U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Community Planning and Development

CITIZEN'S SUMMARY

The Macomb "Urban County" Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development, 1995-1999 serves a consortium of 21 communities that have cooperated to receive federal CDBG and HOME allocations. Local communities, private and public agencies, and citizens are able to review housing and community development needs in conjunction with specific goals and projected projects.

Goals and Objectives

The Consolidated Plan permits the County to establish a unified vision to address systemically, housing and community development needs. The Federal Government has set the following broadly stated goals to be achieved as part of this planning process:

To provide decent housing;
To provide a suitable living environment;
To expand economic opportunities.

In addition, the County of Macomb, through its Consolidated Planning process strives to achieve ten community development objectives and program strategies:

To give primary consideration to meeting the needs of low/moderate residents within the Program area.

To prevent and eliminate conditions of blight found within the commercial, industrial and residential sectors of the Urban County.

To preserve and expand housing opportunities for low/moderate income families, the elderly and the handicapped.

To reduce the number of substandard dwelling units within the Urban County through rehabilitation of existing residential units.

To increase the capacity of local governments in the Urban County to respond to citizen needs.

To provide necessary capital improvements such as roads and streets, sidewalks, water, sewer and other utilities which contribute to sound community development.

To expand and improve recreational opportunities to all residents, but especially for the low/moderate income, the elderly and handicapped.

To expand the quantity and quality of community health, social, educational and other public services for all residents, especially those of low/moderate income, the elderly and the handicapped.

To encourage programs and projects that will provide greater diversification to our economy and a variety of employment opportunities.

To improve the physical and cultural image of the Urban County through the programs of beautification and historic preservation.

Action Plan

This Plan contains a 1-year action plan that is made up from proposed projects financed through CDBG and HOME allocations. Together these programs will bring in a total funding source of $2,761,000 to address locally identified housing and community development needs.

Citizen Participation

Over the past thirteen years, the County of Macomb has been receiving CDBG funding on behalf of twenty-one local communities. The County has developed an effective citizen participation process that has evolved with changing Federal regulations and local needs. Annually, the County publishes notices of funding availability and schedules hearings to solicit citizen comments on housing and community development needs. The County has also required each of its 21 participating communities to similarly solicit input from their residents on the local needs and expenditure of grant funds. As a result of these hearings, contacts and meetings, proposals are submitted for grant consideration.

Beginning in the fall of 1994 and continuing in the first six months of 1995, the Department of Planning and Economic Development introduced the Consolidated Planning Process to its local participating communities. On March 30, 1995, the County published a Notice to schedule the public hearing to begin formal citizen input. On June 13, 1995, the County held a public hearing on its draft Consolidated Plan and began a thirty day comment period after which it was sent to HUD for its 45-day period of review.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

Macomb County is located in southeastern Michigan and comprises the northeastern portion of the Detroit Metropolitan Area. With a land mass of 482 square miles, the County ranks third in both population and State Equalized Valuation of all 83 counties in the State. Today, there are over 740,000 persons living with 27 municipalities in Macomb County including three of the ten largest communities in Michigan: Warren (3rd), Sterling Heights (6th) and Clinton Township (10th). Currently, only 45% of Macomb County's total land area is urbanized. The Macomb "Urban County is comprised of 21 participating communities with a combined population of 249,561.

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

Housing Conditions

According to the 1990 Census figures, Macomb County had 274,843 dwelling units. 204,609 or 74% of the total number of units were owner occupied and had a Median Value of $76,800. 60,382 units or 22% of the total were renter occupied with a Median Monthly Contract Rent of $437. 9,352 units were identified as vacant (about 4% of the total). Only half of the vacant units were available for rent. 87% of the total housing units were built after 1950.

Affordable Housing Needs

The availability of decent, affordable housing was recently studied in the County of Macomb. The report entitled, "Affordable Housing Partnerships", studied a number of factors including homelessness; housing values and rents; substandard housing; subsidized housing programs and escalating mortgage rates and fees. The rapid increase in housing costs, combined with the inability of renters to keep pace with inflation, has created a local problem of housing affordability. The County also examined public policies and found that government intervention will not be necessary for established policies. It has been suggested that additional efforts be put into public education and improving and expanding job training programs. The primary goal of these efforts shall be to expand its highly trained work force and the minimization of low income persons who seek affordable housing.

Homeless Needs

According to the County Task Force report, dated December 1991, there were approximately 2,000 homeless people sheltered within Macomb County which is about one-half of the estimated number of homeless in the County. This is a very small percentage of the County's total population of 740,000. The people who are most often at risk of becoming homeless in Macomb County are senior citizens, the mentally ill, alcoholics and drug abusers, and those persons and families facing a job loss.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

According to information maintained by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), there are a total of 9,881 assisted housing units located with the County of Macomb. Sixty-one separate developments are scattered throughout 15 local communities. Of those developments, 26 have reserved 2,795 living units for elderly citizens.

Eight forms of public assistance has been identified in 61 individual developments. Given the age of the developments along with the fact that each maintains lengthy waiting lists for openings, the County anticipates considerable pressure to update and modernize existing assisted housing units as well as construct additional units to serve individuals, families and the elderly.

Fair Housing

In accordance with federal regulations, the County of Macomb has completed an analysis of fair housing choice in its housing and community development activities. The purpose of this analysis is to ensure that "fair housing choice" is available to all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The County continues to monitor fair housing issues and utilize its resources in a manner to affirmatively further fair housing in the private and public sector.

Lead-Based Paint

The Michigan Department of Public Health estimates that 1.3% of all Michigan children screened for lead poisoning possess dangerous levels of blood lead. This number rises to 13.9% of the children in low income metropolitan areas. Dwellings built prior to 1979 are considered to be at risk of containing some amount of lead-based paint. Of the total units in Macomb County, approximately 83% were built before 1979 and may be affected by lead-based paint. With the 21 participating communities of the Urban County, the percentage of homes built prior to 1979 raises to 95%.

Other Special Housing Needs

The following Special Housing Needs have been identified in Macomb County:

Elderly/Frail Elderly: Since 1960, the number of persons 60 years of age and older has increased by 610% and presently represents 17% of the total population. This group experiences housing problems in both rental and owner properties. Furthermore, it is estimated that 20% could use some form of supportive services.

Severe Mental Illness and Developmentally Disabled: Community-based services are needed for children with mental retardation. Services are currently provided for about 250 clients and it is estimated that there are 100 additional individuals that are in need of safe and affordable housing.

Physically Disabled: During the last year, services were provided to approximately 500 persons. The Agency received 163 requests for housing referrals and has acknowledged a waiting list for barrier-free accessible housing in the County.

Alcohol or Other Drug Addictions: Based on available data, it is estimated that there are more than 100,000 residents in the County that have some form of drug addiction.

HIV/AIDS: The cumulative reportings for 1995 is that the County has 248 individuals with AIDS.

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Vision for Change

Macomb County gives maximum feasible priority to housing, public service and capital improvement projects/activities which are consistent with the following objectives:

Ensure benefit to low and moderate income persons.
Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums.
Meet community development needs when existing conditions pose a threat to health and welfare.

Housing Priorities

Preserve and expand housing opportunities for low/moderate income families, the elderly and the handicapped.

Reduce the number of substandard dwelling units within the County.

Reduce housing maintenance and fuel costs and enable lower income persons to remain in their dwellings.

Assist residents in using available funding sources to accomplish property ownership and housing rehabilitation.

Non-Housing Priorities

Improve the physical and cultural image through beautification and historic preservation activities.

Prevent and eliminate conditions of blight within the commercial, industrial and residential sectors of the Urban County.

Provide necessary capital improvements, such as roads and street, and sidewalks, water, sewer and other utilities.

Encourage programs and projects that will provide greater diversification in employment opportunities.

Expand and improve recreational opportunities to all residents.

Expand the quantity and quality of community health, social, educational and other public services.

Housing and Community Development Resources

Since 1982, Macomb County, on behalf of the 21 communities, has received nearly $23 million in CDBG funds. In 1995, the County has applied for approximately $2.1 million in Block grant funds. Since 1992, the Macomb Urban County has received $1,735,000 in HOME funding including $599,000 for fiscal year 1995. In the next 4 years the County anticipates similar funding. The County staff will continue to work with individuals, agencies and municipalities in applying for funds from a variety of sources to address local needs.

Coordination

The staff of the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development will continue to work with citizens, agencies, local communities, and other governmental agencies on the identification of problems and needs and their eventual solutions. The County will make a careful review of proposed projects given limited resources. Staff will ensure compliance with Program Regulations and strive to assist households with incomes below the poverty level.

ONE-YEAR ACTION PLAN

The County of Macomb administers the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program on behalf of twenty-one local municipalities. In both of these Programs, the Macomb County Board of Commissioners has assigned Lead Agency responsibilities to the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development. Together, these programs will bring in 1995 a total funding source of $2,761,000 to address locally identified housing and community development needs.

County staff plays an integral part in the expenditure of these funds. Each of the 103 projects identified in the 21 participating communities are reviewed for program compliance, environmental review and clearance, and implementation. The Macomb "Urban County" HOME Program will utilize its allocation of $599,000 in three program areas. $449,250 has been reserved for continuation of a Moderate Rehabilitation Program for owner-occupied single family housing, 15% or $89,850 will be set aside for a qualifying CHDO administered activity, and the remaining $59,900 will be utilized for HOME Program administration.

Maps

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.

To comment on Macomb County's Consolidated Plan, please contact John M. Pollick, Project Coordinator, at (810) 469-5285

Return to Michigan's Consolidated Plans