Camden City, the second largest municipality in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Statistical Area, is located in the southwestern section of New Jersey. Camden is the seventh largest City in the state and the largest City in Camden County. The City is divided into 20 census tracts, all of which vary in character and condition.
Despite Camden's socio-economic decline, the City's strategic location offers hope that this trend may be reversed. Located directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Camden has easy access to many different forms of transportation. First of all, 676, I-295, US 30, US 130 and other major roadways all service the City. Moreover, not only is the Philadelphia International Airport only 20 minutes away, but also, Camden has access to the international market through the City's ports which rank among the nation's leaders in the shipment of bulk cargo. Finally, Conrail service from Pavonia Yards links the City with the rest of the Northeast Corridor.
In addition to the City's strategic location, Camden also houses county,
state and federal government offices through South Camden and the Central
Business District. As a result, the City is the major government center for the
County.
Camden, like many American urban areas, has traditionally been plagued by numerous problems associated with urban blight. In order to effectively deal with these obstacles, municipalities must look to social, economic, physical and cultural sectors to sufficiently stabilize the community and improve the quality of life for city residents.
Although governmental units have traditionally dealt with many urban issued and problems separately, the Consolidated Plan represents a joint effort between a variety of governmental units, thereby helping to create a unified approach to the identification and resolution of the problems which characteristically trouble urban areas.
In order to facilitate a wide range of participation in the planning process, the City took a number of different measures. First of all, the City formed two committees. One committee, the Intergovernmental Communications Committee, consists of departments, agencies and non-profit organizations that receive federal and state funding. This committee provided technical review for the Consolidated Plan Advisory Committee. The Consolidated Plan Advisory Committee is comprised of Division Directors from most city departments and agencies, as well as those from non-profit housing and homeless organizations. The committee was divided into the following subcommittees. Affordable Housing, Homelessness, Public Housing, Special Needs and Non-Housing Community Development Issues.
In addition to the two committees, two agencies, the Camden Redevelopment
Agency and the Division of Planning, acted as overall lead agencies for the Plan
process. The Division of Grants Management also provided technical support in
the computerization of the Plan. These lead agencies performed a number of
roles including, but not limited to, the organization of meetings and public
hearings, the provision of technical assistance, the dissemination of
information regarding meetings and the provision of copies of the Plan for
public viewing.
Camden's population is relatively diverse with all populations, other than Whites, growing. The City's racial composition is as follows: African-Americans - 54% (14,414), Hispanics - 24% (6, 374), Whites - 20% (5,331), Asian and Pacific Islanders - 1% (285) and Native Americans - less than 1% (70). As previously mentioned, Whites represent the only decreasing population; all other populations are increasing with the Asian Pacific Islander population growing the fastest at a remarkable 300%. The city population as a whole has seen a 3% increase since the 1980 census.
Since the 1980 census households in the City have decreased by 9%, leaving approximately 26,626 households within Camden. Of these households, roughly 53% are considered to be extremely low-income (less than 50% of Median Family Income [MFI]).
Camden possesses 5 neighborhoods in which the incomes average below $15,000 dollars and are therefore considered to be concentrated areas of very low and extremely low incomes. They are as follows: Central Business District, Centerville, Cooper Grant, Bergen Square and Cramer Hill/Pavonia.
Built before the end of World War II, the City's housing stock is a mix of brick row homes, twins, duplexes and small apartment buildings. Of the 26,626 occupied housing units in the City, 13,748 are renter-occupied and 12,878 are owner-occupied. An additional 5,267 are either for rent (1,224), for sale (531) or abandoned (3,512). An estimated 3,512 renter and owner-occupied houses are substandard; an additional 2,230 are substandard but suitable for rehabilitation. The Fairview, Marlton, Cooper Grant and Stockton neighborhoods still retain homes in good to excellent condition.
Median rent in Camden City has increased by 113% as compared with a figure of 109% for the County. Moreover, the City's median market-rate rent exceeds median affordable rent by 13% to 28% depending upon the size of the housing unit.
As the above statistics indicate, Camden residents face a lack of affordable housing. Naturally, the housing shortage is more accentuated at the lower end of the economic scale. Among renters, the most need exists in the City's 9,056 renter households which fall in the extremely low income category (0 -30% MFI). Within this category, households are divided into two categories - "small related" (2-4 persons) and "large related" (5 or more persons). Roughly 78% (2,256) of small related households and 91% (1,359) of large related households experience housing problems. Within the owner-occupied units, the same group, the extremely low-income, experiences the largest percentage of housing. Approximately 74% (375) of these owners experience housing difficulties. The next economic category, the very low income (31 - 50%), are close behind with around 71% (150) of those owners facing problems with housing.
Homelessness is caused by a wide variety of social and economic issues. Consequently, the population has a plethora of diverse and unmet needs for which and overall strategy is necessary. Three major causes are the shortage of affordable housing, deinstitutionalization and drug and alcohol abuse.
Not only is it difficult to identify the causes of homelessness, it is also problematic to identify the number of homeless in the City. However, by utilizing an unduplicated count of those homeless persons being admitted to emergency shelter, one can derive a total number of 2,692 as of 1991. This figure represents a 78.7% increase over the unduplicated count in 1989.
Of all city residents, the extremely low-income families on public assistance without subsidized housing remain the highest risk groups. Many of these families are headed by single females and may constitute the "hidden homeless population" or those who reside with family and friends without having their own dwelling.
In order to combat homelessness, a three prong strategy which includes emergency shelter, transitional or rehabilitative services and permanent housing or supportive housing arrangements, is needed. Within these three categories, homeless providers and the Department of Health and Human Services have identified certain needs which will act as a starting point for improving and sustaining a continuum of care.
The Consolidated Plan offers an inventory of services for the homeless divided into the six following categories: resource and referral services, case management services, outreach services, emergency support services, emergency shelter services and social services.
Three different groups of people - those with AIDS, the drug and alcohol abusers, the elderly and the frail elderly - are considered to have special needs. First of all, all 183 known cases of HIV in Camden City require some level of housing and/or services. Secondly, the 1992 Comprehensive Human Services Plan Update has identified substance abuse as the third most pressing need among the homeless population. Finally of the City's 7,352 elderly and frail elderly citizens, an estimated 70% are categorized as extremely low-income. Currently the Camden Housing Authority (CHA) gives homeless senior citizens preference. Two nursing homes exist within the City, and the CHA maintains several senior citizen housing sites.
Public housing currently has a waiting list which is divided into two categories - families (those with children) and the disabled (those that are either disabled or on social security). Priority is presently given to those applicants that are already homeless.
The Consolidated Plan lists and analyzes the needs of the following subsidized sites: Branch Village, Ablett Village, Roosevelt Manor, Chelton Terrace, Westfield Acres, Mickle Towers, J.F.K. Towers, McQuire Garden, Royal Court and Westfield Towers. For the purpose of comprehensive linkages for community development, the CHA has received $42 million. Some of this money will be used to create homeownership possibilities, develop employment training programs and form stable community policing programs.
According to the federal government, lead poisoning could be significantly affected as many as 3 million American children, making it the number one environmental health hazard to the young. Of this number, people of color and the poor are disproportionately affected.
In Camden, a total of 24,483 households, both renter and owner-occupied, qualify as extremely or very low income. Of the 18,817 extremely low income households, about 77% (14,235) are identified as possible lead-based paint contamination sites. In this category, extremely low income homeowners face a higher percentage of risk (80%) than do renters (74%).
The Camden Division of Housing Services has applied for a $200,000 grant from the NJ Department of Community Affairs. This grant would fund seven different programs which will deal explicitly with lead-based paint hazard. The programs will be as follows: Homeowners Direct Assistance Grants, Essential Systems Repair Grants, Rental Rehabilitation Program, First Time Homebuyers Program, Home Repairs Initiative Grants/Loans, Senior Moderate Rehabilitation Grants and Homestead/Ownership Program.
Of New Jersey's seven biggest cities, only three, one of which is Camden, experienced employment gains. Moreover, the City's per capita income has also experienced a significant rise, although the City still lags behind the national, state and county in that regard.
The type of employment within the City has changed dramatically over the year. Camden's economy has steadily lost manufacturing jobs while gaining jobs in the health care industry. In order to stem the flow of vital manufacturing jobs leaving the City, the City needs a strategy to strengthen the manufacturing sector.
According to a 1992 New Jersey Employment and Training Commission study the following linkages need to be established: a community service strategy, a youth apprenticeship program, school to work initiatives (including technical preparation options), literacy programming using public and non-profit agencies and workplace education programs using financial resources from the NJ Workforce Development Partnership Program to improve resident skills.
The Plan identifies three major public safety needs - establishment of permanent police districts, an expanded crime prevention program and the establishment of foot patrols in commercial and residential areas.
The Plan lists the following federal, state, private and other resources which Camden can leverage to enact its strategic plan:
Empowerment Zone: about $21 million for housing, human and economic development within certain communities.
Community Development Block Grant Program: roughly $3 to $4 million for a wide variety of activities including neighborhood revitalization, economic development, improved community facilities, prevention and elimination of slums and blight, and assistance to low and moderate income families.
Home Program: grant funds to low- and moderate-income households to facilitate a wide variety of housing services and assistance.
Emergency Shelter Grant Program: funding used to improve the quality of existing emergency shelters and also used to increase the number of actual shelters.
Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS: entitlement and competitive grants available to assist and serve persons with AIDS and their families.
Comprehensive Grant Program: funding for public housing authorities to make physical and managerial improvements.
Lead Based Paint Abatement Program: moneys to develop effective lead-abatement strategies for communities.
Section 8 Rental Certificates: rental assistance provided directly to homeowner leasing to assisted families.
Section 8 Rental Voucher Program: rental assistance provided directly to homeowner leasing to assisted families.
HOPE 1 (Public Housing Homeownership): assistance to provide affordable homeownership for residents of public housing.
HOPE 2 (Homeownership of Multi-family Units): assistance in developing homeownership opportunities for the low income through the use of multi-family rental properties.
HOPE 3 (Homeownership of Single Family Homes: financial, homeownership assistance for low-income persons through the use of single-family housing in public ownership.
Neighborhood Preservation Program: funds municipalities to rehabilitate and revitalize neighborhoods.
Balanced Housing Programs: funds developers producing low- and moderate-income housing.
New Jersey Housing Financing Agency: $20 million low-income tax credit construction loan fund for Camden.
1st. Fidelity Savings Bank: $175,000 loan pool.
Mid-Atlantic Bank: $175,000 loan pool.
Chemical Bank of New Jersey: $175,000 loan pool.
Camden County CDBG: $150,000 loan pool.
Delaware Valley Reinvestment Fund: $13 million loan pool/ $2.4 million available for housing and lending to non-profits.
Cogen Technologies: private donations for community development.
Martin Marietta: private donations for community development.
In addition, the Consolidated Plan compiled the following list stating the five major categories and the various priorities within each:
Approximately 42 housing and community development projects which will eventually address the previous priorities are planned for the fiscal year of 1995. The following list identifies the source and amount of funds:
In addition to the above list, the City will continue to search for additional sources of funding.
A selection committee has been developed to review all projects to be included in the Consolidated Plan's Action Plan. The committee members are as follows:
The Consolidated Plan identifies eight public policy barriers to Camden's attainment of affordable housing:
1. The City should repeal a restrictive zoning ordinance that prohibits shelters and some forms of transitional housing for homeless and other low income single persons.
2. The City should modify its inefficient development review process that creates lengthy delays for developers.
3. The City lacks qualified, professional staff to enforce zoning and building code ordinances.
4. Many potential homeowners are unable to produce a sufficient down payment toward the purchase of a home.
5. Many potential homeowners are unable to maintain a positive credit rating, thereby limiting many from obtaining a home.
6. Within the City there is much neighborhood opposition to multi-family and non-traditional housing alternatives.
7. Local banking institutions and corporations do not sufficiently invest in the neighborhood revitalization process.
8. Current tax policy is not flexible in promoting homeownership opportunities.
The Consolidated Plan also identifies nine ways in which barriers can be reduced:
1. Homeownership opportunities must be strengthened and increased.
2. Incentives for historic preservation of historic homes must be created.
3. The City must create a Mayor's committee on homelessness.
4. The City of Camden must develop a homeless needs assessment.
5. The City must promote housing for senior citizens and the disabled.
6. The city must improve public housing during the next five years.
7. Neighborhood residents must establish and maintain town watch programs.
8. The city should develop land development and review handbook.
9. All infrastructure rehabilitation and improvement projects must target those are undergoing substantial development or redevelopment.
Finally, the Consolidated Plan also recommends policy actions in the area of
public housing, lead based paint hazard and poverty reduction/prevention.
The institutional structure and the organization thereof is essential to the success of the Consolidated Plan. A coordination of efforts between public city agencies, public county agencies and non-profit organizations, as well as financing from local financial institutions are both necessary.
Public City Agencies: Camden Redevelopment Agency, Division of Planning, Camden Housing Authority, Department of Housing and Community Development, Department of Health and Human Services and the Empowerment Zone Entity.
Public County Agencies: Camden County Department of Community Development, Camden County Department of Health and Human Services, Camden County Improvement Authority, Camden County Workforce Investment Board and Camden Business Assistance Corporations.
Non-Profit Organizations: St. Joseph Carpenter Society, The Heart of Camden Housing Corp., State St. Housing Corp., Camden Lutheran Housing, Camden Redevelopment Corporation, Habitat for Humanity, Camden Neighborhood Housing Services, Jaycee Housing Corp., The North Camden Land Trust and Volunteers of America.
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.
TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).
