Monmouth County's FY 1995 Consolidated Plan constitutes a strategic vision for housing and community development in the County. This summarizes that plan so citizens in the community can have a quick overview of the County's housing and community development needs; the 5-year broad goals, strategies, and actions proposed to address those needs; and the specific projects proposed for FY 1995 to carry out this strategy, including maps showing the location of most of the projects and how they relate to existing conditions.
Elimination of slums and blight, elimination of conditions that are detrimental to health, safety and public welfare, conservation and expansion of the nation's housing stock, expansion and improvement of the quantity and quality of community services, better utilization of land and other natural resources, reduction of the isolation of income groups within communities and geographical areas, restoration and preservation of properties of special values and alleviation of physical and economic distress.
The Consolidated Plan also includes an action plan constituting an application for funds under three of the four HUD formula programs (including reallocations from prior years) for a total of $ 5,077,000; Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program; the Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) Program; and the HOME Investments Partnership (HOME) Program. These funds will support the activities to be funded for the 1995 Program Year.
The Plan was developed with active citizen participation,
including
non-profit and for-profit housing producers, social service
agencies, senior
citizens, disabled, and homeless groups, and Public Housing
Agencies and
Authorities. In addition, consultations were held with the three
entitlement
cities, other state urban counties and representatives of the
State of New
Jersey. Information meetings and public hearings for the Plan
were conducted
and the Plan was released for public review on March 16, 1995. A
brief summary
of the Plan was printed in the Asbury Park Press and copies of
the entire draft
of the Consolidated Plan were made available for public review at
branches of
the County Library and other locations. Two public hearings on
the plan were
held on April 18, 1995; one in the morning from 1O a.m. to 12
p.m. and the other
from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Monmouth County is New Jersey's fourth largest county in population and sixth largest in geographic size. It is located 47 miles south of New York City and 55 miles northeast of Philadelphia in central New Jersey. Monmouth has 53 miles of coastline, 27 miles along the Atlantic Ocean and 26 miles along the Raritan Bay. The County comprises approximately 471 square miles an has a population of 576,789. There are fifty-three municipalities in the County: two cities, 15 townships, 35 boroughs, and one village. Geographically the municipalities range in size from Shrewsbury Township (the smallest) at 0.09 square miles to the largest, Howell Township at over 62 square miles. Middletown Township has the largest population with over 68,544 residents while the Village of Loch Arbour has the smallest, 377. Forty-nine municipalities participate in the Monmouth County Urban County program and HOME Program. All municipalities are eligible for the Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) Program.
Per the 1990 census, the population is 8.5% Black, 2.8% Asian and Pacific Islander, 1.3% Native American, 87.4% White, and 4.1% Hispanic. The definition of minority concentration used in the County's Consolidated Plan is a census tract with a percentage higher than the county average. Of the 146 census tracts in Monmouth County, 27 census tracts have a concentration of black population; 41 tracts have a concentration Asian populations; and 33 tracts have concentrations of Native Americans. Thirteen percent of the county population is over 65 years of age. The unemployment rate for 1994 was 5.8%.
Of the 166,518 occupied housing units, 75% are owner units and
25% are
rental units. Over 44.2% of the total housing stock is 30 years
or older. The
average sales price for a single-family home is $180,400. The
median contract
rent is $ 567.00.
The needs section of the plan outlines the housing and community development needs of various groups.
Housing needs are based on the 1990 census data promulgated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and in consultation with assisted housing providers. Twenty percent (20%) of the housing stock was built in 1939 or before. Forty- four (44%) percent of the housing stock is 30 years or older. Very low-income elderly (renters and owners) are the most severely cost-burdened (paying more than 50% of their income on housing costs). In addition, this group also has the most housing problems. Between 1980 and 1990 the county-wide ratio between median income and median sales price of housing went from 3.1 to 4.0. This means that it costs more than four times an average family's annual income to purchase a home in the county.
In order to afford to rent a housing unit in Monmouth County at the present FMR ($680.00), a household would have to make an hourly wage of $13.10. The required hourly wage of $13.10 is 308% of New Jersey's minimum wage. Adding to the homeless situation is the high number of foreclosures and the closing of two boarding homes in the County. In 1994 20% of persons receiving subsidies or housing are reported to have been homeless. The other 80% are likely to have been rent burdened, overcrowded, and very low-income. There is an extreme need to provide additional resources to providers of services to the homeless. This increase in services must be accompanied by additional Section 8 and HOME certificates.
The non-housing community development needs of the County are
as diversified
as the residents and their neighborhoods. These needs range from
recreation for
seniors and youths (active and passive, indoor and outdoor) to
street and sewer
improvements. Emphasis has been placed on accessibility needs
since the
implementation of the American with Disabilities Act. This need
has been
compounded by the aging of America and the municipal budgetary
limitations.
The strategic plan describes a long-term strategy to deal with housing and community development needs.
Housing Priority: Expand the Owner and Rental Housing Opportunities for Very Low-, Low-, and Moderate-Income Persons, Including Those With Special Needs
5 Year Goal: To create approximately 50 for-sale units that are affordable to low- income households
5 Year Goal: To rehabilitate 975 owner-occupied housing units and 50 rental housing units
5 Year Goal: To assist approximately 50 low-income households become homeowners
5 Year Goal: To create 200 new rental units that are affordable to low-income households
5 Year Goal: To create 25 Service enriched transitional housing units and 25 permanent service enriched housing units
5 Year Goal: Encourage the development of supportive housing with structural features and services by nonprofit organizations
5 Year Goal: Encourage the development of supportive housing with appropriate services by nonprofit organizations
Supportive and Public Services Priority: Further Develop Opportunities for Very Low-, Low- and Moderate-Income Persons and Special Needs Populations To Benefit from Programs that Will Help Them Improve Their Living Conditions
5 Year Goal: Provide 8,210 certificates and vouchers to low-income renters
5 Year Goal: Encourage and assist nonprofit organizations in applying for additional resources to assist special needs populations
5 Year Goal: Sponsor technical assistance seminars to assist first-time homebuyers qualify to purchase a home
5 Year Goal: Educate tenants, landlords, lending institutions, homebuyers, and the general public about fair housing through media advertisements
5 Year Goal: Provide resources to support existing programs and fund new programs. Also, encourage organizations to seek additional funding for these programs
5 Year Goal: Encourage and assist nonprofit organizations in securing additional funding for parenting classes and child care services
5 Year Goal: Continue providing funds to nonprofit organizations to help them pay rent, mortgage and utility arrears of low-income households to prevent homelessness
5 Year Goal: Continue assisting nonprofit organizations which provide health assessments and intervention services to homeless families and individuals in temporary, emergency, or transitional housing
5 Year Goal: Assist nonprofits in securing funds to pay for alcohol and other substance abuse counseling to homeless families and individuals in temporary, emergency, or transitional housing
5 Year Goal: Assist nonprofits in securing funds to pay for screening, employment counseling, and referral services for homeless families and individuals in temporary, emergency, or transitional housing
5 Year Goal: Fund and assist nonprofits in securing additional funds to increase services that support housing for special needs populations
5 Year Goal: Assist nonprofit organizations and municipalities disseminate information to special needs populations about available programs and services
5 Year Goal: Fund and assist nonprofits in securing additional funds to increase services that support housing which enable families to remain intact and live with dignity
5 Year Goal: Advocate for additional training, education and employment opportunities for low-income persons
Public Facilities and Infrastructure Priority: Encourage and Fund the Construction of Physical Improvements Which Will Foster Comprehensive Community Development Benefitting Very Low, Low-, and Moderate-Income Neighborhoods
5 Year Goal: Provide funds to municipalities and nonprofit organizations to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act
5 Year Goal: Fund and assist in developing neighborhood facilities that qualify for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding
5 Year Goal: Support municipalities by helping them develop and fund infrastructure projects
5 Year Goal: Support municipalities by helping them develop and fund recreational projects
5 Year Goal: Fund and assist in developing sanitary and potable water supply system projects that qualify for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding
5 Year Goal: Support municipalities and nonprofit organization by helping them develop and fund historic preservation projects
Economic Development Priority: Encourage and Fund Projects Which Will Foster Economic Revitalization Within Eligible Community Development Block Grant Service Areas
5 Year Goal: Develop economic development projects
Research and develop a loan program for business to rehabilitate second and third floors into livable space in order to make vacant buildings viable in commercial areas
5 Year Goal: Develop an economic development program to assist local businesses create or retain jobs for low-income persons
5 Year Goal: Encourage lending institutions to make loans to businesses and nonprofit organizations for community building projects
5 Year Goal: Encourage the training and employment of low-income residents through the use of the Section 3 Program
The Action Plan describes the proposed uses of the $5.077,000 from the three grant programs. Thirty projects are included in the Plan.
| Funding Program | Allocation | General Program Activities |
|---|---|---|
| CDBG | $1,076,240 | Monmouth County - Housing Improvement Program |
| CDBG | 31,021 | Monmouth County - Fair Housing Program |
| CDBG | 294,989 | Monmouth County - Emergency Repair/Barrier Free Program |
| CDBG | 705,000 | Monmouth County - Program Administration |
| CDBG | 610,000 | Monmouth County - Contingency/Local Options |
| CDBG | 31,471 | Allentown Borough - ADA Renovations to Borough Hall |
| CDBG | 94,100 | Wall Township - Upgrade Youth Services Facility |
| CDBG | 60,617 | Pleasant Valley Adult Day Care Center - Expansion of Services |
| CDBG | 179,894 | West Side Community Center Facility Improvements |
| CDBG | 95,424 | Avon Borough - Street Improvements |
| CDBG | 222,770 | Highlands Borough - Road Improvements |
| CDBG | 111,058 | Eatontown Borough - Plaza Parking Area |
| CDBG | 62,840 | Aberdeen Township - Road Improvements |
| CDBG | 114,219 | Ocean Township - ADA Improvements |
| CDBG | 76,769 | Red Bank Borough - ADA Improvements |
| CDBG | 48,322 | Upper Freehold Township - ADA Improvements |
| CDBG | 170,643 | Englishtown Borough - Weamaconk Lake Dredging |
| CDBG | 125,050 | Bradley Beach Borough - Storm Drainage Improvements |
| CDBG | 99,575 | Ocean Grove Sewer District - Sanitary Sewer Improvements |
| CDBG PROGRAM SUB-TOTAL: | $3,960,000 | |
| HOME | $329,250 | Samaritan Center - New Beginnings Affordable Housing Development |
| HOME | 177,900 | Monmouth County - First-Time Homebuyers Program |
| HOME | 478,500 | Monmouth County - Tenant-Based Rental Assistance |
| HOME PROGRAM SUB-TOTAL: | $986,000 | |
| ESG | $14,800 | Mercy Center - Homelessness Prevention |
| ESG | 18,633 | VNA of Central Jersey - Health Assessments for the Homeless |
| ESG | 17,250 | Easter Seals - Drug and Alcohol Counselor at Linkages Transitional Housing |
| ESG | 11,000 | Interfaith Neighborhoods Intake Screening of Clients for Transitional Housing Programs |
| ESG | 22,817 | Check Mate Inc. - Renovate the Adult Homeless Shelter |
| ESG | 14,000 | Check Mate Inc. - Employment Counselor for Clients at the Adult Homeless Shelter |
| ESG | 24,500 | Check Mate Inc. - Homelessness Prevention |
| ESG | 8,000 | Exodus, Inc. - Renovate the Miami Plaza Hotel for continued use as an Emergency Shelter |
| ESG PROGRAM SUB-TOTAL: | $131,000 |
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.
MAP 6 depicts Neighborhood Segments and streets with proposed HUD funded projects.
