The Housing and Community Development Five-Year Strategic Plan for the planning period July 1, 1995 to June 30, 2000 is a document which identifies the needs, policies, strategies, and implementation programs for housing and community development activities for the County of Kent, Michigan. This strategic planning document is specifically directed at meeting the requirements for urban counties to participate in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program.
The Kent County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) jurisdiction for planning and programmatic purposes consists of thirty-three (33) eligible local
units of government (cities, villages, and townships) other than the cities of Grand Rapids and Wyoming. The cities of Grand Rapids and Wyoming, each with
populations over 50,000, have their own entitlement CDBG programs. The city of Cedar Springs, which has participated in the Kent County CDBG program for
thirteen (13) years, joined the CDBG program operated by the Michigan Department of Commerce on January 1, 1994.
The Kent County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) jurisdiction provides a total year-round housing supply of 92,961 units according to the 1990 Census. This total supply represents 88,303 occupied units (95 percent) and 5143 vacant dwelling units which constitute a relatively tight housing market. Additionally, 68,791 housing units (74 percent) are owner occupied and 24,170 are renter occupied (26 percent).
While the Kent CDBG jurisdiction has 49 percent of the total dwelling units within Kent County, it only supplies 5 percent of the pre-1940 housing stock, 8 percent of the 1941-1959 housing stock, and 19 percent of the 1960-1979 stock. Age of housing within the jurisdiction is generally newer, which is reflected in the low percentage of substandard housing stock. This lower volume of pre-1940 and pre-1959 housing stock limits the affordability of housing for extremely low-and low-income households.
Kent County has a variety of existing subsidized housing developments and
programs designed to serve the housing needs of low-and moderate-income
households. There are approximately 2055 existing subsidized dwelling units
from several federal and state programs serving Kent County residents. In
addition, FFUD Shelter Care Plus (homeless), CDBG housing rehabilitation,
Department of Energy programs, Rockford and Kent County Housing Commissions
(public housing), various non-profit housing assistance programs, and DSS
support services all represent a major commitment to a comprehensive approach to addressing the low-income housing needs of the county.
The Kent County CDBG jurisdiction encompasses thirty-three (33) local units of government including medium and small sized cities, villages, and townships. There are fully urbanized areas, suburban communities, and rural agricultural and undeveloped areas. Standard of living, lifestyle, infrastructure, and support services vary widely throughout the county.
In spite of this diversity, Kent County has assembled a housing and community development strategy with established priorities which guide efforts to enhance housing options and provide opportunities for local governments to assist low-and moderate-income households with eligible program activities. The Kent County CDBG jurisdiction has approached this effort, not just as an important requirement to receive federal housing and community development funds, but rather as an activity to better understand housing problems, plan instead of react, and strategically allocate resources to low-and moderate-income target areas based on established priorities.
The primary objectives of Kent County's five-year Housing and Community
Development Strategic Plan (Consolidated Strategy and Plan) are as follows:
Following is a summary of the five-year housing and community development strategy for housing and homeless assistance activities...
| Priority 1 | Target Group: Extremely Low and Low Income Elderly Renters and Elderly Owner Households (050 % of Median Family Income). | |
| Actions: Proceed with implementation by the Kent County Housing Commission, pursue Section 8 Rental Assistance Certificates and Vouchers, rehabilitate dwellings to reduce housing costs through CDBG and MSHDA programs, research and support new private sector construction through HUD, FMHA, and MSHDA. | ||
| Priority 2 | Target Group: Extremely Low, Low, and Moderate Income Elderly and NonElderly Owner households (080% Median Family Income). | |
| Actions: CDBG and MSHDA rehabilitation activities which range from emergency assistance to major rehabilitation, weatherization, and referrals to legal aid. | ||
| Priority 3 | Target Group: Extremely Low and Low Income SmallRelated and All Other Renter Households (050% Median Family Income). | |
| Actions: Pursue Section 8 Rental Assistance Certificates and Vouchers, investigate new housing commission new construction options, support private entity new construction applications to IIUD/MSHDA/FmHA, reduce affordability issues through weatherization, rehabilitation, and emergency repair. | ||
| Priority 4 | Target Group: Moderate Income Elderly Renter households (5180% Median Family Income). | |
| Actions: Rehabilitation activity through the CDBG Program and MSHDA Program, weatherization, and pursuit of Section 8 Rental Assistance Certificates and Vouchers. | ||
| Priority 5 | Target Group: Moderate Income Small Related and All Other Renter households (5180 % Median Family Income). | |
| Actions: Section 8 Rental Assistance Certificates and Vouchers, weatherization, new construction where needed and source of funds specifically identified. | ||
| Priority 6 | Target Group: Extremely Low, Low, and Moderate Income Large Family Renter households (080% Median Family Income). | |
| Actions: Census data indicates as minor problem; monitor housing statistics and applications to verify, Section 8 where appropriate, and support housing support services referral. | ||
| Priority 7 | Target Group: Homeless Persons | |
| Actions: Monitor Homeless Assistance Program monthly data to understand and respond to trends within the homeless population, continue to support the Emergency Needs Task Force homeless support network, respond to requests for assistance from the Emergency Shelter Assistance Subcommittee, and support efforts to prevent homelessness where feasible. | ||
| Priority 8 | Target Group: Nonhomeless Persons with Special Needs | |
| Actions: Identify and pursue funding for housing and housing support services for the Very Low Income Elderly and Frail Elderly... potentially through the Kent County Housing Commission, identify and pursue public and/or private sector funding for new construction for severely mentally ill/developmentally disabled and physically disabled individuals as well as other special needs populations, pursue Section 8 rental assistance where appropriate. | ||
Non-housing community development activities are targeted to the thirty-two (32) participating local jurisdictions within Kent County and located within geographic areas which benefit low-and moderate-income households. Because of the enormous geographic size of this type of program at the county level, Kent County has adopted the program philosophy of allowing the local jurisdictions to allocate funds to eligible projects, programs, and locations within detailed administrative guidelines.
This county-wide programmatic approach is implemented within the HUD CDBG objective of "the development of viable urban communities, by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income". Additionally, the local program choices must fall within three (3) operational objectives of benefiting low-and moderate-income persons, addressing slums and blight, and/or meeting a particularly urgent community development need.
These non-housing community development activities, when combined with the
housing programs and homeless assistance effort, demonstrate a commitment to
target program projects and services by Kent County to low-and moderate-income
populations: (1) within a specific geographic area, (2) on a community-wide
basis or, (3) for a special population (abused children, elderly persons,
battered spouses, homeless persons, handicapped persons, illiterate persons,
migrant farmworkers).
The County of Kent expects to have $2,000,000 available for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program during the period of July 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996. An entitlement grant is expected to be made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the amount of $1,745,000. Revenues of $125,000 from program income and $130,000 from reprogrammed funds will supplement the entitlement grant. The authorized jurisdiction for the County's CDBG program includes all of Kent County, except for the cities of Grand Rapids and Wyoming, which operate their own distinct and separate CDBG programs, and the City of Cedar Springs, which has opted to participate in the CDBG program being administered by the Michigan Department of Commerce.
Within the Kent County CDBG jurisdiction, target areas for Kent County government housing rehabilitation and community development efforts will be based on HUD income standards. Low and moderate-income areas are regularly defined by HUD and are annually designated locally as target areas. These target areas are a useful indicator of concentrations of housing need. For 1995-96, Kent County CDBG target areas must have at least 37.55 percent of their residents classified as low-or moderate-income persons.
Income data remains the primary determinant in establishing target areas for Kent County governmental housing rehabilitation and community development efforts.
Minority concentration is utilized as a secondary determinant. Those areas of the Kent County CDBG jurisdiction having either a minority population or an Hispanic population equal to or higher than the Kent County CDBG jurisdiction as a whole (3 % and 1. 2 %, respectively, based on 1990 U.S. Census counts) will be considered to be target areas for Kent County government housing rehabilitation and development efforts. At this time, no areas of minority concentration, as defined above, exist in the Kent County CDBG jurisdiction.
A number of County-affiliated housing assistance programs and related public services are provided throughout the entire county, including all cities. These programs are offered by a variety of County departments and agencies, including Community Mental Health, the Department of Social Services, the Health Department and the Cooperative Extension Service.
The County of Kent anticipates that $3,340,000 of federal funds and $625,000 of non-federal funds should be available to address community development activities during the 1995-96 fiscal year. Following is a summary of those anticipated funds.
| Community Development Block Grant 1995-96: | $1,745,000 |
| CDBG Reprogrammed Funds | $ 130,000 |
| CDBG Program Income | $ 125,000 |
| U.S. Department of Energy Programs: | $ 200,000 |
| HUD - Shelter Care Plus: | $ 600,000 |
| HUD - Public Housing Section 8: | $ 240,000 |
| Other (MSHDA HOME, FMHA, etc.): | $ 300,000 |
| Subtotal: | $3,340,000 |
| Local CDBG Project Contributions | $ 200,000 |
| Michigan State Housing
Development Authority (Mortgage, Home Improvement Lending, and Support Services) | $ 100,000 |
| Kent County DSS Support Services | $ 300,000 |
| Foundations and Private Loans | $ 257,000 |
| Subtotal: | $ 625,000 |
| Grand Total, All Sources | $ 3,965,000 |
1995-1996 CDBG Program Summary
Following is a summary of planned activities utilizing the $2,000,000 of CDBG funds expected to be available for the period of July 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996:
| HOUSING REHABILITATION Location: County-wide | $299,900 |
| PUBLIC FACILITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS Location, project and estimated funding: | $978,600 |
| Algoma Township - 15 Mile Road Improvements | $ 7,500 |
| Algoma Township - Northwest Ambulance Rescue Equip | 10,000 |
| Alpine Township - 4 Mile Road Sidewalks | 4,700 |
| Alpine Township - Northwest Ambulance Rescue Equip | 3,000 |
| Village of Caledonia - Maple Street improvements | 45,500 |
| Courtland Township - Rockford Amb Communications | 4,000 |
| Gaines Township - Division Avenue Sidewalks | 53,300 |
| City of Grandville - Elwood Avenue Improvements | 94,300 |
| Grattan Township - Senior Center Construction | 90,000 |
| Village of Kent City - Fire/Rescue Equipment | 20,000 |
| Village of Kent City - NW Ambulance Rescue Equip | 5,000 |
| City of Kentwood - Kellogg Woods Park Improvements | 58,000 |
| City of Lowell - Gee Drive Water Main | 55,300 |
| Lowell Township - Bowes Road improvements | 40,000 |
| Lowell Township - Rockford Amb Communications Sys | 5,000 |
| Nelson Township - Rockford Amb Communications Sys | 4,000 |
| Oakfield Township - Road Improvements | 11,500 |
| Plainfield Township - Rockford Amb Communications | 5,000 |
| Plainfield Township - Comstock Park Library imp | 75,000 |
| Plainfield Township - Versluis Park improvements | 38,100 |
| Plainfield Township - Daylor/Nliramar Sidewalks | 20,000 |
| Plainfield Township - Holtman/Costa Sidewalks | 15,000 |
| Plainfield Township - Belmont Sidewalks | 20,000 |
| Village of Sand Lake - Fire/Rescue Equipment | 33,300 |
| Solon Township - 18 Mile Road improvements | 30,000 |
| Sparta TownsWp - Northwest Amb Rescue Equipment | 5,000 |
| Village of Sparta - Sparta Park improvements | 37,000 |
| Village of Sparta - Well improvements | 15,000 |
| Village of Sparta - Northwest Amb Rescue Equipment | 10,000 |
| Spencer Township - 17 Mile Road improvements | 52,800 |
| Tyrone Township - Northwest Ambulance Rescue Equip | 10,000 |
| City of Walker - Sunset Hills Sidewalks | 61,300 |
| Vergennes Township - Rockford Amb Communications | 4,000 |
| ACQUISITION AND CLEARANCE Location, project and estimated funding: | $67,000 |
| Byron Township - Demolition of Vacant Structures | 40,000 |
| City of Kentwood - Acquisition of Park Property | 27,000 |
| PUBLIC SERVICES Location, project and estimated funding: | $112,350 |
| Ada Township - GRATA Dial-A-Ride Bus Service | 5,000 |
| Algoma Township - N. Kent Transit Dial-A-Ride Serv. | 2,000 |
| Byron Township - GRATA Dial-a-Ride Bus Service | 5,000 |
| Cannon Township - N. Kent Transit Dial-a-Ride Serv | 3,500 |
| Cascade Township - GRATA Dial-A-Ride Service | 14,700 |
| Courtiand Township - N. Kent Dial-A-Ride Service | 2,000 |
| County of Kent - Senior Meals Program | 31,550 |
| Plainfield Township - N. Kent Dial-A-Ride Service | 13,200 |
| Solon Township - N. Kent Transit Dial-A-Ride Serv | 1,000 |
| Sparta Township - N. Kent Transit Dial-A-Ride Serv | 2,900 |
| Sparta Township - Senior Center Coordinator | 5,000 |
| Sparta Township - Teen Parenting Program | 2,000 |
| Village of Sparta - N. Kent Transit Dial-A-Ride Srv | 3,000 |
| Village of Sparta - Senior Center Coordinator | 10,000 |
| Village of Sparta - Teen Parenting Program | 10,000 |
| Tyrone Township - N. Kent Transit Dial-a-Ride Srv | 1,500 |
| REMOVAL OF ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS Location, project and estimated funding: | $148,700 |
| Alpine Township - Building Accessibility imp | 13,300 |
| Cannon Township - Building Accessibility imp | 6,900 |
| Courtland Township - Building Accessibility imp | 20,000 |
| City of East Grand Rapids - Building Access. imp | 50,000 |
| County of Kent - Fallasburg/Wabasis Park Access. imp | 20,000 |
| County of Kent - Honor Carnp Accessibility imp | 33,500 |
| Vergermes Township - Building Accessibility imp | 5,000 |
| HISTORIC PRESERVATION Location, project and estimated funding: | $9,800 |
| Byron Township - Historical Museum Building | 9,800 |
| PLANNING AND CAPACITY BUILDING Location, activity and estimated funding: | $24,750 |
| Byron Township - Recreation Master Plan | 6,000 |
| City of Kentwood - Library Needs Assessment Study | 10,000 |
| County of Kent - Oakfield Center Dam Feasibility Study | 8,750 |
| GENERAL ADMINISTRATION | $308,900 |
| CONTINGENCIES | $50,000 |
| TOTAL | $2,000,000 |
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, and proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 6 is a map, at street level, which depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.
