Murfreesboro is located in the center of Tennessee, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. The city and surrounding Rutherford County are among the fastest growing areas in the State. During the 1980s, the city's population increased by 41 percent to 44,922. The county grew at the same rate to a population of 118,570. Housing units have increased even faster, increasing by more than 50 percent in both the city and the county overall.
Murfreesboro expects to receive a $619,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that will be used for housing rehabilitation, first-time homebuyer assistance, expansion of the senior citizens center, street improvements, fair housing, and public information. In addition, Murfreesboro hopes to obtain $500,000 in Home Investment Partnership funds (HOME) through the State of Tennessee. Application has been made for a $67,500 Emergency Shelter Grant and a $614,333 Supportive Housing Grant.
Two task forces were appointed by the city of Murfreesboro to seek solutions to social problems—one on youth and problems of crime, violence, and drug abuse, and one on homelessness. A meeting was held with major care providers, which identified a number of needs, including affordable child care, permanent housing as well as temporary shelter for homeless people, and transportation for seniors and persons with disabilities.
A public hearing was held to get input on the plan. Most of those present were concerned about the Church Street improvement project and its progress. There was also concern about downpayment assistance to first-time homebuyers and facilities for seniors. Seven organizations were represented, mostly local nonprofit agencies.
MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction.
Rutherford County has numerous large corporate employers, including Nissan Motor with 5,800 employees and Bridgestone/Firestone with 1,800 employees. The unemployment rate in the county is 2.7 percent, compared to the national rate of 6.2 percent and a State rate of 4.5 percent.
In the State of Tennessee, 12.4 percent of families are under the poverty threshold. Only 7.6 percent of the families of Rutherford County are considered to be in poverty; in Murfreesboro, 9.9 percent of families are in poverty.
Maps provided with the Consolidated Plan indicate the main concentration of African Americans is located in central Murfreesboro.
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.
As noted above, the number of housing units in Murfreesboro is increasing rapidly, to the point that there is a shortage of construction labor. New home construction costs have increased to as much as $70 per square foot.
The expected population growth and strong economy, given current household sizes, indicate the need for an additional 508 units of housing in the next year. There were 649 building permits issued in 1994 in Murfreesboro.
The "hot" housing market is making existing homes available to moderate-income families as higher income families move up. The average cost of a new home is $80,000.
Low-income families have difficulty paying the high housing prices in Murfreesboro.
Almost half of the 17,030 households in Murfreesboro rent. Of these, more than one out of six face the most acute housing needs. They are considered extremely low income by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development standards, since their incomes are below 31 percent of the median for the city. They are also considered extremely cost burdened, since they pay more than half their income for housing.
About 3 percent of homeowners face the same economic need and cost burdens.
In December of 1993, Murfreesboro assembled its task force on homelessness, which included groups providing care to the homeless, members of the public, and city representatives. The task force surveyed homeless needs, determined that a new shelter is needed, and is now seeking a site and funding for it.
The survey found that, over three months, about 1,200 homeless persons were assisted in some way, with one-fourth of those receiving shelter.
The survey was made during the summer when one shelter, Room-in-the-Inn, is closed. It houses as many as 35 people on some nights. The only year-round shelter, run by the Salvation Army, has a typical occupancy of 24 persons per night.
The Domestic Violence Center in Murfreesboro has room for 26 persons. It averages 15 to 18 people a night, but sometimes is filled to capacity.
A prior survey had indicated a need for about 125 single-room occupancy units. It is thought that the need has increased to 150 units.
No information is available on ethnicity or race of homeless persons, or on whether homeless persons come from rural or urban areas.
During the first five months of 1995, about 50 persons per month received assistance from Community Helpers to pay their rent. Otherwise they might have been homeless. About 65 persons per month since last summer have been assisted to move from shelters into permanent housing by the Mid-Cumberland Community Action Agency.
The Murfreesboro Housing Authority owns and manages 350 units of public housing, for which there is a waiting list of 700 households. In addition, the Authority assists 573 households with tenant-based assistance through the Section 8 program. These tenants must locate a landlord who will participate in the program and accept the federally designated Fair Market Rent. The waiting list for this program has 1,400 families, and has been closed because no increase in assistance is expected.
Housing that is subsidized for the benefit of low-income people is also provided in several complexes owned and managed by private owners, either for profit or nonprofit, with a total of almost 500 units. Of these, 230 are specifically for seniors or for persons with disabilities. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency makes about 100 units of Section 8 housing available in the city.
Housing costs, for both sales and rental, have risen rapidly in Murfreesboro. The city does not believe there are any local laws that create barriers to affordable housing.
Fair housing counseling will be available to all citizens of Murfreesboro.
The Tennessee Department of Public Health tracks cases of elevated blood-lead levels in children, and found none in Murfreesboro last year.
Some subsidized housing for seniors is available. Some "assisted living" housing is available, but no housing is designed to provide independent living to the frail elderly. The Housing Authority has 14 units that are fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities, and other units that can be made accessible if necessary.
No housing is available for persons who are HIV positive or have AIDS. Since 1982 58 cases of AIDS have been reported in the county, and 59 persons who are HIV positive have been reported since 1992. The county is not aware of any case of such persons being denied housing because of their condition.
There is a need for supportive housing for outpatients of the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Murfreesboro who have mental illnesses.
Day care and street improvements were identified as community development needs in Murfreesboro.
High priorities have been assigned for housing assistance for low-income renters, elderly renters, low-income homeowners, and the homeless.
To meet the needs of low-income renters, the following activities have been planned:
To meet the needs of elderly renters the city expects to:
For low-income homeowners, Murfreesboro will emphasize rehabilitation assistance. About 32 homes will be rehabilitated.
In addition, funds will be provided to the Salvation Army and the Room-In-The-Inn for emergency shelter programs and for other activities that assist the homeless.
Several kinds of actions have been assigned high priorities for nonhousing community development.
To enhance the quality of life for the elderly, Murfreesboro plans to expand the senior citizens center using CDBG funds, State and local funds, as well as private foundation funds. The construction phase is expected to be completed in 1 year.
Since lack of affordable child care has been identified as a major barrier to getting families off the welfare rolls, the city will be asking the State for assistance in developing a plan for funding an affordable child care center. It will be expecting help from the business and manufacturing community as well. Strategies to address this problem are:
Completion of street improvements on North Church Street is also planned.
The Housing Authority has set in motion a plan to allow families to remain in public housing while saving for future self-sufficiency. The city is working with the local vocational school to help train those who need additional training and job skills, and it is looking into ways of providing affordable child care. The Salvation Army has a child care facility as a part of its new building but has not been able to open the day care because of lack of funding.
Murfreesboro expects to receive $619,000 in CDBG funds from the Federal government. Application has been made for $614,333 from the Supportive Housing Grant program and $67,500 from the Emergency Shelter Grant program. The State of Tennessee receives funds from the Federal HOME program to be used throughout the State; Murfreesboro hopes to obtain $500,000.
The city is also seeking to identify local and private monies to match Federal supportive housing grants. Some activities may be carried out by using creative funding with help from the local banks that want to meet Community Reinvestment Act requirements and from local foundations.
The Community Development Office of the city of Murfreesboro coordinates the implementation of this plan.
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 pojects 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; as well as, provides a table with information about the project(s).
During 1995, Murfreesboro will carry out the following programs with Community Development Block Grant funds:
