priority needs for housing, homelessness and community development over the 5 years of the Consolidated Plan.
Norwich has identified the following as long-term housing and community development objectives.
The focus of Norwich's priorities is to provide for stabilization of its existing population and revitalization of its neighborhoods. Norwich strongly believes that investing funds in specific areas, grass roots efforts and neighborhood/resident based activities will be most beneficial to the City's revitalization.
Norwich estimates the cost of meeting its priority housing needs at 5,875,000 over 5 years. These priorities focus on eliminating code violations in low to moderate income renter and owner-occupant housing units.
The total cost of meeting Norwich's priority community development needs over the period of the Consolidated Plan is $4,240,000.00.
Public Facility Needs - $250,000 Infrastructure Improvements - 1,200,000 Public Services - 865,000 Accessibility - 200,000 Historic Preservation - 400,000 Other - 350,000 Planning - 875,000
Norwich's plan for reducing poverty includes the following:
Norwich provides a wide array of social, and health services and has become a lead community in the region for individuals and families of low income.
Resources available for Consolidated Plan activities include the following:
The Office of Development is responsible for the activities in this plan.
The Community Development Office and City Council work cooperatively with the
Community Development Advisory Committee, an appointed committee representing
various neighborhoods, throughout the year.
During the 1995-1996 fiscal year, the City of Norwich proposes to use its CDBG budget of $1,291,000 to fund the following:
The City of Norwich Community Development Office is the lead agency for all CDBG funds. The office will work closely with the Department of Social Services and the Department of Public Works on numerous projects.
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. in addition: a table provides information about the project(s).
MAP 6 depicts neighborhood streets, points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects, as described in the table under MAP 5.
