Topeka is the capital of Kansas and the Shawnee County seat. Because of an out-migration from the Midwest and the closing of the military base at Forbes Field, Topeka's population increased by only 1 percent between 1980 and 1990, rising to 119,883. In its Consolidated Plan, Topeka focuses primarily on its aging housing stock and the needs of lower income renters and homeowners, with special emphasis on elderly residents.
The city's Consolidated Plan requests $2.6 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, which will be supplemented with an additional $45,000 in program income; $599,000 in HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds, which will in turn be supplemented with $149,750 in HOME local matching funds; and $94,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds.
To gain input from a variety of sources, Topeka established the Consolidated Plan Task Force, which included a cross-section from the community; local banks and realtors; and housing advocacy groups, such as the Mayor's Commission on Affordable Housing, the Homeless Task Force, and the Topeka Association of Neighborhoods. In December 1994 the commission issued a community consensus report outlining Topeka's affordable housing and community development strategy, which was used to prepare the Consolidated Plan.
Media advertising, special public hearings, and two annual public hearings on the city's Capital Improvement Program and Capital Improvement Budget offered opportunities for citizen participation in plan development. These hearings were held during Topeka City Council meetings to maximize exposure and participation. The city of Topeka Community & Economic Development Department also assigned 2 full-time citizen participation specialists to provide 15 Neighborhood Improvement Associations with technical assistance, promoting year-round involvement in community development.
In 1990 the majority of Topeka's population of 119,883 was white; 10 percent were African American; 6 percent were Hispanic; and 1 percent were Native American. Between 1980 and 1990, Topeka's poverty rate increased from 9 percent to 12 percent. Disproportionate numbers of children, female-headed families, and non-white families lived in poverty. The 1990 median family income (MFI) for Topeka was $36,000.
Of the 49,839 occupied housing units in 1990, 21,883 units were occupied by lower income households. Renters constituted 12,216 of these households, with 7,456 being very low-income (earning 31-50 percent of MFI) and 4,124 being extremely low-income (earning 0-30 percent of MFI). Homeowners accounted for the remaining 9,667 lower income households, with 4,295 being very low-income and 1,782 being extremely low-income. African Americans composed 46 percent of very low-income households, versus 21 percent for white households.
Between 1980 and 1990, the Topeka regional economy was relatively stable. Employment increased by 7.3 percent, and one-fourth of all workers were employed by the government.
Building permit information from the Topeka/Shawnee County Metropolitan Planning Agency shows that, between 1980 and 1990, 2,482 housing units were built west, southwest, and south of Topeka. However, only 811 units were built in the community development target area.
The 1990 census indicated that 10,631 of the city's total occupied units were constructed before 1940. Another 25,237 units were built before 1960. Because of their age, many housing units need rehabilitation and maintenance.
Although 61 percent of Topeka's housing stock is owner occupied, the number of homeowners decreased, falling from 28,788 in 1980 to 26,603 in 1990. During this same period, the median cost of a house increased, rising from $46,068 to $64,427.
The 1990 census reported that Topeka had 7,894 vacant units, with 3,166 being for sale or rent and 109 being seasonal. The remaining 4,619 were not on the market. A number of these vacant units cannot be rehabilitated and will be demolished.
About 77 percent of all extremely low-income renters and homeowners reported housing problems, predominantly affordability problems. More than 50 percent of all very low- income households reported similar housing problems, but only 27 percent of low-income households (earning 51-80 percent of MFI) reported problems.
Independent private and public sector initiatives have significantly benefited low-income households, creating 1,100 rental units for households earning less than 60 percent of MFI. As a result, Topeka's affordable housing programs can focus on the needs of households earning less than 50 percent of MFI. The greatest housing need is for rental units, particularly for renter households who earn less than 50 percent of MFI and pay more than half their income for rent.
Although many low-income homeowners and renters reported high rates of cost burden, 3.8 percent of renter households experienced overcrowding, versus 0.9 percent of homeowners.
The Topeka Homeless Task Force, comprising shelter and social service providers, reported that there are 1,598 homeless persons in Topeka annually. Although 341 emergency shelter beds were available in 1993, 434 additional beds were needed. Comparatively, 101 transitional housing units were available, but more than 1,000 additional units were needed.
The 1993 Breakthrough study reported that 500 housing units were needed for homeless persons with severe mental illness, who constitute 23 percent of the homeless population. Persons with alcohol and drug addictions or persons with both mental illness and substance addictions each accounted for 16 percent of the homeless population. The Shawnee Community Mental Health Center received a State grant to implement the Access to Community Care and Effective Services and Supports (ACCESS) program for homeless persons with mental illness. Victims of domestic violence accounted for 2 percent of the homeless population, and persons with HIV/AIDS accounted for less than 1 percent.
Nonprofit organizations participating in the city's continuum of care include: the Topeka Rescue Mission, Women's Recovery Center, Cornerstone, Florence Crittenton House, Mary Sheldon House, Oxford Houses, Breakthrough Living, Sheltered Living, Topeka City Homes, and the Kansas Children's Service League.
The city of Topeka and the Topeka Housing Authority operate 731 public housing units. More than half of the units are one-bedroom units or studios, and the rest are two- and three-bedroom units. In 1994, 116 units were vacant, and another 100 units were seriously deteriorated, requiring complete rehabilitation.
The Topeka Housing Authority administers 768 Section 8 certificates and vouchers, while more than 400 applicants appear on the waiting list. Very low-income, severely cost- burdened households receive preference. The program, which has a 96-percent occupancy rate, is almost entirely private market-based. The majority of families live in single-family units; only 15 percent live in multifamily apartments. Another 540 Section 202 units, 454 Section 236 units, and 395 other U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-assisted units are available in Topeka.
Topeka identifies the following barriers to affordable housing:
In 1994 the Topeka Health Department identified 32 children with elevated blood-lead levels. Many of these children lived within the community development target area, which contains most of the older buildings. The city established the following strategies to reduce lead-based paint hazards:
Topeka's elderly population has been steadily increasing. In 1990 there were 700 frail elderly, 1,000 elderly persons who needed supportive services, and 2,000 elderly persons in nursing homes. In addition to the 11 privately owned Section 8 or Section 202 housing communities that provide approximately 1,200 units, a new program called Community Re-Entry Program was implemented to assist nursing home residents who wished to return home. The Contemporary Housing Alternative of Topeka, Inc., built 16 units to serve persons with Alzheimer's disease.
Topeka identifies the following community development needs:
Topeka identifies the following housing priorities:
Topeka identifies the following community development objectives:
Topeka's primary method for addressing poverty is limited to funding social service programs that provide the basic services needed to obtain a good quality of life. To promote self-sufficiency, the city uses many social service agencies and programs, such as the Step Up Program, to offer guidance in education, employment skills, budgeting, basic life skills, and affordable housing.
The Neighborhood Revitalization Act, which supports job retention and expansion, reduces property taxes for businesses that relocate to the community development target area.
In addition to Federal funding sources requested by the Consolidated Plan, Topeka will use funds from the Department of Energy, Federal Home Loan Bank, Mortgage Revenue Bond, and Low Income Housing Tax Credit to implement planned activities.
The local private sector will provide important funding for the plan. Financial institutions actively participate in the first-time homebuyer program, offering loans at reduced cost. The Board of Realtors also works with this program. One leading lender provides acquisition funds to the Topeka City Homes rental program, and another lender provides funds to Cornerstone for their lease-purchase program. Finally, the private sector provides money and volunteers during inner-city neighborhood cleanup campaigns.
The Mayor's Commission on Affordable Housing has been a catalyst for improving provider capacity and service delivery. By introducing a standard program application and shared counseling services, the Commission has helped nonprofit organizations to better determine how to combine resources and eliminate service duplication.
The Consolidated Plan is implemented through collaborative efforts between the city of Topeka and the Topeka Housing Partnership, Inc., the operating arm of the Mayor's Commission on Affordable Housing. The Topeka Housing Authority provides access to Section 8 housing, public housing communities, and a tenant-based rental assistance program.
Among the key projects identified in the city's Consolidated Plan are:
Annually Topeka will produce:
Within 20 years, the city will produce 6,000 total units, with 5,000 of those being reserved for households that earn less than 50 percent of MFI.
MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction.
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 is a map, sectioned by neighborhood, which depicts points of interest, low- moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 7 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within one of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.
MAP 8 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within another of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.
MAP 9 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded project(s) from a street level vantage point; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).
