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

Consolidated Plan Contact

CITIZEN'S SUMMARY

Action Plan

Lake County's Consolidated Plan includes a One Year Action Plan for spending over $2 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds, and federal program income in the 1995 program year (October 1, 1995 - September 30, 1996). These funds will be spent on housing development, housing rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements, public facility improvements, and for the expansion of community social services.

Citizen Participation

The County held two neighborhood meetings at community centers in April, 1995 to inform citizens, communities and agencies about the CDBG and HOME programs, as well as to obtain input on community development needs. One meeting was held at the Painesville Twp. Park Community Center and the other was held at the Eastlake Community Center. A Priority Needs survey was sent to representatives of all of the cities, villages and townships that have signed cooperation agreements to participate in the Urban County for the CDBG program. The same survey was also sent to approximately 40 local agencies and community organizations which provide a variety of housing and social services to residents of Lake County. The communities and agencies were asked to provide input and comments on the County's community development needs and the overall priorities for the use of federal CDBG and HOME program funds. The results of this survey have been incorporated into the County's Five-Year Strategy.

Communities, agencies, and non-profit organizations submitted applications for FY'95 funding to the Board of Lake County Commissioners and the Lake County Planning Commission by May 30, 1995. A summary of the proposed projects was published in the News Herald on July 5, 1995 and a press release was sent to the Plain Dealer, the Call & Post, and the News Herald on June 29, 1995. A public hearing was held on August 3, 1995 to receive comments from the public on the proposed activities. The Consolidated Plan was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on August 8, 1995.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

Lake County, the smallest county geographically in Ohio, borders Lake Erie thirty miles northeast of Cleveland. The County has an estimated 221,000 residents. Lake County is the third wealthiest county in the State of Ohio with a per capita income of $15,465. Despite this ranking twenty-seven percent (27%) of County residents are considered to be of low to moderate income.

Lake County is fortunate to have a diversified economic base consisting of chemical manufacturing, research, wire and wire mesh products, plastic and plastic products, custom machinery, health care, nurseries and government. The County can be divided into several distinct industrial, commercial and residential areas. The western third of the County is highly developed with industrial and commercial corporations, and contains some of the County's older and more established residential neighborhoods. The northeastern coastline is the home of the County's shipping industry and some of its finest recreation activities. The eastern and southeastern sections of the County have seen major increases in residential development, but still have large rural and undeveloped areas. The central portion of the County, namely the Cities of Mentor and Painesville, boast the County's retail hub and government seat, respectively. Most of the areas of less than average low and moderate income concentration are located in the southern, more rural areas of the county.

Of the county's 83,194 housing units only 15%(12,480) were built before 1940. With 81.4% of the housing stock built since 1950 the overall condition of the housing stock in Lake County is very good. However, there are areas in the County which have older housing stocks. Over 41% of the housing units in the City of Painesville where built prior to 1940.

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

Housing Needs

The most evident housing problem facing all types of low and moderate income residents of Lake County is cost burden. 35% of all renters and 15% of all home owners spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing and are considered cost burdened.

Of the 5,152 low income (earn 50% or less of median family income) renter households, 76% are cost burdened, and of the 4,165 moderate income (earn between 51%-80% of median family income) renter households, 44% are cost burdened.

Approximately 46% of all extremely low income households (earn 30% or less of median family income) in the County are elderly households. Over 75% of all extremely low income owners and renters have some type of housing problem. The most frequent problem for this group is cost burden. Over half (56.8%) of all low income owners and over 80% of the low income renters have some type of housing problem. Again, the most frequent problem for this group is cost burden.

Areas in the County with older housing stocks, such as the City of Painesville, have a need for rehabilitation programs and financial assistance. Older homes are more likely to be substandard or need of improvements. Three fourths of the local housing market is owner occupied. Over 16,000 of these owners are low income and about half of them are elderly. In order to maintain the county's high quality housing stock an aggressive rehabilitation program is a necessity.

Housing Market Conditions

Owner occupied, single family units dominate the housing market. Of the total 80,421 housing units noted in the 1990 U.S. Census 60,931 (75%) were owner occupied and 19,490 (25%) were renter occupied. The median value of owner occupied housing units is $74,200. The rental market is diversified, with single family dwellings comprising 31% of the market, small complexes of 2-9 units having 25% of the market and complexes with more than ten units having 42% of the market.

Construction of new homes has increased the supply of housing units, but the price of the majority of these new homes is high. In addition, the costs of rental units are high. According to the 1990 Census, Lake County has the highest median rent ($406) of any county in Ohio. A low vacancy rate of 4.6% compounds the problem of finding affordable housing for low income households. Ten percent of the renter occupied units pay less than $250 a month, but the bulk of the renters (68.8%) pay between $250 and $499 a month.

Affordable Housing Needs

New homes constructed in the County have values ranging from $80,000 to $250,000. These new units have not been affordable to l ow and moderate income families or individuals. The cost of developing and building is an impediment to the creation of affordable housing for any type of household in Lake County. The great need for affordable rental housing for households is demonstrated by the number who are low (5,152) and moderate (4,165) income. These 9,317 households represent nearly half of the renter households in the county.

The number of accessible housing units for physically disabled and frail elderly households is minimal. Most existing units have been adapted by the household residing within the units. There is a need to provide affordable supportive housing units for these households, as well as for mentally and developmentally disabled individuals capable of living in a more independent setting. Persons suffering from alcohol or drug addiction also require supportive housing facilities.

Another group needing decent, safe and affordable housing in the County is the Hispanic nursery worker. Catholic Social Services has hired two outreach workers and is in the process of conducting a series of open community meeting to ascertain and plan to meet this group's special needs. Despite a wage range of $7-10 an hour, decent affordable housing is not available to the workers. The men's lack of knowledge of housing laws that protect their rights leaves them open to abuse.

Homeless Needs

Homeless persons, both individuals and families have unmet needs in the County. Lake County has no permanent year round shelter for the homeless population. This year, Project Hope, an ecumenical church group, will sponsor an overnight shelter from mid-November to mid-March. Project Hope will rotate operation of the shelter between two different churches, United Plains Methodist Church on Lake Shore Boulevard in Mentor and First Christian Church of Willoughby on River Street. The County's first day shelter opened in November/December 1993 in Painesville at the Church of God.

Several agencies and programs provide vouchers and other assistance to homeless persons in need of shelter, meals or services. Vouchers for one day to one week stays at area hotels are provided by the Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services and Lifeline for Economically Disadvantaged Consumers, Inc.

42% of the homeless persons identified by a Lake County Coalition for the Homeless survey in 1993 were fleeing domestic violence. While there are agencies providing temporary, emergency shelter for these women, there are long waiting lists for any type of subsidized housing throughout the County. The development of a longer term residence program is needed. No permanent housing has been developed in the County for homeless persons with disabilities.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

Currently there are 236 public housing units spread among three developments owned by the Lake Metropolitan Housing Authority (LMHA). Two of the developments, Jackson Towers and Washington Square, are senior housing. Woodlawn Homes is the complex that provides housing for families. All units are located in the City of Painesville and are in good condition, with minimal rehabilitation needed. LMHA has modernization projects slated for the three developments.

LMHA will spend $2 million on Jackson Towers and Washington Square beginning in the summer of 1995 improvement projects including hallways, windows, and community areas. LMHA will spend $200,000 on Woodlawn Homes in 1995 for general maintenance.

As of June 1, 1995, there were 432 households or individuals on the waiting list for public housing, resulting in a 12-18 month wait.

The Lake Metropolitan Housing Authority manages the Section 8 Certificate Program. There are currently 856 units under contract. LMHA manages an additional 70 certificates which are not currently under contract with a private landlord. There are currently 1,407 households or individuals on the Section 8 Certificate waiting list, resulting in a 2 year wait.

Fair Housing

The Lake County Fair Housing Office has been active in efforts to educate the community and encourage enforcement of current fair housing laws. Seminars have been and will continue to be held. Discrimination complaints have been and will continue to be investigated. Complainants will be informed of the various forms of redress. The e efforts of the office have resulted in the opening of some housing opportunities. Racial, sexual and family status complaints have been settled for thousands of dollars or conciliated. Managers and owners of apartments large and small have received individualized training. Complexes that restricted household size to three persons in large two bedroom units have changed their policies. The County's Fair Housing Impediments Analysis will be completed in February, 1996.

Lead-Based Paint

In Lake County, 16.6% of the housing is at risk for occupant environmental exposure to lead, according to Ohio Department of Health figures. Although Lake County is at low risk compared to other areas of Ohio, there exists the possibility that neighborhoods which have older homes will have increased numbers of children with levels >10 ug/dL.

Testing of children for lead based paint poisoning is conducted through the Lake County General Health District (LCGHD) and other health care providers. In 1994, 374 children received blood screening at the Lake County General Health District through Well Child Clinic, Lead Clinics and WIC. Approximately 38% of the children tested presented abnormal levels of lead in the blood. The LCGHD tested 146 children for elevated blood levels between January and July of 1995. Sixteen of the children tested presented abnormal levels of lead in the blood.

Community Development Needs

Several agencies and communities have stated that there is a great need for adequate and accessible facilities to serve community needs. Public facilities and centers in the County need rehabilitation and additional space to better serve the needs of residents and expand community services. Based upon citizen input at the public hearings, and the responses to the Priority Needs survey by several public and non-profit agencies, the County has determined that highest priority public facility needs are for youth centers, neighborhood community centers, and child care centers. Increasing the accessibility of public facilities for the handicapped is also a high priority.

Infrastructure needs are greatest in the older neighborhoods and more developed communities of the County. A variety of physical improvement efforts are needed to upgrade the existing infrastructure, to eliminate public health and safety hazards, and to revitalize low and moderate income neighborhoods. The highest priority infrastructure needs, according to the agencies that responded to the needs survey, are the repair and replacement of deteriorated streets and sanitary sewer lines, as well as assistance to residents with the costs of the mandatory connections to sanitary sewer and water lines.

Many of the social service agencies need more operating funds to deliver and/or expand the services they already offer. The need to expand local programs that provide a variety of social services to low and moderate income persons and persons with special needs continues as demand for existing services in the County increases. Based upon input received from residents at the public hearings, the results of the 1994 Lake County United Way Needs Assessment, and the responses to the County's needs survey, the County has placed the highest priority on services for the homeless, services for victims of domestic violence, services for the handicapped, youth programs and services, employment training programs, child care services, and health care services.

The creation of new job opportunities is critical to improving the financial stability of the County's low and moderate income residents, as well as expanding the tax bases of communities. Many small businesses in the County also continue to be hampered by limited access to the credit necessary for growth and expansion in order to become more competitive. The County needs to assist businesses with the creation of jobs, particularly those that will benefit low and moderate income households.

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Housing Priorities

  1. Creation and preservation of affordable rental and owner housing for all types of low income households. The County will assist local non-profit corporations with land acquisition and new construction of homes for low income households and households with special needs by providing project funds through the HOME Program, as well as technical assistance. The County will utilize the HOME Program to increase the support for and the capacity of the local non-profit housing development organizations.

  2. Provide rental assistance for extremely low and low income small and large related renter households. The Lake Metropolitan Housing Authority has actively sought additional Section 8 certificates over the past few years and the agency will continue to apply for additional certificates for the next 5 years. Rehabilitation of units for large households with HOME funds will be considered by the Planning Commission if an experienced developer/agency can provide matching funds.

  3. First Time Home Buyers of moderate income. Several financial institutions have established special programs and target areas to encourage home purchases in low and moderate income neighborhoods. Incentives include reduced interest rates and downpayments, as well as liberalized debt-to-income ratios. Lake County will consider using some of HOME allocation as down payment assistance for first time home buyers.

  4. Creation of additional shelter opportunities with related support services for homeless families and individuals.

  5. Funds made available through the various federal and state programs will likely continue to be devoted to homeless prevention and the provision of emergency shelter. Historically the needs of homeless individuals and families have been met mostly through the hotel voucher system in Lake County. Recently church shelters have come forward and offer some promise. The comprehensive approach to women and children in need followed by the Semi-Independent Living Program has proven beneficial for many of the residents. Such an approach has been supported by the jurisdiction in the past and likely will receive future support. Making people aware of the programs and resources available to them and encouraging them to tie in with these resources is also a main thrust of the local homeless strategy. The jurisdiction (county and agencies) plans to pursue eligible state, local and private funding sources. Provide adequate shelter and support services for the following non-homeless persons with special needs: developmentally, physically and mentally disabled, frail elderly and elderly, and Hispanic nursery workers. The County will assist non-profit organizations with HOME funds to build new housing for persons with special needs. Lake County is providing $125,000 in FY'94, FY'95 and FY'96 HOME funds to assist the construction of Wesley Village, a 42-unit apartment complex for elderly residents. The County is also proposing to provide North Coast Community Homes with $224,000 in FY'94 and FY'95 HOME funds to acquire 2 homes and convert them into group homes for mentally disabled persons. An assessment of how to best meet the housing and socialization needs of the Hispanic nursery workers is still underway by a variety of agencies and interested persons serving their needs. The jurisdiction will provide the services of the Lake County Fair Housing function to this effort. Informing the workers and their families of the laws protecting them as tenants and from housing discrimination should help the effort to find appropriate affordable housing for this population.

Nonhousing Community Development Priorities

Priority 1: Community and Neighborhood Public Facilities

Strategies

  1. Leverage state, local and/or private resources with CDBG funds to finance the physical building improvements needed to expand existing or construct new public facilities and community centers.

  2. Leverage state, local and/or private resources with CDBG funds to finance the physical building improvements needed to bring the public facilities and community centers up to a safe and standard condition, in compliance with the community's building code.

  3. Leverage state, local and/or private resources with CDBG funds to finance the physical building improvements needed to bring the public facilities and community centers into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

  4. Provide CDBG funds, as approved by HUD, for the repayment of the $3 million Section 108 Loan used to complete the renovation the former Heck's building in Painesville for the Lake County Human Services Center.

  5. Leverage state and private resources with a limited amount of CDBG funding to stabilize and preserve those deteriorating non-residential historic structures deemed important to the County's history and culture.

Priority 2: Public Infrastructure Improvements in Low and Moderate Income Neighborhoods

Strategies

  1. Provide CDBG funds to communities to undertake needed infrastructure improvement projects to benefit low and moderate income residents.

  2. Provide CDBG funds to the Department of Utilities to undertake needed improvements to existing sanitary sewer line in low and moderate income neighborhoods.

  3. Identify other funding sources and programs to address infrastructure needs and assist County departments and communities in applying for those funds.

Priority 3: Public Social Services

Strategies

  1. Leverage state and private resources with limited CDBG funds to those agencies that provide CDBG-eligible services to low and moderate income persons to address priority social service needs. Agencies must provide a new service activity or demonstrate an increase in the level of services provided.

Priority 4: Economic Development

Strategies

  1. Provide gap financing to new and expanding small to medium-sized businesses in Lake County through the Revolving Loan Fund. The RLF will be capitalized with additional CDBG funds as necessary.

  2. Assist new and existing businesses in acquiring and renovating commercial and industrial properties through the Revolving Loan Fund.

Antipoverty Strategy

Lake County enjoys one of the lowest poverty rates in the State of Ohio. The growth of small manufacturers, service and retail industries in the County and the County's proximity to the Cleveland job market has provided job opportunities.

There are currently few programs in the County to address the reduction or elimination of poverty. The Family Self Sufficiency Program administered by the Lake Metropolitan Housing Authority links housing and jobs in an effort to eliminate poverty. The main thrust in the county has been to provide opportunities for job training and experience to adults on a year round basis and teenagers in the summer months. The payment of child care expenses through the Department of Human Services makes these programs available to parents with small children. The County will continue to market and operate its Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund which provides loans to companies for expansion and increases employment opportunities for low and moderate income individuals. The County will continue to offer housing rehabilitation programs to eliminate substandard housing conditions and reduce the monthly costs of housing.

Housing and Community Development Resources

Lake County will utilize federal CDBG and HOME resources to provide assistance to communities and non-profit organizations to rehabilitate housing, develop new housing, make public infrastructure improvements and renovate public facilities. Several non-profit agencies utilize the County's federal resources to leverage State and private local resources to provide a variety of housing programs. The County's Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund will continue to provide gap financing to businesses needing funds to expand and create jobs. Lake County communities will continue to actively seek State Issue 2 funds to make necessary repairs and upgrades to their physical infrastructure. In addition, there are several social service agencies and organizations in the County delivering services to the public. The funding for these efforts from a variety of funding sources, including local, state and federal agencies, the United Way, private foundations, donations, and service-based fees.

Coordination of Strategic Plan

The institution structure through which the County will implement the plan includes a wide array of public, private and non-profit organizations. The Lake County Planning Commission administers the HOME Program and implements the County's housing rehabilitation programs. The County provides HOME funds to several non-profit organizations to rehabilitate and develop housing. The Board of County Commissioners contracts with Planning Resources, Inc. to administer the CDBG program. Local communities and non-profit organizations utilize CDBG funds to implement infrastructure and public facility improvement projects and to expand community services.

ONE YEAR ACTION PLAN

Description of Key Projects

More than 20 specific projects have been planned for the coming year. These include:

Locations

Lake County has not established any specific target areas for the CDBG or HOME programs this year. The housing rehabilitation and home repair programs funded with CDBG and HOME funds are operated on a county-wide basis. The housing units to be acquired/rehabilitated with HOME funds by non-profit will be on scattered sites throughout the County. The social service agencies assisted with CDBG funds may provide services to any eligible residents of Lake County. Activities with specific locations are noted above.

Maps

Map 1 depicts the Lake County region and selected points of interest.

Map 2 depicts the low and moderate income areas of the County.

Map 3 depicts areas of greater unemployment within the County.

Map 4 depicts racial distribution within the County.

Map 5 depicts the Painesville Area and proposed projects.

Map 6 depicts the Mentor Area and its proposed projects.

For more information on the Lake County Consolidated Plan, please contact:
Alan Zelina
Community Development Administrator
Lake County Board of Commissioners
105 Main Street, PO Box 490
Painesville, Ohio 44077-0490
216-687-0055
Return to Ohio's Consolidated Plans.