The Consolidated Plan for the City of Newark replaces the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy or CHAS. The Consolidated Plan is a planning document that profiles the housing and non-housing community development needs in the community and outlines a strategy to address those needs. The City of Newark Division of Community Development developed high, medium and low priority needs for the community based on a community wide survey, interviews with individuals, business and non-profit organizations and from staff experience and knowledge of the community. The City of Newark developed a Three Year Strategic Plan to address identified needs and a One Year Use of Funds detailing funding priorities for fiscal year 1995.
A variety of activities is required to meet the housing and community development needs of all low income families and individuals in the Newark community. A number of strategic avenues have been identified by the City of Newark as means by which to promote housing affordability and city liveability. These include, but are not limited to; increasing the supply of affordable housing through rehabilitation of existing units and construction of new units; promoting home ownership; the provision of fair housing; the provision of rental assistance to those who qualify; reducing lead based paint hazards; supporting programs by community agencies that reduce energy costs through weatherization or provide downpayment assistance; meeting the housing needs of large families, elderly persons and persons with disabilities; alleviating overcrowding; addressing the needs of the homeless; addressing the needs of those who are not homeless but require supportive service; economic development activities; public services; providing public facilities and public improvements. The City of Newark Division of Community Development will administer the City's 1995 Community Development Block Grant allocation of $1,065,000 in addressing the activities and needs outlined in the Consolidated Plan. When feasible these funds will be used to leverage other state and federal resources such as the State of Ohio HOME program and others.
The City of Newark Division of Community Development conducted a series of
interviews and discussions with local businesses, officials of the Licking
Metropolitan Housing Authority, social service agencies, the United Way, members
of the Licking County Coalition for Housing, clergy, elected officials and
citizen groups to obtain their input on housing and non-housing community
development needs. In accordance with the City of Newark Citizen Participation
Plan and citizen participation requirements, two public hearings were held
during the Consolidated Plan development process. A comment period was held
between February 9, 1995 through April 16, 1995 and copies of the Plan were
placed in the local public library, the branch library and the Division of
Community Development for the public to review. In addition, the Division
administered two community surveys to gather information on housing and non-
housing community development needs.
Newark enjoys a low unemployment rate but many of the jobs available are service sector or other low wage jobs with no benefits. Newark continues to have a stable economy based on a mix of agriculture and manufacturing. In March of 1993, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the closing of the Newark Air Force Base. The base is the county's largest employer with an annual payroll of $79 million. Approximately 1900 military and civilian jobs will be lost due to this closing, affecting 4.6 of the employment in the county. The affects of the base closing will have a gradual negative impact on the City of Newark. Other businesses in the area are expanding and new businesses are moving to the area.
Newark has experienced a population growth of 7% between 1980 and 1990, from a total population of 41,200 and 44,389. Population increases by race\ethnicity are as follows; 7% white, 12% African American, 26% Hispanic, 33% Native American, and 22% Asian and Pacific Islander. The largest concentration of minorities in Newark are African American families and individuals, at 3% of the total population for the City. Other racial minorities constitute less than 1% of the City's total population.
According to the 1990 census, there are 11,787 families in the City of
Newark. The total number of Newark residents living in families is 36,279 or
82% of the total population. There are approximately 2,897 single parent
households with children under 18 in the City of Newark. Female headed
households comprise 80% of this figure. The elderly population is expected to
increase in the next decade. The City's 65+ population is 15% of the total
population. 2,846 of those over 65 live alone, 66% of the elderly living alone
are females.
Newark is a strong community with a stable economy, good school system and infrastructure. Newark has a strong network of social service providers delivering services in health, mental health, food, clothing, shelter, counseling, etc. Crime rates are low compared to neighboring communities. Newark is experiencing growth in both housing and industry to the west while areas to the east require some redevelopment and stabilization.
The City estimates that 10% of all rental units are substandard and 20% of all rental units are suitable for rehabilitation. Likewise, the City estimates that 8% of all owner occupied units are substandard and 24% of all owner occupied units are suitable for rehabilitation.
A majority of Newark's housing units, 54%, are of substantial age placing them at risk for environmental hazards such as lead based paint and asbestos and in need of major systems repairs. Renters as well as owners occupy some of Newark's oldest housing units. A majority of these residents also occupy HUD's Very Low and Other Low Income categories.
There is a lack of quality, affordable housing for the elderly. 32% of all households are elderly households with incomes below 51% MFI. 27.2% of elderly households are minority households experiencing housing problems. 88.9% of elderly/minority homeowners experience some type of housing problems. 58.3% of all elderly householders, renters and owners, with incomes below 51% MFI, experience some type of housing problem.
Large families of five or more in rental units in the City comprise 8% of all renters. For those with incomes 0-30% MFI, 30% draw from a housing stock where 100% of the units have housing problems. Those units with a cost burden of greater than 50% experience housing problems in 69% of all units. Owners in the Very Low Income group share similar findings. For this groups, 70% of the housing stock has some problems. When the cost burden is greater than 50%, 60% of the units have some problems.
Census data for 1990 indicates there are 18,967 housing units in the City of Newark. Approximately 53% of these are owner occupied, 41% are renter occupied and 6% are reported vacant. The average rent asked was reported at $339 and the average worth of a home was $50,849. Housing development remains constant with most development centered on higher priced single family units. Substandard units and units with some housing problems continue to be a concern for those working in the affordable housing arena.
The housing supply in the City of Newark may be considered adequate when one looks at the total number of units, the total population and the total number of vacant units. However, discrepancies occur when one looks at household size. The number of rental units meets the demand for two person occupancy but there is a lack of rental units available for households with four or more people. As stated previously, 54% of Newark's housing units are of substantial age placing them at risk for environmental hazards such as lead based paint and asbestos and in need of major systems and structural repairs.
The City believes given Newark's stable economic situation and the number of persons demanding modest priced housing, the need for affordable housing, both for purchase and for rent will steadily increase over the next three years. There is a need for housing of all types for low and moderate income families, renters and owners, the elderly and special needs populations. There continues to be a need for the rehabilitation of rental and owner occupied housing units within the City of Newark in order to maintain affordability as well as decent safe and sanitary housing while stabilizing neighborhoods and preserving the existing housing stock.
A current estimate of homelessness in Newark reveals that homelessness tends to be subtle as the homeless population is not generally visible in public places. Local social service agencies recorded an average of approximately 125 inquiries per month from individuals seeking housing. Single males age 18-50 make up the largest group seeking housing at 46 inquiries per month, followed by females with children at 25 inquiries per month. Single females age 18-50 averaged 20 inquiries per month, two parent families with children averaged 26 per month, the elderly averaged 6 per month and 2 inquiries per month were reported to come from teens. In order to meet the facility and service needs of the homeless existing facilities must be expanded. There is a need for more emergency housing facilities for singles and families. Allowable length of stay at such facilities should be extended to several weeks or months. Additional transitional housing is needed for those leaving shelters. Currently the Salvation Army provides the only emergency shelter beds in the City of Newark. The Licking County Coalition for Housing is able to provide five units of transitional housing to residents of Newark and Licking County. Both agencies will increase services and facilities in the next year.
The Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority (LMHA) owns and operates 99 units of public housing which are reserved for the elderly and disabled. Currently there are no vacancies, and there are 45 persons on the waiting list.
LMHA administers the Section 8 program for residents of Newark and Licking County. There are several privately owned Section 8 assisted housing complexes in the City of Newark for a total of 727 units. LMHA has under lease 97% of its Section 8 certificates and 96% of its Section 8 vouchers. The remaining certificates and vouchers are all issued and recipients are in the process of locating rental units. LMHA retains a Section 8 waiting list of 740 families that can expect to wait between 2 to six years. This shows a strong need for additional rental assistance in the City of Newark as well as a need for programs such as Self Sufficiency to help those people receiving rental assistance become self sufficient and exit the system.
The City of Newark Division of Community Development currently operates the fair housing program for the City of Newark and Licking County. The Fair Housing Officer maintains the Fair Housing Hotline and accepts calls and questions from tenants as well as landlords throughout the county. All discrimination complaints are thoroughly investigated. Most complaints involve landlord/tenant disputes.
HUD's data indicate that the highest probability of lead based paint hazards exist in housing constructed prior to 1940. Using HUD's formula, the 1990 census figures indicate that over 86% of Newark's housing units, over 15,000 homes and apartments may contain lead based paint.
The City of Newark is beginning to assess the lead based paint issue to determine the extent of the problem locally. In conjunction with the Newark Board of Health, the Community Development Division conducted a sample study to determine the number of children six and under in one of the oldest neighborhoods in Newark. The study area is also considered to be low income, based on 1990 Census data. The sample surveyed immunization records and birth certificates (as indicators of age) for the target area, and determined that approximately 840 children age six and under live in this high risk area.
The City of Newark Board of Health is responsible for addressing elevated blood lead levels in children that have been referred to the Board by area physicians or are identified through the Board's clinics. The Board of Health believes that more screenings are needed in the community however, few are done due to lack of funds and trained staff. The Board of Health has tested thirty housing units in the City of Newark between 1988 and 1994.
The City of Newark Consolidated Plan outlines the various housing and non-housing community development needs as high, medium or low priority needs. These needs are as follows:
*Denotes activities to be addressed in the City of Newark One Year Use of
Funds.
The Consolidated Plan determined priority needs for the City of Newark under two categories; housing community development needs and non-housing community development needs. A number of factors will influence these development demands over the next three to five years. It is difficult to predict the ultimate collective impact, as some events and variables may counter the effects of others. Consequently, the City does not believe there will be significant changes in the estimates of current needs for low income residents and the community at large. These events or variables include:
The City maintains that the needs identified under these two categories, housing and non-housing community development needs will continue over the next three to five years with moderate increases reflecting increases in population size. The vision for addressing housing and non-housing needs is described below.
The City believes housing efforts should be directed primarily toward older areas of the City. This strategy takes advantage of the sound affordable housing, adequate streets and utilities, access to shopping and public transportation, neighborhood schools and some reasonably priced vacant land found in those areas. When feasible and practical, new construction in developing areas of the City would be acceptable and welcome in order to avoid creating concentrations of low income households. Strategies to address housing demands include rehabilitation, rental assistance, new construction, housing support services and facilities, assistance to first time home buyers, and acquisition. As always the City of Newark will assist housing developers, lenders, and non-profit organizations in any of these activities.
The City of Newark will work to address needs identified in the non-housing arena to include public facilities, public improvements, public services, and economic development. The City will continue to make improvements to its 31 park facilities and to improve infrastructure so as to encourage housing and commercial development. The City will create additional parking areas in the downtown to help alleviate traffic problems and encourage the growth of this area. The City will continue to operate a crime prevention program, will offer fair housing and landlord/tenant counseling, litter prevention and recycling programs and public transportation. The City will provide tax abatement to qualifying homeowners and businesses, will provide a revolving loan fund for businesses, provide technical assistance to businesses and begin a microloan program for small business owners.
The City of Newark Consolidated Plan outlines a number of strategies and activities which will work to reduce the incidences of poverty for Newark residents. These include the provision of affordable housing through rehabilitation, neighborhood stabilization through public works projects, tax abatement to encourage job attraction, retention and expansion and a variety of services for small and start up businesses. In addition, the City works with a variety of non-profit organizations to provide supportive services to their clientele, and to assist the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. Finally, the City will continue working with educational institutions to provide eligible men and women with education and employment opportunities.
Specific resources to carry out the strategies detailed in the Consolidated Plan include federal, state and local monies. The City also depends on collaboration with the numerous non-profit organizations within the City of Newark as well as financial institutions, educational institutions, businesses and citizen groups. The contributions of each of these entities is outlined in the Consolidated Plan.
The City of Newark will work to coordinate resources for the benefit of all
its citizens. This effort will include funds and programs the City operates
directly as well as those it does not. The City will continue to work with all social service agencies, businesses,
financial and lending institutions and citizens to address the needs identified
in the Consolidated Plan. The City of Newark Division of Community Development
will be the lead agency for coordinating the strategic plan.
The following projects have been planned for the 1995 CDBG fiscal year. These include:
All activities will be carried out within the city limits of Newark. Some programs such as housing rehabilitation and demolition are available city-wide while others such as improvements to the Central Fire Station have a specific location.
The City of Newark Division of Community Development will be the lead agency for all CDBG funded activities. The Division will collaborate with various city departments such as the Street Department, and Division of Engineering and also with non-profit entities such as Habitat for Humanity, the East Mound Community Development Corporation, and the Licking County Coalition for Housing.
It is the goal of the City of Newark to provide all citizens with decent, safe and sanitary housing, with a variety of housing options and with appropriate services to help families and individuals maintain a household.
MAP 2 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and project funding sources.
MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and project funding sources..
MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, minority concentration levels, and project funding sources.
MAP 5 depicts proposed HUD funded projects at street level.
TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).
Mr. Oren J. Henry
Director, Divison of
Community Development
40 West Main Street, Suite 407
Newark, OH 43055
PH: (614) 349-6694
