Weymouth's 1995 Consolidated Plan constitutes a strategic vision for housing and community development for the town. This document summarizes the plan so that citizens in the community can have a quick overview of the housing and community development problems; the 5 year broad objectives and actions proposed to meet those goals; and specific projects for carrying out this strategy during 1995.
This plan includes a 1-year action plan for 24 specific projects projected to use $ 859,000 of CDBG funds to promote Public Services and Community Development. The proposed activities principally benefit lower income persons, aid in the elimination or prevention of slums or blight, and meet community development needs having a particular urgency.
Weymouth has a strong citizen participation tradition within the CDBG
program and the elements of that plan form the nucleus of CPS strategy.
Citizens, public agencies and other interested parties have been given notice
and access to meetings held within the consultation component as well as the
public hearings held. Notices of public hearings have been direct mailed to
service providers, adjacent communities, town agencies, housing providers and
tenant's organizations. The Town has utilized the local newspapers, through
paid advertisement and press releases as well as local cable T.V. and radio. A
public hearing was held on March 6, 1995, to present the draft plan to the
public for comment. The Board of Selectmen, Chief Executive Officers of the
Town of Weymouth, were presented with a final plan on April 18, 1995, for
approval.
Weymouth has a total of 20,829 households. The median household income in
Weymouth is $41,586. 63% of all units are owner-occupied, 32% of the units are
rental, and 5% are vacant.
According to the 1990 census, The median value of an owner-occupied unit is $156,000, and the median rent is $689.
In terms of concentrations of low income households (those at 80% of the median income or below), the Town had 12 census block groups (one quarter of its total number of Block groups representing its highest percentage of low and moderate income persons. The lowest percentage block within this group registered 32.44%. As such the target area for the Town of Weymouth are those 12 areas where the low/moderate resident percentage is equal to or greater than 32.44%. For extremely low-Income (0 - 30% of median family income) there are 2,184 households. In examining the housing needs of owners in this category, it was determined that elderly households constitute 75% of all extremely low- income owners. The majority of homeowners (elderly, and non-elderly) in this category face cost burdens in excess of 30% of their total income. This high cost burden for owners in this category does not leave much in the way of a contingency fund for any needed or unexpected household repairs. Housing maintenance for the elderly is a concern, not only for this category of low income residents, but for all elderly low income residents. There is a particular need to help elderly female head of households who have limited experience dealing with housing rehabilitation.
Generally, in all income categories there is a significant need for additional affordable rental units - this would ease the cost burden for those in lowest income categories allowing them new opportunities - upgrading transportation, education, possibly saving. In the moderate income category affordable rental housing would allow for these households to save toward the purchase of a starter home.
Homeowners in all lower income categories and demographic groups face significant challenges in terms of maintaining their property and making energy efficient improvements. Steady/increased funding for rehabilitation programs, either loans or grants, will improve the house stock of this population. These programs would be complemented by an increase in funding for Weatherization/energy efficiency programs that have been grants in the past.
It is impossible to get an accurate account of Weymouth's homeless. There is no doubt that homelessness exists in Weymouth, as evident in the data obtained. Public Service providers list homelessness and the threat of homelessness as one of the major problems among low income persons. Service providers, such as the Weymouth Office of Youth and Family Services, deal with homeless persons and families on a daily basis. Many people who find themselves homeless are able to stay with family and friends. There is a strong desire to remain in the town because of ties with families and friends. This factor has led to overcrowded conditions for many households.
A homeless census was conducted in conjunction with Father Bill's Place February 3, 1995. The census covered both the City of Quincy and the Town of Weymouth. No homeless persons were found in Weymouth. OPCD staff were assisted in their search by residents of the shelter.
It is clear that there are homeless people in Weymouth. There have been reports of people "camping in the woods" and people sleeping in their cars. These people find alternatives in the cold weather, so it is difficult to get a count of them in the winter months. To get a better count of the homeless the town has to encourage agencies and service providers to keep track of the homeless that seek their assistance. Homeless shelters and family agencies need to institute a quantifiable data base to keep track of the numbers they serve.
The Weymouth Housing Authority operates 40 units of HUD financed housing. The WHA has consistently been in the process of upgrading properties in both state and federal developments. They have sought modernization funds for energy improvements, exterior rehabilitation and handicapped access improvements in all the elderly developments that they manage. Each elderly development has a functioning tenants association. The overall condition of these units can be described as good.
Other units managed by the WHA:
| State Elderly Public Housing | 216 | |
| Federal Elderly Public Housing | 71 | |
| State ch.707 MHFA projects | 68 | |
| State ch.707 TELLER projects | 8 |
The most accurate estimation of Weymouth homes which may contain lead-based paint hazards was made for the 1993-94 Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS). The CHAS used the HUD percentages for incidence of lead based paint by year contained in the "Comprehensive and Workable Plan for the abatement of Lead Based Paint in Privately Owned Structures" and the actual unit counts of housing by year in the CHAS Data Table. According to these sources, the town of Weymouth has a total of 14,219 units with suspected lead paint. Of these units, it is estimated that 2,651 rental units, are occupied by low income and very low income households.
In the 1990 census a total of 2,786 persons were identified as having either a mobility limitation, a self care limitation or both. Forty-seven percent of those persons are age 65 and over indicating a need for housing rehabilitation for the elderly to meet changes in their life as well as for individuals under age 65 who also suffer from a mobility impairment. Females, particularly after age 65+, report both mobility and self care limitations.
Although mobility limitations were reported at a greater rate, fully 25% of this population (2,786) persons identified themselves as having both a mobility and self care limitation. This increased markedly after age 65.
Needs for the special needs population include increasing rental
opportunities for all ages of the mobility impaired. The elderly in particular
need additional services in the area of self care that may increase the amount
of time that they can spend in their own homes as opposed to entering a nursing
home. Alternative type of housing, such as assisted living developments would
be appropriate for this population.
Town departments, service providers and nonprofit organizations identified the following as community needs for low income citizens in Weymouth:
The primary objectives of the Town of Weymouth's action plan are to benefit families of low and moderate income, to aid in the prevention or elimination of slums, or blight, and to address Town needs having a particular urgency. The Town of Weymouth is entering into the third year of a three year certification period, in which it must justify that at least 70% of its cumulative expenditures directly benefit low and moderate income citizens.
The 1-year action plan outlines the proposed uses of the approximately $859,000 thousand 1995 allocation from the CDBG program.
Action plan activities include:
| Pine Grove Urban Renewal | $200,000 | |
| Removal of Architectural Barriers | $103,814 | |
| Rehab; single unit Residential loan program | $60,736 | |
| Street improvements | $100,000 | |
| Substance Abuse, Employment Training, Energy Efficiency Improvements, Planning, Administration Child Care, etc. |
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.
