Action Plan

Citizen Participation

Four neighborhood meetings, meetings with residents of Jefferson Metropolitan Housing Authority (JMHA) units, and numerous focus group sessions and Consolidated Planning Committee meetings were held from January through July 1995. Participants were asked to identify needs, prioritize needs and present ideas. The information obtained from these meetings was used to develop the Consolidated Plan.

Based upon 1990 census data, the City of Steubenville has a population of 22,125 persons. From 1980 to 1990 the population of Steubenville declined by 16.2 percent, continuing a downward trend which began in 1940, when Steubenville reached its peak population of 37,651 persons. Thus, Steubenville has experienced a long-term population loss of 41.2 percent.

The portion of the population that is under 25 years old dropped from 35.2 percent in 1980 to 32.2 percent in 1990. The segment of the population which is elderly grew from 17.6 percent in 1980 to 21.8 percent in 1990. The number of families in Steubenville declined by 17.2 percent from 1980 to 1990, while the number of female-headed families increased by 18.9 percent during the same period. Female-headed families represented 25.3 percent of all families in 1990, a significant increase from 1980 when they represented 17.6 percent of all families. Of those persons that lived alone in 1990, more than half (51.9 percent) were age 65 or older.

The white segment of the population represented 84.8 percent of the total in 1980 and 83.5 percent in 1990. The proportion of black persons to the total population increased from 14.0 percent in 1980 to 15.5 percent in 1990, although the actual number of black persons declined over the decade. Just one percent of the population are from other racial/ethnic groups. A total of 74.7 percent of white families are married couple families, whereas only 42.6 percent of black families are married couple families. In addition, 57.4 percent of black families are female-headed, however only 20.6 percent of white families are female-headed.

It is estimated that 22.4 percent of Steubenville's households are extremely low income (earning less than 30 percent of median income), 37.0 percent of households are very low income (earning less than 50 percent of median income), 17.7 percent of households are low income (earning between 50 and 80 percent of median income), and 6.9 percent of households are moderate income (earning between 80 and 95 percent of median income). The rate of poverty increased substantially for Steubenville's population over the past decade. In 1990, 24.3 percent of the population lived in poverty. The number of children living in poverty increased by 58.5 percent between 1980 and 1990. A total of 39.2 percent of Steubenville's children lived in poverty in 1990. The number of persons age 65 or older living in poverty remained fairly stable, decreasing from 14.3 percent in 1980 to 13.5 percent in 1990, a change of just 0.8 percent. The number of families living in poverty increased by 42.3 percent from 1980 to 1990. In 1980, 11.5 percent of the families were classified as living in poverty, while in 1990 19.8 percent of the families were living in poverty. Likewise, in 1980, 17.8 percent of families with children were living in poverty, while in 1990, 37.8 percent of families with children were living in poverty, representing an increase of 70.5 percent for the period. Nearly one-half (46.9 percent) of families with children under age 5 lived in poverty in 1990. The number of female-headed families living in poverty increased from 39.4 percent in 1980 to 49.8 percent in 1990, and 67.2 percent of female-headed families with children lived in poverty in 1990. Almost three-fourths (74.7 percent) of female-headed families with children under age 5 lived in poverty in 1990.

In general, Steubenville's labor force is not highly educated. Of those persons 25 years old or older, 30.8 percent have not graduated from high school and only 13.3 percent have a bachelor's degree or higher. Just over half (51.0 percent) of women with children were in the labor force. Furthermore, 46.4 percent of children had all parents in the labor force.

Manufacturing industries employ 21.4 percent of Steubenville's employed labor force. Retail trade accounts for another 18.2 percent of employed persons. The next largest employment category is education, employing 13.3 percent of those employed, followed closely by health services, with 12.4 percent of those employed. In 1990, Steubenville's unemployment rate was 11.6 percent. Very few people are moving into Steubenville--in 1990, 59.0 percent of the population lived in the same house in 1985; another 27.6 percent lived in a different house but within the same metropolitan area (i.e., Jefferson County, Ohio and Brooke and Hancock Counties, West Virginia). The majority of employed persons that resided in Steubenville, 62.9 percent, also worked within the City of Steubenville. Another 11.7 percent of employed persons residing in Steubenville worked in nearby Weirton, West Virginia. Therefore it is apparent that the majority of people do not travel very far to work.

Housing Conditions and Needs

Within Steubenville, 44.5 percent of all renters and 10.8 percent of all owners spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing and are considered cost burdened. Of those classified as extremely low income, earning less than 30 percent of the area median income, 69.9 percent of the renters and 60.9 percent of the owners are cost burdened. Large families represent the largest group of renters that are cost burdened; 64.7 percent, followed by small families; 42.9 percent, and elderly households; 38.8 percent.

Housing Market Conditions

Affordable Housing Needs

• Construction of new housing units for low and moderate income renters and owners.
• The rehabilitation of both renter and owner occupied existing units.
• Improved energy efficiency of units to reduce utility costs for low and moderate income renters and owners who are cost burdened.
• Increased code enforcement activities so that housing units are maintained in a sound condition.
• The demolition and clearance of abandoned and structurally unsound units.
• Provision of rental assistance to low and moderate income tenants.
• Downpayment/closing cost assistance to aid low and moderate income renters with becoming homeowners.

Homeless Needs

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

Barriers to Affordable Housing

• Depressed economic condition of the area.
• Inadequate code enforcement activities.
• Lack of adequate infrastructure for construction of new housing in some areas.
• Public housing units are concentrated within Steubenville and not disbursed throughout the county.
• Lack of resources for all housing agencies, especially nonprofit housing organizations.
• Non-existent or disorganized neighborhood based organizations.

Fair Housing

Lead-Based Paint

Community Development Needs

• Aging infrastructure in neighborhoods needs repaired, replaced and upgraded.
• Support services must be provided that compliment neighborhoods.
• Neighborhoods must provide a clean and safe living environment.
• Public facilities must be provided that enhance the quality of life in neighborhoods.
• Neighborhoods must become crime-free and drug-free environments.
• Neighborhood residents need to play a greater role in community leadership and self- empowerment.

Economic Development Needs

• One central location where business assistance is provided.
• Linkages with the broader, regional economy need to be developed.
• Assistance must be provided to small businesses and minority/female-owned businesses.
• Re-investment in the Central Business District (CBD).
• Job training and placement services
• Substantial neighborhood revitalization efforts.

Vision for Change

• Affordable housing opportunities.
• Community development, with primary emphasis on target neighborhood revitalization.
• Economic development and job training.

Housing Priorities

• Improve the condition of existing housing by providing rehabilitation assistance to 150 units over the next 5 years
• Encourage the construction of new housing units for all income ranges dispersed throughout Steubenville.
• Provide energy efficient housing units by supplying weatherization assistance.
• Increase homeownership opportunities by providing downpayment/closing cost assistance to 100 low and moderate income families over the next 5 years.
• Carry out code enforcement activities to improve the condition of existing housing units.
• Reduce "blighting" influences on neighborhoods by demolishing dilapidated structures.
• Provide appropriate support services for homeless, at-risk homeless, along with special needs households.
• Provide rental assistance for extremely low, very low and low income households.
• Ensure that all persons have equal housing choice without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or familial status.
• Encourage cooperation and coordination of activities among all affordable housing providers.

Community Development Priorities

• Repair, replace and upgrade infrastructure in neighborhoods.
• Mitigate adverse environmental conditions in neighborhoods by carrying out code enforcement activities.
• Provide necessary public facilities in neighborhoods such as parks, community centers, senior centers and health facilities.
• Expand police activities in neighborhoods to provide safe and drug-free environments.
• Provide necessary support services in neighborhoods such as substance abuse services, crime awareness, child care, youth and senior services.
• Provide technical assistance that will enable neighborhood residents to play a greater role in community leadership and self-empowerment.
• Encourage cooperation between neighborhood groups, the public and private sectors.

Economic Development Priorities

• Establish a central "one-stop" facility that provides comprehensive technical and financial assistance for entrepreneurial activities.
• Establish a regional employment consortium where area employers provide employment opportunities.
• Develop a small business incubator program to assist small businesses and minority/female-owned businesses.
• Provide workforce development through coordinated job training and placement.
• Create incentives for businesses to re-invest in the Central Business District (CBD) by providing planning, financial, technical and design assistance.
• Establish programs that revitalize and enhance neighborhoods.
• Maximize riverfront development opportunities.
• Cooperate with the private sector in order to retain and expand employment opportunities.

Anti-Poverty Strategy

Housing and Community/Economic Development Resources

Coordination of Strategic Plan

Description and Location of Key Projects

• A total of $30,000 in CDBG funds will be used to install new playground equipment at Beatty Park located in the 800 block of Lincoln Avenue, which is situated in the Lincoln Valley/Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Target Area. This project will continue park rehabilitation and development efforts already underway.
• $50,000 in CDBG funds will be used by a newly created port authority as "start-up" money to begin to initiate riverfront development activities.
• Sidewalk improvements in the amount of $356,000 in CDBG funds which will include handicapped-accessible curb ramps will be completed in the Central Business District (CBD), North End Neighborhood, South End Neighborhood and Lincoln Heights/Lincoln Valley Neighborhood Target Areas.
• Demolition of vacant dilapidated structures totalling $93,705 in CDBG funds will occur in the North End Neighborhood, South End Neighborhood and Lincoln Heights/Lincoln Valley Neighborhood Target Areas.
• Using $418,000 in CDBG funds, single-family owner-occupied homes will be rehabilitated in the North End Neighborhood, South End Neighborhood, Lincoln Heights/Lincoln Valley Neighborhood, Pleasant Heights Neighborhood and LaBelle View Neighborhood Target Areas.
• Using HOME funds received from the State of Ohio, first-time homebuyers will receive downpayment/closing cost assistance to purchase their own homes.

Maps

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

Map 3 depicts the areas of higher unemployment in the City.

Map 4 depicts the racial distribution within the City.

Map 5 depicts the project area neighborhoods and contains a table providing details for these projects.