Union County Consortium is comprised of Union County and Union Township. Union County is one of the most urbanized counties in New Jersey, located in the greater New Jersey- New York metropolitan area. It is served by a complete range of public and private transportation systems. The economic base benefits from the proximity to the financial institutions in New York City. Key local industries include pharmaceuticals, petroleum distribution, world communication systems, and other service companies and government. Union County realized a significant decrease in heavy industrial employment over the past 40 years.
The Union County Consortium Consolidated Plan presents a strategic vision for housing and community development. It includes a One-Year Action Plan for spending approximately $9.3 million of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program, program income, and Emergency Shelter Grant funds in 1995. These funds will primarily be spent on housing and economic development activities.
The Consortium consulted with a variety of social service agencies regarding the needs of children, elderly, homeless, physically challenged persons, and other special populations served by social and human service agencies. The Consortium solicited important data from agencies and municipalities that provided information necessary to complete the Consolidated Plan. Additionally, a Consolidated Plan Committee was created to provide an avenue to identify and address the community development and housing needs of the Consortium. The Consolidated Plan Committee consists of several government staff and agencies, non-profit housing and homeless-service organizations.
Union County is one of the most urbanized counties in New Jersey, located in the greater New Jersey-New York metropolitan area. According to the 1990 Census, 28.9% of the 493,819 residents are members of a minority group (i.e., non-white and/or Hispanic); 29.8% are low and moderate income persons and 7.2% of the residents have incomes below the poverty level.
Over the past decade, the elderly population has increased steadily over the years. This is evident in the growing percentage of population that is 62 years of age or older. In 1990, this percentage had grown to almost 18 percent from more than 12 percent in 1980.
The Union County Consortium is reflective of the trends in New Jersey, showing peaks in construction, the formation of significant businesses and industries within the jurisdiction's borders, and some hiring within the service sector.
The need for rental housing by the low income elderly household population is particularly acute. This is evident in the waiting list for senior citizen public housing in the entitlement municipalities of the Consortium. Housing affordability has been identified as a growing problem, especially for the low income families and the elderly. There is an extensive waiting list for all publicly owned housing.
The jurisdiction of Union County Consortium had 140,975 year round housing units in 1990, 99 percent of which were occupied. Of the occupied units, 29 percent were rental units and 70 percent were owner-occupied. In 1990, the vacancy rate for rental units was 41.9 percent.
Rental needs have not changed significantly over the years, with rental housing remaining the least dominant type of housing in the Union County Consortium. In 1980 there was a total of 38,451 units of rental housing. In 1990 this number increased slightly to 40,862 units of occupied housing stock. Relating rental needs to income levels, the needs of the low to very low-income groups are the most pressing.
The Consortium's Plan identifies the critical need for affordable housing and opportunities for first time homeownership. These units should be suitable for occupancy by very low, and low income persons. This category also includes the elderly and those with special needs. The Consortium's Strategic Plan emphasizes the use of HOME funds to develop and maintain affordable housing through new construction, rehabilitation, and first-time homebuyer assistance.
Based on a count conducted in 1990, 132 persons were found to be homeless: 101 persons were in homeless families, 1 person was under 17 years, 30 persons were adults. The homeless population continues to reflect a large number of working poor families.
The Consortium's housing stock includes 3,782 apartments operated by four (4) public housing authorities.
There is an extensive waiting list for all publicly owned housing. As of March 1995, the most recent tabulation of waiting list shows a total of 3,120 senior citizens and families applying for assistance. Waiting periods of up to three (3) years are common.
Two projects are in particular demand. Erhart Gardens in Union (built in 1980) offers senior citizens housing. It has 233 units and a waiting list of the same number. Chestnut Avenue Apartments in Summit (built in (1986), contains 125 senior citizen apartments and has a waiting list of over 400 applicants. West End Gardens in Plainfield offers a variety of unit-types ranging from one to three bedrooms and has a waiting list of over 100. Local housing officials explain that waiting list are so long that in effect, there is a zero percent vacancy rate.
The lack of adequate funding levels is one of the more critical problems that impedes the production of affordable housing units. A shrinking federal funding pool has placed additional funding requests on New Jersey.
The current funding availability requires that an affordable housing project utilize multiple funding sources. Unfortunately, the conflict of rules and regulations among the various sources used by one project complicate its execution and extend its timeframe for completion.
The Consortium certified that it will carry out an analysis of impediments to fair housing. The Consortium was determined to be taking satisfactory actions for meeting requirements to further fair housing. There are no court orders, consent decrees, or HUD-imposed sanctions that affect the provision of fair housing remedies.
Information obtained from various health officials in the Consortium, as well as the New Jersey Department of Health indicate that elevated lead-levels in children is not of primary concern for most communities in the Consortium.
The monetary down turn of the 1990's greatly affected the state and local economies. This is illustrated in Union County which accounted for 7.1 percent of New Jersey's total employment in 1992, down from 9 percent ten years earlier. Between 1982-1992 Union County lagged every other county in the state, both in absolute and relative employment change. According to a study prepared for the Union County Alliance, three basic areas have to be addressed to increase economic growth in Union County. First, the development of an appropriate public infrastructure that will have an effect on improving the future economic efficiency of the County. Secondly, creating more small scaleeconomic activities. In 1991 57.8 percent of all establishments in New Jersey had between 1 and 4 employees while 76.2 percent had between one and nine. Third, ensure the supply of the counties labor force with education and skill level training. The UnionCounty Economic Development Corporation, from 1990 through 1994, assisted through capital and operational investments in private industries and business, an estimated $10 million dollars in Union County.
The activities described below detail the Consortium's efforts to enhance coordination between public and assisted housing providers and private and governmental health, mental health, and service agencies with a focus on the following:
The overall goals of the community development and planning programs are to strengthenpartnerships with the participating jurisdictions and to extend and strengthen partnerships among all levels of governmental and the private sector including for-profit and non-profit organizations to enable them to provide affordable housing, establish and maintain a suitable living environment, and expand economic opportunities for residents of Union County, particularly for extremely low-income and very low-income persons.
The priorities of the Five year Strategic Plan are based upon the Consortium's desire to achieve the following goals:
Priorities for affordable housing include increasing and preserving the existing supply of affordable housing within the Consortium that serves low income residents, both renters and owners, through rehabilitation loans and grants. Increase the number of affordable housing units for the very low-income renter and low-income homebuyer of modest means to increase both housing choice and opportunity, particularly for small families.
Priorities for homelessness alleviation include increasing the number of transitional facilities and companion services to meet the needs of the currently under-served homeless and at- risk populations. Engage in preventive measures to preclude any future increases in homelessness among individuals and families. Expand the number of support services and facilities for the homeless, at-risk populations and other special needs population to address current unmet needs.
Priorities for economic development activities include the promotion of opportunities for economic growth and job creation focusing on micro-businesses. Assistance to be provided includes capital investment sources/loans and job training.
The County Consortium addresses the problems experienced by poverty level individuals and families through the network of supportive services offered by various county and municipal agencies.
Agencies in the forefront of this anti-poverty strategy are:
The primary Federal resources include CDBG, HOME, Emergency Shelter Grants, Section 8, Section 202, Section 811, HOPE I and HOPE II. Resources available from the State include the New Jersey Balanced Housing Program.
The activities described below detail the Consortium's efforts to enhance coordination between public and assisted housing providers and private and governmental health, mental health, and service agencies with a focus on the following:
The County Consortium One-Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of approximately $9.3 million in CDBG, HOME, and Emergency Shelter Grants funds, in addition to program income. These funds will be spent mainly on an array of housing activities, including:
CDBG funds will be available in all municipalities participating in the Consortium. The Township of Union shall continue its entitlement financing of local activities. The County of Union Entitlement communities, and in particular, Plainfield, Rahway, Linden, and Cranford, will continue to participate in funding for local initiatives.
Highlights of the County Consortium's housing goals for the first year include increasing efforts to preserve the existing supply of affordable housing within the consortium that serves low income residents, both renters and owners, through rehabilitation loans and grants; increasing the number of affordable housing units for the very low-income renter and the first time homebuyer; offer direct financial assistance to the low-income and very low-income rental households in the form of rental subsidies; provide expanded support services and facilities for the homeless and special needs populations; increase transitional programs with associated housing and comprehensive components for homeless families.
MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction.
MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.
MAP 3 depicts low-moderate income areas and minority concentration levels.
MAP 4 depicts low-moderate income areas and unemployment levels.
MAP 5 depicts low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 6 is a map showing a street level map with outlines of low/mod and unemployment areas with projects in the southwestern area of the County.
MAP 7 is a map showing a street level map with outlines of the low/mod and unemployment areas with projects in the central area of the County.
MAP 8 is a map showing a street level map with outlines of the low/mod and unemployment areas with projects in the eastern area of the County.
