The Consolidated Plan also includes an action plan constituting an application for funds of $342,000 under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. An additional sum of $100,000 is being requested from the State of Florida.
During the Consolidated Plan's preparation, the City solicited ideas from the residents of its low income neighborhoods, its social service agencies, public housing authority, and departments, as well as holding public hearings. Once the draft of the Consolidated Plan was prepared, there was a thirty day public comment period, as well as a public hearing to receive public comments on the City's proposed use of funds. During this period the draft was available for public review at the city as well as in the City's library. Two initial public hearings to report on the performance of the City's existing programs, the citizen participation process, and citizen input on housing and community development needs were held on February 7, 1995.
In addition, the City prepared a "Citizens Assistance Packet" to
assist citizens and organizations in this process. This packet contains
information on what these grant funds can be used for, and provides a project
application form for use in requesting funds. The City also provides a limited
range of technical assistance to answer questions about the program or to assist
in preparing an application for funding.
Winter Haven is the second largest city in Polk County with a 1990 population of 24,725 persons, representing 6.1% of the county's total. The City's housing mix reflects its urban character with a much higher percentage of multifamily housing than the County. Multifamily units make up 36% of the City's total 12,752 housing units. Mobile home units, largely inhabited by retirees, account for an additional 15%. The increasing presence of retirees is noted by the City's 1990 residential median age of 43 to the 1980 median age of 36 and a lower percent of working age persons in 1990, 48% to 54% in 1980.
47.5% of all households in Winter Haven earned 95% or less of the MSA's
median family income of $28,540 and are considered low or moderate income
households. Ethnic households which exceeded the citywide percentage of lower
income households included Black (non-Hispanic), 68%; Native American, 69%; and
Hispanic (all races), 65%. Go to Maps.
In 1990, 59% of the City's 10,902 households were owner occupants, while 41% were renters. The City has a higher percentage of renters than Polk County's 30%, and the statewide average of 33%. Approximately 30% of all households in the City experience some housing problems usually attributable to cost burden. This problems relates to some 47% of the 4,461 renter households and 19% of the 6,441 owner occupants. The housing cost burden is most prevalent for 2,865 low and moderate income households accounting for 26% of all households in the City. This number also includes, 1,305 or 25% of all elderly households in the City.
Of the City's 12,752 housing units in 1990, 86% or 10,941 units were occupied. Fifty- seven percent were occupied by owners, and 43% by renters. Of the 14% of all units which were vacant, 34% were for rent, 14% were for sale, and 52% were not on the market. The vacancy rate of owned units was 1.9% (254 vacant units were for sale) while the vacancy rate for rental units was 11.6% (617 vacant units were for rent).
The affordability of housing units for ownership is measured by comparing value of the dwelling to total income of the occupants. This measure should not exceed 2.5 times the household income. Given this criteria, 44.7% of the 6,256 owner occupied units were affordable to low income persons earning 80% or less of the median. 16.7% were affordable to very low income persons (50% of median) and 5.8% were affordable to those earning 30% or less of the median. Of the vacant housing units for sale, 80 unit or 31% of the 254 units were affordable to those earning less than $24,000. Twenty-seven units or 11% were affordable for very low income persons earning $15,000 or less per year. Of all the owner units in the City with three or more bedrooms, 38% (1,328 units) were affordable for low income household, except only 16 units were for sale. This data indicates that the demand of families with children for sufficient housing size cannot be fully met, and that there are limited opportunities for the 4,251 households in the City considered very low income. This segment of the population includes not only minority persons but many elderly and disabled families who may require additional improvements to the dwelling to make it suitable for their needs.
For rental units (affordable criteria should not exceed 30% of a household's income), 81% of the City's 4,685 renter occupied units were affordable to low income residents earning less than 80% of the ears's median family income. Only 30% of the occupied rental units were affordable to those earning less than 50% of the median (less than $15,000 per year), and only 11.5% were affordable to those earning less than 30% of the median. No three bedroom units were available for very low income households earning $9,000 or less per year.
There is also a documented need for homeownership for first time home buyers. Very low, low and moderate income households who now rent could afford mortgage payments on a home after purchase if assistance could be provided to pay for closing costs, down payment and prepayment costs.
There is no reason to believe there will be significant changes in the housing needs of current residents of Winter Haven over the next five years. Approximately 200 dwelling units will be added annually, with one-half of the units for residents 55 years of age or older. To keep up with current housing needs and projected needs, at least 14% of new units built for home ownership should be affordably priced for low income families. Based on construction trends since 1990, the targeted single-family home buyers have been those with incomes three times the median family income of $30,000 per year. Also not being met is the need for affordable rental housing. Only 10% of the housing units constructed since 1990 were built for renter occupancy. At this rate, only 100 rental units would be built in the next five years, far below the immediate need for 1,955 rental households.
There appears to be adequate facilities available to respond to the needs of homeless persons found in the Winter Haven area.
Including the Winter Haven Housing Authority's 319 units are a total of 1,023 assisted units in the City, 612 being for elderly households. The Housing Authority also administers 63 Section 8 housing vouchers and has received an additional 25 new vouchers. The remaining assisted housing is sponsored under Section 202, 221, 221(d)(3) and (4), and 236 housing programs.
As part of the update of receipt of State Housing Incentive Partnership (SHIP) program funds the City conducted a state mandated regulatory reduction assessment to ensure that the City's regulations did not impede the construction of affordable housing in April 1994. The City has also adopted regulations to allow group homes; as well assuring there was sufficient buildable land zoned residential. The City knows of no existing barriers to affordable housing.
In 1994, there were no incidence of elevated blood levels found within the City of Winter Haven. However, the City proposes to following action:
The strategic plan lays out a long-term strategy to deal with housing and community development needs.
The City has assigned its highest priority to helping its renter or owner households that have very low incomes and are paying over thirty or even fifty percent of their income for housing and/or living in substandard housing. In addition, the City has generally assigned a medium priority to helping those households with incomes between fifty one and eighty percent of the median who have slightly less of a severity of housing problems and a low priority to helping those households with incomes above eighty percent of the median.
The City intends to assist the following number of households over the next five years:
High Priority
The City of Winter Haven proposes the following non-housing CDBG priorities over the next five years:
The City of Winter Haven will continue to offer economic development loans to establish businesses in low and moderate income areas and staff will continue to guide and offer their expertise to potential businesses. Businesses that cannot be assisted with CDBG funds shall be referred to the Polk County Economic Development Council for guidance and expertise in assisting minority business development loans, small business commercial loans or any other type of loans that might be of assistance to establish a business that will help to combat poverty and bring jobs to the area.
Winter Haven, through its Community Development Office, will continue to be
the primary entity responsible for coordinating and implementing the Strategic
Plan and its programs. In most cases, funds will be passed through to
non-profit and for-profit housing providers through sub-recipient agreements for
assistance to very low, low and moderate income persons with an emphasis on
assistance to very low income households. The City has identified approximately
16 entities that will deliver and manage the specific housing assistance and
community development programs.
The action plan lays out the proposed use of the $342,000 CDBG grant, $83,018 in reprogrammed funds from FY 1994, and $142,000 in State of Florida Affordable Housing Incentives Partnership Program. Some 21 projects are listed in the plan and identified on the accompanying map. for 1995.
All of the following projects which are summarized under 11 major categories will occur in a low income area of the City:
| 1. | Public Facilities and Improvements | $ 27,500 |
| 2. | Public Services and Recreational Need | 19,180 |
| 3. | Public Facilities and Improvements | 74,700 |
| 4. | Acquisition - Habitat for Humanity | 40,000 |
| 5. | Public Services | 20,000 |
| 6. | Clearance and Demolition | 5,000 |
| 7. | Housing Rehabilitation | 135,238 |
| 8. | Home ownership assistance | 16,000 |
| 9. | Economic Development | 10,000 |
| 10. | Interim Assistance | 9,000 |
| 11. | Program Administration | 68,400 |
The lead agency is the City of Winter Haven's Office of Community Development.
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.
TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).
Lois Rash
Grants Manager
Post Office Box 2277
Winter Haven, Fl. 33883-2277
Telephone: (941) 291-5895
