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

CITIZEN'S SUMMARY

The city of Mansfield is located in North Central Ohio, 65 miles from Columbus, and approximately the same distance from Cleveland, with a population of approximately 51,000.

Action Plan

The city of Mansfield's Consolidated Plan includes CDBG and HOME Programs, includes the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS), the HOME Program Description, the Community Development Plan and the CDBG Final Statement. The Plan also includes a 5-year strategic plan and 1-year action plan.

Citizen Participation

The city of Mansfield utilized three different committees - The Enterprise Community Advisory Task Force, Citizen Participation Committee, and the Public Affairs Committee to assist in formulating the Consolidated Plan. These committee's represent the Public, private, health services, housing and social services in Mansfield.

Several advisory, organizational and public forum meetings were held during 1994 until April 1995. The CPC (Citizen Participation Committee) assisted the Community Development Office in prioritizing community development needs and developing overall strategies to address the housing and community development needs. The CPC attended an organizational meeting on February 23, 1995. Three public meetings were held in March to allow citizens an opportunity to comment on housing and community development needs.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

The city of Mansfield currently receives formula allocations from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the HOME Program. In 1980, the population of Mansfield was 53,927 - the total of Richland County was 131,205. According to the 1990 Census, the population in Mansfield was 50,627,down by 6 percent. A total of 40,870 people in Mansfield's 1990 population were listed as white, 9,153 - black, and 1,079 are from other racial/ethnic groups.

In 1990, median family income (MFI) was $22,591. Over 40 percent of female householders with families live below poverty level. The 1990 census reported that 57 percent of low-income families in the metro area earned less than 80 percent of the median income.

Approximately 60 percent of very low-income households (0-50 percent MFI) are renters. Approximately 80 percent of very low-income minority renters have high housing costs or substandard housing compared to 74 percent of non-minority very low-income households.

The decline of local manufacturing employment has forced the city of Mansfield to promote employment, particularly in smaller manufacturing and service firms. By 1990, manufacturing jobs fell to 28.7 percent of the city's total workforce. While wholesale, retail and service employment rose to 56.1 percent.

Average hourly earnings in manufacturing jobs have also declined from $12.74 in 1961 to $9.74 in 1993.

The city of Mansfield's unemployment rate has remained well above the State and higher than any of the counties in Region 6, including Huron County.

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT NEEDS CONDITIONS

The changes in housing inventory noted below is primarily caused by job losses and population.

A city-wide survey in 1992 identified 271 abandoned properties with 127 of them boarded up. The majority of these units were located in areas of low-income.

Over half the housing in areas of low-income households are over 50 years old, although pre-1940 units comprise 28 percent of all housing units in the city.

Thirty-two percent of the units in low-income neighborhoods were substandard. An estimated 60 percent of owner-occupied and 50 percent of renter-occupied units rated as substandard.

Housing Needs

In 1993 Mansfield completed a thorough analysis of housing needs. The most prevalent housing need among low-income households were for affordable housing.

New housing construction in the suburban and rural areas of Richland County has continued to pull middle class families out of the city in search of homes with higher value appreciation.

The shrinking housing inventory and increasing demand for rental housing have pushed up rental costs. Housing deterioration in many of the city inter-neighborhoods during the 1980's resulted in a 15 percent loss city-wide in housing units and depreciation in existing housing values.

To qualify for homeownership (if you are low-income families), it must be affordable. Rental assistance is needed for housing simply because 75 percent of all very low-income renters pay more than 30 percent of their income.

Small families are 42 percent very low-income cost burdened renters; elderly households are the next largest group (26 percent), 20 percent of low-income renters with large families lived in overcrowded conditions. The needs of homeless and at risk families and special needs are increasingly rising in Mansfield. Shelter assistance is a temporary solution for an estimated 150 individuals or families seeking emergency housing assistance each week.

Housing Market Conditions

According to the 1990 Census data, approximately 28 percent of the 21,909 housing units in Mansfield were built before 1940. The numbers of housing units decreased by 560, between 1980 and 1990 in Mansfield and increased over two percent in Richland County.

Vacancy rates for rental units decreased between 1980-1990 despite a five percent increase in supply of rental housing.

An estimated 60 percent of owner-occupied and 50 percent of renter-occupied units rated as substandard were considered suitable for rehabilitation. Affordable rental properties in the private market are primarily 1-4 unit structures built before 1950. These 1-4 units decreased by 15 percent between 1980-1990, despite a five percent increase in total rental units.

Affordable Housing Needs

The loss of 2,000 affordable 1-4 unit rental properties, since 1980, has had the greatest impact on the very low-income families who have no alternative to renting and who need houses because of the scarcity and higher cost of 2-4 bedroom apartments.

The loss of affordable housing will accelerate in the next five years, without increased rehab efforts in low-income areas. 1-4 unit rentals built before 1940 range from 43-65 percent of the total rental inventory in low-income areas.

In 1990 rent was unaffordable for 72 percent of the very low-income households.

Over 887 households are on a waiting list for Section 8 Housing Assistance according to Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority. Two-thirds of these households are small families, another third are large families.

Elderly housing assistance is needed for over 40 households.

In FY-1995 - Metro Housing Authority (MMHA) will subsidize monthly rental payments for approximately 1,400 households who rented private units under the Section 8 Program.

The Harmony House/Domestic Violence Center has a maximum capacity of 48 beds to shelter homeless women with children, for temporary periods of less than 30 days. Five other agencies also provide one-time emergency financial assistance to provide supportive housing for severely disabled elderly persons in Richland County which includes 810 beds in skilled nursing facilities.

Homeless Needs

In Mansfield, five different agencies indicated that the population of the homeless in increasing at an average of 150 homeless persons assisted each week. A weekly average of 35 women and children from Richland County were housed in shelters in 1994.

Local shelter facilities are already over the capacity and many of the families should be moved into more permanent housing so they can access supportive services including child care, counseling, alcohol and substance abuse treatment, and employment services.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority provides an important roll as manager of 158 subsidized housing units and 1,141 Section 8 rental payment subsidies.

The city will also continue to assist Mansfield-Richland-Morrow Community Action Agency with rehabilitation of units.

Barriers to Affordble Housing

The depressed valuation of properties in low-income neighborhoods is the result of a lack of sales activity. Single family rental units are often in substandard conditions. Private housing developers are focused on the suburban market areas and demand for higher priced housing.

Nonprofit organizations have not been able to take a development role in stimulating new construction in low-income neighborhoods.

Fair Housing

The lack of affordable standard rental units leave low-income families vulnerable to landlords who increase rents for families and neglect maintenance responsibilities.

In 1993, the city handled 35 landlord/tenant disputes. The city also provided technical assistance to other housing agencies on tenants legal rights in fair housing opportunities.

Lead-Based Paint

An estimated 760 housing units occupied by low-income households contain lead-based paint. Lead-based paint is likely to be present in 75 percent of owner-occupied and 65 percent of renter-occupied units. Since 1992, 54 out of 371 persons tested showed elevated levels of lead.

Community Development Needs

Rental assistance, support facilities and services for the homeless and households with special needs. Homebuyer assistance, new construction that is affordable, to develop transitional housing and programs that assist families/individuals in becoming self-sufficient.COORDINATION

The city will continue to assist nonprofit and for-profit organizations in accessing State and Federal funds for housing and economic development activities. The city is currently working with the public/private sectors, including lenders, other local corporations to build support for housing within the city's neighborhoods.

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Vision for Change

Eliminate substandard housing, provide affordable housing with public/private subsidies for low-income households. Eliminate discrimination in housing. Increase employment opportunities, upgrade infrastructure and public services.

Housing and Community Development Objectives and Priorities

Low-income renter's households to be affordable
Low/moderate- income owner households
Homeless families and individuals with support facilities and support services
Non-homeless with special needs person.

Housing Priorities

Increase the supply of affordable housing and reduce the high cost of housing expenses for low-income families.

Non-Housing Community Development Priorities

Increase employment opportunities by leveraging private investment in businesses. Eliminate discrimination in employment for females and minority households who have the highest poverty rates. Improve streets, parks and public services in low-income areas.

Anti-Proverty Strategy

To provide a comprehensive approach to assist the low-income households in gaining economic self-sufficiency in employment opportunities, decent affordable housing and clean, safe neighborhoods. Eliminate substandard housing. Rental properties will be systematically inspected in targeted areas where rehab assistance is also targeted to ensure that investor's cooperate with neighborhood improvement efforts.

Housing and Community Development Resources

Over a 5-year period, the city will work with nonprofit housing developers to utilize State/Federal programs to obtain 100 Section 8 Certificates for housing development projects. The city will encourage (MMHA) Metro Housing Authority to apply for 100 additional rental vouchers under the Family Self-Sufficiency Program.

Coordination of Strategic Plan

The city will continue to assist nonprofit and for-profit organizations by leveraging other private, State and Federal funds for housing, economic development and social services activities. The city will continue to provide its Fair Housing Law Enforcement Program and Equal Opportunity Outreach Program to combat discrimination in housing and in employment.

ONE-YEAR ACTION PLAN

Description of Key Projects

$350,000 for economic development business loans to assist with expansion of businesses and job creation.
$295,000 in CDBG funds for rehabilitation loans and grants for low- and moderate-income housing.
$327,750 in HOME Funds for Homebuyer Assistance Program to acquire, to rehabilitate.
$30,000 for Historic Preservation of two local landmarks listed on National Register of Historic Places.
$65,500 for CHDO operating expenses.
$96,100 to support local nonprofit agencies, social services with public improvement of facilities to better serve low/moderate- income families or persons.
$42,000 to assist homeless shelter operations nutritional program and drug/alcohol prevention.

Locations

Most of the key projects are targeted to residential areas. Other projects under HOME funds may be used city-wide to benefit any eligible individual or household.

Housing Goals

The city's housing rehab programs and homebuyer assistance program, and CCEDC's acquisition, rehab and resale program will continue working over the next year to overcome barriers to reinvestment in existing affordable housing in the city.

Maps

MAP 1 depicts the boundaries of Mansfield and selected points of interest.

MAP 2 depicts the low and moderate income neighborhoods in Mansfield and project locations.

MAP 3 depicts how unemployment affects the Mansfield area.

MAP 4 depicts racial distribution in the City.

MAP 5 depicts the project neighborhoods.

For more information on the Mansfield Consolidated Plan, please contact:
Cynthia Baker
Community Development Manager
City of Mansfield
30 North Diamond Street
Mansfield, Ohio 44902

Telephone: 419-755-9793

Return to Ohio's Consolidated Plans.