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


Consolidated Plan Contact

CITIZEN'S SUMMARY

The City of Killeen, Texas is a unique community in the sense that it evolved from a small farming community in the early 1940's to a rapidly growing and dynamic community in a relatively short time span. Killeen, for most of its history, was a small ranching community built on a railhead at the northern edge of the scenic Texas Hill Country. The terrain, resembling that of Germany and France, proved to be ideal training ground for tanks and troops. This ideal situation lead to the establishment of Camp Hood in 1942. Today, the four adjoining communities of Killeen, Harker Heights, Fort Hood, and Copperas Cove are the primary centers of growth of the 245,000 person Killeen metropolitan statistical area. Located midway between Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston, the greater Killeen area has been the fastest growing segment of the I-35 Texas technology corridor. Low taxes, low cost of living, excellent schools, regional medical facilities, shopping, mild climate, area lakes, and recreational facilities have each played positive roles in the rapid growth of this area.

The Consolidated Plan is designed to address as many needs as were identified by community input during the planning process and at the same time maximize the benefit of CDBG funding resources to achieve a desired level of service. The City hopes to continue increasing its involvement with economic development issues, broaden its planning and program focus and at the same time strengthen its accountability as lead agency.

Action Plan

During fiscal year 1995-1996, the City of Killeen proposes to spend $1,191,604 in CDBG entitlement funds ($1,084,000 for the 1995-1996 allocation, $59,604 in re-programmable funds, and $48,000 from program income). The $1,084,000 allocation for FY 1995-1996 is $28,000 more than the city received last year. The Community Development Advisory Committee met several times and worked very hard during the budget process to determine the needs of each applicant and to make their recommendations to the City Council for final approval.

Citizen Participation

The City of Killeen held a series of neighborhood planning meetings and public hearings during the CDBG budget process to include citizens and other interested groups in the Consolidated Plan planning process. Citizen response was very limited and was geared toward infrastructure issues. The largest response and commentaries have come from the public and social services sector during these meetings and hearings. The annual action plan was based on the services most noted by these agencies.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

According to the 1990 Census, the population for the City of Killeen is 63,535. The median age for the City of Killeen is 25 years. Fifty-one percent of the population is White, 29 percent is Black, 14 percent is of Hispanic origin, .4 percent is American Indian, .5 percent is Asian/Pacific Islander, and .08 percent are classified as other.

Of the 23,308 households in Killeen, 17,643 are family households and 5,665 are non-family households. Income levels of the 23,308 households are comprised of $22,468 being the median household income, $24,304 median family income, $17,543 median non-family income. Of the 17,643 families, 12 percent are below poverty level. Forty-three percent of female householder families are also below poverty level. The following racial/ethnic households reflect very low- and low-income levels: 30 percent of White households; 42 percent of Hispanic origin households; 43 percent Black households; 56 percent of 178 Native American households; and 61 percent Asian/Pacific Islander households.

The highest concentration of Black households is within census tracts 221.02, 223, 226, 227, and 228.01. The highest concentration of Hispanic households is within census tracts 223, 229, and 226. The highest concentration of White households is within census tracts 222 and 230. A high concentration Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian households is not noted. All of these census tracts with the exception of tracts 222 and 230 are eligible to receive CDBG funds. Killeen has 26,439 housing units. Of these housing units, 36 percent are owner-occupied, 51 percent are rental units, and 13 percent are vacant.

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

Housing Needs

Over 8,000 soldiers assigned to Fort Hood qualify for FmHA single family housing and over 2,000 soldiers are earning an income that qualifies them for food stamps. The off-post out of pocket allowable costs are deemed as being too high. These factors show that affordable housing needs are prevalent in the minds of both the Fort Hood and the community. The anticipated increase in the number of housing units to be built in the community will help to offset this need. Fort Hood is currently building a 227-unit housing area comprised of 4- and 5-bedroom units. This housing project should be partially complete by the end of the summer of 1995. It is anticipated that with troop strength remaining relatively the same until the year 2000 and with the anticipated housing growth in the City of Killeen, housing needs will be alleviated.

Housing Market Conditions

Recent housing surveys reflect a demand for affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents in the City of Killeen. Very little affordable rental apartment construction has taken place in the last 10 years. This is due to the over expansion of apartment construction in the early 1980's. Obtaining bank financing for multi-family units has been very hard due to rising interest rates and the individual loan limits of banks. Even with the increase of 143 new multi-family units in the Killeen and surrounding area since the last Census figures, the supply of rental housing has been limited. Construction of new single-family units has been ongoing. Hopefully with the current low interest rates and a relatively secure future of Fort Hood, even these new units will be affordable to low- and moderate-income residents. Construction of housing is expected to increase at a rate of 4 percent annually.

The condition of current housing stock reflects a need for rehabilitation in the low- and moderate-income areas of the city. Older housing stock is in need of repair but could provide affordable housing to low- and moderate-income residents if rehabilitation and revitalization efforts are continued.

With rehabilitation efforts, older housing stock can be made available for persons suffering from disabilities and persons with HIV/AIDS and their families.

Affordable Housing Needs

The City of Killeen reflects a varied need for affordable housing. Providing affordable housing for families with a high cost burden is a problem the city hopes to alleviate by continued support of the rental assistance program. This program has had and will continue to have the greatest impact in providing assistance with cost burden to residents under this category. Most categories under housing needs show a low priority because these problems do not reflect urgency. The highest priority needs under housing are renters/small family costs burdens and owner cost burdens because there is less housing stock available and affordable to these categories of residents. The City of Killeen's current housing stock is compatible to most categories assigned a low priority.

Current Census data shows there is adequate affordable housing available to all categories except for renter/small family/cost burden of more than 30 and 50 percent, owner/cost burden greater than 30 percent, and owner overcrowded under 51-80 percent of median income. A large difference between the number of affordable units available for these categories and the number of households under these categories reflect the priority given each category.

Homeless Needs

According to a recent survey, a high demand for sheltered homeless facilities exists in Killeen. Many public service agencies providing only housing vouchers for a night or two have a great demand for continued services. Persons requiring services of homeless shelters are referred to the Home and Hope Shelter and Care, Inc./Solomon's Porch. Home and Hope has serviced 423 persons within the past two years and a majority of these persons have been families with children. CARE, Inc./Solomon's Porch provides services mainly to single men and women but has limited space for families, having served four families within the past year. The two shelters have reported turning away a great number of persons requiring family assistance. Home and Hope alone has turned away 98 families, which included 153 children, within the past year due a lack of vacancies. The only homeless shelter available for unaccompanied youth serves 14 youth at a time. The occupancy rate is between 95 and 100 percent. This facility provides emergency shelter not to exceed three days. Home and Hope Shelter and CARE, Inc./Solomon's Porch are the facilities providing shelter for adults 18 years of age and older. Home and Hope Shelter has turned away 71 males and 91 females within the last year. CARE, Inc. remains at 100 percent occupancy on all their single-person units and has serviced 20 individuals not in families within the past year.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

The Killeen Housing Authority (KHA) is comprised of two projects containing a total of 145 units. Moss Rose Apartments were constructed in 1952 and is made up of 17 one-bedroom apartments, 36 two-bedroom apartments, 16 three-bedroom apartments, and 6 four-bedroom apartments, for a total of 75 apartments. The Highview Apartments were constructed in 1965 and include 48 one-bedroom apartments, 14 two-bedroom apartments, and 8 three-bedroom apartments, for a total of 70 units.

Through a HUD grant awarded for modernization in 1990, eight existing apartments have been handicap retrofitted. Four of these apartments are located at Moss Rose and four are at Highview. The housing authority is currently looking into the possibility of acquiring an adjoining property and converting it into 2- and 3-bedroom handicap accessible units in the Moss Rose area. The current waiting list is extensive, with 290 families and 76 elderly clients waiting for openings.

Barriers to Affordable Housing

Cost, unavailability, lack of information, and cost of services were deemed the most serious barriers to services experienced by respondents to a needs assessment survey in which housing was a serious perception of need. Agency administrators described a lack of funds and the lack of trained staff as major barriers, while community leaders described a lack of information and unavailability to be the greatest barriers. An unfavorable local issue impacting affordable housing projects is that rental rates in this area are not high enough to make investors a rate of return on their capital and provide debt service for loans. Another issue is the uncertainty over stabilized occupancy, which is defined as the reasonable occupancy of the property over time. Uncertainty over deployments, base downsizing, and closing make it impossible to determine stabilized occupancy.

Local lending institutions are liquid and have the ability to provide funds for short-term viable projects. Local lending institutions have limited ability to provide funds for multi-family long- term projects, due to short term of deposits, credit concentration, and the individual loan limits of banks. Housing funds for owner-occupied properties are available. Presently, some potential owners are being shut out of the market due to rising interest rates. Due to current pay scales, each increase in the interest rate eliminates hundreds from qualifying for a home of their own. Fair Housing

The City of Killeen will continue to affirmatively further and amend any policies regarding fair housing and will conduct an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice within the city. Appropriate actions will be taken to overcome the effects of any obstacles identified through this analysis. Records will be maintained reflecting that study and actions taken in this regard.

Lead Based Paint

The lead-based paint problem is limited to pre-1978 construction, since lead-based paint could no longer be sold in the United States after that time. It is estimated that for the 9,605 units available to low- and very low-income households, approximately 15 percent of these may contain some lead-based paint. The Killeen Housing Authority received grant funds in 1992 to conduct a lead-based paint assessment on both of its projects. The assessment revealed that abatement was necessary. Immediately after the study was completed, lead-based paint abatement was performed at Moss Rose. The housing authority is preparing to complete abatement of lead-based paint at Highview as part of the approved scope of work for the 1994 CIAP.

Coordination

The main goal of public and private housing providers, private and governmental health, mental health, and other service agencies is to provide adequate, affordable, safe, and the most needed services to the persons who need it the most. The clientele being serviced is for the most part very common to all entities. Enhanced coordination between all entities will be accomplished through regular interaction. The Killeen Human Services Network appreciates the large membership of all these agencies and, as the name of the organization implies, a networking process occurs between all agencies involved in assessment of the community's needs. This networking process will be encouraged with continued participation and support of city staff at these meetings.

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN

Vision for Change

The five-year strategy is the most important part of the Consolidated Plan. The development of this Plan is being undertaken without a full and complete knowledge of various programs and funds that are a part of, and extremely relevant to, the completion of any comprehensive approach to eliminating housing and other community related problems. This plan will be amended in future years to more closely resemble the availability of funding and programs directed by the legislature. An important part of any program is to understand the available resources and establish the priorities and needs for expending those resources. The City of Killeen must count on federally funded programs to provide housing and other types of community assistance to its citizens. Our tax base and the general socioeconomic level of the community is such that local dollars are virtually non-existent. Past programs to assist the community have come, for the most part, from housing assistance programs such as Section 8, PHA housing for low-income and elderly persons, and rehabilitation loans and grants for low- income citizens. Emphasis for the use of CDBG dollars has been in targeted areas with the CDBG program national objectives being maintained. The critical part of this plan is to determine where the most urgent needs for assistance are. Available funds will continue to be finite, and must be utilized in a manner to allow the most help for those who need assistance the most. Funding will also be used to implement ideas in providing solutions to our problems rather than simply allowing for a continued worsening of situations.

Housing Priorities

Affordable Housing: The City of Killeen reflects a varied need for affordable housing. Providing affordable housing for families with a high cost burden is a problem the City hopes to alleviate by continued support of the rental assistance programs. The most notable obstacle in providing for under-served needs in this category is that the rental assistance program limits are not aligned with current rental rates. A property owner will most often not rent to a family on rental assistance or ask a family to vacate because they can get a higher rental rate from a non-Section 8 tenant. Another problem existing on the part of the property owner is the limited reimbursement amounts for any damage that has been caused by a tenant to property under this program. Most of the costs to repair damages remain the burden of the property owner.

The City of Killeen has supported and will continue to support the housing assistance programs provided by the Section 8 program. The Central Texas Council of Governments currently administers these programs and the city hopes to continue collaboration efforts with this agency in providing the best assistance possible through needs and information updates and other resources. The older available housing stock is in need of rehabilitation and improvements to keep it accessible to low- and moderate-income residents in the categories listed in the needs section. Funding will be allocated to the city's rehabilitation programs to assist with this issue. Units available to persons requiring rental assistance under the Section 8 programs are not many. Local property owners will need to be encouraged to assist these tenants with a higher rental investment. Production of new units made available to these categories are encouraged through the city's planning process and a higher return of investment for investors will stimulate the building of additional housing units.

Homelessness: The city's homeless needs have been assessed and the results show a high priority for the provision of outreach assessment, emergency shelters, transitional shelters, permanent supportive housing and permanent housing for families with children. The City's four homeless shelters are all located within the eligible CDBG target areas, one being a youth only facility, one assisting victims of domestic violence and assault, and two providing emergency and transitional shelter to homeless families and individuals. Funding is currently in progress for three of these shelters, with next year's funding being allocated to two of these. All shelters have advised they have not been able to service as many families as have requested services. The need for more space under all these categories is a very obvious demand. All three family shelters provide counseling and supportive services. One of the services most requested is outreach assessment, necessary to predetermine reasons for homelessness and methods to prevent this outcome. Self-help initiatives are provided by all three family shelters, with one other public service agency providing a self-help program, which assists these homeless families to take a more personal approach in alleviating their situation.

Nonhousing Community Development Priorities

Public Facilities Needs: Priorities under this category include the need for parking facilities in the downtown business area due to increased activity. The city has purchased properties for construction of needed lots but needs assistance with the construction of parking facilities. Senior centers, neighborhood facilities, child care centers, parks and recreational facilities, and health facilities have been considered a low priority need due to current availability. Youth centers and other public facilities have a medium priority need due to the high youth population in Killeen. The need for a convention center has been expressed and discussed in order to promote convention and tourist appeal. The obstacle in the accomplishment of these priorities is lack of funding. Available activities for the city's young population is limited due to the lack of a youth center specifically for use by this category. Support of the city's Youth Commission to promote these activities is a priority of this jurisdiction. Supporting a project like this would provide a deterrence for criminal activity among the city's younger population. Support of a convention center will create an improvement on the dollars coming in from outside sources. Promoting and providing the use of current facilities available for youth activities and modifying them to more suit the expressed needs of the city's youth is a proposition that could be accomplished during the next five years. A convention center entails the use of greater funding and could be accomplished by soliciting assistance from other sources. Currently a large convention center is located within the area but not within the city limits. Proposals will be considered during the next five years.

Infrastructure Improvements: Solid waste disposal improvements have been considered in the past but seem to require a large amount of funding. Current city practices are considered sufficient but improvements will need to be considered in the future due to the recent closing of the city's landfill. Flood drain, street, and sidewalk improvements are always high priority and are all current and ongoing activities. Asbestos removal is considered a low priority because most buildings have recently been abated. Again, lack of sufficient funding to accomplish these projects seems to be the biggest obstacle, along with responding to unfunded Federal mandates. Seeking and locating the needed funds through different programs available to assist the city with its infrastructure improvements will continue to be a priority. The city proposes to attend to required needs as they arise during the next five years.

Public Service Needs: As mentioned earlier, the City of Killeen has a large youth population and a high priority has been assigned to this particular category. Services needing to be provided to youth as well as to low- and moderate-income residents, such as transportation services, employment training, child care services, and health services, reflect a high priority need. Senior services, handicapped services, substance abuse services, fair housing activities, and tenant/landlord counseling are readily available and reflect a low priority. Crime awareness is listed as having a high priority in the CDBG target areas due to the high element of crime. Lack of funding for public service activities is an ongoing issue. Proposed accomplishments include continued support for and working relationships with agencies that are currently providing all low priority needs to continue funding these activities so they will not become high priority needs in the future. The city encourages collaboration and initiatives between agencies to provide much need youth services, employment training, child care, and health services during the next five years. CDBG and other funding support for the Killeen Citizens on Patrol Program in CDBG target areas and the placement of bicycle patrols specifically for these areas and other community policing programs is hoped to be achieved to deter and alleviate criminal activities in the low- and moderate-income areas of the city.

Anti-Poverty Strategy

Continued Rental and Homeownership Assistance: These programs have and will continue to have the most impact in servicing the housing needs of very low- and low-income residents with a heavy cost burden. The programs are already in place and current funding sources are known. The Central Texas Council of Governments' housing programs provide safe affordable housing to low-income families in the area.

Job Training Opportunities for Low- and Moderate-Income Residents: The continued support of public service agencies such as Project ReSTART and the Killeen H.E.L.P. Center, which provide job training and job preparation services for low- and moderate-income residents, will allow at-risk persons to enhance their quality of life by being able to apply for the higher paying jobs that require specific job skills. The Central Texas Council of Governments works very closely with Killeen to provide job training opportunities through the Job Training Partnership Act. Killeen is beginning to attract high tech industry and has been classified by the Department of Labor as a "surplus labor market" with "underutilized potential." Preparing our labor market with the skills needed to attract these industries will provide job opportunities not only for our low- and moderate-income residents, but for the community as a whole.

Increase Business Opportunities: The city's Commercial Redevelopment program and its Economic Development programs are designed to provide assistance to established and newly formed business enterprises in the area in return for benefits for low- and moderate-income residents. Funding of projects under these two programs must result in an action beneficial to the public and to promote economic growth in the business community. The city has and will continue to participate in the Central Texas Economic Development District's Revolving Loan Fund Program to promote the creation of jobs for low- and moderate-income citizens of Killeen.

Increase Public Awareness of Available Services: Lack of information was considered one of the most serious barriers by residents during a recent survey on public services. The city's goal of increasing public awareness of existing services will allow for more eligible persons to take advantage of services being provided. Use of the local government television channel to advertise services not provided by the city is currently not allowed. A change in regulations will allow public service agencies to promote services provided to low-income residents. A centralized information center, which will be achieved through the One-Stop-Center currently being implemented, will allow for citizens to stop in one area and collect all information on services. The city also uses and will continue to use its lobby area and switchboard facilities to assist the public with referral and information services.

Housing and Community Development Resources

The City of Killeen will assist the Killeen Housing Authority in encouraging resident management participation and Homeownership in several ways. One of the major problems facing the housing authority is that of drug trafficking. City law enforcement officials have agreed to perform a security inspection of housing authority property to identify areas of weaknesses. The police department's Crime Prevention Specialist will visit the housing authority and assist residents in forming a neighborhood watch and foot patrol to police the area. In this way, the tenants are taking control of drug and crime prevention issues themselves. The city will assist the efforts of management plus residents by using CDBG funds to fund crime awareness programs in these areas. The city is eager and willing to meet with housing authority staff and commissioners to discuss the needs of the housing authority and as a result of this cooperative spirit, the housing authority has been selected to pilot a new transportation system being implemented. The transportation program has been designed to assist low-income families by enabling them to gain access to services and goods throughout the city that are not within walking distance. Many residents do not own private vehicles and many of these services can not be taken advantage of due to the lack of a public transportation system and due to the residents inability to pay for taxi cabs or private bus systems.

In addition, the city's Community Development staff is working with the housing authority to form a partnership to address the housing needs of the community. The city has several liens on properties due to unpaid services. The city administration is willing to seize such properties and sell them in accordance with Federal and State regulations. Many of these properties are run down and in need of repair. Both entities are currently seeking technical assistance to form a Community Development Housing Organization. Once this organization is established it will purchase properties the city has available. Properties will be renovated using a program such as STEP UP and CDBG funding, as well as other available grants and low-interest loans.

These programs will provide housing authority residents and other low-income residents of the city the opportunity to acquire marketable jobs skills plus on-the-job training. At the same time, much needed affordable housing availability will increase and substandard housing will be eliminated. The acquired properties will then be offered for rent to families desiring to participate in a Homeownership program. The program will resemble family self-sufficiency, as escrow accounts will be established and contracts entered into outlining the requirements families must meet to receive the escrow funds. Rents collected will offset the cost of repairs and provide capital for additional property purchases. Having fulfilled their contractual duties, families will be given the funds in escrow to be used as a down payment to purchase the house they have been renting.

Coordination of Strategic Plan

The City of Killeen has developed an extremely good working relationship with nonprofit organizations, public institutions and private industry in the city. Collaborative efforts have been implemented with each of these sectors because each depends on each other to make the most of the services each provides. The city's housing plan will be carried out with the assistance of the Central Texas Council of Governments, which implements most of the housing programs available to our low- and moderate-income citizens. Other levels of government, including the State Department of Health, have been instrumental in assisting the city with any action it decides to undertake. The city is currently working with this organization and with the Fort Hood health office to provide a program for the abatement of lead-based paint hazards and other key health issues.

Public service agencies providing the assistance that meets our listed priorities have been very successful in delivering these services, whether with the cooperation of other public service agencies, with the city, or on their own. Our Nonhousing needs will be accomplished with the cooperation of these entities. A collaborative effort between all these entities has been highly discussed and encouraged by all sectors. The private business sector is involved and very open to ideas that provide more jobs in return for the support of their growth initiatives and success. The City of Killeen is very willing to work with the private sector to accomplish its economic development goals and in turn benefit its low- and moderate-income population with more job opportunities. Cooperation between city departments has always been encouraged and has been very successful in implementing programs at a lower cost than otherwise would have been.

The city's Street Department, Water and Sewer Department, and Parks and Recreation Department have been instrumental in completing many projects that would have been costly if not done in-house. The city is very fortunate to have a qualified and motivated staff in all its departments. The most important criteria essential to make this a successful plan is collaboration and cooperation between all entities. Our common goal must be a combined effort to first, increase the public's sense of community and well being and second, to instill in them a belief that they are all members of a community worthy of our attention and financial effort. Currently, no gaps have been identified within the institutional structure.

ONE YEAR ACTION PLAN

Description of Key Projects

Key projects under the Public Facilities and Improvements categories include service agencies addressing the needs of youth, the elderly and the homeless. These include improvements to the Bob Gilmore Senior Center, the Killeen Multi-Service Senior Center, Stewart City Park improvements, Clements Boys and Girls Club, the Community Center Gym, the Killeen Amateur Boxing Association, the Families in Crisis, Inc. shelter for battered persons, and the Home and Hope homeless shelter.

Key projects under public services programs will be administered by agencies servicing youth, the elderly, battered persons, the homeless and at risk homeless, indigent persons, and persons requiring health services. Rehabilitation programs include owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, emergency repair, handicap accessible rehabilitation, and neighborhood revitalization projects. The code enforcement and abatement program will address spot slum and blight issues as well.

Increasing public awareness of existing services is one of the city's goal in addressing obstacles to meeting under-served needs. This will be implemented by making information accessible to all residents through advertisements using the city's governmental channel, accessing radio and television public service segments, and printed flyers made available in all public service agencies and city offices advertising any programs implemented by the city and other agencies benefitting our low- and moderate-income citizens. An effort is currently underway, which was originated by public and social service agencies, to implement a One-Stop-Shop Center. Unavailability and cost of services to meet under-served needs will be evaluated during networking meetings between the public, service, and health agencies and city offices.

Maps

MAP 1 shows points of interest in the City of Killeen.

MAP 2 shows points of interest in the City of Killeen with low- and moderate-income areas shaded.

MAP 3 shows areas of minority concentration with low- and moderate-income areas outlined.

MAP 4 shows unemployment data (1990) by block group, with low- and moderate-income areas outlined.

MAP 5 shows selected CDBG projects to be funded by the City of Killeen during its 1995 program year, with unemployment data shaded by block group and low- and moderate-income areas outlined.

For additional information contact Leslie K. Hinkle, Community Development Director, at (817) 634-2191.
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