The City of Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) is nicknamed the "City of Festivals." The city and county both recognize history, culture, tradition, ethnic heritage and neighborhood cohesiveness. The City of Kansas City, Kansas lies within Wyandotte County, which is one of four Kansas counties and six Missouri counties comprising the Kansas City Metropolitan area.
The Kansas City, Kansas Consolidated Plan provides a guide for the strategic focusing of the City's housing, community and economic development funds and activities. It includes a One- Year Action Plan for spending $5,291,442 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), CDBG Disaster Funds, HOME Investment Partnership Program and Emergency Shelter Grant Program funds in 1995.
The City Council is the primary decision-making body for establishing
housing policy, the 1995 budget to implement the selected policies and overall
approval of the Consolidated Plan. The City Administrator is responsible for
implementing Council policy and decisions. For 1995, the City Council and City
Administrator held several public hearings on budget and housing development
issues. Three public hearings were held after articles were published in the
local newspaper. After the second hearing, and for a 30 day period, copies of a
draft Consolidated Plan were available for public review and comment. The Plan
was approved by the City Council on August 3, 1995.
The City of Kansas City, Kansas presently covers a land area of 127.85 square miles. Based on the 1990 Census, the City has a total population of 151,488. One significant factor which has affected the City's demographics since the 1991 CHAS is the recent annexation of the County's unincorporated area. The annexation of Prairie Township, which became effective January 1, 1992, increased the City's land area by 16.6 square miles in the extreme northwestern corner of the County. Despite this annexation, the City experienced a decline in population. The most recent Census population count reveals a net loss of 9,660 persons when compared to the 1980 Census count of 161,148.
While the entire County experienced a 6% population decline during the 1980's, most of the population loss occurred in the neighborhoods located east of I-635. The total number of persons living east of I-635 decreased by 8,959 persons during the 1980's, a 10% population decrease, compared to a loss of only 1,383 persons, only a 1.7% decrease, in the area west of I-635. This figure does not consider the annexation of the Prairie Township.
The 1990 Census shows the City's White population to be the largest with a total of 99,408 (62%) of the City's total population. Blacks represent the second largest racial group with a total of 43,518 (29%) while Hispanics are the third largest with 10,737 (7%). Two percent were other minorities.
The 1990 Census reports the median household income in Kansas City, Kansas
at $23,435 yearly. This compares to $31,613 in the Kansas City Metropolitan
area (based on 1990 Census information for the Kansas City MSA). This data
indicates a considerable disparity between the median income in KCK households
and the metro-wide median household income. This disparity in household incomes
is more acute in some neighborhoods, particularly in the inner- City.
Government, manufacturing and the service industry are Wyandotte County's top three employers, employing 46% of the City's population. KCK has a labor force of over 50% of the City's total population. Despite this fact, the unemployment rate has been rising steadily since December 1992 from 6.3% to 9.6%. The yearly average unemployment rate is 7.8%.
In summary, the availability of higher paying jobs in the Kansas City metropolitan area is very limited, especially for unskilled and semi-skilled laborers. Although Kansas City is an area where housing is very affordable in comparison to other areas of the country, the majority of available jobs do not pay enough for low income households to afford area housing costs. The creation of jobs through new industry and business is essential to address housing affordability problems of this community.
Three critical housing needs as identified in the Consolidated Plan are 1) more affordable family rental housing units in standard condition; 2) financial incentives for home purchasing in areas with available affordable houses (i.e. municipal bonds, employer assisted housing, assistance with down payments on new mortgages, etc.) and 3) family supportive services.
There are 64,393 units of housing in the community, according to the 1990 Census, and only 59,673, or 92.7%, of those units were occupied. Since the 1980 Census, the vacancy housing rate in residential neighborhoods has increased by 2,689 units. This increase seems to be directly linked to the slowing real estate and rental housing market. In addition, since 1980 many properties have severely deteriorated and are uninhabitable and no longer safe for occupancy.
While the median income for all households in KCK was $15,210 in 1979, 15,202 or 25.4% of all households fell under HUD's definition of Very Low Income Households (50% of median household income or less). These households include elderly households on fixed income; single head of households with dependent children; households on public assistance; one person households of very limited income; and other households headed by persons unable to earn higher wages (i.e. disabled households). Their needs are great and of many types. Most need assistance from Family Empowerment Programs. Other priority needs include basic education; job training; day care; health services; counseling services; emergency assistance; and housing assistance. Many are not tenants of public or publicly-subsidized housing with housing needs that include decent and safe housing, and utility assistance. Very low-income homeowners are largely elderly on fixed incomes whose housing needs include emergency housing repair grants, home maintenance assistance (i.e. painting, lawn care, minor home repair), weatherization assistance and utility assistance.
In 1979 there were an estimated 24,509 or 41.0% of all KCK households that fell under HUD's definition of Low Income Households (80% of median household income or less). These households include all of the Very Low Income households in addition to 9,307 households that fell between 50% and 80% of median income. These additional households with a slightly higher income have very similar characteristics to the ones covered in the Very Low Income section. Some are households with unemployed, and under-employed persons. A few are in a position to make the transition from a tenant to a homeowner through programs like Habitat for Humanity. As such, counseling in home budgeting, purchasing, and maintenance will be needed.
Depending on family size, living style, and financial obligations, most of these households require some type of housing assistance, especially those that are cost-burdened. Many which are owner-occupied have a need for home-rehab programs; low interest home repair programs; and supportive services. Many, especially the elderly and frail elderly, express a need for more police protection, public transportation and more accessible shopping facilities.
Although the City of KCK has an abundant supply of affordable housing, there is a considerable number of cost-burdened rental households throughout the City. The eight neighborhoods east of I-635 have many modest housing units in fair and poor condition with some of the lowest rents in the metropolitan area, yet many households pay in excess of 35% of their income on housing costs. Again, much of this disparity can be attributed to low household income levels and unemployment.
(The following is an excerpt from the 1995 Kansas Emergency Shelter Grant to HUD.) Counting the number of homeless is complex since the number of persons who are homeless changes everyday. Unlike employment statistics, there are few standardized record keeping systems coordinated among homeless service providers that provide an accurate count of those persons without a permanent night-time residence. The data used to determine an estimate of the number of homeless persons in Wyandotte County are derived from the demand for homeless services from the Wyandotte County Homeless Coalition (WCHC). The 1994 Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) estimates the number of homeless at approximately 150 persons. This estimate indicates how many persons are homeless on an average day. Two Kansas City Metropolitan organizations, Swope Parkway Health Center and Uplift (a private nonprofit) that serve a large homeless population through outreach and a variety of other services, estimate the number of persons who become homeless within the metro area during the 1994 calendar year is between 15,000 and 18,000. In other words, over 15,000 persons may be found homeless for unspecified lengths of time within the Kansas City Metropolitan Area throughout the year.
Although homelessness is caused by many factors, residents are increasingly affected due to the City's high level of poverty, unemployment, poor housing conditions, persons seeking emergency housing assistance, and increasing gaps in affordability.
To date, there are over 60 shelters and agencies that serve the homeless. According to the Plan, on any average day, there are approximately 81 homeless families and 51 homeless individuals.
The total units of public housing in Kansas City, Kansas include 1,011 family units and 1,164 elderly units, 271 of which are accessible to handicapped households. The Public Housing Authority is in the process of converting 5% of the units at each family complex to handicapped-accessible units. Funding has been granted to adapt 16 units at Juniper Gardens for handicapped households, and to construct five new four-bedroom units for handicapped households.
Much of the City's public housing stock is suffering from age and obsolescence. Over 50% of the family units are over 20 years old, while 40% of the elderly units are over 15 years old. Weather and age have eroded yards, buckled asphalt and concrete, deteriorated roofs, rotted wood floors, walls, ceiling, plumbing, wiring, and appliances on interiors. As a result, units need attention and are unattractive to potential renters. To respond to this problem, the Public Housing Authority has been aggressively seeking Comprehensive Improvement Assistance funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to finance the modernization of apartments.
Presently, the City of KCK has very limited number of agencies and facilities which provide supportive housing for non-homeless persons with special needs. The State of Kansas, through the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, administers a wide range of services to meet the needs of developmentally disabled persons. Many services, including housing for the disabled, are provided by several state and private institutions for the mentally disabled. The closest state facility is located in Osawatomie, KS, approximately an hour drive from Kansas City, KS.
Currently, there are four facilities within the KCK city limits which provide supportive housing for non-homeless persons with special needs. These facilities target persons who are moderately or severely mentally disabled, frail elderly or persons who are functionally disabled and require assistance with activities for daily living, and assisting persons infected with the HIV virus and or living with the AIDS disease.
According to the Ryan White Care Consortium, the metropolitan-wide coordinating body for the use of federal funds for HIV/AIDS, there are 8,600 HIV/PLWA (Persons Living With Aids) in the seven-county metro area. The Consortium estimates that 60% of the people with HIV and 95% of PLWA require housing assistance. These persons are at-risk of becoming homeless due to the decrease or elimination of their income, employment and insurance benefits as the disease progresses. Their greatest housing assistance need is for rental assistance and information to reduce housing discrimination.
Much like the rest of urban America, inner-city areas in KCK are experiencing a familiar set of inter-related conditions associated with urban decline: population loss, excessive crime, an aging housing stock, high unemployment, deteriorating social conditions, rising concentrations of households living in poverty, and a host of other problems that are undermining once healthy neighborhoods.
Data from the 1990 Census reveals that poverty is a growing problem in KCK. There are more poor people living here now than there were a decade ago. The magnitude of the situation is illustrated by the following statistics: almost 17% of all KCK households are living below the poverty level; slightly over 23% of households living east of I-635 fall below the poverty line; and over 25% of youth 17 years and younger live below the poverty line.
There is a growing consensus among all sectors of the community, both private and public, that long-term improvement in community and neighborhood conditions cannot occur until the roadblocks to self-sufficiency among our poorest residents are removed. Furthermore, urban decline will continue to spread unless key sectors of the community implement well-targeted, mutually reinforcing policies and programs that provide the means for residents living in poverty to become productive members of society.
By the number of calls that have been received in the office of Human Resources, there is a practice of discrimination by race, sex and familia status, particularly in older parts of the city. There is an average of 500 calls on an annual basis.
Realtors play an integral role in the provision of housing in our community. Realtors can create a positive image of our community through their marketing and sales efforts. In addition, realtors have a responsibility to provide fair housing opportunities to all persons/families who seek housing in the community.
Area realtors need to become familiar with local programs for housing rehabilitation to encourage potential homebuyers to take advantage of the home improvement initiatives. Realtors should also increase communication with mortgage lenders to identify barriers to homes in the community by considering commission discounts for low-income families.
In July, 1991, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry published its Comprehensive and Workable Plan for Abatement of Lead-Based Paint in Privately Owned Housing. The report states that an estimated 74% of houses built prior to 1980 have lead-based paint somewhere in the building and 71% of all pre- 1980 housing units are occupied by families with children. Furthermore, an estimated 90% of dwelling units build before 1940 have lead-based paint in the interior or exterior, compared to 62% of homes built between 1960 and 1979.
The Wyandotte County Appraiser's Office identifies 42,064 single family housing units built prior to 1980. Of these, 15,064 are found to be in fair condition; 3,372 are in poor condition; and 376 are unsound. The City's Lead-Based Paint Reduction Plan will target these housing units and will consider them to pose a potential lead-based paint hazard when occupied by infants and minor children.
The City cannot at this time ascertain how many of these housing units are occupied by families in poverty with children seven years of age or younger, neither can it determine which units are used as rental property or how many have already been treated for lead-based paint. Nevertheless, the City, in coordination with the County Health Department will seek assistance from the State Department of Health and Environment to asses potential lead-based paint hazards in the city.
Community development needs include parks and/or recreation facilities, health facilities, parking facilities and other public facilities, infrastructure needs, public service activities including senior services, handicapped services substance abuse service, employment training, crime awareness, fair housing counseling, tenant/landlord counseling, health services, code enforcement and weed removal.
The City has defined the three year priority needs from numerous sources of
information: Public Hearings, numerous budget workshops, a City survey, a
resident survey, and community forums. The City recognizes that all needs have
not been addressed; however, in times when the citizenry are requesting lower
taxes and no budget increases, services to the community must be prioritized by
need. The City has attempted to accommodate its citizenry based on the
information received from the sources listed above.
Since the Model Cities Program of the late 1960's, the City has invested its federal housing and community development funds for important projects and programs. These programs helped renovate homes, demolish dilapidated buildings, fix furnaces, build streets, set up community centers, invest in businesses job creation, operate social service programs and facilities, and build subdivisions. The primary focus of the City's community development program, however, shifted back and forth from one priority to another, reflecting changing City Council priorities, changing Federal priorities, and responding to reductions in funding levels.
The 1995-96 Community Development Program is a transition year, caused by several factors. First, the City has a new Mayor and new members on the City Council with new priorities. Second, the City has been named an Enhanced Enterprise Community, in partnership with the City of Kansas City, Missouri, which provides special opportunities for neighborhood and economic development within the designated Enhanced Enterprise Community area. Third, this is the City's first Consolidated Housing Plan and, as required by HUD, the City is encouraged to effectively use its resources in areas of greatest need. And fourth, and perhaps most importantly, the Federal government is proposing major reductions in funding for most community development programs, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.
With these factors in mind, the City Council and Community Development Department initiated several resident surveys to seek maximum public input on what types of community development the City should be doing, and what it should not be doing. The resident input provided important priority rankings on how the City should use it limited community development funds.
A City-wide survey taken shows the highest housing and community development priorities are the demolition of unsafe buildings; housing code enforcement; neighborhood clean-up; economic development programs and fair housing counseling programs.
The transition factors, survey priorities and housing and special need priorities combine to provide the 1995 Consolidated Plan Housing Priorities: increased emphasis on demolition of dilapidated and unsafe structures; emphasis on the implementation of neighborhoods' planning and development efforts in targeted redevelopment areas and within the Enhanced Enterprise Community Area; strengthen programs that increase home ownership opportunities; continue minor housing rehabilitation programs, especially for elderly homeowners and continued funding for homeless support services and programs, especially those that assist female heads of household with children.
Other economic development initiatives include a Microloan Program to meet small business needs, a Revolving Loan Fund designed to provide fixed asset financing for business expansion, access to the SBA 502/504 Loan Programs through a Certified Development Corporation, State Enterprise Zone incentives through the State of Kansas, and City Project Financing Options including Industrial Revenue Bonds, Tax Increment Financing and a Tax Abatement Program for qualified firms.
Other services include Community Development support of the Entrepreneur Development Center to increase small business entrepreneurship, support by the Economic Development Division Staff, and the services of the Development Service Center through the permit and construction process.
The designation of the Enhanced Enterprise Community (EEC) in KCK brings several benefits which forms the City's anti-poverty strategy for 1995. The EEC benefits include $1 million in Social Service block grants to fund social service programs, housing, and job training programs; a $7.8 million Economic Development Initiative (EDI) grant to encourage economic development projects within the designated EEC area. The grant will be matched by $7.8 million in Section 108 loans guaranteed by future CDBG funds to create a $15.6 million pool available for EEC economic development and job creation through a Zone Development Fund. The Fund would be used for project and job development programs; and a Special Small Business Investment Corporation (SSBIC) to leverage private funds and provide start-up funding for small business in the Zone.
Within the KCK city limits, Federal, State, local and private programs currently provide services to the community. The primary Federal resources include CDBG funds, HOME Investment Partnership funds, Section 811, HOPWA, Section 8 and Emergency Shelter Grant Funds. Resources available from the State include Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Weatherization funds. Local resources include Mortgage Revenue Bonds and City General Funds. Private programs include a range of local agencies, lending institutions and organizations which represent different interests and constituents.
One identified gap that exists is the lack of resources for housing provided by the State thereby giving little commitment to address the City's housing issues. Other identified "gaps in services" are: the need for a shelter which is open during daytime hours, 365 days a year; need for a shelter providing shower, laundry facilities, lockers for storage, telephone access, ability to receive mail and other essential needs for job hunting; job information and temporary job opportunities; overflow bed space capacity; space within the shelters to provide homeless persons with opportunities to obtain life skills such as job hunting, learning job skills, budgeting, hygiene, etc.; information and referral service for those services not offered by individual providers; recreational equipment; based on the inability of current providers to meet the demand imposed upon their respective agencies, there is a need for increased transitional housing services and facilities; there is no transitional housing for single women without children; most of the homeless shelter and transitional housing facilities that exist cater to families, therefore, leaving a gap for single men and women; and one of the biggest barriers to permanent housing is the lack of rental subsidies available to low income persons.
The Housing and Community Development Division (HCD) serves as the lead City agency for development and implementing the Consolidated Plan. The Department is responsible for city- wide planning, zoning, code enforcement and permitting, economic development, and administration of all federal programs from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This includes the three programs included in the Action Plan of the Consolidated Plan.
Until recently, the organizations involved in the provision of housing and
supportive services have not adequately coordinated their efforts or their
resources. The City recognizes that increased cooperation and coordination is
essential to maximizing the housing and neighborhood development programs
offered in the community.
The City of Kansas City, Kansas' One-Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of $5,291,442 in CDBG, HOME and Emergency Shelter Grant funds. These funds will be spent on an array of housing, community and economic development activities including:
| Disposition of Urban Renewal Properties
| $ 3,700 | Public Facilities & Improvements
| 50,000 | Clearance Activities-Demolition
| 959,000 | Public Services
| 406,863 | Interim Neighborhood Assistance
| 224,714 | Removal of Architectural Barriers
| 115,000 | Rehabilitation of Housing
| 1,339,467 | Home Ownership Assistance
| 761,584 | Special Activities-New Construction
| 200,097 | Economic Development Activities
| 11,468 | Homeless Assistance
| 157,000 | Special Disaster Assistance
| 555,901 | Fair Housing
| 7,500 | Program Administration
| 499,128 |
| TOTAL | $5,291,442 | |
Program activity included in the One-Year Action Plan is classified in 13 categories. The budget for the Plan targets areas of benefit. These areas of benefit are 1) Redevelopment Neighborhoods: Northeast, Riverview, Armourdale and Rosedale neighborhoods; 2) Reinvestment Neighborhoods: Northwest, Kensington, Coronado/Bethel/Welborn, Shawnee and Argentine neighborhoods; and 3) Stabilization Neighborhoods: Turner Morris, Muncie, Victory Hills, Nearman Hills and Western Kansas City, Kansas. Other areas of benefit include Special Disaster and City-Wide Special Needs.
The Housing and Community Development Division (HCD) serves as the lead City agency for developing and implementing the Consolidated Plan. The Department is responsible for city- wide planning, zoning, code enforcement and permitting, economic development, and administration of all federal programs from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This includes the three programs included in the Action Plan of the Consolidated Plan.
Highlight of the City of Kansas City, Kansas' housing goals for the first year can be summed up in three categories: 1) to redevelop neighborhoods, 2) to reinvest in neighborhoods and 3) to stabilize neighborhoods. The Plan addresses these areas by increasing the supply of affordable housing for 243 households through rehabilitation, acquisition and new construction; increasing housing choice for minority or low income citizens; creating supportive housing for five households; and preventing homelessness for 1,000 at-risk households.
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 and proposed HUD funded projects, as described in the table under MAP 5.
