Located in Summit County, Akron is in the northeast section of Ohio, just south of Cleveland. The city's economy, historically associated with the rubber industry, is shifting away from rubber product manufacturing. In the past 10 years, Akron's population declined by about 6 percent. The goals of Akron's Consolidated Plan are to maintain the city's affordable housing stock and neighborhoods; to expand homeownership opportunities, public improvements, and job development; and to address the needs of the city's lower income citizens.
Akron has proposed activities to address priority needs and local objectives using anticipated program funds received for Fiscal Year 1995. Estimated resources include: $10.6 million in Community Development Block Grants, $2.1 million in HOME Partnership Investment Program (HOME) funds, and $300,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds.
Akron published notice of its Citizen Participation Plan in the Akron Beacon Journal on July 8, 1994. This plan was available for public comment over a 30-day period. The city actively solicited comments from various segments of the community throughout the preparation of the strategy. Public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and neighborhood and other community groups were contacted and asked to provide information on programs for the Consolidated Plan. On August 2, 1994, the city sponsored a public hearing in the Morley Health Center Auditorium to address housing and community development needs.
The city held another hearing on November 14, 1994. The draft Consolidated Plan was available for public comment over a 30-day period, beginning on October 14 and ending on November 14, 1994.
To aid with the plan's preparation, Akron formed a Consolidated Plan Working
Committee, which included residents from low-income communities. The city will
also hold meetings throughout the year to help organizations with their
applications for government assistance.
In the past 10 years, Akron's population decreased by about 6 percent,
falling to 223,019. However, the total minority population increased by 7
percent, rising to 59,561. The city's median family income (MFI) is $27,543,
which equals 78 percent of the national MFI. The city's median age is 32.5
years. Families constitute more than half of all households.
The city's economy, historically associated with the rubber industry, is continuing to shift away from rubber products manufacturing. Although the greater Akron area has lost 20,000 manufacturing jobs during the past 20 years, the area has gained 36,000 service producing jobs. Employment in services -- including health, hospital, and social services -- increased by more than 20,000 jobs. Finance and government remained steady with approximately 55,000 jobs.
Despite losses in manufacturing employment, Akron enjoys a diverse economy that has both manufacturing and service sectors. The city has over 112 manufacturing companies that have more than 50 employees. The city's 10 largest employers are: the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Summa Health System, Akron City School District, Summit County government, University of Akron, F.W. Albrecht Company, City of Akron, Akron General Medical Center, Loral, and Ohio Edison.
Akron's housing stock is aging, with more than 60 percent of all units being constructed before 1950. Of these, 40 percent were built before 1940. It is estimated that 25 percent of renter households and 27 percent of owner households live in substandard units. Also, 2.2 percent of renter households and 0.9 percent of owner households are overcrowded. Affordability and market conditions are Akron's major housing problems.
The 1990 census reported that Akron had 96,372 year-round housing units of which 89,923 units were occupied and 6,449 were vacant. Of the occupied units, 59 percent were owner-occupied, while 41 percent were rental units. The census indicated that the vacancy rate was 7 percent for rentals and 1.5 percent for owned units. More than 75 percent of the owner-occupied units have three or more bedrooms, making them suitable for large families.
Demand for affordable single-family housing remains high. In 1993, 3,453 single-family homes were sold at an average value of $51,742. Furthermore, 263 two-family units, 21 three-family units, and 145 condominiums were sold.
The cost of housing has increased during the past decade. Akron's median housing value was $32,700 in 1980 and $43,800 in 1990. Based on 1989 National Housing Institute Statistics, the housing affordability ratio for Akron was 2.8, well below the national average of 4.1. This statistic indicates that in 1989 a family in Akron needed an income of $23,867 to afford a $64,500 home. In 1989 the average annual wage was $22,786.
Fair market rents for the Akron metropolitan statistical area are: $324 for an efficiency, $395 for a one-bedroom, $507 for a two-bedroom, and $634 for a three-bedroom unit.
Very low- and low-income households (earning 0-50 percent of MFI) need the most housing assistance. The city estimates that, of the 19,400 very low- and low-income renters, 69 percent need housing assistance. These households are cost-burdened, paying more than 30 percent of their gross income for housing expenses, and 40 percent are severely cost- burdened, paying more than 50 percent for housing. Cost burden is most prevalent among families, with over half of both small and large renter households experiencing severe cost burden.
For other low-income households (51-80 percent of MFI), cost burdens are more prevalent among elderly renter households, with 49 percent of them being cost-burdened. One-third of small low-income households and more than one-fifth of large low-income households are cost-burdened.
Between 1980 and 1993, new housing construction added 4,952 housing units to the city's housing stock. Most of these units were built in the north central area of Akron. More than one-third of the new housing units were either single-family or two-family units. One-fifth were townhomes or condominiums, and nearly half were apartments. During this 13-year period, the average value of building permits for single- and two-family units ranged from a low of $50,657 in 1980 to a high of $99,172 in 1989.
Of a total of 609 homeless persons in Summit County, 265 went without any emergency or transitional housing services. The city's emergency shelters include: the Haven of Rest, a full-time shelter for single men; the Salvation Army's Grant Street facilities, which serves partially as a men's shelter; Ocasek Project Help, which operates during the winter; and Safe Landing, a runaway youth shelter.
The Haven of Rest, the city's largest shelter, is doubling its capacity to 100 dormitory beds in a new facility to meet increasing demand. The new building will contain an expanded daytime resource center for men, providing: information, referrals, showers, laundry, telephone service, bathrooms, educational activities, and job referrals. The Haven provides 18 beds for those participating in an extended-stay program.
Although the Salvation Army's Grant Street facility is primarily an extended-stay alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation program, homeless men fill many of the 60 beds. Because the number of single men needing shelter has exceeded the supply, the Ocasek Project Help has operated an overflow shelter for the past 3 years from mid-November to mid-April.
Most of the community shelters provide services mainly to individuals rather than to families. All of the shelters are operating near capacity. The number of families, primarily composed of young women with children, needing assistance has grown over the past several years. Three shelters in the community serve families: ACCESS, which has 21-bed and 4-crib capacity; the Harvest Home, which has 6 dormitory beds for single adults, 2 family units with 5 beds in each, and 8 semi-private rooms with 4 beds in each; and the Salvation Army's Booth Manor, which has 3 units with 3 beds in each. Transitional housing for women and children is also provided by H.M. Life Opportunities Services. Permanent Single Room Occupancy (SRO)-style housing is provided for 90 homeless persons in the converted Midtown Motel. Additional homeless services and facilities are needed.
The city has a number of public housing units, including 1,619 efficiency or one-bedroom units, 1,249 two-bedroom units, and 962 three- or more bedroom units. There are 277 vacant units. The Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) expects to lose 150 units in 1995 because rehabilitation will reduce the number of efficiency units in 3 highrise buildings. AMHA will lose an additional 10 units through its Conversion to Home Ownership Program, which gives favorable tenants in the Madison/Peckham Neighborhood Improvement Area the opportunity to purchase AMHA homes. However, these 10 units will be replaced through AMHA's scattered-site housing.
There are 2,985 units of Section 8 housing in the city. Recent numbers are not available on unused tenant-based rental certificates and vouchers. There are also 348 units of Section 202 housing.
There are 3,948 assisted housing units for the elderly. Of these, 1,437 units are located in 8 buildings owned by AMHA. These public housing buildings are located in central Akron, west Akron, and north Akron.
AMHA reports that 4,269 people are seeking assistance from various programs, including the Akron Rental Rehabilitation program, public housing, moderate rehabilitation housing, and Section 8 housing.
The primary barriers to affordable housing are insufficient resources needed to maintain the existing housing stock, and inadequate personal income. Akron will continue to invest resources in its neighborhoods to help residents remain in decent, safe, and sanitary housing.
The city identifies several actions that will help to eliminate gaps in providing affordable housing. To overcome insufficient resources, the city will seek other funding sources for affordable housing as those sources become available from the Federal and State governments. The city will also evaluate the relatively new Neighborhood Housing Petition Program for its effectiveness and will make changes as necessary.
Fair housing issues are important to the city's strategy. Akron consults and contracts with the Fair Housing Contact Service agency, which provides housing information and investigates housing complaints. The agency coordinates with the city to provide fair housing services for the CDBG program, including: public education, technical assistance, discrimination investigation, litigation assistance, conciliation services, counseling, tenant- landlord advisory services, and housing research.
The Department of Planning and Urban Development works with the Akron Health Department to identify housing units that contain lead-based paint and to implement abatement for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs operated by the city. The Akron Health Department's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, which will continue during the next 5 years, is supported by a strong city lead poisoning ordinance. The program features neighborhood outreach and education, a mobile blood screening unit, and a new computerized database monitoring system.
The Rehabilitation Division of the Department of Planning and Urban Development conducts a testing and abatement program that affects all applicants seeking rehabilitation assistance, tenants living in units being rehabilitated, and buyers of HUD-associated housing. In addition to this program, the homes of children who have elevated blood-lead levels are tested for lead-based paint hazards.
Akron has a number of special populations that need supportive housing and services. The city has 15 mental health homes that serve 76 clients. These homes are residential facilities that include room and board, medication monitoring, and other services. Another 40 clients are served through transitional programs. There are 28 clients on a waiting list for residential placement. An estimated 40 people were denied assistance because of ineligibility.
The Summit County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities has an emergency case load of nearly 40 persons who need shelter. Of these, 10 could be classified as homeless. The Board estimates that 286 people in the county are sheltered but need supportive housing. These people may be living with aging parents, living with friends or relatives in an unworkable situation, or in jeopardy of losing their shelter for other reasons.
An estimated 34,642 adults in Summit County are problem drinkers, and 478 are estimated to be homeless persons with drug or alcohol addictions. Akron has a number of treatment programs and residential facilities to serve and rehabilitate substance abusers.
The Community Drug Board operates the RAMAR home which provides a residential treatment program for up to 30 people. The home offers an array of drug treatment services, including 12 residential units which are leased to recovering addicts. The Interval Brotherhood Home near Akron and the Oriana House in Akron provide alcohol and drug recovery treatment. The Interval Brotherhood Home operates a 90-bed capacity long-term residential program, while the Oriana House provides intensive day treatment and overnight accommodations for 198 persons, 99 percent of whom are referred by the courts. The Haven of Rest and the Salvation Army provide mission-oriented, Christian-based residential programs for drug and alcohol offenders.
The Summit AIDS Housing Corporation reports that its residential program has served 109 persons with AIDS to date. In 1994 the Summit AIDS Housing Corporation opened a 16 unit facility, which provides permanent housing for families with a member who has AIDS. However, an estimated 15 to 18 housing units that have supportive services are needed for persons with AIDS. The county estimates that, during the next 5 years, an additional 328 households will need residential services.
Akron's aging infrastructure requires constant repair. The city has an aging, complex water and sewer system, which requires frequent improvements to comply with increasingly stringent EPA standards. Akron has two water system needs: improvements to the plant and sewer system to maintain water quality and improvements to Akron's Water Pollution Control Station to maintain State water quality standards.
The city needs to improve public facilities. Akron operates 140 parks and recreation areas, covering more than 2,000 acres. About 68 of the parks are developed, active parks. City parks include community parks, neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and ballfields. The city's primary goal is to reduce vandalism, maintenance requirements, and non-staff operating costs.
The city also plans to rehabilitate and upgrade support facilities, such as fire stations, vehicle maintenance garages, and administrative offices. There is a demand for additional recreational facilities throughout the city. Furthermore, numerous public buildings and facilities need rehabilitation to provide access to persons with disabilities.
Akron is also concerned about the area's economic health and its ability to provide a stable tax base and jobs for city residents. The city has two major economic development needs: downtown improvement, and commercial and industrial development.
Throughout the upcoming year, Akron will continue activities that enhance coordination between public or nonprofit housing providers and private or public health and service agencies. The city will continue to work with AMHA, which has the authority to provide assisted housing in Akron.
The Rehabilitation and Comprehensive Planning Sections of the Department of Planning and Urban Development and the Health Department will meet quarterly to discuss the progress of the Neighborhood Improvement Program and the Housing Petition program. The Emergency Housing Task Force will meet monthly to discuss the needs of the homeless and persons with mental illness. Akron works closely with these agencies.
The Department of Planning and Urban Development works directly with several local banks in the city's Housing Rehabilitation Program and the Neighborhood Housing Petition Program. The city meets with these institutions to provide the community with better services, such as reduced-interest home improvement loans to eligible applicants.
The city also works with many nonprofit organizations, such as the Urban
Neighborhood Development Corporation and Habitat for Humanity. The city has
entered into agreements with many agencies that enact housing programs for the
homeless or special needs populations.
The housing priorities in the strategy are ranked by the number of households that benefit from such activities. Various factors are considered, including availability, adequacy, and affordability of specific types of housing for specific types of households. The priorities reflect the needs of residents who require attention, support, and care. Some of these priorities include:
Some of the city's nonhousing community development priorities include:
Many of these priorities are included in the Akron Enterprise Community Strategy.
Akron will remain involved in programs designed to reduce poverty. These programs include the Private Industry Council (PIC) and the Job Training Partnership Act. PIC -- a partnership of area businesses, labor, and local governments -- attempts to help eligible unemployed youth and adults find employment through skills training, on-the-job training, job search skills training, and supportive services.
Human resource programs will also play a role. Some of these include:
Providing affordable housing also offers relief to persons living in poverty. The AMHA Family Self-Sufficiency Program provides participating families with supportive services to help them achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency.
The city's Minority Business Lending Program, which offers market-rate loans to minority and small businesses, will help small businesses to retain and provide jobs and increase job opportunities for persons living in poverty.
Furthermore, Akron's Enterprise Community application identifies a strategy to provide jobs to very low-income persons. If the grant is approved, the city will coordinate funds with other social service agencies.
The Department of Planning and Urban Development works directly with several local banks in the city's Housing Rehabilitation Program. The city has agreements with National City Bank, Society Bank, and First National Bank to provide eligible applicants with reduced- interest home improvement loans. The city will work with lending institutions to increase their involvement in Akron's housing programs.
The city has entered into agreements with many agencies that enact housing programs for the homeless or special needs populations. These nonprofit organizations include: the Salvation Army, Shelter Care, ACCESS, H.M. Life Opportunities Services, Summit Aids Housing Corporation, Arlington Housing Options, Community Support Services, Inc., Battered Women's Shelter, and Unity House.
Throughout the upcoming year, the city will be involved in activities that enhance coordination between public or nonprofit housing providers and private or public health and service agencies.
The city holds quarterly meetings with the AMHA to discuss issues of mutual concern and to monitor the progress of any new housing programs or developments.
The Department of Planning and Urban Development meets with the Housing Planning Advisory Committee, an offshoot of the Housing Network. These meetings emphasize affordable housing for low-income people and the constituents of the network member agencies. Throughout the year the city also attends meetings with nonprofit Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) to monitor their progress.
The Rehabilitation and Comprehensive Planning Sections and the Health
Department meet quarterly to discuss the progress of the Neighborhood
Improvement Program. The city will supply program representatives to local
agency boards and will supply staff to provide technical assistance to housing,
health, and social agencies.
The city will use anticipated program income and funds received for Fiscal Year 1995 to enact activities that address priority needs and local objectives. Some of the projects include:
The Akron Department of Planning and Urban Development is the lead agency. The city will lead and coordinate the Consolidated Plan development, submission, and implementation process.
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 is a map, sectioned by neighborhood, which depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 7 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within one of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.
MAP 8 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within another of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.
MAP 9 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded project(s) from a street level vantage point; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).
Ms. Nancy Cook
Department of Planning and Urban Development
City of Akron
166 S. High Street
Akron, OH 44308
