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

CITIZEN'S SUMMARY

The consolidated plan for Midland contains a description of housing conditions and needs and resources to be used to address those needs as well as the community and economic development needs of the community and resources available to address those nee ds. It includes a strategic 5 year and an action 1 year plan which identify specific projects and their locations.

Action Plan

The action plan is a listing of specific actions using Midland's 1995 Community Development Block Grant allocation of $337,000, plus $10,000 program income. It includes one year's funding of housing weatherization and rehabilitation assistance and public works improvement designed to improve the lives and neighborhoods of Midland's low and moderate income households.

Citizen Participation

A public hearing was held on January 12, 1995. Concerns at the hearing centered on public transit and housing needs, especially for extremely low income persons and families.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

A City of 38,053, Midland is located in the central eastern portion of the lower peninsula of Michigan and is part of the "Tri- City" area serving the counties of Midland, Bay, and Saginaw. The growth rate has slowed in the last 20 years to about 2.5%. Its major employers include Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, Mid Michigan Regional Medical Center, Midland Public Schools and various retail, financial and construction firms. It is located within 30 miles of 5 colleges. Many of the residents have advanced a nd professional degrees.

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

Conditions

With only 10% of the housing units constructed prior to 1940, the City of Midland is not facing the housing problems of most urban areas. It is estimated that 10% of the rental housing and 5% of owner occupied housing is in need of rehabilitation

Housing Market Conditions

The housing market is 2/3 owner occupied. The remaining 1/3 is renter occupied or vacant housing. The City of Midland has a higher mobility rate due to the global market served by its 2 major employers. There is a need for rental units for families who are in transition either moving to or from Midland in conjunction with their job at Dow or Dow Corning. The average sale price of single family housing rose form $74,967 in 1988 to $106,032 in 1994.

Affordable Housing Needs

The largest percentile of households paying greater than 30% of their monthly income for housing is in the extremely low income range. In all 3 of the lower income groups, the renters have the largest number of households needing assistance. Within each category, however, it is the single/ unrelated type of housing which occurs most often. This would indicate a larger percentage of income spent for housing by single individuals or unrelated households. This group also includes single parent households with dependent minor children. This would indicate that there is a need for additional affordable rental housing. There are fewer numbers of houses in the lower price ranges and they also have a lower percentage of turnover than houses in the medium and upper price range. The percent of housing stock in the lower price ranges continues to decrease as new homes being built are in the upper ranges of value.

Homeless Needs

Several homeless facilities serving Midland stated the following clientele last year; Shelterhouse, a facility for victims of domestic violence, 141 women and children. the Open Door Youth Outreach of Midland provides meals and limited housing for up to 3 days, 43 persons housed per month and averaged serving 714 kitchen meals per month. 1016 Home is a rehabilitation facility that offers continuum of care for substance abuse and dependent individuals. Seventy-five per cent of 1016 residents need assistance with housing when they leave treatment.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

There are no federally funded, government owned public housing units in the City of Midland. However, there are 364 publicly owned and operated and locally funded senior citizens housing units.

Barriers to Affordable Housing

Land on which to build is scarce and expensive. the majority of residentially zoned land has been developed. Wetlands limit many developers when planning new subdivisions. In some cases, lots must be larger to accommodate the dwelling unit and the wetl ands, thereby reducing the number of lots available for development.

Lead-Based Paint

The lead factors of renting, poverty, young children and pre- 1940 housing units do not indicate extremely high risk of lead contamination in Midland. This is substantiated by the number of cases of lead poisoning identified by the Midland County Health Department. Certainly there is a potential problem, but no "high risk" neighborhoods have been identified.

Community Development Needs

Public facility needs - parks Infrastructure improvement needs - water, street, sidewalk, sewer improvements Housing - improving the condition of and reducing the cost burden to lower income owner housing.

Coordination

The City of Midland will continue to coordinate services with Midland County and other local agencies. This includes continuing membership in the Inter- Agency Council and with the Rental Enterprise Group, which is a group of realtors, landlords, and oth er interested parties, which meet monthly to attempt to coordinate needs and resources. The City and County will continue to work together to provide housing programs, parks, and other amenities that will enhance the lives of all the citizens living in t he community.

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Housing and Community Development Objectives and Priorities

Improve and preserve residential neighborhoods,
prevent and eliminate blight,
strengthen the economic base,
increase the involvement of citizens in decisions affecting their neighborhoods,
preserve and enhance housing stock.

Anti-Poverty Strategy

The City will rely on State and Federal programs to assist in any anti- poverty strategy they wish to fund. The only factors which the City feels it has influence over is the number of poverty level families living in unsafe and unaffordable housing.

Housing and Community Development Resources

$347,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds

ONE-YEAR ACTION PLAN

Description of Key Projects

Public services $10,000.; Rehabilitation of single family homes $219,727.; Weatherization assistance $2,000.; Paint program $3,000.; provide assistance to make housing more affordable -including 2nd mortgages $29,500.

Lead Agencies

The City of Midland

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; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).

To comment on Midlands' Consolidated Plan, please contact:
Cheri Standfest, Administrative Assistant, at (517) 835-7711, ext 206.

Return to Michigan's Consolidated Plans.