Longview, Texas, a city of over 70,000, is in the central eastern part of the state approximately 50 miles west of the Louisiana state line and 120 miles east of Dallas. The local economy was based on the petroleum and natural gas industries until the mid-1980's. Cooperation between city and county government and the business community is slowly bringing new businesses to the area.
In FY 1995 the City of Longview will receive $1,113,000 in CDBG funds and $500,000 in HOME funds. The funds will be used to address priority activities, especially housing rehabilitation.
Newspaper and cable television advertisements along with direct mailings to
service agencies, churches, civic organizations, and interested citizens living
in lower-income neighborhoods notified citizens about the opportunity to
participate in the preparation of Longview's Consolidated Plan. Three public
hearings were held in target areas throughout the city. One public hearing was
held by the City Council. Technical assistance for funding proposals was
available to nonprofit organizations. Procedures for responding to written and
oral complaints were established.
The population of Longview grew 12 percent between 1980 and 1990, from 62,762 to 70,311 persons. Seventy-five percent are White, 20 percent are Black, 4 percent are Hispanic (of all races), with 1 percent other. The Hispanic population more than doubled during the decade. The total minority population increased by 3 percent. Since 1990 there has been an estimated 4 percent growth of total population to 73,500.
Percentages of households above the poverty level by race are 90 percent of White households, 61 percent of Black households, 63 percent of Hispanic households, and 71 percent of all other households. The median income for the city is $25,377.
Concentrations of low- and moderate-income households are located predominately in the older areas of the city south of and adjacent to Marshall Avenue (Highway 80).
There are also two other small concentrations, one in northwest Longview and one in northeast Longview. These areas also have the highest percentage of substandard structures and housing in need of rehabilitation.
The City of Longview has been taking steps to improve social and economic factors affecting housing affordability. The trends the city has addressed are crime, deteriorating housing stock, movement of businesses from older areas to newer, undeveloped areas, and lack of financial investments.
Fifty-eight percent of dwellings in the city are owner-occupied. The
percentage of ownership by race is 62 percent for White households, 46 percent
for Black households, and 31 percent for all other households. The median value
of an owner-occupied dwelling in the city is $56,200.
One quarter of all households (6,806) earn below 50 percent of the Median Family Income. Of these, 2,237 pay more than half of their income for housing expenses. There are 20,975 housing units built before 1979. There are over 2,000 households in need of supportive housing. There are no transitional housing facilities for the homeless that can meet the demand and provide adequate support services. The number of habitable dwellings in the city is decreasing. More units were demolished in the past eight years than built. Low- and moderate-income households desiring homeownership have found a lack of dwellings for sale in the $30,000 to $50,000 price range. Waiting lists for rental assistance have increased beyond the saturation point. At least 800 and as many as 3,000 persons need rental assistance. There has been no construction of apartment complexes since 1985.
There are 11,407 renter households in Longview; of those, 39 percent have some kind of housing problem. Thirty-eight percent of all housing units are targeted to renters. That is 12,342 units; of these, 11,385 are occupied. The 957 vacant units give the rental market an 8 percent vacancy rate. In extremely low-, low- and moderate-income households there is greater than a 50 percent incidence of overcrowding. Significant percentages of low- through middle-income households have a cost burden of greater than 30 percent. Among very low- and low-income households, the cost burden is the same for White and Black households, but Hispanic households have a 10 percent higher incidence of housing problems. Fifty-four percent of all elderly rental households experience housing problems; that percentage increases as income decreases.
The demand for owner-occupied housing is high. According to the Longview Board of Realtors, the vacancy rate is 3 percent. Few properties are vacant due to dilapidation and deterioration. There are 94 houses that are substandard beyond repair and 36 that are substandard and in need of rehabilitation. The cost burden of extremely low- and low- income owners is the same for White and Black households, but again, Hispanic households have a 10 percent higher incidence of housing problems. Cost burdens of greater than 30 percent are evident for 62 percent of very low-income elderly homeowners and 32 percent of low-income elderly homeowners.
The housing stock has been deteriorating rapidly in certain portions of the city since 1983. There have been more demolitions than new construction in the single-family housing market for the last eight years combined, and new construction has not been located in the areas of the demolitions. Businesses have begun moving from older areas to newer districts, leaving many stores and houses vacant.
Because new construction has been stagnant for the last several years, homeownership opportunities for lower-income classifications have been scarce. Increases in land prices, material costs, and rehabilitation costs contribute to the reduced number of houses affordable to low-income households. This, in turn, has caused a shortage in rental housing. Families who would normally be first-time buyers cannot afford it and so continue to rent.
The City of Longview has a large need for rehabilitation assistance as seen by the three year waiting list for a CDBG Full Rehabilitation Grant. Of the 4,557 owner-occupied households at or below 80 percent or median family income, 17 percent are not likely to have the resources available to make needed repairs on their homes.
The City of Longview has a large need for additional rental assistance as shown in the 816 household-long waiting list for the Section 8 program. The seven assisted apartment complexes have correspondingly long lists but many of the persons are duplicated on the lists. Three-quarters of all very low-income renters have a cost burden of 30 percent or greater and three-fifths have a cost burden of 50 percent or greater.
The 1990 Census shows that there were 41 homeless persons in emergency shelters, one in a shelter for runaway, neglected, and homeless children, 18 in a shelter for abused women, and nine visible in street locations. An investigation by the local newspaper found several camps of homeless men in the wooded areas of Longview. Many of these were in no need of support services and were found to have no intention of living elsewhere.
There are five emergency shelter agencies in Longview. Three of them are for generic homeless persons and the other two are for homeless persons with special needs. The Salvation Army can serve 30 to 45 persons; the Highway 80 Rescue Mission can house up to 50 persons; the East Texas Hope Center offers counseling and emergency shelter for approximately 10 persons, and the Women's Center of East Texas operates a safe house for 25 women and their children who are victims of domestic violence. Sabine Valley Youth Services operates an emergency shelter for up to 20 runaway and abandoned adolescents. Plans for expansion are underway.
There are three soup kitchens that feed homeless persons, but there are no day shelters for the homeless. Longview Community Ministries (LCM), East Texas Human Development Corporation (HUDCO), and Gregg County help those at imminent risk of becoming homeless by paying rent, utilities, and medical bills, though sometimes on a one-time only basis. Buckner Family Services provides a more comprehensive combination of services aimed at teaching self-sufficiency.
There are two social service organizations to address the supportive housing needs of patients with AIDS. At this time there are no housing support services provided to the 200 cases of HIV positive infections in Longview.
Longview has no public housing. However, the City of Longview has 559 tenant-based Section 8 Vouchers and Certificates. There are 604 project-based Section 8 units in the jurisdiction and a total of 130 project-based rental assistance units other than Section 8. Two assisted housing projects specifically serve the elderly population. All have lengthy waiting lists. The city, in conjunction with Sabine Valley Center, also provides rental and utility assistance for 42 Shelter Plus Care program participants and their families.
The increasing costs of land, new construction, and rehabilitation have made affordable housing unattainable for those with low incomes. Families who would normally be first-time buyers therefore continue to rent, thus creating a shortage in rental housing. The high cost of rehabilitation also prohibits many current homeowners from making necessary repairs to their homes.
HUD has increased the size of the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area to include another county in East Texas. This county, Upshur, is a rural one and has caused many statistical anomalies. One such anomaly is that HUD has decreased the Fair Market Rents from eight to 20 percent, making it extremely difficult for Section 8 Housing participants to obtain affordable housing in non-minority areas.
The Fair Housing Officer enforces the city's Fair Housing Ordinance, provides fair housing information to groups and individual citizens, and assists aggrieved citizens with completing HUD's Fair Housing Complaint form.
Sixty-eight percent of housing rental units built prior to 1980 are at risk of lead-based paint hazard. Seventy percent of owner-occupied housing built prior to 1980 are at risk of lead- based paint hazard.
There are 2,307 elderly owner occupied households that are very low- and low-income. Modifications to their households would allow them to remain in their homes and would be an alternative to a long-term care facility.
There are 1,337 elderly renter-occupied households that are at or below 80 percent of median income. Services including meal preparation, cleaning, health care, and transportation could prevent frail elderly persons from needing total care facilities.
Infrastructure needs include improvements for flood drainage, water facilities, streets and sewers. Maintenance and enhancement of public parks and recreational facilities are needed as well as a signalized traffic control system to ensure optimum movement of vehicles in a safe and convenient manner.
The City of Longview has worked closely with local nonprofits by exchanging information regarding HUD applications for funds, grant information, and training programs offered by other social service agencies. The nonprofit legal aid organization in Longview is applying for funds to become an information and referral hub for East Texas.
The city has also worked with East Texas Council of Governments and the City of Marshall, Texas, to apply for funding and to exchange information about state policies and funding. The city has formed ties with Gregg County to facilitate improvement of the tax structure and share funding information.
Cooperation with local banks and lending institutions has resulted in the
Closing Cost Program for low-income first-time homebuyers. Local banks are
planning a multi-bank CDC.
The City of Longview has based its strategic planning process for the Consolidated Plan on several major points. These priorities for allocating investment are based on:
Highest priority is placed on providing rental assistance to very low-income households needing affordable housing. Over the next five years, the City of Longview intends to apply for 250 (50 per year) additional rental vouchers and certificates. The jurisdiction will also assist nonprofits, Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), developers, and government-assisted apartment complexes to obtain Federal funding to construct and/or rehabilitate rental housing for very low-income (0 to 30 percent) households.
The City of Longview will apply for additional Section 8 rental vouchers and certificates to expand the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) as funding becomes available. Additional funds needed for child care, transportation, and training will be sought through State and Federal programs. At the same time, private donations will be solicited. Ten percent of all certificates and vouchers will be targeted to FSS participants.
Rehabilitation assistance for owner-occupants is designed to ensure that very low- and low- income owners retain ownership. HOME funds will provide rehabilitation of 250 homes over the next five years (50 per year). The city will acquire sites with CDBG funds and work with Habitat for Humanity for new construction housing units.
If authority is reenacted, the city intends to continue closing cost and down payment assistance programs already in place. During the next five years, 200 first-time homebuyers (40 per year) will be assisted through these programs. Classes for these programs are co- sponsored by local lending institutions.
Services and housing for persons threatened with homelessness or those with special needs will be pursued through local, State, and Federal sources.
The Elderly/Disabled Home Adaptation program currently administered by the Longview Community Development Department will continue to serve the frail elderly and persons with disabilities. This program removes architectural barriers for 125 elderly/disabled, low- income homeowners so they may remain independent. Two elderly government-assisted apartment complexes intend to apply for additional funding to provide more Section 202 units. A for-profit developer will build a 28-unit low-income apartment complex for elderly and disabled persons using HOME funds from the State of Texas.
Five nonhousing Community Development needs were identified.
There are currently three jobs skills programs in Longview that serve students, senior Texans, and residents of CDBG target areas. The purpose of these programs is not only to train, but to encourage persons to remain in the work force thereby raising themselves above poverty level.
The City of Longview works closely with East Texas Council of Governments, Gregg County and the City of Marshall, Texas, sharing information and ideas about state policies and funding. The newly begun cooperation with local nonprofit organizations has led to successful applications for funds by several organizations. This collaboration allows the city to better prepare for upcoming developments in the community.
The first-time homebuyer closing cost program for low-income persons has encouraged cooperation with local banks to help provide affordable housing. The city has helped local banks to plan a multi-bank CDC.
The two major gaps in intergovernmental and institutional cooperation are
the lack of knowledge of the functions of locally-based state agency offices and
the lack of private industry sector cooperation. State agencies continue to
provide varied services but as yet, private industry has not consistently
committed itself to improving local conditions. The City of Longview has
cooperated with Shelter Plus Care, Family Unification, and HOPE for Elderly
Independence to prepare grant applications. By initiating a more user-friendly
social services network, the City of Longview hopes to foster a more informed
business community so that the strategic intent of the city can be realized and
successfully implemented.
It is anticipated that the City of Longview will receive $1,113,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds and $500,000 in HOME funds for fiscal year 1995. Programs slated for funding include:
Five of the projects in the one-year plan are dedicated to CDBG target areas. Three of the projects are dedicated to low- and moderate-income households city-wide. A Consolidated Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) made up of citizens nominated by the City Council recommends these activities based on public comment.
The City of Longview will serve as the lead agency for all projects involving CDBG or HOME funds.
Highlights of the City of Longview's housing goals for the first year include increasing homeowner rehabilitation by 100 percent through the addition of new HOME dollars; 51 households will receive a full rehabilitation, 58 households will receive emergency repairs, 25 households will get new roofs, and 22 disabled households will remove architectural barriers. Public services will reach 50 percent more low-income residents than in the past with child-care, utility and medical bill assistance, literacy education, and terminal illness care. Target neighborhoods will become more liveable by demolishing 51 dangerous structures and by providing paint to 50 homeowners.
MAP 2 shows points of interest in the City of Longview 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 and MAP 6 show selected CDBG projects to be funded by the City of Longview during its 1995 program year, with unemployment data shaded by block group and low- and moderate-income areas outlined.
