The City of Port Huron 1995 Consolidated Plan constitutes a new process for coordinating four Community Planning formula grant programs: Community Development Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). This new plan replaces all current Community Planning and Development (CPD) planning and application requirements with a single submission and satisfies the minimum statutory requirements.

Action Plan

The Consolidated Plan, includes a one-year Action Plan which reviews housing and community development needs, assesses available resources and identifies how best to carry out the Plan. All goals must focus on benefits to low and moderate income persons.

Citizen Participation

The Plan provides for, and encourages citizen participation with particular emphasis on participation by persons of low and moderate income who are residents of slum and blight areas. The City provides citizens with reasonable and timely access to local meetings, access to information, and technical assistance in developing further plans if necessary. The strategy and schedule for carrying out the plan is published in the local newspaper and written comments or concerns about proposed activities may be accepted in the City Clerk's Office. Written complaints and grievances received by the City are answered in a timely manner.

The City of Port Huron was incorporated in 1857. Since that time, the corporate city limits have not greatly changed. There is very little vacant land remaining within the city limits for new development. According to the 1990 Census the City has 14,026 housing units, half of which are owner occupied and about half are rental. More than half of all housing units were built prior to 1939 and 60% are single family detached.

Housing Conditions

A large proportion of the housing in the City of Port Huron is considered substandard. Housing that is over 50 years old, is in continual need of rehabilitation and are primarily rental occupied. Many of these are large houses that have been converted into several small units creating overcrowding, shortage of parking space and continual deterioration of the neighborhood.

Housing Needs

A Housing Needs Assessment Survey was conducted and the top four concerns are:

• Housing Affordability;
• Financing Options Available;
• Housing Conditions;
• Housing Availability.

Housing Market and Costs Burden

Older sections of the City need revitalization to encourage investments in housing.

Households experiencing housing cost burdens include:

• Of 2,640 households receiving less than $10,000 income, 75% pay more than 30% of their income for rent.

• Of 1,537 households with incomes of $10,000 - $19,999, 12% pay more than 30%

• Of 750 households with incomes of $20,000+, 40% pay more that 30%.

Affordable Housing Needs

The Housing Needs Assessment Survey clearly indicated that low income renters and the homeless have the greatest need for affordable housing. This need is not restricted to any particular area of the City.

Homeless Needs

The Michigan Human Services Task Force on the Homeless indicated the following characteristics of the homeless population in the City of Port Huron:

• Over 727 homeless individuals were assisted during the past twelve months.
• The majority of homeless persons are in their twenties and thirties.
• Significant numbers are women and children.
• Many homeless persons have worked in the recent past.
• Many of the homeless have a high need for mental health services, treatment for substance abuse, need educational skills and lack social supports in the community.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

The Port Huron Housing Commission maintains and operates 238 units on three sites for families and 313 units on three sites for senior citizens. The Commission also administers both Section 8 Certificates and the Voucher program. These programs are very successful with sound involvement of landlords and tenants. They currently administer 225 Section 8 Certificates and 132 Section 8 Vouchers with a funding level of about 2 million dollars.

Barriers to Affordable Housing

Incentives to develop, maintain or improve housing are affected positively and negatively by State and local public statutes, ordinances and regulations. The local Zoning Board and Planning Commission have been flexible within reason in order to promote housing needs and goals. In the past, landlords and tenants have protested our zoning regulations regarding off-street parking and parking on the Boulevard. Since much of the City's housing stock was built before automobile ownership was the norm, older buildings do not have enough room for parking. The City is working on this issue to explore other options, such as community parking lots within block areas.

Fair Housing

The City has certified that it will update its current Fair Housing Analysis Report regarding any additional impediments to fair housing choice for area residents regardless of ethnic background, family status or economic class.

Lead-Based Paint

The City estimates that the number of units occupied by the low, very low and extremely low income are 4,604. This high figure is due to the fact that 90% of the housing constructed in Port Huron was constructed prior to 1979. Most of the clients that were screened and seen on follow-up were children living in rental units under poor conditions.

Vision for Change

The City of Port Huron has prepared a 5-year strategic plan to address Housing and Community Development needs.

The strategy is developed to achieve the following goals:

• Provide decent housing.
• Provide a suitable living environment.
• Expand economic opportunities.

Housing and Community Development Objectives and Priorities

The strategy for achieving the objectives of the 5-year plan are based on the following priorities:

Priority # 1:

• The elimination of conditions which are detrimental to health, safety and welfare through code enforcement, interim rehabilitation assistance and related activities.

Priority # 2:

• Elimination of slums and blight and the prevention of blighting influences and the deterioration of property.

Priority # 3:

• The alleviation of physical and economic distress through the stimulation of private investment and community revitalization.

Priority # 4:

• A reduction in the isolation of income groups within communities and geographical areas.

Priority # 5:

• More rational utilization of land and other natural resources.

Priority # 6:

• The expansion and improvement of the quality and quantity of community services.

Non-Housing Community Development Priorities

The City of Port Huron has identified priority non-housing community development needs for which CDBG funds may be used. The City is comprised of old neighborhoods with small lots and old streets. Many of the older neighborhoods do not have separate storm and sanitary sewers. In order to continue with the comprehensive approach that the City has established it is anticipated that additional CDBG funds will be concentrated in areas of predominately low-moderate income residents.

Homeless and Anti-Poverty Strategy

To prevent a low-income family from becoming homeless the City plans to put emphasis on early intervention of the troubled family. Lack of money is a large factor. Child care costs and educational opportunities need to be addressed in addition to job training incentives.

Housing and Community Development Resources

Private and public resources are identified as potentially available during the next 5 years:

• CDBG;

• HOME: Rental Rehab and Affordable Housing;

• Public Housing: Comp Grant, Drug Elimination Program, Youth Sport Program, and Section 8 Program;

• Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA): Emergency Shelter Grant;

• Transitional Housing Grant and Neighborhood Preservation Program.

Coordination of Strategic Plan

The City of Port Huron intends to coordinate proposed housing and community development programs with other agencies and private development programs through the use of increased communication.

Joint ventures with state and local agencies will continue in order to increase resources for housing rehabilitation programs and homeownership programs.

Description and Location of Key Projects

In the 1995 Program Year, the City of Port Huron proposes to undertake activities limited to those eligible under the City's CDBG & HOME Programs. Most of these activities, except for the neighborhood preservation programs and the street paving programs, are identified as "city-wide" in location.

Monitoring

The standards and procedures used for monitoring the activities during the 1995 Action Plan are those established by Federal regulations and normally required by HUD. In addition, the City will maintain monthly reports on progress levels and financial reviews.

Anti-Poverty Strategy

The City recognizes the importance of reducing poverty levels within its jurisdiction. Educational alternatives and social intervention require additional resources at the local level to provide a means self sufficiency, particularly for at-risk young adults.

Coordination Efforts

Efforts will continue to coordinate services offered by the City. The Michigan Department of Rehabilitation Services has cooperated in several joint ventures recently in order to provide housing rehabilitation services to area residents who are disabled or elderly.

Maps

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.

TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).