The City of Hialeah, incorporated in 1925, is a South Florida community at the heart of Dade County. It is close to all major forms of transportation, rich in industry, culture and a diverse and vibrant community.
The City of Hialeah has prepared a Consolidated Plan, that serves as a planning document for the jurisdiction and is an application for funding under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Planning and Development Formula Programs. The overall goals of these programs are to provide decent housing and a suitable living environment and expand economic opportunities for low and moderate income persons.
The City of Hialeah Consolidated Plan provides a strategy for housing and non-housing community development programs. It includes a one year Action Plan for spending approximately $7,373,000 of Community Development Block Grant funding (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program, Emergency Shelter Grants funds and program income for 1995. Funds will be used in the area of housing, homeless assistance, economic development, public facilities and improvements and public services.
An adopted Citizen Participation plan was followed to involve citizens in the planning process. Letters and surveys were mailed to social service agencies and housing and non-housing service providers. A public hearing was held on April 10, 1995 to receive input from citizens on housing and non-housing community development needs. On May 19, 1995 a draft Consolidated Plan was advertised and made available to citizens and service providers for a 30 day comment period. A second public hearing was held on May 31, 1995. The Plan was approved by the Mayor and City Council on June 27, 1995.
MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction.
Hialeah has developed into one of the fastest growing communities in the country. Hialeah is the fifth largest city in Florida, and Florida's second largest city in population growth. Hialeah is located in the Northwest section of Dade County and encompasses over 20 square miles of land. In May 1993, Hialeah was declared the most densely populated City in Florida and the 12th most densely populated City in the Country with 10,549 people per square mile. The population in Hialeah increased from 145,254 in 1980 to 188,004 in 1990. In 1994 the population had increased to 202,904. Hispanics comprise 87% of the population, White non- Hispanics 11%, and blacks less than 1%. The median income in 1990 was 31,112 and by 1994 had increased to $35,700. In 1990 there were 59,300 total households of which 29,964 were homeowners. Thirty-three percent of all households earned 50% or less of the median for the Miami-Hialeah Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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.
Hialeah is the number one industrial city in the State of Florida with 2,000 firms and businesses providing over 67,000 service jobs and 20,000 manufacturing jobs. Even with this industry the unemployment rate is 8.5%, which is above the State and national averages. The population is comprised mostly of immigrants of Hispanic decent, with a continuing increase in the elderly population.
There is a great need in Hialeah for construction of additional rental housing that is affordable to low and moderate income families. Certificates and Vouchers are essential and are desperately needed to serve the thousands of persons on the public housing waiting list. There are a large number of substandard units that are suitable for rehabilitation. There is a need for transitional shelters and permanent housing placement for the homeless.
Large family renters and owners with incomes below 50% of the median have the greatest housing need followed by Small families and the elderly. However large family renters account for 15% of the population while small family renters account for more than 52% of all households in Hialeah, and the elderly account for 21%.
A large majority of rental and owner occupied housing units are overcrowded due to a large number of extended families living together, though the average household size is 3.13 persons per household. There is a vacancy rate of 0.1% with little vacant land for new development.
The average cost of a site suitable for construction of a single family home is $40,000 and construction cost average $40.00 a square foot. Due to the shortage of housing and vacant land, the average rent for a two bedroom unit is $550 a month, a rent that is unaffordable to many families in Hialeah. Approximately 41% of the dwelling units in Hialeah are single family structures, 43% multifamily, 12.2% are town houses, while duplexes and mobile homes account for 2.4% and 1.3% respectively. The average used home sells for $82,000 with new construction prices ranging from $75,000 to $100,000.
The public housing authority has a waiting list of approximately 7,256 persons waiting for assistance. There are 59,300 households in Hialeah and over 32% (19,468) of those households are very low income, with 54% (more than half of all households) being very low and low income. Of the 59,300 households, 52,496 are Hispanics. Of all renter households, 49% have incomes below 51% of the median, 85.7% have housing problems (72.6% of elderly, 92.3% of small family and 98.5% of large families). 17% of owner households have incomes below 51% of the median, 74.2% have housing problems (63.3% of elderly, 81% of small family and 97.7% of large family). 37.3 % of all renters live in overcrowded housing conditions with 84.4% being large related renters earning less than 80% of the median.
It has been difficult to estimate the number of homeless persons. However studies show that in Dade County, at any one time, there are 3,900 homeless individuals and another 2,300 - 2,600 homeless persons with families.
The 1990 Census estimated a total of 84 homeless persons in Hialeah. However, based on homeless assistance programs carried out between January 1, 1994 through December 31, 1994, 71 families with 269 total persons in the families and 423 homeless individuals were assisted during this period. We found a large number of persons that are threatened with homelessness requiring job placement, counseling, and case management to help prevent homelessness. Supportive services such as meals on wheels and medical screening have become essential services in the fight to prevent homelessness.
The City of Hialeah has over 3,084 public and assisted housing units. Fifty two percent of those units are 1 bedroom units. The Hialeah Housing Authority owns and manages 1,003 of those units. There is a waiting list for public housing of 3,118 and a waiting list for section 8 certificates and vouchers of 2,848. There are no unused certificates and vouchers and no vacancies. All existing public housing units are structurally sound and there are no intentions of demolishing units. With funding from the comprehensive grant program all public housing units are being renovated to improve the quality of life for existing tenants.
Needs in the area of public and assisted housing include funding for new public housing development and an increase in rental vouchers and certificates.
The lack of land that is affordable to developers of affordable housing has become a problem in our community. Regulatory cost such as impact fees and compliance with concurrence and the State Growth Management Plan make new housing construction difficult. Zoning laws that impede certain types of development and the time it takes to change land use and zoning regulations create a barrier to the development of affordable housing. The increased cost of labor and materials, revisions to the South Florida Building and Dade County building codes, increases in permit fees and water and sewer restrictions in the County all affect and hinder affordable housing development.
The City of Hialeah follows a fair housing and equal opportunity plan to ensure that units are marketed affirmatively. This includes the requirements that the equal opportunity logo be used in all advertisement, and that units are advertised in such a way that eligible persons who are least likely to apply should try to be reached. Newspapers of general circulation are used for all advertisements. The City of Hialeah also distributes large numbers of flyers through churches and schools, places billboard advertisements, and distributes paraphernalia carrying the fair housing message.
Studies conducted by the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Service in 1992 on 79 children ages 1-3 found that the majority of children (84.5%) in Dade County had normal blood levels and no children had levels above 30ug/dL. In 1995 only 3 cases of children above 10ug/dL had been reported in Hialeah. The public housing authority has randomly tested two project built before 1978 and no lead based paint quantities that exceed HUD's minimum level were found. All housing programs screen properties to be assisted for lead based paint and provide information to the public as to the dangers of lead based paint.
The city has a need for essential public facility and infrastructure improvements such as street and roadway improvements, storm drains, lighting, landscaping, sidewalks and repaving to address blight and blighting conditions. There is a need for public service programs including education, crime prevention, transportation, health and programs for the elderly and the handicapped. There is a need to increase employment opportunities for low and moderate income persons and maximize the economic base of the neighborhoods. There is a need to beautify the central business district to create jobs and bring people to the downtown area. A code enforcement program is necessary to identify deteriorating housing structures and arrest the decline of deteriorating neighborhoods.
The City will continue to work diligently to ensure coordination with Dade County and neighboring cities. Non-profits and for profit entities are encouraged to provide input in all programs activities and services proposed to be carried out. The City provides ongoing technical assistance to non-profits and for profit entities and works to develop partnerships with area businesses and organizations.
The five years objectives include the provision of decent housing and a suitable living environment to low and moderate income persons while building economic opportunities and strengthening partnerships.
The housing priorities and goals include the following:
Provide community improvements and urban development projects such as storm drains, sidewalks, street beautification, repaving, landscaping and improve recreational areas, the industrial areas of the City, including commercial revitalization of businesses in the downtown target area.
Provide public services such as education, crime prevention, health, transportation and hot meals to the elderly, and assistance to the homeless and the handicapped.
Provide employment opportunities to create and or retain jobs and increase personal incomes. Stimulate investment of private funding sources. Provide financial assistance to business in the form of loan packaging and financial analysis to create and retain jobs for low income persons. Create a technology transfer center to develop new technologies and processes that manufactures can implement in their operations to improve productivity. Construct and develop a farmers market to provide short and long term economic development activity and create job opportunities for low and moderate income persons.
The strategy to overcome poverty includes Job Training Partnerships Act programs under Title I which provide training opportunities to older workers, Title II which provides classroom training, Title IIB which provides summer jobs for economically disadvantaged youth, Title III which provides occupational skills and training for dislocated workers, Stay in School Programs, Refugee Cash Assistance and various social service programs provided through non- profit organizations.
Resources available to City residents include federal programs such as CDBG, HOME, Emergency Shelter Grants, Section 8 certificates and vouchers, Public housing, SHIP, the Blanche Morton Neighborhood Service Center, Spinal Cord Living Assistance Development, Inc., Northwest Dade Center, Inc.., Christian Community Service Agency and a large number of county service agencies such as the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services and job training programs .
Gaps include the lack of a comprehensive range of services for the homeless and the lack of a single coordinated point of referral for persons with special needs.
The City of Hialeah will take the lead in carrying out the strategies outlined in the Consolidated Plan. The City of Hialeah will continue to work with the State of Florida and will continue to use it as a source of revenue for programs needed within the community. The City will work with Dade County and neighboring cities such as Miami, Miami Beach, and North Miami Beach to coordinate services and provide information to residents of the County.
The City will continue to work closely and coordinate efforts with non-profit organizations such as the Hialeah Housing Authority, Spinal Cord living Assistance Development, Inc., Northwest Dade Center, Inc., and private industry.
The City will be primarily responsible for implementing the goals of this plan and for monitoring service providers to ensure compliance.
MAP 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 6 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and additional proposed HUD funded projects.
Mr. Fred Marinelli
Grants Coordinator
P.O. Box 40
Hialeah, FL 33011-4789
(305) 883-5839
