The Cities of Vineland, Millville and Bridgeton are situated in the County of Cumberland in southern New Jersey. All three Cities have a long history of industrial development, particularly the manufacture of glass, food products, and textiles. The Cities are within an hours drive of Philadelphia, Wilmington and Atlantic City with direct access from state highways. While Bridgeton is nearly fully developed, Vineland and Millville have rural areas and open space as well as developed core areas. The three Consortium partners are the principal centers of population and commerce within Cumberland County.
The Consolidated Plan also includes a one year action plan constituting an application for founds under two different HUD formula grant programs, HOME and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The CDBG grants for the three cities are:
The CDBG funds are utilized for a variety of public services, public facility improvements, economic development, housing construction and rehabilitation, and similar activities.
HOME funds in the amount of $673,000 are used by the Consortium for housing rehabilitation activities and is divided among the three cities in the following manner:
Cumberland County has consistently recorded low personal and per capita incomes. The slow gain in average income reflects, in part, the area's high rate of unemployment which has hovered around 10%. Within the Consortium, approximately 27.5% of all households have incomes in the very low category (<50% of median); 40.6% have incomes in the low range (<80% of median); and 50% have incomes between 80-95% of median income. Overall, 12,280 (or 13.8%) of persons in the Consortium have incomes below poverty level. The census tracts in the central portions of the three cities, where housing stock is older and more affordable, tend to house the greatest proportion of the low and moderate income population. It is generally in these areas that the Cities have concentrated their housing assistance programs and public facility improvements.
Elements of the Plan were developed with active citizen participation
strategies in each of the communities, including a Community Development
Advisory Committee that helped to develop the community priorities and resource
allocation. Two public hearings were conducted in each municipality to obtain
local citizen viewpoints and numerous consultation meetings were held with
public and social service agencies countywide. A summary of the Consolidated
Plan was published in the Daily Journal and copies were made available for
public review at the local libraries and City Halls.
Within the three Cities, there is a total population of $99,714 (1990 US
Census). This represents a 2.4% population increase since 1980, or 2,351
persons. The three Cities represent nearly three-quarters of the County's
population base. While population grew by 2.4%, the number of households
increased by 6.1%. There are a total of 35,097 households.
The 1990 Census estimated a total of 36,840 housing units within the Consortium. Each of the Consortium partners saw a modest increase in the number of total housing units since 1980. Over 95% of the dwellings are occupied. Approximately 60% are owner occupied while 35% are renter-occupied and 5% are vacant. Just over two-thirds of the dwellings are single- family (attached and detached). Based on measures of overcrowding, age, and plumbing, the dwelling units overall are in good condition. Approximately 27% of the dwelling units were constructed prior to 1939. In the City of Bridgeton, the proportion of older dwellings is much greater, registering over 50% of all units.
Based on income distribution information from the 1990 Census, approximately 17.8% of households have incomes in the extremely low range; 27.6% in the very low range; and 40.6% in the low range. Nearly 14% of all persons in the Consortium have incomes at or below poverty level.
Housing is generally considered to be affordable if shelter costs are at or below 30% of gross monthly income. 20% or one-fifth of the owners with a mortgage are cost-burdened by having shelter costs greater than 30% of income. In contrast, renters are much more cost-burdened. Over 45% of the renters were cost-burdened, representing over 5,300 households. Within the Consortium, approximately 35.2% of all households are renters.
Needs are identified in the areas of: single family housing rehabilitation, homebuyer assistance, lead-based paint abatement, rental assistance, rental rehabilitation and affordable housing construction.
The 1990 Census estimated a total of 36,840 housing units within the Consortium. Each of the Consortium partners saw a modest increase in the number of total housing units since 1980. Over 95% of the dwellings are occupied. Approximately 60% are owner occupied while 35% are renter-occupied and 5% are vacant. Just over two-thirds of the dwellings are single- family (attached and detached). Based on measures of overcrowding, age, and plumbing, the dwelling units overall are in good condition. Approximately 27% of the dwelling units were constructed prior to 1939. In the City of Bridgeton, the proportion of older dwellings is much greater, registering over 50% of all units.
Homebuyer Assistance: provision of financial assistance to enable existing renters to become first time homebuyers; closing cost and downpayment assistance needed due to very low incomes in region.
Lead-based paint abatement: approximately 10,384 lower income dwellings have lead- based paint hazards; assistance needed to abate hazardous conditions.
Rental Assistance: Lowest median and per capita income in state prevents homeownership; indebtedness nullifies ability to obtain a mortgage - therefore substantial rental population that needs assistance to eliminate cost burden.
Rental Rehabilitation: need to provide incentive for investor/owners to upgrade rental properties to code standards.
Affordable Housing Construction: in conjunction with local nonprofit organizations construction of new, for sale, dwelling units for lower income families.
Emergency Shelter: short term, emergency assistance where no shelter is available
Information and Referral: Need for a coordinated, 24 hour hot-line referral service countywide.
The following table presents the assisted housing inventory in the three consortium cities:
| Category | Total | 1 bedroom | 2 bedroom | 3 bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Public Housing Units | 1744 | 1137 | 254 | 353 |
| Project based Ass't |
1060 541 118 |
467 133 60 |
354 263 57 |
239 145 1 |
| Tenant Based Ass't |
520 545 21 |
126 214 1 |
157 225 14 |
67 106 6 |
| Homeowner Ass't | 135 | 2 | 62 | 71 |
| Vacant | 35 (2%) |
Needs are identified in the areas of modernization, additional housing subsidies for low income elderly residents, and units for the disabled which are not coexistent with the elderly.
Despite best efforts at the local, state and federal levels, there remain barriers to the production of affordable housing. These barriers include: 1) the uncertainty of federal and state funds; 2) income; 3) housing codes and historic preservation; 4) environmental regulations; and 5) local fees. These areas are discussed in detail in the Consolidated Plan.
In terms of racial and ethnic characteristics, the 1990 census reported that 73.1% of the Consortium population was White. This represented a decrease of 3,563 persons since 1980. In contrast, minority populations increased, including Hispanic (all races) by 43.4% and Black by 21.7%. In 1990, a total of 33.6% of the Consortium population was composed of minority persons.
Individual communities, however, show markedly different patterns of change in the minority/ethnic composition. For example, whereas the black population in the county is 15.5%, Blacks comprise 36.9% of Bridgeton's population. Similarly, the Hispanic population of Vineland is 23.6%, but is 16.8% countywide. Both the Black and Hispanic population of Bridgeton increased by 3.5% while the white population decreased by 7%.
The Consortium defines the areas of racial, ethnic and minority concentration as those areas where the minority concentrations as reported by the 1990 Census exceed 40%. Accordingly, there are three areas of concentration, those being Census Tract 205 in the City of Bridgeton, and Census Tracts 401 and 402 in the City of Vineland. No impediments to the availability of housing for minorities and low income households are identified other than those which affect the overall population as a whole.
Due to the variance in the age of the housing stock between the three cities, there are distinctions in the degree of lead-based paint hazards. Accordingly, the information on lead- based paint hazards is presently individually by city in the Consolidated Plan. However, more than 40 percent of the units with lead-based paint hazards are occupied by low/mod households.
There is a need for a wide variety of public services including day care, health, cultural activities, handicapped services, transportation, educational activities, and homeless assistance. Public facility needs include neighborhood park upgrading and fire equipment purchase. Infrastructure improvements include downtown amenities and street and sidewalk reconstruction. Neighborhood revitalization through code enforcement activities and relocation assistance. Economic development through financial assistance to for profit businesses, commercial rehabilitation assistance for building improvements, and planning assistance as needed.
The Consortium intends to carry out its Comprehensive Plan using an
institutional structure that includes private industry, nonprofit organizations,
and public institutions. This institutional structure is in place and has
operated efficiently to implement previous community development initiatives.
The strategic plan lays out a long-term strategy to deal with the housing and community development needs. Programs and projects will be coordinated to increase their benefit to lower income households. These actions, projects, and programs reflect priorities determined by the individual cities, the Community Development Advisory Committees, and the public.
This strategy not only reflects the local priorities, but, similarly, reflects HUD's emphasis on promoting homeownership for low and moderate-income families. The housing priorities reflect the fact that all three Cities have a central core of older, yet viable housing stock that can be preserved as affordable dwelling units and stimulate community pride. Cumberland County is a depressed area with high unemployment and the lowest per capita income, therefore, some forms of direct rental assistance and rehabilitation financing is also needed. Paying market rents is infeasible for local renters and, despite low purchase prices, homeownership is stymied by lack of downpayments and closing costs.
With a mix of renters and owners, neighborhood stabilization is also an integral housing strategy. In conjunction with other locally-sponsored programs, such as community policing, increased security, local clean-up programs, and social service projects, housing assistance and supportive services can be critical components for long-term neighborhood viability.
The non-housing needs fall into three categories: neighborhood/public services, economic development, and public facilities/infrastructure. Neighborhood/public service activities are designed to meet the objective of improving the quality of life of local residents by providing needed services (health, day care, transportation, youth development). Economic development activities are designed to directly benefit low and moderate-income persons by providing increased employment opportunities. Finally, public facilities/infrastructure improvement projects are designed to meet the objective of safe, adequate public facilities to service targeted neighborhood areas.
| 1) Public Services: | Assist approximately 7500 persons consortium-wide; | |
| 2) Public Facilities: | Target approximately $400,000 in CDBG funds consortium-wide for a variety of public facilities and improvements; and, | |
| 3) Economic Development: | Target approximately $600,000 in CDBG funds for economic development activities consortium-wide. |
The consortium partners have linked their strategy to economic development goals and the provision of jobs to low and moderate income persons.
The Cities face an enormous challenge in marshalling the resources necessary to implement its plan. The Consolidated Plan contains an inventory of Federal, State, and local programs available to carry out its plan. Anticipated resources include: CDBG, HOME, Neighborhood Preservation, NJ Balanced Housing, Safe Housing and Transportation Fund, HOPE III, nonprofits NJHMFA, Housing Authorities, Rental Rehabilitation, Section 8, Public Housing Development Funds, low income tax credits, Urban Homeownership Recovery Program.
The consortium members have taken a leadership role in coordinating
programs, new initiatives, partnerships, and information sharing with public
agencies, nonprofits, and private providers. The members will continue to pursue
efforts to coordinate its housing strategy in order to increase the supply,
availability and quality of affordable housing for those households in greatest
need.
Key projects planned for the first year include: homeowner rehabilitation assistance; rental property rehabilitation, acquisition rehab, and resale of dilapidated properties to first-time homebuyers; assistance to Community Housing Development Organizations, public housing improvements and resident involvement; assistance to public service organizations including: CHAIR, Martin Luther King Academy, Millville Day Care, Shirley Eves Center, Help and Hope Ministries, New Sweden Farmstead Museum, Municipal Alliance, Test City Child Care, Vineland Public Library, ARC Center. In order to improve the economic stature of households, all three communities are planning economic development assistance in the form of business assistance loans downtown redevelopment and facade improvement grants. The Cities also assist in the administration of the Urban Enterprise Zone.
Housing activities will be focused on the central neighborhoods of all three Cities. Public service activities will have a city-wide benefit.
The lead agencies for implementing all projects will be the Community Development Offices of the Cities of Vineland, Millville and Bridgeton.
The members expect to assist 375 households through single family housing rehabilitation programs and approximately 100 households through rehabilitated rental units.
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 proposed HUD funded projects; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).
Linda Dechen
Business Administrator
PH: (609) 794-4000
