The City of Fort Walton Beach Consolidated Plan provides a program for community development through infrastructure improvements, public services to low/moderate income families and housing opportunities through joint programs with non-profit organizations. The One-Year Action Plan provides for the funding of $242,000 in Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) funds towards these program areas.
In preparing the Consolidated Plan, the City of Fort Walton Beach sent a detailed survey to the charitable organizations in the City that provide services to low/moderate income residents. The purpose of the survey was to obtain information in preparation of the needs assessment portion of the Plan. In order to obtain citizen input in the formulation of the Plan, City staff held two advertised public hearings to inform the citizens about the CDBG program and to obtain citizen input on the community needs within the City.
Proposals for funding were reviewed and funding recommendations made with the assistance of a Citizens Advisory Committee. The proposed funding recommendation within the 1995 Action Plan reflects the recommendation of the committee without revision.
A summary of the proposed Consolidated Plan along with a public hearing date
to discuss the proposed Plan was published in the local newspaper (Northwest
Florida Daily News) on June 29, 1995. The proposed plan was revealed at an
advertised public meeting on July 17, 1995. A thirty-day (30) public review and
comment period was provided from June 29 to July 28. The City Council
considered and approved the proposed Consolidated Plan at an advertised public
hearing on August 1, 1995.
The Greater Fort Walton Beach area has a population of approximately 85,000 with an estimated 21,980 living within the City limits. Peak seasonal population of the City is estimated to be 23,600. Comparison of the 1990 and 1980 Census figures show that the City has experienced a moderate increase in population of approximately 3 percent.
Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field(military installations), are the two major employers in the area. The City also has an industrial park which contains many defense contracting firms and provides employment for many residents. The local military establishments has survived repeated attempts to be down-size by the Base Realignment Committee
The median household annual income for Fort Walton Beach is $32,265. Of the
total households within the City, approximately 86 percent fall into the low,
low or moderate income ranges. Approximately 48 percent of the very low, low
and moderate income households housing expenses exceed 30 percent.
Additionally, approximately 50 percent of the very low, low and moderate income
households experience some housing problems including such items as overcrowdingand physical defects.
The City has seen an increased demand for housing rehabilitation assistance for low/moderate income families. The aging housing stock is considered affordable for low/moderate income families, however; rehabilitation of these homes are frequently cost prohibitive. The City will therefore contain to utilize CDBG funds to help meet this ongoing need.
The total number of dwelling units within the City in 1995 is 9,344 and is dominated by single family dwelling units 72.5 percent. The balance is comprised of multi-family units 26.6 percent and mobile homes 0.87 percent. Approximately 61 percent of the housing stock is owner occupied and 39 percent is renter occupied. Over 50 percent of the housing stock is greater than 20 years old. Over 50 percent of the housing stock is valued between $45,000 and $75,000 with the median value being $65,200. The median monthly cost of a house with a mortgage is $566 within the City.
Over 50 percent of the housing stock within the City is considered affordable. The need identified is for funding to improve these existing houses to provide safe, sanitary decent housing.
The Okaloosa Coalition on the Homeless, Inc. compiled survey data on the homeless within the Fort Walton Beach area. The Coalition's data indicates that there are 305 homeless persons on any given day in the "catchment area" including the City of Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County and Walton County. Composition of the homeless population is diverse, however; the trend is shifting from a predominance of the traditional transient homeless to homeless families with children, mentally ill, etc.
The priority rank order of the most important unmet needs of the homeless in the Fort Walton Beach area are:
The Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority(FWBHA) provides 174 units of town-house style low- income housing units on two(2) project sites. The units experience a 100 percent occupancy and there is a waiting list to fill any vacancies. The FWBHA has received a $3 million commitment from HUD to construct an addition fifty (50) public housing units. The FWBHA housing units are considered to be in good condition. This is the result of an investment of approximately $900,000 in Comprehensive Improvement Assistance Program(CIAP) funds during 1992/93. The CIAP funds were used for unit modernization, asbestos abatement and lead based paint removal. The FWBHA has applied for additional CIAP funds for 1995/96 in the amount of $311,233 for additional facility upgrades and improvements to the residential units.
The FWBHA also operates the Section 8 Program. Currently there are 286 total increments of rental assistance funded through the Section 8 Program. This includes two hundred (200) Certificate and eighty-six (86) Vouchers. As of June 1995, there is a waiting list of approximately 100 families for units within the FWBHA projects and 250 families waiting for Section 8 assistance. The Housing Authority Administration does not anticipate any loss of units from this program.
The 1994 Comprehensive House Affordability Strategy(CHAS) indicated that
approximately 2,900 low and very-low income households within the City are at
the highest risk for lead-based paint hazards due to the age of the housing
units. The actual number of units with this type of hazard is low due to the
number of units which have gone through abatement procedures such as painting,
new siding, new cleanable floor covering and new windows.
For the five-year planning period, the City will continue to fund the Residential Rehabilitation program. There is currently a waiting list of forty-one (41) families on a waiting list for rehabilitation assistance. The City will further continue to fund public facility improvements within the CDBG Target Area. These improvements will consist of road improvements, potable water and sanitary sewer improvements, sidewalk installations and parks & recreation improvements.
As per citizen input, the desire for funding public service entities is very strong. The City will therefore continue to fund non-profit sub-recipients who provide services to low/moderate income persons/families and the homeless.
The City further recognizes the need to provide affordable housing opportunities to very low, low and moderate income families. In this regard the City will allocate funding to acquire property for non-profit organizations whose mission is the construction of homes for low income families. Such funding is proposed for Program Year 1995 (Fiscal Year 1995/96). If this program is successful, the City will continue funding this project in subsequent years through the planning period.
The City of Fort Walton Beach is responsible for the all the Consolidated
Plan activities. The City receives funding only through the CDBG Program.
The City of Fort Walton Beach One-Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of $242,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds. These funds will be spent as follows;
| Administration | $48,400 | (20%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearance | $6,600 | ||
| Acquisition/Disposition | $30,000 | ||
| (Habitat for Humanity) | |||
| Residential Rehabilitation | $28,000 | ||
| Public Services | $36,300 | (15%) | |
| 1. Catholic Social Services | $5,000 | ||
| 2. Chester Pruitt Recreation | $9,000 | ||
| 3. Head Start | $10,000 | ||
| 4. NAUTA | $5,000 | ||
| 5. Love Center | $7,300 | ||
| Public Facilities | $97,300 | ||
| 1. Boys & Girls Club Addition | $19,000 | ||
| 2. Love Center AC & Water heater | $3,700 | ||
| 3. Chester Pruitt Center | $70,000 |
All funding will be targeted with the established CDBG Target Areas with the exception of Residential Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation assistance is available to all citizens of the City provided they meet low/moderate income qualifications.
The City's housing goals for the first year is to provide rehabilitation assistance to at least four(4) single family homes for low/moderate income families. The City also is looking forward to assisting Habitat for Humanity in acquiring six (6) vacant lots in which to construct six (6) homes for low/moderate income families.
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 proposed HUD funded projects at street level for one neighborhood; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).
Ms. Susanne Sims
CDBG Planner
City of Ft. Walton Beach
P.O. Box 4009
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549
(904) 243-3141
