Poughkeepsie's Consolidated Plan for 1995 constitutes the City's vision for meeting its housing and community development needs. This summary offers City residents an overview of the needs assessment, a three year strategy to meet the needs and a detailed action plan for FY 1995 Federal expenditures with HUD assistance.
The Action Plan provides for HUD assistance in FY 1995 in the following amounts:
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Program $1,410,000 CDBG Program Income 778,300 Total $2,188,300
The City sent an outreach mailing on the planning process to over 300
persons plus social service providers regarding the first public hearing held in
October, 1994. A second mailing with a draft consolidated plan was made in
November. Citizen viewer disks were distributed to local libraries with
computer viewing capacity. The second public hearing was held in December. The
following groups participated in the process: Citizens, non- profit
organizations, social service providers, governmental entities, other interested
parties.
The City of Poughkeepsie has a population of 28,844 persons, and has experienced continued population decline since 1970. This outmigration is partly due to the lack of suitable housing stock, a high unemployment rate and the subsequent failure to attract residents to the area.
Fifty-two percent of the City's 11,874 households (30 percent of which are headed by women) fall into the low, very low and extremely low income categories. 4,532 households or 38 percent of the City's total, earn less than $17,499 or less than 50 percent of the median family income and another 1,619, or 14 percent, earn $17,500 - 27,499, or 50-80 percent of the median family income. Slightly more than 14 percent of the population is living below the poverty level and approximately 52 percent of the households are considered to be low, very low or extremely low income.
Approximately 64 percent of the population is white, 31 percent Black and the remaining 5 percent other minorities. In recent years there has been a substantial increase in Hispanic residents.
The median family income in 1990 was $34,211, which is 5 percent below the National median and 15 percent below the Metropolitan Statistical Area median. 64.5 percent of the City's total households that earn below 51 percent of the median family income are occupied by elderly homeowners.
Of the 13,112 units of housing stock, approximately half are over 50 years old.
Forty-one percent, or 4,829 housing units are owner occupied. Of these,
3,406 are occupied by people who earn less than 80 percent of the median family
income. Fifty-nine percent of the residents are renters, 67 percent of which
fall into the low to extremely low income household category.
The City's aging commercial districts have been devastated by the downturn in the economy in recent years. Parts of the City have become the center for drug trade activity in the Mid-Hudson area with drug and violence rivaling larger cities when compared on a per capita basis. Corporate downsizing, particularly IBM, has resulted in the loss of 19,000 jobs, nearly 8,000 in 1993 alone. In addition 11,000 manufacturing jobs were lost in Dutchess County. Over 20 percent of the population is considered economically disadvantaged. The poverty rate was 14.7 percent in 1990 while unemployment was 7 percent in 1993.
Substandard conditions and defects:
Cost Burdens and Supplies - based on County-wide rental rates and household incomes as reported in the 1990 Census, at least 20 percent of the City's population cannot afford a one-bedroom apartment. Lower and moderate income residents, not to mention extremely low income residents, are experiencing considerable difficulty renting affordable apartments as housing is predominated with owner-occupied detached single-family homes.
There are an estimated 96 homeless persons in the City, 95 adults and one youth plus 32 homeless families (97 persons). Associated related problems are:
Percent | Number | ||
---|---|---|---|
Severe Mental Illness | 15 | 29 | |
Alcohol/Other Drug Abuse Only | 46 | 89 | |
SMI and Alcohol/Other Drug Abuse | 30 | 58 | |
Domestic Violence | 26 | 50 | |
AIDS/Related Diseases | 26 | 50 |
Special needs populations in the City include HIV/AIDS victims, homeless and runaway youth, and drug and alcohol addicted individuals. These are groups that are at risk of becoming homeless. There are over ten organizations providing assistance to these populations. In addition there are victims of abuse and domestic violence.
In 1990, 5,807 persons or 20 percent of the City's population was elderly, over 63 percent of which was female and 36 percent male. In 1992, 11.4 percent of the elderly were living below the poverty level. In addition 3,293 households in the City are supported through Social Security and have a median household income of only $8,055. Retirement funds or pensions for 2,002 households provide a median household income of only $7,138.
There are project based and tenant based assisted housing units within the City which represent 17 percent of the total occupied housing units. The Poughkeepsie Housing Authority operates 600 units, 240 with State funds and 360 with Federal funds. HUD Section 8 funds are used in both project and tenant based units through rental vouchers and certificate programs. Both programs assist elderly, small families, large families, and non-homeless persons with special needs who earn no more than 30 percent of the median family income. In 1994 there were 515 vouchers/certificates provided but there was a waiting list of over 600 families. There were also 549 Federally-assisted senior citizen housing units in the City.
Lead-based paint is considered a hazard, particularly to children, when certain lead levels in the blood are exceeded. Older homes are more likely to have lead-based paint than newer homes since high concentrations of lead in paint were banned in 1978. Based on the 1990 census, only six percent of Poughkeepsie's housing stock was built after 1980. Although children living inolder homes are most at risk due to the age of the housing stock, elevated blood-lead levels in children is not perceived as a problem in many of these units when certain conditions exist.
Crime - Poughkeepsie constitutes 11 percent of the Counties population but 32 percent of violent crimes. There has been a significant increase in violent crimes and drug crimes by youth in the last two years.
Child Care - There are some 100 persons on waiting lists for DSS child care. There is a need for child care for lower income groups for the 6 week to 3 year old groups.
Elder Care - The elderly as a group have special needs, going beyond day care. There is also the need for the mentally and physically frail, the live alones and the limited income problem.
Health Services
Need of Persons with Disabilities
Substance Abuse - Almost eight percent of the County's population aged 14 and above are estimated to be alcohol abusing or dependent individuals.
Work Force Development
English as a second language (Hispanic population doubled since 1980)
Infrastructure to support economic development.
The intent of the Housing and Community Development Strategic Plan is to provide a plan that brings Poughkeepsie's needs and resources together in a coordinated strategy to meet its future needs. The three main goals involved in the consolidation of HUD programs are:
In addition, the plan has been developed to achieve the following statutory goals, principally oriented to low, very low, and extremely low-income residents:
Objectives:
Examples of the types of activities to be included by the Public Housing Authority are appliance replacement, elevator replacement, lighting, playground facilities, security enhancements, kitchen and bathroom upgrades and other physical improvements. Joint City/Housing Authority activities may involve:
The Action Plan for Poughkeepsie identifies the activities it will undertake to address the priority needs and local objectives with anticipated program income and funds received in FY 1995 under the CDBG program. Allocations were made based upon the objectives and actions set forth in The Three Year Strategic Plan. The City HOME funds from HUD in 1995 were received as part of a consortium of 23 municipalities in Dutchess County. The specified proposed projects were therefore presented in the Dutchess County 1995 Consolidated Plan.
The type of projects assisted with the $2,188,900 in the CDBG program funds and program income funds follow. A complete description is found in the Plan.
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 points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects at street level.
TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).