The City of Corpus Christi, a coastal community, is located 150 miles north of the southern most tip of Texas on the Gulf of Mexico. It is commonly known as the "Sparkling City by the Sea." The City, established in 1852, has approximately 125 square miles of land area and 327 square miles of water area with a geographic extension of 31 miles east and west and extending approximately 15 miles to the north and south. The primary industry is oil-related with tourism and retail trade as a second industry. Corpus Christi is located 143 miles southeast of San Antonio.
The City of Corpus Christi Consolidated Plan represents a five-year strategy to achieve the goals for housing and community development. The one-year Action Plan describes the activities and projects to be assisted with approximately $7.76 million of Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), program income, and Emergency Shelter Grants Program (ESG) funds in 1995. These funds will be used primarily on housing, infrastructure, neighborhood facilities and economic development.
The City of Corpus Christi Housing & Community Development Department is responsible for the development of the Consolidated Plan. The department is the agency that administers HUD's Community Planning & Development programs for the City of Corpus Christi. The City adopted its updated Citizens Participation Plan (CPP) on January 10, 1995 requiring greater participation by citizens and service providers. Therefore, the Consolidated Plan needs assessment started by consulting with over sixty social service agencies and nonprofit organizations to identify the housing and community development needs of program eligible neighborhoods. Most of these organizations represented many interests ranging from housing for people with disabilities to promoting economic development and tourism. Additionally, the department met with the Emergency Aid Coalition, a group of agencies whose primary concerns are the needs of homeless individuals and families.
The department held seven (7) neighborhood meetings to solicit the
participation of low- income residents. Three of these meetings were held in
housing projects to target public housing residents. Scheduled meetings were
published in the local newspaper and mailed to nonprofit organizations. The
first public hearing was held on April 12, 1995 before the City's Planning
Commission. The Second public hearing was held before the City Council on April
25, 1995 with subsequent adoption of the Plan on May 16, 1995.
The City of Corpus Christi is the eighth largest city in Texas, located on the Gulf of Mexico. The local economy is fairly diversified through industries that include petrochemical, tourism, healthcare, retail, education, shipping, and agriculture. According to the 1990 census, the City of Corpus Christi has a population of 257,453 (43.8% White, 4.5% Black, 50.4% Hispanic and 1.3% Native American).
The median family income is $29,855 and the median household income is
$25,773. Based on the 1990 Census, about one-fifth (51,491 persons) of the
City's population is considered in poverty.
Corpus Christi has been a focal point for the marketing, processing, packaging and distribution of agricultural commodities for a twelve-county trade area for many years. Although the city' unemployment rate(8%) is higher than the state's average unemployment rate (5%), the Corpus Christi workforce has increased since its 10-year low in 1989. Favorable growth indicators included sales tax collections, Industrial District payments, increased commercial permits, increased new home construction.
The Consolidated Plan identified the following housing needs: affordability of housing and rehabilitating existing housing stock. Rental assistance is needed to reduce cost burdens to address affordable housing needs. Funds are needed to help low-income persons maintain and repair homes that will address the quality and condition of local housing needs. Continuum of Care for the homeless is another high priority need that includes housing, food, shelter and referral needs.
Large families have the greatest housing needs of low-income owner households (incomes 50% or less) followed by minority households, small families and the elderly. Among renter households, large families in the 50% or less income category have the greatest need with minority households following closely by young families earning minimum wage.
According to the 1990 Census, the City Corpus Christi had 89,468 housing units, 90% of which were occupied. In June of 1995, the vacancy rate was only 3%. There are 71,395 single family units and 28,810 multi-family units. Home ownership opportunity for extremely low-income families is highly restrictive. Permits issued for residential construction increased 51.6 % from 1994, indicating housing growth.
The private housing market is meeting the demand for newly constructed housing at an average price of $80,000. This is beyond reach for low income families. Most of the single-family housing constructed recently is above the price range of the low-income households. The lack of construction of multi-family units will likely cause the rents to rise.
Most elderly and small family households, and most people in poverty pose a serious challenge to the current resources available to provide affordable housing opportunities.
The north central area of the city is continuing to deteriorate by the loss of both population and slum and blight created by the high concentration of vacant buildings in this area of the city. Vacant buildings also foster crime, particularly drug activity.
Both renter and owner households eligible for housing assistance living on extremely low to moderate incomes had excessive degrees of housing problems and cost burden. Based on the 1990 Census, the city had a total 20,320 renter-occupied households and 15,045 owner- occupied households with incomes of zero to $22,799 (80% HAMFI). Overall, based on averages, 70% of renter-occupied households had housing problems, while 78% owner- occupied had housing problems; 63% of renter-occupied households had a 30% cost burden, while 45% owner-occupied households had 30% cost burden; 29.4% renter-occupied households had a 50% cost burden; and, 24% of the owner-occupied households had a 50% cost burden. These households represent 40% of the city's total number of households.
The availability of affordable housing for purchase by extremely low-income families is highly restrictive with only 148 one to three bedroom units available for sale. This figure increased to 318 vacant units and 899 vacant units affordable to low and moderate income groups, respectively.
The elderly population group 65 and over presented a greater need for supportive housing.
There are six facilities that provided a total of 450 beds to serve the homeless. Single room occupancy structures are needed to meet the increasing number of homeless in the city, particularly for single men and persons with mental disabilities.
The supportive housing available for people with mental disabilities, alcohol and drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS is not sufficient to meet the needs of the community
Local social service agencies must work together to provide the linkage necessary to provide a continuum of care system that integrates social, educational, job training, health, and food and welfare assistance programs to assist persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
The Corpus Christi Housing Authority manages 2,016 units located in 15 different locations. These units are part of HUD's Comprehensive Grant Program. There are approximately 753 families on the PHA's waiting list with an average waiting period of 18 months; the authority maintains a 3% vacancy rate. Public housing developments represent 75% or a total of 2705 units. Of the authority's housing development 2% are efficiency units, 18% one-bedroom units, 33% two-bedroom units, 19% three-bedroom units, and 3% four-bedroom units. The remaining 25% of the PHA's units are part of the Section 8 housing which has a 95% occupancy rate or the Target Independence Program. The section 8 waiting list comprises approximately 1,500 families who meet the federal preference guidelines for admission. Target Independence consists of transitioning residents into home ownership. Some 6 families have made the transition thus far.
Other Assisted Housing is provided through Section 202 that provides 410 units to the elderly. Additionally, 21 units are available through Section 811. Of these, 405 are one-bedroom units and 26 are two-bedroom units. Under Section 221(d)(3) the City has 534 units with an average vacancy rate of 2.4%.
Service providers for special needs populations indicated following needs:
Affordable housing is the most critical housing need locally due the high degree of poverty and private housing market conditions that do not support the construction of affordable housing. Other barriers include slow development of nonprofit housing organizations to fill the gap that exists. Existing affordable housing is often substandard as shown by the housing census data in the housing needs assessment section of the plan.
The City of Corpus Christi completed a Fair Housing Assessment in November 1993. Among the recommendations and conclusions of this study were the need to establish a fair housing education program to address issues such as rights and responsibilities of those in the public and groups responsible for providing housing through assisted means or in the private market. The need to encourage and support nonprofits to become knowledgeable in the provision of affordable housing was also recommended.
Concern with lead-based paint contamination in Corpus Christi is high due to its large percentage of old housing stock. Of the total 74,071 housing units built locally before 1979, 59,869 or 59.7% are estimated to have lead-based paint. Since the banning of lead-based paint in 1978, Corpus Christians have a way of determining when to consider lead a potential hazard. However the primary concern is in the central area of the city based on 1990 census that shows from 50% to 64% and from 65% to 80% of the housing stock has lead-based paint.
SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATIONS IN NEED OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE:
Mentally Ill: The demand for housing for the mentally ill who are homeless and for those being discharged from the hospitals and community centers continues to increase in Corpus Christi. These individuals are in genuine need of long-term care. It is imperative that this long-term care be provided in a setting where the community service providers can extend the help they are empowered to provide.
Alcohol/Drug Abuse: Out of the total number of persons that met the disability criteria for the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, about 110 or 7% of the clients had an alcohol or substance abuse problem. This compares to information gathered from the smaller shelters in the city where it was indicated that about 50% of the homeless experienced the same problem.
HIV/AIDS Disease: The HIV/AIDS Housing Center ("the Passage") operates a seven-bed state licensed facility, which provides for individuals in the final stages of the disease. The seven-bed capacity compares to the 258 confirmed cases of AIDS in Nueces County since 1984, 58 of which were identified in 1992 as compared to 4 confirmed cases in 1984.
POPULATIONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS - OTHER THAN HOMELESS
Need for Supportive Services: The provision of supportive services is the essential link leading to success in a continuum of care that serves to mitigate the perpetuation of homelessness. Currently most if not all homeless shelter facilities provide a variety of supportive services including job counseling and referral, health care, child care, child abuse prevention, alcohol and drug abuse intervention, food subsistence and clothing. A coordinated effort to assist persons who are homeless or threatened with homelessness is the goal of a continuum of care strategy. An integrated network of social, educational, job training, health, child care, transportation, and food/welfare assistance programs must be developed in order help individuals transition from homelessness or being at risk of homelessness to self-sufficiency and permanent housing.
The ability of a family to purchase and maintain a house depends on the family's ability to afford it. Housing may be available to different populations with special needs throughout the city, but if other variables such as a good job and secure employment do not parallel the need for housing then the available housing is not one that can be afforded. Consequently, housing is difficult to sustain. Because of this frequently occurring scenario, rental housing strategies for these population groups have become an important issue in Corpus Christi. It is the City's intent to promote the creation of rental units by working with the private sector and local nonprofit agencies. The City sees itself as a resource and capacity builder for nonprofit agencies, to help link them with financial institutions to increase affordable single and multi- family housing.
Data provided by various agencies dealing with the physically and mentally impaired, indicated that there are a significantly high number of persons with special needs. These groups, which include the elderly, persons with AIDS, and the impoverished indigent, are in need of supportive housing. Providing affordable housing to these population groups will enable them to become capable of independent living. The promotion and protection of housing that foster independent living serves the individual best and are the least costly of alternatives. Trends established from 1990 Census data and other information provided indicated that the elderly, frail elderly, the physically and mentally impaired, persons with HIV/AIDS, and the indigent will continue to increase significantly. The continued increase in the number of persons within these population groups places a considerable burden on the city to address the affordable housing issues.
Community development needs include expanding economic opportunities for persons of low and moderate income, provide needed services to low income residents that are not currently available, and provide appropriate streets and drainage, public facilities, recreational opportunities, neighborhood preservation and revitalization and economic development.
Considerable networking and enhanced coordination have developed due to the
participation of public, private and governmental housing and service providers
in the development of the City of Corpus Christi CHAS and Fair Housing
Assessment. The Department of Housing and Community Development will be
participating with the PHA to expand home ownership opportunities for public
housing residents through the PHA's Target Independence Program. Additionally,
the City of Corpus Christi is currently working with various nonprofit housing
and service providers interested in becoming CHDO's to further expand housing
opportunities and services in the city.
Improving and enhancing the quality of life of citizens of Corpus Christi with primary emphasis on the lives of low and moderate income families and individuals residing in designated areas throughout the city.
Housing objectives and priorities are to address housing problems related to low and moderate income, the lack of housing, and the aging housing stock. Community development objectives are to revitalize neighborhoods, remove blight and provide economic development opportunities for low and moderate income citizens.
Priorities for affordable housing included preserving and rehabilitating existing housing, developing affordable home ownership opportunities for low and moderate income individuals, providing for the acquisition and rehabilitation of rental housing to protect existing housing stock.
Priorities for the homeless include improving the continuum of care system that provides self-sufficiency- supportive services from the preventive stage to permanent housing and building the capacity of local nonprofits, boards, coalitions, task forces, community organizations and programs that help meet affordable housing needs of the homeless and low income people to prevent homelessness.
Other special needs include providing housing and supportive services to persons at risk of becoming homeless including the elderly and frail elderly, persons with disabilities, persons with alcohol or other drug addiction, persons with HIV/AIDS and their families, unwed teenage mothers and public housing residents.
Non-housing community development priorities include expanding economic opportunities for persons of low and moderate income, identification of properties that are deteriorating and violating city codes, providing needed services that are not currently available, providing assistance for improved streets and drainage, attracting businesses for economic development, and creating job opportunities for low and moderate income individuals.
The City of Corpus Christi anticipates implementation of the following actions in an attempt to increase the number of projects designated to assist persons below the poverty level.
In the City of Corpus Christi, various Federal, State local and private programs provide services to the community. The primary HUD resources include CDBG, HOME, Section I, public housing, ESG, and the supportive housing programs.
The Department of Housing and Community Development developed the FY 95
Consolidated Plan by coordinating several planning processes used previously
that incorporated considerable community involvement. The Consolidated Plan
drew heavily from the recent application to HUD for Enterprise Community
designation, the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS), the City
of Corpus Christi Fair Housing Assessment and documents provided by the Corpus
Christi Housing Authority. Furthermore, the department conducted a community
involvement process designed specifically for this plan, thus incorporating a
several levels of citizen participation to pinpoint current needs.
The City of Corpus Christi One-Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of approximately $7.8 million in CDBG, HOME, and Emergency Shelter Grants funds, including program income. These funds will be spent mainly on a variety of activities, including:
Most of the projects in the One-Year Plan are dedicated to targeted residential areas, which are CDBG eligible areas. In addition, HOME funds are allocated to a nonprofit Community Housing Development Corporation.
The City of Corpus Christi Department of Housing and Community Development is the lead agency responsible for the Consolidated Plan.
Highlights of the City of Corpus Christ's housing goals for the first year included increasing the supply of affordable housing for 404 households through rehabilitation, acquisition, and new construction; providing rental assistance for 62 households; creating supportive housing for 90 homeless households and preventing homelessness among those at-risk.
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.
TABLE (without associated map) provides information about the project(s).
Ms. Joann Dominguez
Grants Administrator
(512) 880-3034
