U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Community Planning and Development
Consolidated Plan Contact
CITIZEN'S SUMMARY
The City of Battle Creek is located in SW Michigan with an approximate population of 53,000.
It is located halfway between Detroit and Chicago and it sits at the junction of I-94 and I-69. It
is the home of Kellogg Company and is known as the Breakfast Capital of the World.
The broad goals of this community are:
- A diverse community showing respect for racial, cultural and individual differences and providing equal opportunity and access to services.
- A community where residents of all ages can live, learn, grow and succeed.
- A workforce able to secure and maintain employment, work productively, and earn a living wage.
- Residents with special needs, i.e. the elderly, and mentally or physically impaired, having access to the support they require to live as independently as possible, and be given opportunities to contribute to the economy.
- Residents living in a healthy environment and having access to affordable health care.
- Affordable and appropriate housing, including residential opportunities for low-income households and households with special needs.
- An excellent education system including opportunities for life-long learning for all the City's residents. Neighborhoods that are free of violence and empowered to meet the needs of their members.
Action Plan
The City of Battle Creek plans to use many sources of funds to meet those goals. Included in
these funds are Home Investment Partnership funds totaling $576,000 and CDBG funds totaling
$1,803,000.
Citizen Participation
The City of Battle Creek is anticipating $23,330,225 of resources that will be utilized in Battle
Creek to help achieve the goals and strategies of the 1995 Consolidated Plan, of which
$1,803,000 is CDBG fund and $396,000 is HOME funds.
The city of Battle Creek, and more specifically the Community Development Department staff
interacted with approximately 50 agencies to gather input. Agencies which were represented in
this process included: Calhoun County Public Health Department, VA Medical Center,
Community Mental Health, Battle Creek Health System, SAFE Place (domestic violence shelter,
providing services for the whole county), Department of Social Services, the Association of
Retarded Citizens of Calhoun County, Community Action Agency of Southwest Michigan,
RESOLVE of Calhoun County (dispute resolution center), and Substance Abuse Council of
Greater Battle Creek.
Also during 1994, a number of arenas were provided for gathering citizen input into the planning
process.
- Battle Creek Homeless Coalition
- Area housing advocates
- Area funding institutions
- Citizens
- Legal notice/public review
- Planning Commission Public Hearing
- City Commission Public Hearing
- City Commission Review and Adoption
Twenty copies of the initial draft of the Consolidated Plan were distributed to area agencies for
comment early in the process. In addition, another thirty copies of the final Consolidated Plan
were distributed to community members prior to the final public hearing held before adoption by
the City Commission.
Throughout the Consolidated Plan process, written comments have been received and considered.
COMMUNITY PROFILE
According to 1990 Census figures, the City of Battle Creek's total population decreased, from
56,339 in 1980 to 52,540, a loss of about 5 percent. This decrease in population is due to several
factors, including the closing of some smaller plants in the Battle Creek area, the outward move of
the City's younger population, and a shift in households to neighboring townships and cities.
According to the 1990 Census data, the median age of Battle Creek's residents was 33 years, with
a majority of the population being between the ages of 25-44 years old (31%).
There have been significant changes occurring in some of the City's racial groups. The largest
decrease was among the Hispanic community, which experienced a 19 percent decrease, while
Whites not of Hispanic origin lost about 2 percent of it's total community. Native American
residents increased by 40 percent and Asian and Pacific Islander population increased by 135
percent.
Finally, the African American population grew during this time period, from approximately 15
percent to about 17 percent of the City's total population.
For households overall, the median income was $25,306, with the highest three categories being
between $15,000 to 24,999; $25,000 to 34,999; and $35,000 to 49,999.
The median income for family households was higher than non-family households ($31,115 and
$13,973 respectively). Most family households made $35,000-49,999, while a majority of non-family households lived on only $10,000-24,999.
Furthermore, it was found that of individuals for whom the poverty level was determined, (52,802
residents), approximately 10 percent of those who are 65 years and older lived below the poverty
level, while households with children represented 14 percent below the poverty level.
Because the Veteran's Administration Medical Center is located in Battle Creek, there tends to be
a consistent veteran population within the City. Not only does this facility service Michigan
natives, it also serves any qualified veteran from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, who wishes to use the
facilities. This is causing a need to expand the housing opportunities for this population.
In the City of Battle Creek, in 1990, there were 21,457 occupied housing units. Of those, 13,494
were owner occupied. Of the structures which were owner occupied 2 percent were substandard
and 1 percent suitable for rehabilitation. There were an additional 190 units for sale.
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT NEEDS
Conditions
According to the 1990 Census data, there are 5,504 housing units in Battle Creek which were
built before 1940. There are 7,948 houses built between 1940 and 1959, while between 1960 and
1979 there were only 5,422 units built.
Housing Needs
Housing market conditions
As of the 1990 Census, the City of Battle Creek had 24,231 year round housing units, of which
21,457 were occupied. Of those occupied, 13,494 were owner occupied. Rental households
constituted 7,963 of the total households. In 1990, there were 2,774 total vacant units. Of those,
789 were for rent and 190 were for sale. There were an additional 1,795 vacant units that were
not available for sale or rent.
Of all the rental property within the City, 5 percent was determined to be substandard and 2
percent is suitable for rehabilitation. The owner occupied property was found to be in better
condition, with 2 percent being substandard and 1 percent being suitable for rehabilitation.
Affordable housing needs
During the period of 1940 to 1979, 20,172 housing units were built. Of these, 7,059 are rentals
and 3,217 are occupied by very low-income individuals/families and 3,410 are occupied by other
low-income individuals/families. The remaining 13,113 are owner occupied and of those, 6,519
are occupied by very low-income individuals/families and 3,308 are occupied by other low-income
individuals/families.
Homeless needs
In previous Census counts, it was shown that there was no homeless population in Battle Creek
and the Battle Creek Homeless Coalition began a series of Homeless Counts. These counts found
the total number of homeless people to be 162. Of this total, 33 individuals were part of families
and 129 were individuals not in families. There was also found to be many special needs within its
subcommunity. 49 individuals had severe mental illness (SMI) only; 43 individuals had
alcohol/other drug abuse; 39 had SMI and alcohol/other drug abuse; 33 were involved in
domestic violence; and 15 have AIDS/related diseases.
Facilities currently available in the community include the Haven of Rest Rescue Mission for men,
In As Much House for women and children, and SAFE Place for victims of domestic violence.
Each of these facilities offers night time shelter. In addition, SHARE Center provides day shelter
for the City's homeless and near homeless. These sites are currently able to house the City's
homeless population. However there appears to be a steady increase in this population.
Public and assisted housing needs
Public Housing Assistance and needs assessment for Public Housing is provided in the Battle
Creek Housing Commission PHA. Government subsidies provide housing for lower income
families in the Battle Creek area in several different developments and also scattered sites
throughout the City. Moreover, through Section 8 certificates and vouchers, additional lower
income receive assistance in obtaining affordable housing. In addition, there are four subsidized
developments which provide services for services for senior citizens and another which has a
portion of its units available to senior citizens.
Cherry Hill Manor is a 150 unit senior citizen development and Kellogg Manor has 70 senior
units. The Parkway Manor family project has 84 apartments and including one, two, three and
four bedroom units. An additional 116 units of scattered site housing were built by the Housing
Commission and all but 34 of these units have been sold through the Commission's Home
Ownership Program.
Other subsidized housing developments in the City include Bent Tree, Knollwood, Springview
Towers and limited number of units in Battle Creek Meadows. Bent Tree has 164 units
subsidized through MSHDA Section 8 program, of which, 52 are senior units and 112 are family
units. Knollwood includes 155 one-bedroom apartments and one, three and four- bedroom
townhouse units. The development is subsidized through the MSHDA Section 236 program, with
additional assistance available through the Section 8 and rent supplement programs. Springview
Tower is a 175 unit elderly HUD section 236 development.
The Housing Commission maintains an ongoing rehab and maintenance program which assures
that all of their properties are kept in marketable condition. Northside Homes, Parkway Manor,
Cherry Hill and Kellogg Manor are in sound physical condition. Inspections are conducted
regularly and there are no material deficiencies in any of the structures other than routine
maintenance which is performed as needed.
Barriers to affordable housing
Perhaps the most significant impediment to producing greater numbers of rental housing is the
cost. There are relatively few grants available for this type of housing. However, there are few
impediments to producing new homeownership. Neighborhood's Inc., Habitat for Humanity, the
City of Battle Creek, Battle Creek Housing Commission, private foundations, lending institutions,
HUD and MSHDA have all provided opportunities for increasing homeownership programs in the
City. It is expected that this will remain constant over the next several years. Neighborhood's
Inc. is the front runner in being able to create financial packages which make homeownership
feasible for many families.
Overcrowding is not an apparent problem in the City of Battle Creek. Although, there are some
situations where individuals cannot find affordable housing, but this doesn't appear to cause
severe overcrowding.
Fair housing
In May of 1994 the City completed its "Impediments to Fair Housing" analysis. The process for
gathering information necessary for making a fair assessment included setting up a citizen
advisory board. This board assisted in gathering information and in making recommendations on
how data would be collected and who the key players should be.
After review of the City of Battle Creek's Master Plan, the fair housing advisory committee
determined that the City did not appear to be overly restrictive in its zoning. Also with regard to
building codes, the City is responsible to enforce these codes and incorporated in them is the
handicap accessibility laws.
Lead-based paint
Over the next five years the City anticipates that it will be the driving force behind identifying lead
based paint hazards in the City. It proposes to do that in cooperation with the County Health
Department. Working jointly, identification will be made of all properties which carry a lead
based paint hazard and a plan will be developed to ameliorate this problem. In addition, the City
will work cooperatively with the Health Department and private health organizations to educate
the public on the hazards of lead based paint. In conjunction with this education, training
workshops will be developed to teach the public ways of reducing and/or eliminating the risks of
lead based paint. It is expected that the identification process will be completed within the five
year period and the educational process will be well underway.
Community development needs
The following is a list of neighborhood community development needs:
- City-wide housing resource organization
- Survey of housing stock and target inadequate units for appropriate action
- Continue housing rehabilitation loan program
- Fund street improvements
- Construct Business Loop I-94 extension
- Emphasize enforcement of code violations
- Continue promoting Historic Preservation
- Encourage home maintenance and cleanup
- Continue NIBC and Habitat for Humanity involvement in rehabilitation
Coordination
The City of Battle Creek maintains an ongoing dialog with approximately 75 local human service
agencies, neighborhood groups and other governmental entities. This is done through monthly
meetings, joint projects and individual contact.
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN
Vision for change -- overall goals
The City's overall goal is to provide decent, safe and affordable housing, in livable neighborhoods,
for all City residents. The vision for change necessary for meeting this goal is to empower
residents to take a more active role in determining the future of their neighborhoods, to make full
use of housing code enforcement tools and to plan, comprehensively, with other existing
community agencies and organizations.
Housing and community development objectives and priorities
It is the major objective of the City to enhance the living environment for the City's residents.
Priorities set by the City to help achieve objectives are:
- To provide affordable housing
- To provide housing programs to assist low/mod income families to be involved in the housing rehab process
- To increase homeownership opportunities
- To coordinate with existing agencies to evaluate gaps in service delivery and develop a means to fill those gaps
Housing priorities
The five year goals for housing rehabilitation in the City of Battle Creek include developing new
affordable housing; preserving existing affordable housing; providing housing support services;
and developing specific housing and support services for persons who are homeless or have
special needs.
Non-housing community development priorities
The primary priorities are:
- Support and promote a system of community-based human services by maintaining and expanding the physical infrastructure of human and community services through planning, acquisition, construction and renovation of facilities that house human service agencies and programs benefiting low-income residents or neighborhoods.
- Improve access to services and systems for persons with disabilities.
- Increase coordination and system advocacy for human services by supporting broad-based advocacy groups, community-based agencies and volunteer services.
- Strengthen the economic base and the business climate.
- Support employment opportunities.
- Support community-based economic development.
Anti-poverty strategy
The City of Battle Creek currently supports Battle Creek Unlimited, charged with economic
development in the Fort Custer Industrial Park. Important to this development is the maintaining
of a skilled labor force for employment in business locating in the fort. The development of the
Regional Training Facility located in the Fort has been strongly supported both by Battle Creek
Unlimited and the City of Battle Creek.
In addition, the Battle Creek Public School systems operates the Calhoun Area Vocational
Technology Center which provides job training for students in area schools. As part of that
program the City contracted with the Vocational Education Tech Center to allow students to
rehabilitate City owned structures.
The City also provides financial support (CDBG) to non-profit providers such as the Community
Action Agency of South Central Michigan. CAASM was created to provide locally directed
responses to the causes and conditions of poverty with its mission being to minimize or eliminate
barriers to economic self-sufficiency. The CAASM-operated Franklin Center provides
commodity distributions, recreation, tutoring, emergency meals and weatherization programs.
Another private non-profit agency also receiving City support in providing services to persons in
poverty is Special Neighborhood Activities Program (SNAP). This program prepares pre-school
children and their parents with education and self-esteem building to improve their chances for a
quality education.
Housing and community development resources
Total federal funds anticipated to the City, Battle Creek Housing Commission, non-profits and
private owners for housing and community development are: CDBG (City), HOME Investment
Partnership (City), Comprehensive Grant Program (Housing Commission), DOE Weatherization
(CAA), Homeless Housing Grant (McKinney Grant) (CMH), Veteran's Administration Funding
(expansion of transitional living program), FEMA (SAFE Place), Victim of Crime Act (SAFE
Place), COPS (BC Police Dept.), COPS MORE (BC Police Dept.).
State funds anticipated are: Department of Mental Health (CMH), Alternative Intermediate Services (CMH), Infant Mental Health Grant (CMH), Michigan Interagency Family Preservation Initiative Block Grant (CMH), Families First (SAFE Place), Domestic Violence Prevention & Treatment Board (SAFE Place), MSHDA (Habitat for Humanity), MSHDA (HOME(NIBC)).
Local funds anticipated are: United Way Grant (Association fro Retarded Citizens), United Way Grant (SAFE Place), Corporate Donations (NIBC), COPS Match (General Fund BCPD), COPS MORE Match (General Fund BCPD).
Private funds anticipated are: WK Kellogg Foundation(SAFE Place), Anonymous Grant (SAFE
Place), WK Kellogg Foundation (NIBC), BC Community Foundation (NIBC), Miller Foundation
(NIBC), FNMA (NIBC), Anonymous (NIBC), Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp. (NIBC),
Neighborhood Housing Service of America (NIBC).
Coordination of strategic plan
In order to meet the goals and objectives of the strategic plan, the City will continue to work with existing housing groups, such as, Neighborhood's Inc. and Habitat for Humanity. It will also enhance and expand its own housing rehabilitation plan to meet changing needs. The process will be monitored by constantly reviewing the progress and number of housing rehab projects.
ONE YEAR ACTION PLAN
Description of key projects
Key projects which are addressed in this plan include:
- New initiatives through partnering with the VA Medical Center to improve housing for veterans
- Working with local technical training centers to rehab tax reverted properties
- Provide funding for acquisition of day shelter for homeless and underhoused individuals
- Provision of health care center for homeless and low-income residents
- Provision of emergency repair and painting assistance to low-income households
Locations
These projects are located in the central core of the older neighborhoods in the City.
Lead agencies
Agencies which will take the lead on these projects include Neighborhood's Inc., Habitat for Humanity, Public Health Department/Nursing Clinic, City of Battle Creek, the SHARE Center and the VA Medical Center.
Housing goals
Through these programs alone it is anticipated that the City will assist 549 households. In all of
its programs, the City anticipates providing assistance to 1,593 individuals/households through its
29 separate programs.
Maps
MAP 1 City map with points of interest.
MAP 2 City map with points of interest and low - moderate income.
MAP 3 Map with points of interest, low-mod income and areas of racial concentration.
MAP 4 Map with points of interest, low-mod income and unemployment levels.
MAP 5 Map with points of interest, low-mod income, unemployment and selected projects.
MAP 6 neighborhood map with points of interest, low-mod income, unemployment, and selected points of interest.
Contact Person
Mr. Michael J. Buckley
Director, Community Development
616 966-3320
Return to Michigan's Consolidated Plans.
