Knox County, located in East Tennessee, is the major metropolitan center for the region. It comprises 528 square miles, with a County balance population of 170,570 (including the Township of Farragut). The city of Knoxville (population of 165,121) is located in the middle of the County and is the principal incorporated area. The residents' preference for lower density living in single family subdivisions has created suburban sprawl around the City, especially in West Knox County. However, with its rolling topography, large tracts of agriculturally zoned land, and small, scattered communities throughout the County, Knox County has the small town provincial atmosphere.
For 1995, the County has $1,910,000 in entitlement grants and an estimated $51,000 in program income. Using these funds, Knox County will provide: direct loans and deferred payment loans for housing rehabilitation activities of low -and moderate- income (LMI) homes; construction of sanitary sewer systems in the Mt. Olive and Shipetown areas; acquisition of properties for the homeownership program; public service activities to benefit LMI persons in preparing for homeownership or employment; direct loan assistance to for- profit businesses for equipment or plant expansion which create or retain LMI jobs or job training assistance to help companies expand employment opportunities for LMI persons; and establish a set-aside program for CHDO eligible projects.
Working with the city of Knoxville to gather citizen input, the County used a variety of methods, including: a survey to assess the housing and community development needs and services of low-income (LI) residents; a survey to builders to determine the production level of affordable housing among for-profit developers and to assess what obstacles exist; two sets of five subcommittees to address different areas of housing and the continuum of care, respectively; and public hearings.
Two public hearings (daytime and evening) were held on January 30, 1995.
Publicity for the meetings included: publication of a notice in the Knoxville
News Sentinel; issuance of a press release; posting of flyers, and the mailing
of about 800 invitations. The plan was made available to the public on June 15,
1995 and copies were available at the Lawson-McGhee branch library and The
Development Corporation's office. A notice providing a summary of the plan,
locations of copies, and public hearing information was published in the
Knoxville News-Sentinel. The County held its public hearing on July 5, 1995 and
a neighborhood meeting was held July 11, 1995 in the Mt. Olive neighborhood.
Knox County has a County balance population of 170,570. The principal
incorporated area of the County, the city of Knoxville, has a population of
$165,121. The County experienced a slowdown in population growth from 15
percent in the 1970's to 5 percent in the 1980's. In the last decade, the
growth only occurred in the County balance with a 18 percent increase in
population. Racial/ethnic diversity expanded 66.6 percent during the 1980's
with greater identification of Asian Hispanic, Native American, and other
racial/ethnic groups. These groups claimed 1.4 percent share of the population
in 1990 as compared to .9 percent in 1980. The Black population grew by 50
percent but still comprises only 3.4 percent of the population as compared to
10.5 percent of the total County population. The majority of Blacks continue to
live within the City limits.
The lack of basic public facilities or declining public facilities are highly correlated to concentrations of substandard housing and LI populations. Although statistics are not available to support high unemployment rates at the neighborhood level, it can be inferred that the rates in Knox County's deteriorating neighborhoods would be higher than for the County as a whole.
While the greatest need for housing assistance lies with extremely low (0-30%) and very low (31-50%) income households, the following housing assistance needs exist: affordable rental housing; rental assistance to reduce high cost burden; housing rehabilitation for substandard rental stock; housing rehabilitation for homeowners; affordable housing for purchase; and home purchase assistance.
Knox County residents overwhelmingly own their homes. According to the 1990 Census, the County balance has 6,129 year round housing units. Of those units, only 1,189 (19.6%) were available to renters. Yet despite this disparity in owners to renters, LI renters as a group experienced a higher incidence of housing problems. That data also indicate a 7.8 percent vacancy rate for renter-occupied units and a 1.5 percent vacancy rate for owner-occupied units.
According to the 1990 census data, there were approximately 8,780 substandard units in Knox County with an estimated 1,211 units being suitable for rehabilitation. In 1993, the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) found approximately 9,000 substandard units. Approximately 80 percent of the County's substandard housing is located in the North, Northeast, East and South sectors.
The 1990 Census reported that the County residents have a median income of $30,477. Twenty eight percent of the County residents have incomes below 80 percent of the MFI for the County, indicating that nearly one-third of residents in the County balance are eligible for some sort of housing assistance according to HUD guidelines. HUD estimates that in 1995, 80 percent of the MFI for a four person family in Knox County is $28,300. Although housing costs vary depending on location, the median sales price in Knox County in 1993 was $85,000. Therefore, without some type of assistance, homeownership is out of reach for many LI families.
There are 12,875 renter households in the County and 14,317 rental units indicating a surplus of units and a vacancy rate of 7.8 percent. The MPC estimates that approximately 13 percent of the rental units are substandard and 84 percent of these units were affordable to households at 80 percent of the MFI. However, 64 percent of LI renter households have income less than 50 percent of the MFI and only 43 percent of all rental units are affordable for this income group.
From a February 1994 survey, it is estimated that there were 1,200 persons who were homeless during the survey month. There is a need for an electronic network for the centralization of intake, assessment, and services among agencies. More supportive services for emergency shelters and transitional housing programs have been identified as a major need. Other needs identified include: long-term case management and long-term support services for permanent housing residents; more funding for homeless prevention activities and family support centers; and more emergency shelter beds.
Knox County has a total of 197 public housing units available in two facilities: Virginia Walker Apartments and Bakertown Apartments. Both are under the jurisdiction of the Knox County Housing Authority (KCHA). The County has a total of 449, privately owned, Section 8 units. Two or more bedrooms constitute the greatest need for assisted housing within the County. Because the waiting list was closed until May 15, 1995, the public housing waiting list for the County is rather small. The Section 8 waiting list has been closed since August 1995 and is expected to reopen the summer of 1995.
From a MPC survey to builders on the Knoxville Homebuilders Association's mailing list, the following barriers were identified: none of the builders had any plans to build homes valued less than $50,000; none of the builders had any plans to build low-rent multifamily units; HUD regulations; lack of income and decent and affordable units; inability to save up for a down payment; location; and red tape. Other factors identified were: the lack of land suitably zoned for developing affordable units and the Not In My Backyard attitude of property owners toward higher density affordable development.
Knox County, jointly with the city of Knoxville, completed an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Study in 1992. The primary recommendation coming out of the study was to focus on activities that increase general awareness of impediments to fair housing choice and educational opportunities for the actors (realtors, landlords, lenders, and the public) involved in the process.
Based on information obtained from the Tennessee Department of Health, three children (one from the County) were found to be in the high risk range out of a total of 459 Knoxville/Knox County area children screened for blood lead content during 1994. However, based on calculations and estimates using a lead-based paint worksheet for determining the number of homes at high risk for lead-based paint hazards, approximately 16,315 or 24.3 percent of the total County housing stock could potentially have such a problem.
Supportive services tied to affordable housing is needed for all of the special needs populations. Access to transportation and housing for HIV or AIDS patients in rural areas have been identified as issues to be considered.
Knox County has identified the following community development needs: quality affordable housing, primarily in target neighborhoods; essential public facilities in LI neighborhoods; job training programs focused on 21st century technologies; adult education and vocational training; self-sufficiency programs; affordable child care; and emergency assistance for at- risk families.
The Consolidated plan was coordinated by The Development Corporation of Knox
County (TDC). The gathering of citizen's input and vital information was done
in cooperation with the city of Knoxville's Department of Community Development,
the KCHA, and the MPC. The Knoxville-Knox County Homeless Coalition was
instrumental in examining needs and assessing priorities for the continuum of
care components. In addition, citizens and representatives of several non-profit
organizations assisted in the plan's development.
Knox County's vision for change includes providing and upgrading basic facilities, primarily in LI communities; providing affordable and standard housing; and providing economic development and self-sufficiency activities which combat poverty.
Knox County's housing priorities are geared to providing affordable and standard housing. The County's community development objectives and priorities are built around a framework of revitalizing LMI neighborhoods with the following types of activities: public health and safety, elimination of blight, economic development, public recreation, and public and social services.
High housing priorities of the plan include: providing units for non-elderly households with incomes below 50 percent MFI and cost burdensgreater than 30 percent; providing safe and standard housing for all residents, primarily those with incomes below 80 percent MFI and renters; assisting owners with incomes below 50 percent MFI experiencing cost burden greater than 30 percent; and provide housing for the homeless.
High non-housing priorities for the County include: neighborhood facilities; flood drain and sewer improvements; street improvements; employment training; and planning.
Knox County's anti-poverty strategy involves a variety of programs and services to meet the diverse needs of financially distressed households. These include the provision of: job training and employment assistance, emergency assistance, housing assistance, and child care assistance. Established working relationships among existing public, private, and non-profit agencies should adequately assist the County with its efforts.
In Knox County, a variety of Federal, State, local, and private funding is available to assist with housing and community development needs. Key HUD funding includes CDBG and HOME funds. In cooperation with the City and Knox Housing Partnership, there is the HOPE 3 program. The County receives from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency funds through the CHDO Set-aside and Housing Opportunities Using State Encouragement programs. Local general funds and funding through for-profit and non-profit organizations are available.
Coordination of the strategic plan will be done by TDC. In addition, TDC, in
conjunction with the city of Knoxville's Department of Community Development,
will enhance coordination efforts among public and assisted housing providers
and private and governmental agencies in carrying out the plan.
A total of $1,961,000 (CDBG, Program Income, and HOME) is available for Knox County's Consolidated Plan. Key projects include the following:
Housing programs and other programs that are income based will be available throughout the County. Neighborhood based activities will be targeted to current and potentially eligible NRA's.
TDC will be the lead agency for implementing the Consolidated Plan for Knox County. Key non-profit organizations which will cooperate with TDC include: KHP, KCHA, and the CAC.
The County will: provide minor home repair to 70 households; rehab or construct 5 houses through the CHDO set-aside program; acquire 3 properties for homeownership purposes; and assist 50 LMI households with housing rehabilitation.
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 points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within one section of the county.
MAP 7 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within one section of the county.
TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).
Russell Newman, Deputy Director
The Development Corporation of Knox County
706 Walnut Street, Suite 700
Knoxville, TN 37902
PH: (423) 546-5887
FAX: (423) 546-6170
