Situated on Lake Erie, west of Cleveland, Lakewood is a part of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in Ohio. Lakewood is member of the Cuyahoga Housing Consortium, which previously administered HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) program funds for 43 jurisdictions.
Lakewood anticipates receiving an estimated $3.1 million in funds through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) program, and HOME. These funds will be used to provide programs and services to an estimated 9,018 households, individuals, and businesses, focusing on low- and moderate-income families.
In order to solicit citizen input, the city sponsored two public meetings at
city hall. After the hearings, the draft Consolidated Plan was released for a
30-day public comment period, beginning November 10, 1994, and ending December
9, 1994. A notice of availability was published in the Lakewood Sun Post
on November 10, 1994. The document was available at Lakewood City Hall and
both branches of the Lakewood Public Library.
Lakewood's population has remained fairly constat during the past decade, with the 1990 census identifying almost 60,000 persons. About 97 percent of all residents are white, and the remaining 3 percent are Hispanic, African American, or from other racial/ethnic backgrounds. The minority population increased 55 percent between 1980 and 1990. Lakewood has about 27,000 households, with families representing just more than half of all households. In 1990 almost 11 percent of all households were female-headed, comprising the most rapidly growing group.
Lakewood's median family income (MFI) is $37,365. Extremely low-income households (0– 30 percent of MFI) have a maximum MFI of $11,150. Very low-income households (31–50 percent of MFI) have an MFI between $11,151 and $18,550. Low-income households (51– 80 percent of MFI) have an MFI between $18,551 and $29,700. Moderate-income households (81–95 percent of MFI) have an MFI between $29,701 and $35,250. About 37 percent of all Lakewood households are considered low- or moderate- income.
Of the Cuyahoga County residents who reported their educational attainment
in the 1990 census, 17 percent had not received a high school diploma. Among
Lakewood residents, 15 percent had not received a high school diploma.
Because of age or health, several low- and moderate-income Lakewood residents have special housing needs that are not currently being met. The housing needs for special populations in Lakewood are estimated to be the following: 430 subsidized units for the very low-income elderly; 50 assisted-living units and nursing care beds for the frail elderly; 25 units for persons with developmental disabilities; 135 units for persons with mental disabilities; 275 units for persons with physical disabilities; 35 supportive housing units for persons with substance abuse problems; and 55 units for persons with HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, affordable housing is urgently needed for the 1,750 extremely low-income Lakewood households who pay 50 percent or more of their income for housing expenses.
Lakewood has more than 28,000 housing units. According to the 1990 census, about 42 percent of those units were owner-occupied; 53 percent were renter-occupied; and 5 percent were vacant. Units with three or more bedrooms are in short supply, while units of other sizes are either in sufficient supply or in short supply.
The real estate market is stable. Real estate prices have not suffered from the rapid escalation or substantial fluctuations that other regions of the country have experienced. However, one problem within the city's housing market is the declining value of condominiums. Between 1990 and 1992, the median sales price for a condominium decreased by 11 percent.
In 1990 the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission surveyed the condition of all residential structures in Lakewood. Family structures were evaluated for 11 exterior building and property elements. This survey found that 598 single-family structures (containing 857 units) and 45 multifamily structures (containing 207 units) are in need of rehabilitation. Housing units are not being abandoned or demolished because of deterioration or neglect.
Within Lakewood, about 4,100 extremely low-income and very low-income households experience a cost burden, paying at least 30 percent of their gross income for housing expenses. About 80 percent of these are renters, and 20 percent are owners. About 1,500 low-income households also experience a cost burden of at least 30 percent. Of the extremely low-, very low- and low-income renter households, 689 experience a cost burden of more than 50 percent.
The city's housing stock is generally affordable. Approximately 76 percent of rental units cost between $250 and $499 per month, while nearly 83 percent of single-family homes are valued at less than $100,000. Between 1990 and 1992, the median sales price of a single- family home increased about 11 percent, rising to $83,700.
Although there is not a visible homeless problem in Lakewood, estimates suggest that 10,000 residents in Cuyahoga County (including Cleveland) are homeless at some point during any given year. Although Lakewood does not have any overnight shelters, a portion of the city's ESG funds are routed to shelters located in Cleveland, in accordance with a cooperative agreement between Cuyahoga County and the city.
Some transitional housing is available through the Veterans' Administration Hospital in Brecksville, which contains 80 beds reserved for homeless veterans who are chronically or mentally ill. Furthermore, Lakewood has two transitional housing units which belong to a network of services operated by Lakewood Christian Service Center and local churches. The center's 1992 caseload of 1,236 assisted households included 30 homeless households and 389 households threatened with homelessness.
Lakewood has 158 Section 8 leases. The city has 4 privately owned, subsidized apartments totaling 888 units. The county has 117 units of public housing, all located in Oakwood. Currently, 27 Lakewood households appear on the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority's waiting list for public housing.
The city does not have any public policies that negatively impact the development, maintenance, or improvement of affordable housing. Because Lakewood is a fully- developed, older community, it opportunities for new construction are severely limited. Redevelopment can be expensive, particularly when a number of small parcels must be combined or other structures demolished in order to accommodate for new construction.
An important concern for Lakewood is maintaining the existing housing stock, most of which was built in the early-20th century. To keep its housing stock safe and sanitary, the city regularly inspects the condition of housing units. At times, these inspections uncover expensive repair needs. Low-interest rehabilitation loans from Lakewood's Community Development Corporation help to reduce repair costs, lowering overall housing expenses for owner- and renter-occupants, and ensuring that units meet necessary code requirements for safe and sanitary housing.
The jurisdiction will affirmatively advance fair housing and prepare an analysis of impediments to equal opportunity housing.
Approximately 63 percent of Lakewood's housing units were built before 1939. Because lead-based paint was still being used through 1978, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that between 72 percent and 91 percent of all units contain some lead-based paint. Of that total, HUD estimates that about 8,100 units containing lead- based paint hazards are occupied by low-income households.
In Cuyahoga County, the primary service provider for developmentally disabled persons is the Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation, which offers apartment support, in- home services, emergency services, and equipment or home modification support. Lakewood has 73 adults and 44 children enrolled in such programs, and there are no waiting lists for these programs.
The Cuyahoga County Community Mental Health Board maintains a comprehensive housing plan for people with mental disabilities. Within the county, six organizations manage facilities that provide programs, such as crisis shelters, residential treatment, residential support, and adult-care facilities. These facilities offer a total of 596 beds for the mentally ill.
People with physical disabilities are primarily served by three Cleveland area organizations:
As of September 1993, the Ohio Department of Health confirmed that 1,285 persons with HIV/AIDS live in Cuyahoga County. The Lakewood Division of Health estimates that about 300 city residents have HIV/AIDS. In 1993, in order to better serve this population, the city began administering a new program, called Facing the AIDS Challenge Together (FACT), which provides support services to residents with HIV/AIDS.
The city's community development needs include various infrastructure improvements to streets, sidewalks, flood drains, and traffic signals. The city should also focus on public service needs, such as funding senior, handicapped, and youth services. Other needs include employment training, crime awareness programs, tenant-landlord counseling, and health services.
The city also needs to construct a new senior center as well as improve its
parks and recreational facilities. Economic development needs include commercial
and industrial storefront renovations, business infrastructure improvements, and
business development programs and services.
To fulfill it many needs, Lakewood plans to enact a wide variety of strategies designed to help extremely low-income, very low-income, and low-income households.
Strategies planned for renter households include rehabilitation of units and support services. Rehabilitation ensures that housing meets health and safety codes. Support services include thorough marketing of weatherization programs and other programs that reduce housing costs for renters by providing winter heating assistance.
One of the city's highest priorities is assisting existing homeowners. Strategies planned for existing homeowners include rehabilitation and support services. Rehabilitation extends the useful life of a structure and ensures that housing meets health and safety codes. Support services also include thorough marketing of weatherization programs and other programs that provide winter heating assistance; mortgage refinancing to capitalizes on lower interest rates; homestead property tax exemptions; and homestead water exemptions for the elderly.
Strategies for first-time homebuyers include financial assistance for home purchases and a limited amount of foreclosed properties that can be acquired, rehabilitated, and resold. Families of four earning 51–80 percent of MFI will be given preference for assistance.
Lakewood also plans to work with public agencies and nonprofit organizations to enact projects, such as housing for the elderly, frail elderly, persons with developmental or mental disabilities, persons with physical disabilities, and persons with HIV/AIDS. Depending on the project, the city could be involved directly with financial participation or indirectly by providing assistance in securing other State or Federal funds.
Lakewood has a number of non-housing community development activities that it plans to enact if funds are available. They include:
The purpose of the anti-poverty strategy is to reduce the number of residents living below the poverty line. In order to achieve this, additional employment opportunities have to be created within the community. The city has started to provide the Lakewood Christian Service Center with funding from the CDBG program. This organization develops client job- readiness skills and receives requests from local employers for placement referrals.
Lakewood's economic development efforts concentrate on retaining existing employers, particularly manufacturing, by coordinating infrastructure improvements, and by supporting applications for funding from State or Federal sources. Some of these efforts include:
In addition to Federal funds, the city can access other revenue sources to implement its Consolidated Plan. The State has a number of programs, such as the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, which produces, rehabilitates, or preserves rental housing. Through the Ohio Finance Agency, the State provides: the 403 Rental Housing Gap Financing, Development Loan, First-Time Homebuyer, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and Multi- Family Rental Development programs.
Lakewood has a first-time homebuyer program that offers prospective homebuyers downpayment and closing cost assistance. The city is negotiating with a local financial institution to reduce its long-term financing rate and to lower the dollar amount of closing costs for first-time homebuyer program participants.
The city has access to resources from several nonprofit organizations, including the Lakewood Christian Service Center and the Community Development Corporation of Lakewood.
Lakewood fosters coordination among private and public housing and social
service agencies. The city allocates CDBG, HOME, and ESG funds to subrecipients
who administer a variety of programs. These subrecipients represent numerous
public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including: the Community
Development Corporation of Lakewood, Lakewood Board of Education, Lakewood
Christian Service Center, Lakewood Commission on Aging, Lakewood Division of
Youth Services, A New Day Adult Day Care Center, and North Coast Health
Ministry.
In 1995 Lakewood will implement programs and services for an estimated 9,018 households, individuals, and businesses. Some of the activities planned for the year include the following:
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 project(s) from a street level vantage point; in addition, a Table provides information about the project(s).
Mary Babcock
Director, Department of Planning and Development
12650 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
Phone: (216) 521-7580
