Action Plan

The City's Consolidated Plan identifies housing and community development needs within the City and presents solutions and actions to address theses needs. Included in the Plan is an Annual Plan which details the City's intentions to expend $ 2,639,000 in CDBG funds, $ 664,000 in HOME funds and $ 96,000 in ESG funds. These funds will be spent primarily on housing and neighborhood oriented projects.

Citizen Participation

To develop its initial plan, the City used data and a modified advisory task force model originally put together to prepare its CHAS in 1994. As a prelude to the Plan development process, the City invited HUD officials from the Columbus area office to the City to discuss the purpose and guidelines for the new Consolidated Plan process with persons from local agencies, organizations, and City and county officials. The formal process of public hearings started on November 03, 1994 and concluded with Plan approval by the City Commission on January 31, 1995. The City relied on its three major advisory groups, the Clark County Housing Coalition, the Community Advisory Review Board, and the Community Housing Advisory Board to provide recommendations for funding of projects. Over 45 proposed projects were reviewed prior to the selection of the City funded projects.

The City of Springfield's status over the last 20 years closely parallels the general condition of other "rust belt" cities. Since 1970, the City has experienced a 14% decline in population showing a total population of 70,487 in the 1990 Census counts. The minority population of the City has remained steady at just under 19%.

Echoing national trends, the average household size has also declined with approximately 66% of the City's households having 2 or less persons. Concurrent with this trend, the City has seen a nearly 60% increase in the number of female headed households.

Although the overall population has decreased, the number of persons in poverty has increased 116%. This increase in the occurrence of poverty has occurred even though the median income of Springfield of $ 35,999 is slightly above national median income and households earnings more than $ 38,950 per year represent the largest group of households in the City (36%).

The number of families living in poverty within the City equals 16.6% of the total number of families. Additionally, 65% of all female households with children are below the poverty threshold.

Housing Needs

The housing needs of the City of Springfield are consistent with these needs expected of an aging housing stock, an increasingly elderly population and an increasing incidence of households living at or below the poverty level. Of the 27,326 households in the City, approximately 7,774 or 28% have housing problems and reside in substandard housing. Further analysis yields the following:

• 45% of all renters live in substandard housing units.
• 22% of all renter households spend more than 50% of their income on housing.
• Of the 22% of renter households that are paying more the 50% of income for housing nearly 50% are elderly and small households (2-4 persons)
• 42% of all renter households spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
• 16% of homeowners live in substandard housing units
• Owner households suffer far less incidences of substandard conditions or housing cost burdens.

Housing Market Conditions

As in all older cities, Springfield has experienced a rapid decline in the condition of aging housing stock, particularly in the lower income neighborhoods of the City. Out of 29,562 housing units in the City, approximately 8% are vacant at anytime with the vast majority of vacancies being in rental units. City surveys show that vacancies and structures in poor condition are found predominantly in these neighborhoods with the highest concentration of minority and LMI populations. The total number of structures found to be in poor condition has steadily increased over the last 20 years and many have been demolished through aggressive code enforcement efforts. The median value of a single unit house in the City was estimated to be $ 42,000 according to the 1990 Census with the median contract rent set at $247.

Affordable Housing Needs

The affordable housing needs for the City of Springfield identified in the City's Consolidated Plan consist of:

Rental Assistance

• 2,570 LMI renter households spend 50% or more of their income on housing expenses. 593 of these households are elderly.

Rehabilitation Assistance

• 5,225 LMI renter households live in substandard housing. 1,198 of the households are elderly.
• 2,160 LMI owner households live in substandard housing. About 850 of these are elderly.
• 740 LMI owner households spend 50% or more of their income on housing expenses. 303 of these households are elderly.

The majority of very low and lower income households are renter households, living in substandard dwelling units and paying more than 50% of their income for housing expenses. This group should receive the highest priority for assistance through rehabilitation programs and rental assistance progress through both the City and the Springfield Metropolitan Housing Authority.

Homeless Needs

The City identified several areas of concerns regarding the homeless and at risk populations in the city. These include a lack of facilities for childless women, lack of standardized intake procedure for accurate data gathering, increasing demands being made on the emergency assistance delivery system, lack of transitional housing facilities for the homeless, and lack of resources for subsidizing housing costs. Several agencies serve the homeless, but increasing demand for services and funding decreases is worrisome for the long term. Development of two transitional housing projects is now underway to serve battered spouses with children and divorced older women.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

The Springfield Metropolitan Housing Authority currently manages 889 Public Housing Units and administers another 778 Rental Certificates and Vouchers. In Addition, there are another 1000 subsidized units in the City and surroundings Clark County. The need for additional units and subsidies is reflected in estimated 450 applicants waiting for an available unit. Waiting periods for units and other subsidies range from 6 months for a federal preference one- bedroom unit to 4 years for non-federal preference two and three bedroom units.

Fair Housing

The City has staff assigned to the resolution of fair housing complaints. Staff also is conducting fair housing testing throughout the community and reviewing CRA information for local lending institutions.

Lead-Based Paint

The City has been participating in a Lead-Based Paint Hazard reduction Task Force to develop a combined City/County LBP hazard reduction. The City is also initiating a pilot program to identify structures with LBP hazards and funding abatement procedures for those identified hazardous conditions.

Community Development Needs

The community development needs for the City were derived from several sources including various agencies' reports of needs, City staff reports and the needs reported from the citizens via the City Commission and CDBG application process. The Commission's Goals and Objectives most aptly summarize the perceived needs and are as follows:

• Economic Development & Business Retention
• Law Enforcement
• Neighborhood Enhancement & Housing
• Public Facilities
• Environmental and Regulatory Impact
• Development & Planning
• Youth Programs/Initiatives

Vision for Change

The City's Consolidated Plan built upon the process and findings of the previously completed CHAS and reflects the City's overall development efforts in several areas. Following further work and the completion of a community survey, the goals and objectives addressed by the Consolidated Plan will be further defined.

Housing and Community Development Objectives and Priorities

The following overall priorities form the basis for individual programmatic efforts undertaken by the City:

1. Assist Homeless and Special Needs providers in meeting the immediate and transitional shelter needs of the homeless families, individuals and other special needs persons; and promote the concept of a "Continuum of Care" whereby holistic and multi-faceted supportive systems can be developed.
2. Develop systems and procedures to meet the needs of very very low income renter households who are experiencing severe cost burdens and also live in inadequate housing units.
3. Make public and assisted housing units in Springfield a source of pride by promoting resident initiatives, creating effective resident councils that participate in their management and operations and providing opportunities for development of resident based educational, recreational and economic development programs.
4. Expand homeownership opportunities through creative strategies developed with the local lenders and other non-profit community based housing development corporations.
5. Open housing markets for all city residents by conducting a review and update of the City's local Fair Housing Ordinance; conduct studies of local lending and real estate transaction patterns; ensure enforcement of Fair Housing laws and support creative city- wide housing and neighborhood development initiatives for balanced community wide growth.
6. Preserve the City's existing housing stock and reduce the number of substandard units through rehab by a variety of housing providers in the non-profit, private and public sectors. Provide economic incentives to housing providers and to private property owners, and strengthen housing code enforcement to ensure upkeep of affordable housing units, particularly for very low income renters, elderly and special needs populations, and
7. Empower city residents and neighborhoods by supporting economic enterprise, transportation, neighborhood enhancement, community policing and self-help and other community based economic development programs.

Anti-Poverty Strategy

The City's Community Housing Advisory Board (CHAB) is serving as the City's Anti-poverty Task Force for the City. The CHAB has identified six elements to the pursued as part of the City's strategy. These 6 elements are reflected in the City's Action Plan activities.

Housing and Community Development Resources

Resources include city, state and federal funds and other private and public funds from other agencies and groups to support funded activities. These resources range from City utility funds to state and federal funds passed through local agencies to in-kind contributions of administrative and support services. The City encourages but does not require matching requirements for its subgrantees and other program recipients. Specific resources are detailed in the Consolidated Plan.

Coordination of Strategic Plan

By using the Community Advisory Review Board (CARB), the Community Housing Advisory Board (CHAB), the Clark County Housing Coalition and the Advisory Task Force Model in developing this CHAS/Consolidated Plan, the City has initiated the process for major collaborative actions. This process has lead to meaningful interactions between the public, private, non-profits and resident sectors of the community. This effort will be further enhanced, as CHAB, CARB, and the Coalition, and ,as needed, the different TASK FORCES, continue to work at developing action steps in their areas of work. The City is committed to community and consensus building and enhancing the quality of life and the living environment for all its residents. In this collaborative action, the City is working closely with the public and assisted housing providers and dialogue has been initiated with the private health, mental health and other special needs agencies.

Key Projects

More than 20 specific projects or programs will be implemented for the City's FY 1995 Consolidated Plan Action Plan. They include:

• Using $ 832,381 in CDBG funds for continuing Code Enforcement Activities including inspections, public nuisances removal, demolition of unsafe abandoned structures, boarding and securing of vacant open buildings and working with neighborhood groups on blighting influences within neighborhoods.
• Using over $ 1.5 million of CDBG/HOME funds to rehabilitate affordable housing units, acquire structures for rehab and first time homebuyers, provide construction funding to the City's CHDO, and perform pilot lead abatement efforts.
• Using $ 233,373 in CDBG funds for public service activities including neighborhood clean- up efforts, neighborhood organizations, and other projects for the elderly, HIV/AIDS persons, recreation programs, well child classes, and education efforts.
• Using $ 375,764 in CDBG funds for public improvements including park development and street reconstructions.
• Using $ 221,000 in CDBG funds for economic development efforts in support of a business incubator and a microenterprise program.
• Using $ 52,745 in CDBG funds for operational support for the City's CHDO.
• Using $ 96,000 in ESG funds to help support emergency shelter facilities, transitional housing for battered women and children, transient and disaster services, a day care center for homeless families and shelter expenses for HIV/AIDS patients.

Locations

Most housing and code enforcement activities take place in the City's Target Area. Other activities are on a city-wide basis for eligible individuals.

Lead Agencies

The lead agencies for the City programs are the Department of Planning and Development, Department of Human Relations, Housing & Neighborhood Services, the SBDC, Inc., and the Springfield Community Redevelopment Corporation. Fourteen other agencies and organizations in the City function as subrecipients.

Maps

MAP 2 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and proposed HUD funded projects.

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

MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, areas of minority concentration, and proposed HUD funded projects.

MAP 5 depicts points of interest, a Neighborhood Segment, streets, and proposed HUD funded projects.

TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).

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