Moss Point's 1995 Consolidated Plan constitutes a coordinated approach to identify the housing, homeless, supportive service, and non-housing needs of the City. This document summarizes the plan so that citizens in the community can have a quick overview of the housing and community development problems; the 5-year broad objectives and actions proposed to meet those goals; and specific strategy for carrying out these activities.

Objectives

The City of Moss Point's immediate objectives are as follows:

• Provide programs for youth, i.e., recreation, counseling, anti-drug programs, etc.

• Provide non-housing infrastructure needs, i.e., street improvements, sanitary sewer, and drainage improvements.

• Coordinate activities and the use of all available public and private resources.

Action Plan

The Consolidated Plan includes a 1-year action plan for nine projects, spending approximately one million dollars in Community Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Those funds will be spent on non-housing infrastructure improvements, public services, and administration/planning.

Public Participation

On August 2, 1994, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Moss Point, Mississippi, passed and adopted a comprehensive citizen participation plan for citizen participation in the preparation of application for financial assistance and citizen involvement in the implementation of the Community Development Block Grant Program. In the planning and development of the Consolidated Strategy and Plan, the City relied heavily on citizen's input, consultation with public agencies, non-profit agencies, private groups, and citizens' groups. The City of Moss Point sponsored a number of meetings and held one public hearing on June 29, 1995, with the agencies and groups to insure maximum involvement in the planning and development stages. The draft plan was made available at various locations for review and public comment was accepted for a 30-day period.

The City of Moss Point is located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. According to the 1990 Census, Moss Point's population was 17,837 of which over 66 percent is minority. Although Moss Point annexed 1,798 people in 1990, the City experienced a net loss of 1,161 (6 percent) in population between 1980 and 1990. The unemployment rate was 11 percent as of January 1995. There is a total of 5,948 households of which 33 percent are very low income and 18 percent are other low income. A total of 49 percent of the households are moderate income or above.

Moss Point's economic base is exceptionally dependent on heavy manufacturing activities for employment. The City has an historically weak tax base in relation to other coastal communities primarily because most of the retail commercial establishments in the area are located in the corporate area of Pascagoula. However, due to the recent construction of Highway 10 north of Moss Point and a four-lane highway through the east side of the City, Moss Point is gaining the potential for developing an extensive highway commercial area capable of generating increased sales tax revenue.

Housing Market Conditions

Unlike Biloxi and other parts of the Mississippi Gulf Coast where gaming is legal and huge capital investments are generating thousands of jobs, Moss Point is experiencing high unemployment and little economic activity. The demand for new unassisted housing is only slight. There is a need for assisted housing as evidenced by the waiting list. The median value of owner-occupied homes is $43,100 and the median gross rent is $212 per month. The 1990 Census showed 6,505 housing units in Moss Point, 5,982 occupied and 523 vacant. No multi-family units have been constructed in Moss Point since 1981. New single-family housing starts have been overshadowed by losses (demolitions) in single- family homes. Since 1990, a total of 78 single-family building permits have been issued for new homes and 94 single-family homes have been demolished during the same time. The primary housing need in Moss Point is for owner rehabilitation of substandard housing.

Homeless Needs

Assistance for the homeless is very limited and is a growing problem in Moss Point. The need for additional emergency, transitional, and permanent housing for homeless persons far exceed the capacity of the existing facilities. The majority of the homeless population are single adults (52.4 percent). It is estimated that there are 160 homeless with special needs such as severe mental illness, alcohol/drug abuse, domestic violence, aids/related diseases and runaway or abandoned youth. Five agencies on the Gulf Coast have facilities for housing the homeless. Services for the handicapped and mentally ill are available at some of these facilities. However, transitional housing for the homeless are very limited.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

The Mississippi Regional Housing Authority No. VIII owns and operates two public housing complexes in Moss Point. The two complexes have a total of 132 units. The Regional Housing Authority also administers 158 Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments vouchers and certificates. Section 8 waiting lists total 376 of which 322 are female-headed households and 54 are elderly.

The public housing units in Moss Point are aging. The Hinson Homes development was built in 1959 and the Clark Homes development was constructed in 1969. Both of the public housing facilities are substandard.

Barriers to Affordable Housing

The Zoning Ordinance of the City of Moss Point relegates "mobile homes" to be located in mobile home parks. The Ordinance prohibits the location of "mobile homes" in any residential area except in the Mobile Home Residential District or mobile home subdivisions of at least two acres in size. This policy limits the opportunity for area residents to purchase and locate this affordable housing alternative in the City.

Moss Point's Zoning Ordinance does not allow zero lot line developments. This form of development reduces land costs in residential developments, thus making housing more affordable.

Fair Housing

The jurisdiction certified that it will affirmatively further fair housing, which means it will conduct an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice within the jurisdiction, take appropriate actions to overcome the effects of any impediments identified through that analysis, and maintain records reflecting that analysis and actions in this regard.

Lead-Based Paint

According to the 1990 census, 75 percent of pre-1978 housing contains lead-based paint. A total of 4,232 housing units in Moss Point are likely to contain lead-based paints. Data presented in the CHAS Databook reveals that 48 percent of all renter households and 27 percent of owner-occupied housing units have housing problems of some type, i.e, structural, plumbing, overcrowding. Approximately 1,187 owner-occupied pre-1978 housing units present a higher risk of lead-based paint problems and 599 renter-occupied homes have a high risk of lead-based paint related problems.

Community Development Needs

Public services and infrastructure will continue to be high priority in providing long-term improvements for the low-income residents of Moss Point. The City plans to construct a Civic Center for public meetings and conferences that is to be funded by a Section 108 grant. The primary non-housing community development needs of the City are improving street drainage/repair and replacing deteriorated sanitary sewers.

Vision

The 5-year strategic plan identifies specific objectives and desired accomplishments. The plan prioritizes the housing, supportive housing and non-housing community development needs of Moss Point.

Housing and Community Planning Resources

The City of Moss Point identified the housing needs that include the need for housing rehabilitation programs, weatherization, and emergency home repair programs to assist homeowners. In partnership with private for-profit and non-profit service providers, the City would implement its strategic plan for development by leveraging the Federal funds it receives in the most advantageous manner.

Five-Year Housing and Community Development Objectives and Priorities

Objective 1. Improve drainage infrastructure and streets in low- and moderate-income areas. Among the proposed actions are: repair/replace deteriorated sanitary sewers on all CDBG street and drainage improvements projects.

Objective 2. Improve housing stock in low- and moderate-income areas. Among the proposed actions are: providing housing rehabilitation loans and grants which include lead- based paint abatement; providing new construction; support services; homebuyer assistance; and day care.

Objective 3. Provide recreation programs for youth residing in public housing and other low/moderate income areas. Continue to provide CDBG funding and support efforts of the Housing Authority and Boys and Girls Club to obtain funding for recreation programs.

Objective 4. Enhance services provided to the homeless and ensure all homeless persons and families have immediate access to safe shelter on a temporary or transitional basis as needed.
Among the proposed actions are: support efforts of agencies to obtain funding from emergency, transitional and permanent housing; and support area agency efforts to provide supportive services for the homeless, such as food, counseling, clothing, etc.

Objective 5. Reduce the number of households living below the poverty level. Among the proposed activities are: improve infrastructure such as water, sanitary sewer, drainage and traffic circulation at the intersections which will enhance opportunity for development and lure new business investments in the community; develop water oriented industrial sites; develop a land-based industrial park in conjunction with the airport; enhance infrastructure in the Central Business District and develop a strategy for inducement of businesses to locate in the Central Business District; and prepare and implement a Waterfront Development Plan.

Objective 6. Construct a Civic Center funded by a Section 108 grant. Funds have been approved to construct a Civic Center in the City of Moss Point for public meetings and conferences.

The City of Moss Point will receive its annual CDBG Entitlement 1995 allocation of $358,000 and will have prior year's funding of $632,222. The one-year "Action Plan" outlines activities to be undertaken to address the priority needs. The lead agency for the administration and implementation of the projects and activities will be the City of Moss Point's Department of Community Development. The action plan activities will include the following:

Administration/Planning Activities costing $70,000:

• Administration and coordination of overall management, coordination and planning of the CDBG program.

Public Facilities and Improvements costing $900,222:

• Providing acquisition of 1,000 linear feet of right-of-way including engineering and design.

• Construction of 4,000 linear feet of sidewalk, curb, gutter, street widening and storm sewer.

• Acquisition of 4,600 linear feet of right-of-way (approximately 80 parcels) including engineering and design.

• Construction of 2,700 linear feet of sidewalk, storm sewer, curb, gutter and street widening.

Provide Youth Services for the low- and moderate-income youth costing $20,000:

• Assist in providing operational cost for youth program.

Monitoring

In compliance with HUD regulations for the Consolidated Plan, the City of Moss point has established the standards and procedures that will be used to monitor activities carried out under the Plan. The City of Moss Point has assigned responsibilities for monitoring the implementation of the Consolidated Plan to the Community Development Department which will work closely with a Task Force to insure that active implementation takes place on a timely basis. The Task Force will consider the following:

• Meeting monthly and maintaining records/minutes of its meetings which will be made available to the City;

• Establishing a set of rules governing the operations of the Task Force to ensure adequate monitoring of activities proposed under the Consolidated Plan;

• Establishing a budget to be funded by the City and member agencies to provide reasonable resources with which to operate;

• Sponsoring programs and workshops to educate agencies and the public about the housing and community development needs of the City as well as the availability of programs and services;

• Monitoring and reporting progress made to the City.

Maps

MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.

MAP 3 depicts low-moderate income areas, minority concentration levels, and proposed HUD funded project(s).

MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded project(s).

MAP 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded project(s) from a street level vantage point.

Cathenual Keeton
Community Development and Human Resources Administrator
PH: (601) 474-0099