U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Community Planning and Development


Consolidated Plan Contact

CITIZEN'S SUMMARY

The City of Barberton is located adjacent to the southwestern border of Akron, Ohio. Barberton has traditionally been known as an industrial community. The city, founded along the Ohio and Erie canal, encouraged manufacturers to locate and expand their industries in Barberton. The trend continued until the 1970s when the manufacturing industries started downsizing along with the U. S. and world economies. Over the past five years, the manufacturing industries have seen a minor resurgence with small industries opening or relocating in Barberton.

Action Plan

Barberton's 1995 Consolidated Plan constitutes a strategic vision for housing and community development in the city. This document summarizes that plan so citizens in the community can have an overview of Barberton's housing and community development needs, and the coming year's projects to address them. The Consolidated Plan includes a one-year action plan for spending approximately $1 million of Community Development Block Grants(CDBG) along with HOME Investment Partnership Program funds and program income.

Citizen Participation

Citizen task forces were formed to help define the city's priority needs. The task forces were separated into three group: housing, economic development, and public improvements. The groups consisted of representatives from the public assisted housing authorities, neighborhood target areas, non-profit housing agencies, private industry, commercial industry, commerce, education, public officials, and the city health, building, engineering, and utility departments. Needs were defined based upon data including Barberton's age characteristics, educational attainment, homeless population, population threatened with homelessness, housing needs of children, elderly persons, persons with disabilities and Barberton's overall housing status. Maps were used to help geographically identify the areas of greatest need for federally assisted projects. From the information provided, needs for housing, economic development, and public improvements were identified. The results were used to form the five-year strategic plan and the one-year action plan.

Two citizens meetings were held after being publicized in the local newspaper. The first meeting was held before the publication of the Consolidated Plan, along with local citizens and the task forces. A copy of the Consolidated Plan was made available at the Barberton Library for public review and comment before the second meeting. The second meeting was held after a summary of the Consolidated Plan was published in the local newspaper. The Consolidated Plan was adopted by City Council on May 8, 1995. See Map 1 for Barberton and its vicinity.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

According to the 1990 Census, the population of Barberton is 27,623. The population has continued to decline since 1960 when the city's peak population was 33,805.

The U. S. Census reports that Barberton's senior citizens make up 25% of the population, which is higher than any of its neighboring communities. It also has more children than neighboring communities as well, with 17% of the total population being 18 years or under. As a result, the median age in Barberton is just about average for Summit County.

According to the 1990 Census, just over 5% of Barberton's population is African American. This percentage is less than the county average and only about one fifth of Akron. Hispanics are less common in Barberton than in neighboring communities, only .3% in 1990. See Map 4 for the racial distribution for the City of Barberton.

Sixty-nine percent of Barberton residents have completed high school. This is 10% lower than the county average. Less than 8% of Barbertonians graduated from college, compared with an average of nearly 20% countywide.

The median family income in 1990 was $21,688 and per capita was $10,366. The Census reports that 4,626 persons were below the poverty level which translates to almost 17% of the total population. The Census also reports that 15% of families are below the poverty level. See Map 3 for areas of unemployment and poverty in the City of Barberton.

In 1990 a total of 11,171 households were counted. Approximately 6,000 of those households are considered low income, meaning the occupants of the households make less than 80% of the countywide Median Household Income. The Median Household Income throughout the county, in 1994, was determined to be $41,300.

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

Conditions

As noted above, the population of the city has been steadily declining since the 1960s. However, the rate of decline has slowed in the past several years, and looks as if it may stabilize. According to the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services, unemployment rates have gone down. In 1983 almost 15% of the population was unemployed. By 1994 the unemployment rate dropped to 7% as compared to the county's rate which was 5%. The 7% unemployment rate for Barberton was its lowest since 1989. See map 3 for areas of unemployment in the City of Barberton.

The city's tax base lowered along with the manufacturing industries closing or downsizing in the 1970s and 80s. As a result, much of the city infrastructure has suffered. Many streets and sidewalks are in poor condition due to infrastructure that has not been replaced. Much of the city is still in need of storm drainage along streets. This has caused problems with flooding in several areas of the city.

Housing Needs

3,769 families, or 34% or the total number of Barberton's households, have very low incomes defined to be below 50% of the area median income. Renter households in the very low income category are dominated by small family households (47%) and elderly one and two member households (30%). There are 1,629 very low income home owners in the city. This represents 23% of all home owners. Of the very low income households, 4% are large family households, 18% small family households, and 64% are elderly.

Indicators of need include the degree to which a family's housing expenses result in a financial burden. Cost burden means that a family pays in excess of 30% of their income for housing expenses. 47% of elderly renter households in the very low income group are cost burdened, while 73% of small families and 75% of the large families in the very low income renter group are cost burdened. 34% of the very low income home owners are cost burdened compared to 66% of the renters.

2,391 households, or 21% of all Barberton households, have incomes between 51% and 80% of the area median income. Small family renters are the dominant household type in the low income group (47%). Elderly renters make up 18% and large family renters only 8%. There are 1,471 low income home owners in the city, of which, 42% are elderly.

Low income renter households experience cost burden at a rate of 15%, while 40% of elderly renter households are cost burdened. Only 8% of the low income home owners experience a cost burden.

Housing Market Conditions

The 1990 Census identifies 12,009 total year-round housing units in the city with 11,082 of them occupied and 927 vacant. The number of owner occupied housing units in 1980 was 7,308; this number decreased by 3% in 1990 to 7,121. Of the total number of occupied housing units in 1990, owner occupied units make up 64%.

Barberton has more old housing and less new housing in relation to its total housing stock. Approximately 37% of the dwelling units in Barberton are a half-century old or older. Land for developing new houses is scarce in Barberton since the city has not been annexing land from neighboring townships. Therefore, little new construction has happened in recent years. Only 3.4% of the city's housing stock was built between 1980 and 1990. Over the past four years new housing construction has added only 185 residential structures. The approximate average value of these units was $86,500.

Affordable Housing Needs

There is a need in Barberton to upgrade substandard housing units for low income and very low income renters, of which there are approximately 2,500 units in the city. 54% of all very low income home owners have housing problems, and 37% of Barberton's housing was built over 50 years ago.

There is also a need to increase the supply of affordable housing available to low and very low income households. The vacancy rates in the city for owner and renters are low meaning there is a demand for additional units. Also, 66%of very low income renters, and 34% of very low income owners are cost burdened.

Home ownership opportunities in Barberton need to be expanded for low and very low income renters. This is evidenced by the large percentage of rental properties in Barberton as compared to other neighboring communities. Between 60% and 80% of the low and very low income households experience cost burden and likely need assistance for home ownership.

There is a need to maintain availability of rental assistance for low and very low income households. Of the number of renter households in the city, 41% have some sort of housing problem. 73% of the very low income renters have a cost burden greater than 30% of their income. 54% of the very low income group have a similar cost burden.

Homeless Needs

A homeless count completed in March of 1995 showed that there were 21 homeless adults in Barberton. Of course this number may fluctuate between seasons. Six were reported to be homeless because of mental illness, and 10 reported homeless because of alcohol or drug abuse. The count was conducted by the Homeless Outreach Staff of Community Support Services who makes contact with homeless persons to help provide assistance. There are no emergency shelters in Barberton; however, a range of services, facilities and programs have been developed within the county to respond to the needs of the homeless.

Throughout Barberton, area churches and the Community Action Agency provide a variety of services to the homeless and those at risk of being homeless. Providers include the Barberton Community Action Council, Salvation Army, Barberton Seventh Day Adventist Service Center, First Presbyterian Church and Emmanuel Christian Assembly.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

According to the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA), there are 8,000 applicants on waiting lists for housing assistance. Of these persons 2,280 have applied for Section 8. The list is short for elderly; however, it is extremely long for large families. The list is a countywide list and the representation from Barberton in unknown.

AMHA's housing preference policy considers a family for preference if it is living in substandard housing, is involuntarily displaced, or paying more than 50% of gross income for rent and utilities.

Fair Housing

Barberton contracts with Fair Housing Advocates Association (FHAA) to provide information on housing issues, investigate housing complaints, and educate the public on fair housing practices. The city has also contracted with FHAA to complete an analysis of impediments to fair housing choices. This analysis as of yet has not been completed.

Lead-Based Paint

An estimated 8,473 housing units in Barberton contain lead-based paint. Since 1992 the Barberton Health Department screened 1,806 children for elevated blood-lead levels. Out of those children, 133 or 7% revealed high levels. In 1993 the city adopted a lead poisoning hazards and abatement ordinance to augment the lead screening program already in existence.

Community Development Needs

Priority community development issues within Barberton includes supporting economic development throughout the city. Both downtown and the Wooster Road Corridor are areas of the city to be focused on for economic development assistance. Barberton Community Development Corporation, the city's economic development subrecipient, uses CDBG funds to make economic development loans to businesses and industries throughout the city. Current efforts are underway to use CDBG money in helping to preserve some historic barns from O.C. Barber's farm for future development. As part of the city's Capital Improvement Program, CDBG money is being used to help pay for engineering and match State Issue II money in several of seven neighborhood target areas in Barberton.

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Vision for Change

Priorities which were identified for the Consolidated Plan ultimately stemmed from Barberton's Strategic Plan, which was completed in 1990. The Strategic Plan establishes policy by which all future goals of the city may be implemented. Goals within the Consolidated Plan all work toward fulfilling objectives in the Strategic Plan. The following mission statements are from the Strategic Plan, and are the overall goals that the Consolidated Plan works toward.

Housing Priorities

Non-Housing Community Development Priorities

Antipoverty Strategy

The antipoverty strategy for Barberton is, in part, related to one year activities in the Consolidated Plan. Strategies in the one year housing section aim at reducing the number of households with incomes below the poverty line. Another strategy which is to provide direct assistance to new and expanding businesses, must create new jobs for low income persons for each business receiving federal funds. Barberton also advocates economic development strategies that encourages job training or apprenticeships, and integration of social and housing services for households below the poverty level.

Housing and Community Development Resources

Resources that the city uses to carry out the plan are received from the Federal, State, and Local levels. Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for use in housing and economic development programs are awarded to the city from the Federal level, HOME partnership funds for use in housing programs are awarded to the city from the State level. City general funds are used for programs such as rental inspections and paint rebates.

Coordination of Strategic Plan

The Barberton Planning Department has been designated as the lead agency for coordinating and administering the Consolidated Plan. The institutional structure through which the plan is implemented includes public, private, and non-profit organizations. Two non-profit organizations are subrecipients of CDBG funds; Neighborhood Conservation Services which is the housing non-profit and Barberton Community Development Corporation who acts as the city's economic development non-profit. Private lenders offer a variety of special mortgage and home improvement loans for lower income households. Responsibility for administering programs related to the CDBG and HOME programs is the City of Barberton Planning Department.

ONE YEAR ACTION PLAN

Description of Key Projects

Maps

MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction.

MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.

MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and unemployment levels.

MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and minority concentration levels.

MAP 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.

For more information on the City of Barberton's Consolidated Plan contact:

Mr. Fred Guerra, Planning Director
City Planning Commission
576 West Park Avenue
Barberton, Ohio 44203
216-848-6729

Return to Ohio's Consolidated Plans.