Rapid City's 1995 Consolidated Plan constitutes a strategic vision for housing and community development in the city. This document summarizes that plan so that citizens in the community can have a quick overview of Rapid City's housing and community development problems; 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.

Goals

• To increase the supply of decent, affordable housing by providing financial assistance to developers;

• To provide for rehabilitation of existing owner-occupied dwelling units,

• To expand homeownership opportunities for low income persons;

• To increase the capacity of nonprofit organizations to serve low income residents by providing for expansion of existing facilities;

• To assist direct service providing organizations with the financial resources to increase the service currently provided; and,

• To upgrade the public infrastructure to preserve the quality of life in our community.

Action Plan

The consolidated plan includes an action plan constituting an application for funds under the Community Development Block Grant program in the amount of $ 715,000.

Citizen Participation

The 1995 Consolidated Plan Submission (CPS) for the City of Rapid City was developed by staff in the Community Development Department with input from numerous organizations including but not limited to: state agencies, private nonprofit organizations; community leaders; concerned citizens through public meetings; and, various city departments.

A public hearing to receive input on the housing and community development needs was conducted on September 22, 1994 at 7:00 p.m. Since the track record for citizens attending public meetings in the Rapid City community is generally not significant number-wise, the Community Development Director invited representatives from various organizations that provide services to low income residents, members of neighborhood associations, and residents residing in public housing to attend the meeting. Sixty five (65) personal invitations were mailed and on the evening of the public hearing, there were twenty three (23) in attendance. Advertisement for the public input meeting was published in the Rapid City Journal so those people not receiving a personal invitation were also aware of the meeting and welcome to attend. As attachments to the CPS are the listing of invitees and a copy of the notice published in the newspaper. Representatives from agencies or neighborhood groups who chose not to attend the meeting were invited to submit written comments if they so desired. Some comments were received and considered in the housing and community development needs identified from that meeting.

The 1990 census population for Rapid City is fifty four thousand five hundred twenty three (54,523). This number is projected to increase by two percent (2%) annually through the year 1999. Pennington County, in which Rapid City is the largest city, was one of the fastest growing counties in the 1980's. Pennington County had a total population growth of 15.6% of which 11.9% was within Rapid City. Building permit activity for both Rapid City and Pennington County during the past four (4) years shows this growth rate continuing.

Almost three quarters (3/4) of the households at or below thirty percent (30%) of median income, both renters and owners indicate some sort of housing problems. The data reflect that all households are affected regardless of whether the members are elderly, families, renters or owners, although the renter households are more greatly affected than owners.

The needs section of the plan outlines the extent of need by various groups for housing and the problems with community development that need to be addressed.

Housing

It is significant to note, the majority of the housing problems identified by most household categories can be traced to affordability problems. For example, fifty seven percent (57%) of all elderly and one and two member renter households identify housing affordability as a housing problem. As we look at the extremely low-income family, those under thirty percent (30%) of median family income, you can identify housing problems as affordability since the percentages are almost identical in all categories. Large related renter households have consistently identified housing problems other than cost burden related problems. It is important to note that although the large related renters is a small population overall, half the population identifies housing problems.

Due to the incidence of families which are cost burdened or severely cost burdened, there continues to be a need for rental assistance for low-income Rapid City Residents. More and more would-be first-time homebuyers are missing the opportunity to own their own home due to the limited number of existing homes listed for sale in the community. Related to the need for additional housing units for young first time homebuyers is the need for funds to enable elderly homeowners to rehabilitate their homes to bring them into compliance with existing codes. There is a need for accessible units, both for rent and purchase, for families and individuals with disabilities who do not require supportive housing.

Public Housing

The Pennington County Housing & Redevelopment Commission (PCHRC) maintains open sign-up on waiting lists for all bedroom sizes. Presently there are one thousand seven hundred sixteen (1 716) people on the PCHRC waiting list. The waiting list for specific bedroom sizes of public housing are as follows: 0-1 bedroom = 213; 2-bedroom = 164; 3-bedroom 53; 4-bedroom = 5; and, there are a total of 1,281 people currently on the waiting list for Section 8 units.

Supportive Housing

Many people in Rapid City require supportive services to allow them to remain in their homes. Included in this group of people who need supportive housing are the elderly, the frail elderly, persons with disabilities, persons with alcohol or other drug addiction, and persons diagnosed with AIDS and related diseases.

Homeless

The 1990 Shelter and Street Night Count is fairly representative of the numbers of homeless people served by the shelters in the Rapid City community. The Community Care Center houses a homeless shelter that provides dormitory rooms for homeless men and women. Another area of concern are the near homeless persons who reside in motel units rented by the week.

Based on information supplied by the homeless mission, it appears that the largest percentage of homeless adults in the community are Native Americans. Using statistics maintained by the homeless shelter, the following is a breakdown by sex and race of persons utilizing that facility:

Males:                        46%
Females:                      26%
Families including Children:  27%
Caucasian:                    33%
Native American:              66%
Hispanic:                      1%

Lead Base Paint Hazards

Environmental concerns such as lead-based paint also have an impact on the condition of the City's housing. Since the city and state do not have a mandatory requirement for screening with a blood lead test, the amount of information available related to poisoning from lead-based paint in South Dakota is limited. The State Department of Health has, however, undertaken a screening project of four hundred (400) children in the State on its own. Private physicians across the state have also utilized blood testing on a limited basis.

Based upon the information gathered for the screening and those cases voluntarily provided to the State Department of Health from private physicians' screenings, approximately twenty to thirty (20-30) children per year are provided consultation and technical assistance. This represents those children whose blood lead level is at or above fifteen (1 5) micrograms per decaliter. The most common source of exposure for those children with identified blood levels of twenty (20) micrograms per decaliter is a combination of ingestion of paint chips or inhalation of lead dust from recent remodeling or renovation projects.

Although the exact number of houses containing hazardous lead-based paint is not available, the number of houses which are at highest risk for lead-based paint hazards can be estimated using industry standards. Based on the number of low-income and other moderate-income renter and owner occupied units and the year in which they were built, it is estimated that there are approximately four thousand four hundred thirty nine (4,439) rental units and four thousand three hundred fifty eight (4,358) owner occupied units which are at-risk of containing lead-based paint hazards and are occupied by moderate-income families or individuals. It is important to note that the presence of lead-based paint alone does not indicate the extent of exposure hazards.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for the City of Rapid City is the vehicle to provide affordable housing opportunities; to strengthen community infrastructure; to foster community development activities; to provide financial assistance to nonprofits for the provision of direct services; and to provide economic development activities that create job opportunities.

Priority Non-Housing Community Development Objectives

• Continued funding for senior centers, neighborhood facilities, parks and recreational facilities.

• Infrastructure improvements are handled with a number of various funds that have been instituted by Rapid City. A number of public service organizations assist in providing direct services to low income residents, e.g., advocacy and transportation for the disabled, fair housing activities, counseling services and youth programs.

• Making facilities accessible to the disabled.

• Historic preservation of public and private structures.

• Economic Development: The Economic Development Partnership works with existing and new businesses bringing jobs into the community. A revolving loan fund is available to provide loans for capital needs of new businesses coming into Rapid City and existing businesses desiring to expand their operations. One component not being met by the Economic Development Partnership is financing or funding for micro-enterprises. Funding for micro-enterprises will need to be addressed by some other funding source. Technical assistance for economic development is provided by the Small Business Development Office.

Priority Housing and Homeless Objectives

• Increase the supply of rental housing through construction of new units, both affordable and open market.

• Provide housing opportunities to low and middle income homebuyers.

• Rehabilitation assistance to the extremely low income, low income and moderate income homeowners.

• Increase the number of affordable rental units through the use of Section 8 certificates and vouchers.

• Continuation of services provided to the homeless by the Community Care Center and the existing emergency shelters.

The action plan lays out the proposed uses of the CDBG funds, funds recaptured through program income and HOME funds received from the State. There are 19 projects listed which are shown on the map.

                LISTING OF PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR 1995

Project Title and Description          Location             $ Amount

1. Development for the Disabled        City wide            $150,000
-site acquisition and infrastructure
extensions to 36 units of affordable
housing

2. Land acquisition                    City wide              60,000
-acquire 5 lots to build new homes

3. Housing rehabilitation              City wide             183,000
-rehab 26 single family owner homes

4. Regional food bank                  1844 Lombardy          35,000
-construction funds for walk-in 
freezer

5. Kitchen expansion                   612 Crazy Horse        61,746
-kitchen addition to existing 
facility

6. Little league renovations           CT 104                  5,800
-renovate ball fields

7. Public facilities                   CT 103                 50,000
-install automatic irrigation system
for College Park

8. Public improvements                 716 Wambli             25,000
-rebuild access easement

9. Career Learning Center              814 N. Maple           84,320
-install new HVAC system

10. Black Hills Legal Services         City wide              10,500
-staff costs for legal services to
low income residents

11. Court Appointed Special            City wide              16,000
Advocate
-staff costs for supervision

12. Church response                    City wide              10,000
-housing assistance

13. Pot of Gold                        City wide               6,000
-fund staff for Protective Payee 
Program

14. Salvation Army                     City wide               9,000
-housing assistance

15. Western Resources for dis-ABLED    City wide               6,000
-fund a staff position

16. Western Resources for dis-ABLED    City wide               1,000
-transportation services

17. Women Against Violence, Inc.       City wide               6,000
-fund a staff position

18. Youth & Family Services            City wide              13,440
-staff costs, stipends for interns

19. YFS/Counseling                     City wide              15,000
-counseling services

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 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 depicts Neighborhood Segments and proposed HUD funded projects.

Ms. Bonnie Hughes
Director, Community Development
300 6th Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
Phone: (605) 394-4181
(605) 394-6636