Tampa, Florida, population 282,848, is located in central Florida, on the west coast. Its economy includes industry, banking, agriculture, and tourism. To improve the quality of life for low and moderate income persons, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded the City of Tampa entitlement, housing, and other community development funds. It is the City's intent to continue City-wide revitalization within the community development eligible areas.
In the past, the City of Tampa has expended Federal funds for housing rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements, park and recreational facilities, public services throughout the City, and for other activities considered essential to the comprehensive revitalization of neighborhoods. These limited resources have been directed toward the provision of services that benefit low and moderate income residents and as a local match for other grant programs.
For the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 1995, the City of Tampa's One Year Action Plan uses four Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs to address immediate needs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESGP), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). Funding for these programs is anticipated to be $9,446,047.
Citizens' committees and public and private providers of community services
met to identify Tampa's housing and community development needs. A county-wide
committee of citizens, business and government representatives and social
service organizations carried out needs assessments. In addition, sixty
private, public and non-profit organizations participated in the development of
the Enterprise Community Strategic Plan. Citizen-appointed committees conducted
18 public meetings. Meeting participants assessed the social and economic needs
of the City and recommended ways to improve the social and economic welfare of
the City. These recommendations are incorporated into the Consolidated Plan.
The City of Tampa, located on Tampa Bay in western Florida, is home to 284,848 people living in 129,681 year-round housing units. Mean household income for owner- occupied units is $39,350, and for renter-occupied units it is $20,345. Female-headed households comprise 15.1% of total households. Elderly households comprise 32.6 % of low-income households.
Population is distributed as follows: 25% Black, 70.9% White, 15% Hispanic
(included in count of Black and White), and 4.1% other. Unemployment (1990) was
6.7%; however, unemployment among youth from low-income families was 28%.
Educational attainment may be a barrier to employment for some residents; many
Tampa residents are lacking a high school diploma. In Tampa's inner city 46% of
the residents between ages 16-19 are non-high school graduates; 53% of the adult
residents 25 years or older do not have a high school diploma. An estimated
65,000 adults or more county adults, concentrated in the inner City of Tampa and
in public housing projects, read at the 8th grade level or below.
The City is experiencing an increase in its vacant housing, low income renters, and multifamily units. The average number of net new housing units built each year from 1985 to 1990 was 1,720; this production rate exceeds the rate needed to produce the 626 new housing units estimated to be needed each year through the year 2000. While new housing is being produced, there are neighborhoods experiencing accelerated rates of deterioration, and many households have unmet housing needs.
The City's housing needs are concentrated among those households typically not served by the private housing market: households with low or modest incomes, households lacking the criteria for obtaining a mortgage, households requiring special accommodation because of disability or need for special services, such as the mentally ill, the mentally retarded, persons with AIDS, or the frail elderly.
In 1990 there were 129,681 year-round dwelling units in the City of Tampa. This number represents an increase of 28,885 units (28.7%) over the number of dwelling units counted in 1970. A net decrease in housing units occurred in Tampa Heights, College Hill, Jackson Heights, Belmont Heights, West Tampa, and Hyde Park; these correlate with the areas of lowest reported property values. Large, multi-unit structures increased by 20,507 since 1970, nearly 345%. Much of the single family housing stock is rented.
The Tampa housing inventory includes 60% single family homes, 6.5% duplexes, 30.4 multifamily, 3.9 mobile homes. Multifamily homes are expected to increase to 32% by the year 2000, while other housing types will only undergo some replacement (2,240 units of replacement housing vs. 4,023 net new units).
Vacancies are increasing, up to 11.5% from 5.8% in 1970. In an earlier five-year period, 1985-1990, 8600 units were constructed. While housing production is expected to slow, ample land, nearly 1500 acres, is available for residential construction.
While new housing has been produced in Tampa, low income areas experienced a net decrease in housing units. Vacancy rates have increased, and the number of low-income persons in the community has increased. Tampa needs additional low-income housing and has adequate undeveloped residential-zoned land for new housing; however, the public and the private sector have not been able to supply enough affordable housing to keep up with the need. In 1990, 12,931 Tampa households, almost 10% of all Tampa households, had an unmet need for affordable housing at 25% of income-to-housing cost ratio. While public and subsidized housing and rental assistance meets the needs of 7.7% of Tampa's households, a waiting list of 4713 (1987) indicates that the supply of units and rental assistance from the public sector also has not kept up with the need for affordable housing assistance.
In Tampa the unmet need for housing is greatest among people whose income is in the low, very low, and extremely low income categories. Persons with special needs for housing, such as the disabled and the mentally ill have a particularly difficult time, given the nature of their disabilities and illnesses.
There is a need for the development of programs and policies that encourage and help people to become homeowners, due to the patterns often associated with urban decline. To meet the need the City must work with the private sector over the years.
The City intends to use CDBG, HOME, ESG and HOPWA funds to undertake activities to address emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless individuals and families. Additionally, the City will use federal funds to prevent low-income individuals and families with children from becoming homeless, to help homeless persons make the transition to permanent housing and independent living and to address persons with special housing needs. Participants identified gaps and limitations in services needed by the homeless, during a series of workshops held in 1993 and 1994 (sponsored by the Hillsborough County Coalition for the Homeless). Gaps in services were most evident in emergency shelter, particularly for those who could not afford the prepayment of shelter costs required after 1-2 nights. Meals, transportation assistance, day shelter, and cold weather shelters were also identified as problems.
Besides these general needs, the City has no supervised shelter facilities for the homeless mentally ill, homeless people who suffer from mental illness may be found sleeping outdoors. However, the mentally ill homeless are given shelter and turned away only when shelters are at capacity. Slowness of processing, and the requirement for county residency as a condition for health care are harmful to clients needing psychiatric assistance. Delays may result in rapid deterioration of their condition, if they can't get the medications they need in time. Similarly, the needs of homeless persons debilitated by substance abuse are not met, due to a lack of adequate treatment and rehabilitation programs. The Long Range Plan discusses these and other gaps in detail. It includes a plan to address them cohesively, through improved case management, coordination of programs, and supportive service for transition from homelessness.
In 1990, the City of Tampa had a total of 10,062 subsidized housing units representing 7.7% of all dwelling units in the City. Participants in the Section 8 program are 92% female, while those in Public housing are 65% female. Participants in the Section 8 program are 35% Black, while participants in the Public Housing program are 79% Black. Children (under age 18) make up 48% of the public housing occupants. Tampa's population is 25% Black, 52% female, and 23% under age 18; these figures suggest that minorities, youth and females are disproportionately represented in subsidized housing programs. In 1987, 4713 applicants were on the waiting list for rent subsidies (Section 8 Program).
| Public Housing | 5,046 |
| Section 8 Existing | 1,611 |
| Section 8 Vouchers | 401 |
| Other subsidized (including Section 8) | 3,004 |
| Total | 10,062 |
|---|
Financing is the key determinant of demand for housing. For the vast majority of citizens, existing financing mechanisms work well. But some are confronted by significant barriers when it comes to obtaining housing financing. These barriers include: complexities involved in financing, accessibility to commercial lending institutions, discrimination, credit problems and down payment requirements.
Some barriers to affordable housing are created by government, particularly in the area of regulations and fees. A 1994 study identified three factors that increase costs, pushing housing out of reach of low and moderate income purchasers: development fees, including permits, connection, and impact fees and such prepaid fees as street lights, fuel costs, and infrastructure bonds; turnabout time of permitting, since the cost of interest is passed on to the home buyer; unnecessary regulations/procedures, many of which are not actually applicable to affordable housing, yet the approval and/or waiver process adds additional time to project completion.
The City has adopted an Affordable Housing Incentive Plan that identifies "affordable housing projects" and streamlines the permitting processing time for them. The City is also investigating which fees to reduce and which regulations, policies, and procedures to modify to accommodate affordable housing development.
All City residents will be afforded the opportunity to purchase or rent housing free from discrimination because of race, sex, disability, ethnic background, age, marital status, or family composition. The City will continue to enforce its Fair Housing Ordinance to provide protection from housing discrimination for all City residents.
The policy of the City of Tampa is to provide Women and Minority Business Enterprises (W/MBE) with equal City contracting opportunities and to tangibly increase W/MBE participation in City construction-related and procurement activities. The Women and Minority Business Enterprises Ordinance sets forth the rules and regulations established by the City to ensure that W/MBE participation within the workplace is protected, that City procurement is documented, and that a directory of W/MBE services is prepared.
The City of Tampa has long been aware of the adverse effects of lead-based paint. Over 62% of the City's housing structures were built prior to 1970. An estimated 53,000 of these, over two-thirds of those units with potential hazards, are occupied by people whose income is in the low, very low and poverty income category. The inspection and testing of lead-based paint hazard are explicitly stated in the City's redevelopment construction contract.
Housing for Severely Disabled Residents
Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located, has 20,893 severely disabled residents (1989). This is the second highest number of all Florida counties. The lack of affordable and accessible housing, transportation, and limited availability of personal care attendant services represent major gaps in service delivery to disabled adults. Many more disabled adults could become self sufficient and more independent with housing adapted to their individual needs.
Many disabled adults encounter serious problems in securing affordable housing that can be adapted to individual disabilities. Availability of barrier-free housing for persons with disabilities in Hillsborough County was reported a problem for 80% of the 1988/89 survey sample of the Assessment of the Housing Needs of Individuals with Mobility Impairments. For 65% it was a moderate to severe problem. Some affordable barrier-free housing in impoverished areas is located away from the training and employment opportunities for the disabled; 74% of those surveyed reported that location of such housing was undesirable to them.
Accessible units are needed in public and private housing complexes, in congregate and transitional housing and in group homes. Housing programs to meet special needs include Congregate Living Situations in which residents can share skills, strengths and attendant care; Transitional Housing Programs where newly disabled persons can learn skills for independent living in a residential setting: Group Homes for the mentally ill and mentally retarded; and Accessible Units in Public and Private Housing Complexes.
Housing for Persons with AIDS
The number of reported cases of AIDS in the combined Tampa-St. Petersburg Metropolitan Area is 4063. Those who suffer from the disease lose the ability to pay for and maintain adequate housing. As a result, communities look to families, charitable organizations and public agencies to provide housing assistance.
Public services are a priority need within the City. Services that fall outside the range of traditional social services, including some programs for drug awareness and prevention, after-school athletic activities and educational/skills enhancement are particularly needed. The city's funding support strongly influences the viability of many of these programs.
Improvements to public facilities are another area of priority, including street improvements, alleviation of conditions of flooding, sidewalks, and improvements to parks and recreation areas. Renovations to community and athletic centers in low and moderate income neighborhoods are also needed.
The Action Plan is implemented through a combination of public, private and
non-profit organizations.
The City's Consolidated Plan provides an in depth analysis of the housing and community development needs, the City's vision for its future, and the strategies the City has developed to achieve its vision and meet the needs of its people. The One Year Action Plan identifies projects the City intends implementing to address the needs identified. Over the next year, the City intends to operate programs and projects designed to foster and maintain affordable housing.
Most needs must be addressed at the neighborhood and community level. Communities provide the framework that fashions large government programs into effective tools for change. Clear connections to the region, between neighborhoods and within communities are essential. Preserving usable public space and local history and establishing thriving neighborhood centers are essential to fostering healthy communities. Integrated economic development, housing, and social programs should always enhance local identity and community. To regenerate neighborhood economic activity, the City must find ways to rebuild its pool of local entrepreneurial talent. Community banks and loan programs aimed at supporting small businesses can ensure that this talent pool has access to capital. In addition, non-profit organizations can help potential business owners start a business, manage a business, and respond to changing market conditions.
The City's affordable housing goals, programs and policies attempt to elevate poverty level families, who ordinarily would not couldn't afford decent, safe housing, into responsible disciplined homeowners. It is anticipated that many poverty level families can participate in the City's programs and participate with members of the Mayor's Challenge Fund Partnership to attain the skills necessary to become a responsible homeowner. With skills in areas of budgeting, taxes, insurance and financing, the families will be better equipped to improve their lifestyle and attain a higher quality of housing.
The City of Tampa intends to use HOME funds for homebuyers. The HOME funds subsidy will be secured by a mortgage and note along with the required deed restrictions to insure the affordability term. Also, the City will use the provision of right of first refusal to further enforce the required mandatory provision. The right of first refusal allows the City the discretion to assign the right to purchase the property at terms that result in a fair return to the seller and affordable monthly payments to the buyer. The total amount of HOME subsidy will come due and payable upon a transfer of ownership interest during the 15 year affordability term and 20 years for new construction.
Non-housing priorities addressed in the Action Plan include support for disabled persons, children, abused spouses, youth services, health services, improvements to recreation facilities, and other services. Funds are also provided for rehabilitation program delivery services.
The City has carried out programs and policies that reduce housing costs thus allowing a greater number of poverty level families to participate the City's housing programs. These measures to reduce costs are intended to enable poverty level families to spend drastically less income for higher quality housing.
The City's approved Consolidated Plan for fiscal years 1995-1997 specifically identifies the resources available to address the priority needs and specific objectives identified in the action plan. The Activity and Fund Allocation table of the Consolidated Plan identifies the proposed housing activities and the federal, state and local resources available to address the identified needs. Additionally, the table identifies the private and non-federal funds available to leverage the limited amount of federal resources.
Federal Funds are also used to provide local match for Title XX funding and for Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services Developmental Training Services Funds. The Funds maximize the number of clients served by public service agencies.
Funding Sources to address the City's priority need and objectives identified in the strategic plan for the 1995-1996 program year include $358,000 CDBG Rehabilitation Loan Program income; $2,000 CDBG sale of property, $300,000 Home Rehabilitation Loan Repayments, $273,393 Unprogrammed Prior Year's Income not previously reported, and $9,065,385 Entitlement grant including reallocated funds.
The Consolidated Plan is carried out through a combination of public, private and non-profit organizations. Housing and Community Development needs are developed from citizen committees, from public and private providers of community services, and from need assessments that have been accomplished by a county-wide committee of citizens, businessmen, government representatives and social services organizations. Public hearings pertaining to the needs for services and allocation of resources are conducted by the Tampa City Council. The Council approves the broad application of grant funds for various purposes agreed to in the Consolidated Plan.
Plan development and execution is provided by various Departments of the City of Tampa. The Budget Office and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) share joint responsibility for plan development. The CRA is a division within the Department of Housing and Development Coordination and is charged with executing the City's housing programs. Other departments of the City such as Parks, Recreation and Public Works incorporate various aspects of the plan in their operating budgets and plans.
The City's housing and community development programs are integrated with
those of the State of Florida through the Florida Department of Community
Affairs and the Florida State Housing Finance Agency. Tampa has been selected
as a model program participant in the State Housing Initiatives Partnership
(SHIP) program and the State HOME affordable housing program. Tampa is one of
five Florida cities in the State Urban Partnership Initiative for Economic
Development. The cooperation with the State enhances the institutional
structure for the delivery of affordable housing and economic expansion.
The City of Tampa strives continually to eliminate obstacles to housing. To remove the obstacle of access to financing, the City supports the Mayor's Challenge Fund Partnership. The Partnership is a joint effort between the City of Tampa and local lending institutions to provide low cost home repairs and purchase loans to many of Tampa's very low, low and moderate income households. Also, it is a key leveraging tool with several State and Federal housing programs. Key projects include:
To address the lead-based paint hazard, the City has engaged the services of Environmental Resource Consultants, a local state certified lead-based paint tester and abater. The City will continue to inspect and test for lead-based paint hazards as part of its ongoing housing program.
The City of Tampa intends to provide the opportunity for direct financial assistance to all income qualified residents within the City's jurisdictional boundaries.
The Budget Office and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) share joint responsibility for plan development. The CRA is a division within the Department of Housing and Development Coordination and is charged with executing the City's housing programs. Other departments of the City such as Parks, Recreation and Public Works are called upon as required to incorporate various aspects of the plan in their operating budgets and plans.
| City-wide Rehabilitation Loan Program | 130 | housing units |
| Direct Homeownership Assistance | 130 | units |
| Facilities for Aids Patients, Senior Citizens roof, plumbing, and emergency repairs | 2180 | persons |
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.
James Stefan
Budget Director, City of Tampa
306 E. Jackson St.
Tampa, Florida 33602
tel: (813) 274-8111
