The City of Biloxi, Mississippi, is the third largest city in the State with a population of 46,319. It is located in the extreme southern part of the State on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The City has a rich history and cultural heritage and is the focus of a regional tourist industry which attracts visitors from all parts of the United States and the world. The City has recently become famous for its dockside gaming industry with eight floating casinos employing almost 8,000 people open for business.
The City of Biloxi is a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program grantee. It anticipates receiving approximately $811,000 in Fiscal Year 1995 CDBG funds. It expects to generate about $3,324,000 in program income. With funds carried over from previous years, the City will fund a community development and housing program of about $5,250,000.
The City undertook an extensive outreach program to consult with all
neighboring units of government, public and private agencies, nonprofit
organizations, and its residents. Many individual meetings were held with the
most active social service agencies within the community to explain the
coordinated planning approach and to secure their input in the development
process. Public hearings were held to obtain private citizens' views and the
draft Consolidated Plan was made available for public review for a 30-day
comment period.
Biloxi, Mississippi, is located in the extreme southern part of the State on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Over the last decennial, it has lost population of about six percent to its current total of 46,319. The population is approximately 75 percent White, 19 percent African-American, and 6 percent Asian-Pacific Islander. The latter category is principally Vietnamese, refugees from the Vietnam Conflict who settled along the Mississippi Gulf Coast because of its prime fishing industry.
Of the 16,685 households in Biloxi, about 44 percent are considered to be
low and moderate income. The median income of the area is $28,400. As in most
cities, the older portions of the city contain the highest concentrations of
both minorities and low income persons and the most severe areas of substandard
housing. These areas are primarily in the far eastern half of the City.
Biloxi's major industry has always been tourism and the military. Keesler Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force computer and electronics training command installation which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. It provides an annual payroll of over $70,000,000 to its 4,500 civilian employees, $5,500,000 to its 750 non-active duty reserves, $160,000,000 to its active military personnel, and $160,000,000 to its 7,700 local retirees. The Tourism Commission booked 313 conventions in 1994 which were attended by over 16,804 delegates who spent an estimated $65,700,000 in the area. The entire county area hosts approximately 1,000,000 tourists each year.
Generally, Biloxi's greatest housing needs fall in the very low income (0-30% median family income) renter category for the elimination of both physical defects of available housing and the alleviation of cost burden. Elderly are particularly affected in this category as are small families. However, there is also a critical need to assist low income (0-50% of median family income) owners whose housing units require rehabilitation.
With the advent of the gaming industry, affordable housing has become extremely scarce. Rental housing is virtually unavailable currently. Additionally, because of the housing shortage, rents have escalated significantly. In September of 1994, a total of 218 apartment units were under construction, but the addition of new units has not eased the problem of affordability. Only 112 units of assisted housing have been constructed since 1988.
There are also very few units available for sale. Because of the housing shortage, values of homes for sale have increased about 10 percent in the last 2 years. There is a need for affordable housing in the price range of $45,000 to $65,000.
It has been very difficult to determine the extent of homelessness in the Mississippi Gulf Coast area. Due to the mild winter weather, there are many transient homeless who are in the City for brief time periods. Social service providers indicate a need for additional emergency shelters and transitional housing, particularly for families with children which appears to be the fastest growing segment of homeless. There is a big need for services to support the homeless with food, clothing, counseling, medicine, transportation, etc.
There are only a few emergency shelters available. One targets victims of domestic abuse and can accommodate up to 12 families. Another provides emergency shelter for single individuals, a large number of whom suffer from alcohol and drug abuse. Two others provide shelter for a limited number of men, women, and children, most of whom are considered transient. The Gulf Coast Community Action Agency estimates that about 300 families in the area need emergency shelter. There is only one unit of transitional housing in the entire area. Rental assistance is desperately needed for persons with HIV/AIDS to prevent them from becoming homeless. Some assistance may soon be available through the State of Mississippi's Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS rental assistance program.
The Biloxi Housing Authority owns and manages 936 low rent public housing units at nine different sites. A total of 37 units have been modified for mobility impaired residents, and a total of 74 units are suited for the elderly. While all units are considered in standard condition, most could use some repair such as interior painting, roof replacement, street repair, and additional security.
Of the 936 units, 22 percent are one-bedroom, 46 percent are two-bedroom, and 32 percent have three or more bedrooms. There are 114 families on the waiting list of whom 55 percent are female-headed households. The Biloxi Housing Authority administers a small Section 8 certificate and voucher program which houses about 100 people. The programs have 12 certificates and 13 vouchers available. The Mississippi Regional Housing Authority VIII which is located in Gulfport also provides certificates and vouchers which may be used in the Biloxi area when rental housing can be found.
There is a clear need for additional affordable rental units in Biloxi. There is also a need for services in support of public housing such as additional day care funding, drug elimination programs, youth programs, and resident initiative supports.
While there is currently a lack of sufficient standard rental and owner housing, the City is cautiously supportive of policies that would dramatically increase the housing stock. It is felt that as the gaming industry stabilizes, housing shortages may also ease. The City's Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations already provide for zero lot line developments and other provisions which encourage new affordable housing development. Barriers may exist in the allowability of manufactured housing which may limit its use as an affordable housing alternative. The City will review its Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, and other laws to determine if its policies on such things as manufactured housing or excessive development standards may be barriers to the development of affordable housing.
The City will be completing an analysis of impediments to housing choice during the winter of 1995. The City does not have any outstanding court orders, consent decrees, discrimination cases, or HUD-imposed sanctions against it.
The City estimates that 9,500 housing units may contain lead-based paints. Deteriorated and dilapidated pre-1978 housing with leaking roofs, substandard plumbing, and general deterioration present the highest risk of exposure to lead. In Biloxi's low-income areas, about 2,952 single-family homes exist of which about 368 are in substandard condition and may contain lead-based paint. However, the Harrison County Health Department has had no report of lead poisoning in Biloxi in the past two years.
The City of Biloxi has determined its highest priority non-housing, community
development needs to be those that must be addressed within the next two years.
It recognizes immediate need to establish neighborhood and child care
facilities; provide street, sewer, and water improvements, especially in support
of industrial development and in the older residential areas; and to provide
public services to the elderly, children, and those needing job training and job
placement assistance. The City has established its one-year goals based upon
these major concerns.
The City has identified the very low-income elderly and small families as needing housing and supportive services more than any other group. The City has recognized the need to support other public and private agencies in assisting its low-income residents such as the Mississippi Regional Housing Authority to obtain additional Section 8 housing vouchers and certificates, the Biloxi Public Housing Authority to receive additional Comprehensive Grant funding to improve existing housing, or social service agencies such as Catholic Charities and Back Bay Mission to sponsor housing for the elderly and provide supportive services.
The City intends to increase its affordable housing stock by providing rehabilitation assistance to low-income homeowners and by supporting nonprofits in obtaining funding for housing for the elderly.
The City has budgeted much of its public service funding to assist with supportive services for the elderly, for day care, and for assistance to the homeless for programs that will increase their capacity for self-sufficiency.
The City provides public service funding for case management and other supportive services for persons with HIV/AIDS.
The City has identified as one of its highest priorities the provision of fire safety for the residents of some of its lowest income neighborhoods. The City will provide a new fire station and the equipment necessary to insure adequate coverage for the area. The City also sees the elimination of flood drainage problems and the replacement of sanitary sewers as a high priority in the near future. Technical assistance for small businesses and microenterprises is considered a priority as well as the implementation of a revolving loan program for business development and expansion.
While the City of Biloxi has little control over the poverty status of its citizens, the City recognizes that its actions have a significant bearing on economic development and private investment in the community. It is a long-standing policy of the City of Biloxi to be a pro- active force in encouraging economic development and redevelopment in the community. This policy has been developed to encourage private investment and job creation. Its use is most evident in the previously completed Point Cadet development where property that was acquired with CDBG funds is being leased for a gaming industry and two hotels. This property is the source of considerable program income to the City and jobs for the low- income residents of the area.
The City of Biloxi is an Entitlement community only in the CDBG program and will receive approximately $811,000 in Fiscal Year 1995 funding. The City must compete on a state- wide basis for funds from the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) and Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) programs. The City has received small amounts of ESG funding over the years.
The City of Biloxi Community Development Department staff is most
responsible for the implementation of the strategic plan. However, the City has
a fairly extensive social service network that provides comprehensive assistance
in their respective areas of expertise. Further, the City intends to establish
a Task Force that will be a working group of representatives from many of these
agencies to insure the highest priorities are identified and carried out as
resources permit.
The City of Biloxi has planned a one-year program which utilizes $811,000 in new CDBG funding, $975,000 in carry-over CDBG funding, $80,000 in previously unreported program income, and $3,384,000 in projected program income for a total of $5,250,000 in CDBG funds. These funds are programmed for the following activities:
The City's housing rehabilitation program is available to homeowners in the eastern half of the City where there is a preponderance of substandard housing units and low-income residents. Social services are available to individuals from throughout the community who meet the needs qualifications.
The City has a very modest housing rehabilitation program which anticipates providing assistance to 10 homeowners over the next year. In addition, the City has been supportive of the Gulf Coast Women's Center who will provide six units of transitional housing for homeless victims of domestic abuse and their families. Construction will begin shortly on this project which was funded with Supportive Housing Program (SHP) funds from Fiscal Year 1995.
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, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.
