Sharon, Pennsylvania's, 1995 Consolidated Plan is a strategic vision for housing and community development. It is the result of consultation among many city groups and government leaders working to identify needs and set priorities for the city. This document is a summary for city residents of the needs described in the plan, the 5-year strategies for addressing them, and the specific projects for implementing the Consolidated Plan in 1995.
The City of Sharon Consolidated Plan includes a 1-year plan for spending almost $1 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in 1995. The funds will be spent mainly on housing activities and public facilities improvements.
Task forces of citizens, service providers, local government representatives, and business leaders gave their input for the Enterprise Community application, which was later used in the Consolidated Plan process. In addition, city officials consulted with numerous local service providers to gain their insights on the needs of their service populations. The Consolidated Plan was displayed in three public locations during the public review period in the fall of 1994. A public hearing was held before the City Council which adopted the plan on November 10, 1994.
The city of Sharon is an older, well-established urban community in northwestern Pennsylvania. Sharon has recently seen a steady decline in its population of 17,493, which dropped 33.8 percent from 1950 to 1990. In 1990, whites made up 91 percent and African Americans 8.6 percent of the population. The African-American population grew rapidly between 1980 and 1990 (21.78 percent). The elderly population has grown 86 percent since 1970, and accounted for almost 20 percent of the population in 1990.
The median family income (MFI) for a family of four in Sharon in 1993 was $25,697, and nearly one-half (46 percent) of Sharon's households had annual incomes that were 80 percent or less of the MFI (that is, they are low income). Census tracts with concentrations of low-income persons (where 51 percent of households were low income) were largely the same tracts that had concentrations of minority populations.
The employment base of Sharon has shifted away from manufacturing due to closing of the Sharon Steel Corporation. This closing led to the decline in population, deterioration of the infrastructure and community facilities and, most significantly, high unemployment. New or expanded industrial or commercial developments in the city are expected to be relatively small.
According to the city of Sharon, their greatest housing needs are affordable rental housing for small families and the elderly, increased homeownership, and maintenance of the existing aged housing stock.
According to the 1990 U.S. Census, the total number of housing units in Sharon was 7,670, down 1.5 percent since 1980. Rental units made up 35 percent and owner-occupied units were 59 percent of the total. The number of rental units has been increasing slightly while the number of owner-occupied units has been declining. In 1990, owner-occupied housing accounted for 63 percent of all occupied units.
The 1990 median value of owner-occupied units in Sharon was $26,700, which is up 15 percent since 1980. The homeownership rate was 63 percent in 1990, but minority households are underrepresented in homeownership compared to their share of the population. The 1990 median monthly contract rent was $306 -- almost twice the median rent in 1980. Many rental units are unaccessible to persons with physical disabilities.
Almost one-half of Sharon's housing stock was built prior to 1940 -- only 13 percent was built between 1970 and 1990. A striking 52 percent of its housing units are considered substandard, but about 79 percent of those are suitable for rehabilitation.
The city's housing prices are low compared to other urbanized areas in Pennsylvania, yet so is the homeownership rate (63 percent). All 51 owner-occupied units that were for sale in 1990 were affordable to households with incomes between 51 and 80 percent of the MFI. However, all of those units were also vacant, which generally indicates that major repairs are necessary to meet minimum quality standards. The ratio of renters to owners is increasing, a trend that is expected to continue as households are "priced out" of the homeownership market.
Overall, renters experience greater affordability and other housing problems than homeowners in Sharon. Fair market rents (as determined by HUD) in Sharon are not affordable to very low-income households, because they would have to pay greater than 30 percent of their monthly income on housing. Of all income groups, extremely low-income households have the greatest problems in terms of affordability and other housing problems. Of all household types, the elderly have the greatest problems in terms of affordability and other housing problems.
The 1990 U.S. Census 1-night count of the homeless found only three homeless people in Sharon on the winter night of March 20. The city does not have an independent count of its homeless population, but believes that group to be larger than the 1-night count indicated. For example, Mercer County (in which Sharon is located) estimates that there are 350 deinstitutionalized mentally ill homeless persons who are sleeping in shelters or are transient. Downsizing at a nearby State mental hospital and the closing of five Mercer County community rehabilitation centers are expected to increase the mentally ill homeless population in Sharon. One facility serving the homeless estimates that 23 percent of their clients have alcohol problems and another facility estimates that 50 percent of their clients have substance abuse problems. The city has no accurate estimates of the number of homeless youth, homeless persons with HIV/AIDS, or homeless families.
Within the city, two facilities provide short-term transitional housing and one facility provides emergency shelter. Two food facilities operate in the vicinity of Sharon, and one soup kitchen was scheduled to open in Sharon during 1995. Beyond housing, the primary needs of single men and women in homeless shelters are for employment, job training, drug and alcohol treatment, and general counseling. People at risk of becoming homeless may need assisted housing, temporary financial assistance, job training, and day care. The city has no count of how many of its residents may be at risk of homelessness.
The Mercer County Housing Authority owns and operates 306 public housing units in Sharon (50 percent of all public housing in the county). No net loss in the public and assisted housing inventory is anticipated. Lead-based paint testing is underway in all developments. Public housing has several needs: increased occupancy, security, decreased rent delinquencies and drug problems, maintenance, rehabilitation, and removal of architectural barriers. The housing authority had a waiting list of 139 applicants as of September 1994. Small families made up one-half of the waiting list, while elderly persons comprised approximately one-fifth. Thirty-four percent of those on the waiting list were minorities.
The city also has 69 units of Section 8 rental housing and 344 units of assisted housing. Sixty-nine households were on the waiting list for the Section 8 program in September 1994. Two-thirds of those on the waiting list were small families, one-quarter were large families, and about a third were minorities. The assisted housing inventory has a significant number of smaller units and far fewer large-family units. The various assisted housing units have a combined waiting list of 297 households.
Sharon has a dearth of housing units for persons with special needs. Units for persons with disabilities are in short supply, and there are no supported housing units for persons with HIV/AIDS. Supportive housing units do exist for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and persons with substance abuse problems. The housing services needed by the elderly are home repairs, affordable housing, and supportive services. An immediate need of persons with mental illness is financial assistance and supportive services to live independently.
Although housing prices in Sharon are lower than for many urbanized areas in the State, several public policies can be barriers to affordable housing. Such policies may relate to zoning, building codes, fees and charges, and any referendum process that may be required for government approvals for the development of low-income housing. Another barrier to development of new affordable housing is the lack of available residential land in the city.
A 1990 fair housing analysis conducted by the city showed three areas where the city and other agencies should take affirmative action to improve fair housing. These areas were:
Over 95 percent of the city's housing was built before 1979, so it is estimated that a significant number of its housing units contain lead-based paint. Local hospitals and clinics provide lead-based paint screenings in Mercer County.
Because Sharon has experienced economic decline and high unemployment as the result of a major loss of manufacturing employment, economic development is essential. The major economic development needs are revitalization and expansion of business and industry, diversification of the heavy metal industry, and cleanup and reuse of vacant industrial properties. The major public facilities needs are for sanitary and storm sewer improvements; reconstruction of streets, curbs, and walkways; and improvements to parks and playgrounds. The major public service needs are for housing counseling, transportation, employment counseling and job training, health services, and cultural enrichment.
The city, the housing authority, and the Mercer County Community Action Agency (MCCAA) have developed strong working relationships, and they will continue to work closely. In addition the city will work with other public agencies, nonprofit and private housing providers, lenders, and social service agencies to implement the 5-year Consolidated Plan.
Over the 5 years of the Consolidated Plan, Sharon will implement the following housing and community development strategies:
Priority #1: Upgrade the existing owner- and renter-occupied housing stock. This priority will be addressed by continuing the MCCAA Weatherization Program for low-income residents, establishing an MCCAA rental rehabilitation program, and modernizing the public housing stock.
Priority #2: Provide housing opportunities for first-time, low- and moderate-income homebuyers and support services for all homeowners. In conjunction with local lenders, a first-time homebuyer program will be developed, including a mechanism to finance mortgages and rehabilitation expenses together. Application will be made for Neighborhood Tax Credit assistance from the State.
Priority #3: Distribute tenant-based rental assistance to residents who are cost burdened (those paying more than 30 percent of their income for housing). The city encouraged the Mercer County Housing Authority to apply for additional Section 8 vouchers and certificates.
Priority #4: Assist in the development of new construction and substantial rehabilitation for very low- and low-income persons (especially the elderly and small families). The city will continue to work with MCCAA and other nonprofit and for-profit developers to construct and rehabilitate housing whenever possible.
Priority #5: Provide assistance to the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless through nonprofit organizations. Linkages will be encouraged between nonprofit housing providers and supportive services, and funds will be provided for the operational expenses of a battered women's shelter and the operation of a food warehouse.
Priority #6: Provide assistance to nonhomeless persons with special needs. Transitional housing units for the mentally ill will be rehabilitated, and home care services will be provided for the frail elderly and disabled.
Sharon has the following plans for nonhousing community development:
The city of Sharon is supporting several programs such as the Head Start Preschool program, the Weatherization program, a child development center, a consumer protection program, and adult education programs that are intended to help people move out of poverty.
Sharon is not now in the HOME program, but is considering forming a HOME Consortium with other communities in the Shenango Valley. The State of Pennsylvania will be providing HOME, Housing and Community Development, Enterprise Zone, and Site Assessment funds, and the Federal Government will be contributing CDBG funds for the implementation of the Consolidated Plan.
During the Consolidated Plan process, the city solicited input from the housing authority and assisted housing providers, government health, mental health, and social service providers, and other social service agencies. The city expects to continue outreach and coordination with those organizations and also to increase resident involvement. The city will also be working with the State of Pennsylvania and contiguous local governments on strategy implementation, as needed.
The allocation of CDBG, HOME, and other program funds will be the responsibility of the City Council, but the Sharon Community Development Office will have primary responsibility for implementing and coordinating the overall strategy.
The City of Sharon Action Plan outlines the proposed use of almost $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds. Public facilities projects and many of the housing projects will be targeted to low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, but the social service projects will be implemented mainly on a citywide basis.
Housing projects include:
Community development projects include:
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 projects within another of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.
MAP 9 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).
