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


Consolidated Plan Contact

CITIZEN'S SUMMARY

Vega Baja's 1995 Consolidated Plan is a single comprehensive document concerning housing and community development needs, strategies and action plans for the City. This summarizes the Plan, so that citizens in the community can have a quick overview of Vega Baja's housing and community development situation; the 5-year broad goals, strategies, and actions proposed to deal with those problems; and the specific projects proposed for 1995 to carry out this strategy.

Action Plan

The Consolidated Plan includes an Action Plan constituting an application for funds under two (2) different HUD formula programs for a total of $2,628,000: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program ($2,530,000) and the Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) Program ($98,000). These funds combined with local funds will support the activities to be funded for the 1995 program year.

Citizen Participation

The City has taken all possible approaches and actions to insure the maximum participation of the citizens in the development and implementation of the Plan. The final plan is the product of the initiatives and efforts to enlist the participation and contribution of government agencies and the private sector. Hearings for the two (2) programs were conducted on January 25, 1995 and January 26, 1995. Copies of the Plan were made available for public review at the Office of Federal Programs and the City's Planning and Engineering Office, as well as other locations.


COMMUNITY PROFILE

Vega Baja has a geographic extension of 45.9 square miles. The tendency of the population to move from the rural to urban areas, searching for better working and living opportunities, makes the demand for housing at the urban site greater and the housing problems more difficult to solve.

According to the 1990 Census, Vega Baja's population was 55,997 with a majority of the families with income at poverty level. A low percentage of said population is integrated by those employed and doing business at the San Juan Metropolitan Area.


HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

This section of the Plan outlines the extent of needs by various groups for housing and the community development problems that have to be addressed.

Housing Needs

The 1990 Census show 18,318 housing units in the Municipality of Vega Baja, which represent an increase of 26% over the 1980's inventory. The number of adequate units was 1,612 or 88% of total household. Housing needs arise from the existence of physically inadequate and/or overcrowded housing units, high construction cost and large floodable areas and/or unstable terrain that reduces the land availability for housing development thus elevating its costs. As stated in the data submitted by the Commonwealth Department of Housing and Community Development, the estimated need of housing is 1,526 units, which represents 8.33% of the total household.

Housing Market Conditions

Income brackets for 3,624 households are from $0 to $4,318 a year. With this income, families could only afford a mortgage of $19,645.

Housing needs in Vega Baja are made evident by the demand registered at the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program's Office. There is a Waiting List of 156 evaluated applications and approximately 3,000 pre-applications.

Affordable Housing Needs

There have been a large number of housing developments completed and in process which generated substantial number of new housing units. Even though the construction program is very active, the local housing problem has not been significantly lessen. The housing units constructed and under construction are at a price range much higher than the ceiling for units of the social interest level (Vivienda de Interés Social) and not affordable to the low and very low income persons that comprises the bulk of citizens in need of adequate housing. The housing problem caused by the lack of affordable units available to lower income persons has increased.

Homeless Needs

Although the 1990 Census reflects a population of 55,997, no data is included as to the homeless population. According to the City's own census, there are 320 homeless persons that represent a .057 percent of the population, classified as follows:

Number of persons in homeless families67
Youth individuals (not in families)08
Adult individuals (not in families)245

At present, the City's homeless shelters have a capacity for 120 homeless, which are being served by nonprofit institutions.

Public and Assistance Housing Needs

The housing for the low income sectors has been made available only through the Section 8 Program (Certificate/Vouchers/Moderate Rehabilitation) and HOPWA. Adequate housing has been provided to 246 families through Rental Subsidy Programs. At this moment, the City manages 132 Certificates, 34 Vouchers, 67 units in the Moderate Rehabilitation Program and 21 certificates to attend individuals or families affected with HIV syndrome by the HOPWA Program.

Barriers to Affordable Housing

The most significant barriers to affordable housing are the scarcity of buildable land caused by its extremely high price; escalating costs by utilities agencies which in turn elevate construction costs; water and sewer inadequate facilities which do not meet required standards; and the bureaucratic inertia in providing the many required permits increases the construction costs and subsequently the price of units.

Fair Housing

Ample dissemination of the Laws and Regulations that deal with Fair Housing has been made to all persons interested or affected by its implementation. Plans were developed and disseminated to properly cover all aspects of Civil Rights, Fair Housing and no discrimination regarding housing, particularly as they apply to persons in groups protected by the Law.

We have performed a Comprehensive Analysis to determine possible barriers to Fair Housing. The study disclosed that there are no identifiable barriers.

For the elimination of physical barriers that might constitute obstacles to the accessibility by handicapped or persons with limited mobility, funds have been used towards its purpose. Architects, contractors and subcontractors doing business with this jurisdiction are timely and adequately advised as to the requirements of outstanding regulations on eliminating barriers to make facilities accessible to all persons irrespective of their physical or mental limitations.

Lead-based Paint

Based on the study provided by the Puerto Rico Public Housing Authority as to units built before 1978, information has been provided to Section 8 tenants and owners regarding Lead-based Paint. Further, we urged the local agencies concerned to detect and eliminate any residuals of Lead-Based Paint from buildings under their responsibility.

The Commonwealth Department of Health at Vega Baja informed that there were no cases of children poisoning with lead-based paint in the Municipality of Vega Baja during fiscal year 1993-94.

All Government Agencies-Federal, Commonwealth and Local- were contacted in an effort to obtain complete and reliable information regarding lead-based paint and the actions to remedy cases detected, if any, and avoid future cases.

Other Issues

More than 85% of the persons acquiring their houses at the new developments were not residents of Vega Baja. The housing problem caused by the lack of affordable units to lower income persons has increased.

Community Development Needs

There is a need for a wide variety of activities geared to revitalize neighborhoods: housing projects, augmentation of police force, enhance the cleanliness and appearance of the rural and urban communities, construction of passive recreational areas, economic development projects, recreational, cultural, sports, educational and socially oriented programs. Other needs in public service area include, but are not limited to, exploring and developing activities oriented to services for senior citizens, education programs, health care and services for homeless and handicapped persons.

Coordination

The institutions involved in the process include federal, state and local government agencies, nonprofit and private sectors. The Municipality will coordinate the input and efforts requested from the institutions in order to provide a comprehensive efforts in the provision safe, decent, sanitary and affordable housing, as well as in the provision of public services and facilities and the creation of jobs to low and moderate income residents.

The Municipality will encourage the meeting and coordination between the Office of Federal Programs and the Planning and Engineering Office with the above-mentioned entities on a regular basis in order to discuss programs and ideas to accomplish the Housing and Community Development Plan goals and objectives.


HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Vision for Change - Overall Goals

The strategic plan lays out a long-term strategy to deal with the housing and community development needs. Over the last decade, the Municipality of Vega Baja has experienced dramatic changes and shifts in its population, housing stock and housing needs. These changing demographic and economic conditions, combined with shrinking Federal and local resources, have significantly impacted upon the quality of life of the citizens of the Municipality. The Consolidated Plan submitted by the City contains an inventory of Federal programs, together with local funds available to carry out the Plan.

Housing Priorities

The main priority is to preserve and maintain in optimum conditions the existing housing stock making it affordable and accessible to low income families (both homeowners and renters); and groups with special needs. Assistance will be provided based on the needs as applicable to each particular group so that no one suffers for reasons of age, color, race, sex, national origin, religious or political preferences, family composition or physical or mental incapacity.

Non-Housing Community Development Priorities

Target neighborhood improvement efforts in areas of opportunity to achieve an overall visible impact on neighborhood condition and livability.

This includes public improvements that will support jobs for low and moderate income persons, development of selected projects to include site preparation, construction of facilities, acquisition, reconstruction, rehabilitation or installation of public facilities, and a public services program to help support physical development activities.

Anti-Poverty Strategy

This Municipality recognizes the need to prioritize anti-poverty programs over the years and intends to continue supporting existing programs towards the major condition of the citizens.

Housing and Community Development Resources

Due to its favorable location and adequate infrastructure, the Municipality continues its efforts to attract investment and create jobs in the community and to improve the housing conditions for the citizens, in particular for those in the very low, low and moderate income levels.

The Plan includes actions for improving and maintaining the two (2) public housing projects in the jurisdiction. At both projects, an annual work plan to improve the quality of life of the residents is carried out through educational activities.

The City will carry out its Housing and Community Development Plan with the participation and contribution of government agencies, nonprofit organizations and concerned public institutions.

Among the actions proposed in fair housing is ample dissemination of the laws and regulations that deal with fair housing to be made to all persons interested or affected by its implementation.

Coordination of Strategic Plan

The Municipality maintains communication and coordinates with the local private institutions that provide services to the underprivileged population and stands ready to support them within the limitation of the available resources.

During the performance period reported the resources available have been very limited and the support received from other government agencies and private sector have not met our expectative to meet the planned goals. The main thrust and efforts have continued to be devoted to the orientation, advice and consent of the Municipal Staff and employees as well as the citizenry.

To guarantee the compliance of the strategies and Action Plan as designed and in accordance with the parameters established by this Municipality and the Federal and Commonwealth Governments a Follow-up Program will be implemented as follows:

The indicators to be used for progress evaluations will be both quantitative and qualitative. Fiscal Single Type Audits will be required on an annual basis. These may be the same ones made mandatory by HUD.


ONE-YEAR ACTION PLAN

Description of Key Projects

The action plan lays out the proposed uses of the $2,628,000 from the two formula grant programs (CDBG and ESG). The entitlement grant funds will be totally applied towards the identified objectives set forth in the plan.

Locations

According to the Plan, the proposed projects and activities will be carried out in areas with a high concentration of low and moderate income families. Maps attached show the location of proposed projects.

Some of the proposed projects include:

Lead Agencies

The following are the lead agencies for the activities or projects carried out in the Municipality:

Housing Goals

The housing goals of this Municipality are to provide decent housing in a suitable living environment; expand economic opportunities mainly for low and moderate income persons; extend and strengthen partnerships among all levels of government and private sectors, including nonprofit organizations in the production and operation of affordable housing; assist homeless persons to obtain appropriate housing and assist those at imminent risk of becoming homeless; increase the supply of supportive housing and services for persons with special needs; expand economic opportunities including job creation and retention; provide public services related to the employment and jobs involved in carrying out activities under programs covered by this plan to low income persons living in affected areas.

Maps

MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction.

MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.

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

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

To comment on Vega Baja's Consolidated Plan, please contact:

Ms. Sonia Medina
Director Federal Programs
P.O. Box 4555
Vega Baja, PR 00764-4555
(809) 855-1544

Return to Puerto Rico's Consolidated Plans.