The City of Orange, Texas, located on the banks of the Sabine River, is the first city west of the Louisiana border. Orange makes up the third city of the "Golden Triangle" which also includes Port Arthur and Beaumont. Orange's economy is based upon the petroleum, chemical, manufacturing and shipbuilding industries. Downtown Orange provides tourists a full range of cultural attractions with such landmarks as the Lutcher Theater and the Stark Museum.
The City of Orange's Consolidated Plan presents a unified strategy for infrastructure improvements, clearance and demolition, and housing. The one-year action plan anticipates spending $581,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. These funds will be primarily spent on water and sewer improvements, park improvements, public services, housing, and clearance and demolition.
In order to broaden public participation, staff prepared informational flyers and placed them in various public areas. The city also advertised in local newspaper and on the local government TV channel, and mailed notices and applications to area social service agencies. Public hearing notices were posted on the City Hall bulletin board. The City of Orange conducted two public hearings during the initial phase of the planning process. The Citizens Advisory Committee, comprised of citizens who reside in the CDBG strategy areas, held work sessions with representatives from social service agencies. Copies of the Consolidated Plan were available for public review and comment for 30 days prior to the final public hearing. The plan was approved by City Council on June 27, 1995.
Orange is the largest of seven cities located in Orange County. According to the 1990 census, the population of Orange was 19,381. Orange is a multi-cultural community with 65 percent of the population Anglo-American, 33 percent African-American, and 2 percent Hispanic.
Occupancy rates for very low- and low-income persons is 40 percent for renters and 60 percent for owners. While 38 percent of all renter households have problems, 55 percent of Black renter households and 28 percent of Hispanic households have housing problems. Black households in the 31-50 percent of MFI category have a significantly disproportionate need for housing than other groups in the city.
Overcrowding and substandard housing conditions seem to be prevalent among very low- and low-income households. Among the very low- and low-income large related households approximately 73 percent experience one of these conditions.
The top four employers for the City of Orange are in the petroleum, chemical, manufacturing and shipbuilding industries. Over the past 10 years, Orange has suffered the closing of two shipbuilding facilities and one chemical plant. The unemployment rate currently is at 12 percent.
The 1990 census reports that 76 percent of the housing units in Orange are one-unit detached or attached, while 10 percent are in complexes with 10 or more units. Overall, 13 percent of the total year-round housing units are vacant. Of the occupied housing units, 61 percent are owner-occupied and 39 percent are renter-occupied. The mean value of homes here is $50,300, while the mean contract rent is $245.
It is estimated that approximately 5 percent of both rental units and owner-occupied units are in substandard condition. It is also estimated that approximately 20 percent of both rental units and owner occupied units are substandard but suitable for rehabilitation. Even though a substantial number of homes have been rehabilitated through the years, generally, Orange's housing stock is relatively old.
Approximately 8 percent of the occupied housing units here are overcrowded. Not surprisingly, this occurs more with those households whose income is 0-30 percent of MFI.
Thirty-nine percent of older housing stock in Orange is inhabited by low-income renters. No new affordable apartments have been constructed in Orange in several years. The average rent for a two bedroom apartment in the City is $375. Lower income households cannot afford to pay rent in this amount. Because of the low incidence of affordable apartment construction taking place, rental rehabilitation funds will be used to rehabilitate units for low-income families.
Households with incomes at or below 50 percent of MFI have the greatest housing cost burden. They need rental assistance and affordable housing option. Owners need rehabilitation assistance. Low-income first-time home buyers require down payment and closing cost assistance.
The House of Refuge, Orange's only homeless shelter, served 94 families with children last year with an average family size of five persons. A total of 262 single men and 52 single women were sheltered during the same period. The length of stay at the House of Refuge is based on need, but generally does not extend past two weeks. Since this is the only shelter provider in Orange, some flexibility is given to families or households who are waiting on other Federal assistance programs or are trying to save up enough money to afford an apartment and become self-sufficient.
The Orange Housing Authority owns and operates five public housing projects. All of the developments were built between 1950 and 1984. The 396 public housing units are located within the city limits of Orange.
The Orange Housing Authority operates the following housing programs: Low-rent Housing, 396 units; Section 8 Existing and Vouchers, 664 units; Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation, 19 units; Section 8 New Construction, 378 units; Section 202, 156 units.
Orange Housing Authority's comprehensive grant program will provide funds for the rehabilitation of 27 units at the Arthur Robinson Housing Complex located on the south side of Burton Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets. These units are currently vacant and considered to be in substandard condition. The rehabilitation will consist of repair to the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, floors, electrical wiring and painting. The estimated cost of repair is $22,824 per unit. The 100-unit Arthur Robinson development consists of 1- to 4- bedroom units. Thirty of these units are targeted for demolition.
Pine Grove, Craig, Alexander Homes and Velma Jeter complexes all have recently undergone repair and are considered to be in good condition.
Orange County is one of 36 counties in Southeast Texas that participated in the Young vs. Cisneros lawsuit. This class action suit pertains to the elimination of segregation in public housing. The Orange Housing Authority is guided by a desegregation plan in its efforts to reach full compliance with an order mandated by the court.
The jurisdiction does not feel that it has any public policies that affect the cost of housing. No city policy will negatively impact incentives to develop, maintain or improve affordable housing, and the return on residential investment. Orange's zoning ordinances, building codes and code enforcement are designed to promote safe and decent housing in safe and stable neighborhoods throughout the City.
The City of Orange has an ordinance which appoints a Fair Housing Officer. The Fair Housing Officer or designee can be reached at the Thomen Community Center at 1413 N. 20th Street in Orange and may be contacted by telephone at 409/883-1034. Staff reviews complaints annually and ascertains the nature of the complaints to see if staff can resolve the problems locally. Thus, reducing the amount of complaints that have to be forwarded to the State Fair Housing Officer. The city makes every effort to affirmatively further fair housing.
The jurisdiction currently notifies each participant in the Rehabilitation Program of the hazard of lead based paint. Health Department employees will test housing units in the City to determine the content of lead based paint within them.
Community Development needs include decent, safe and sanitary housing for low and moderate income persons, clearance of substandard housing, emergency assistance for at- risk families and individuals, infrastructure improvements and self-sufficiency programs.
Housing problems in Orange are primarily related to low income and an aging housing stock. Housing priorities and strategies reflect those conditions. Housing objectives focus on the supply of affordable housing. Community Development objectives are to revitalize residential areas, remove blighted conditions in Old Town Orange, and provide assistance to individuals or families who are at risk of homelessness.
Priorities for affordable housing include increasing the supply of affordable housing by rehabilitation of owner-occupied homes and rental units. Another priority will be the first- time Homebuyer program. This program will assist low-income persons in purchasing a single-family structure by providing down payment and closing costs.
Priorities for the homeless include providing adequate emergency shelter and services to those persons not cable of independent living. Another priority is to provide support networks and services to persons at risk of homelessness.
The priority for non-homeless persons with special needs is supportive housing or housing linked to supportive services for the frail elderly, persons with HIV/AIDS and other persons with special needs.
Priorities include infrastructure improvements in the CDBG strategy areas of the City of Orange. The city plans to continue funding projects such as water and sewer improvements, park improvements and street reconstruction.
Priorities for clearance and demolition include the correction of violations to the City's Substandard Building Ordinance. The slum and blighted conditions created by housing abandonment and decay has been a problem in Orange for many year.
Priorities for other community development activities include providing funds for public service agencies. Each year the city allocates 15 percent of its CDBG funds to nonprofit organizations that provide a service to low- and moderate-income citizens of the community.
In reducing the number of households with incomes below the poverty line the jurisdiction will take the following actions:
The Orange Housing Authority will administer a self-sufficiency program and commit to generating employment opportunities for its residents through contractors and subcontractors. The housing authority will also commit to educational activities as a part of its general social services programming through the establishment of an on-site GED program. Residents will be assisted to develop their own business enterprises and conduct business with those enterprises to the extent allowable by federal regulations.
Orange, using CDBG and HOME funds, will offer down payment and closing costs to eligible first-time home buyers. Offer deferred payment loans and grants to eligible homeowners whose homes are in need of rehabilitation. Offer deferred payment loans for the rehabilitation of rental property, which must then be made affordable for low- and moderate-income persons.
The Federal resources made available to the City of Orange include CDBG, Section 8, Low Rent Public Housing Subsidy, New Construction, Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation, HUD/Drug Elimination Grant, and Rental Rehabilitation Voucher Program. Resources made available from the State include HOME funds. Private programs include local lending institutions' affordable housing programs and a wide range of nonprofit initiatives.
The Community and Economic Development Department of the City of Orange is mainly responsible for the Consolidated Plan activities. However, a variety of public and private organizations are involved in administering plan components. The Orange Housing Authority is a public body that provides rental assistance to low- and moderate-income citizens of Orange. The Creative Housing Assistance Corporation is a nonprofit organization that will assist the jurisdiction in providing housing to low- and moderate- income persons. The Women and Children's Shelter is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency shelter and supportive services to those who are homeless because of domestic violence. The House of Refuge is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency shelter to the homeless. Local banks and lending institutions will be used to provide mortgage financing and loans for participants in the First-Time Homebuyers Assistance Program. Developers and contractors will be used to develop and construct affordable single-family and multi- family housing for low- and moderate-income citizens. Triangle Aids Network is a nonprofit organization that will use HOPWA funds to provide rental assistance and supportive services to persons with aids.
The City of Orange one-year action plan outlines the proposed use of approximately $581,000 in CDBG funds. These funds will be spent on the following:
Roughly half of the projects in the one-year plan are dedicated to targeted areas known as the Community Development Strategy Areas. Funds allocated to these areas are spent on water & sewer and park improvements and public facility rehabilitation. Code Enforcement, Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation and Public Service projects are city-wide with the benefit to the low to moderate income persons.
The City of Orange anticipates assisting 12 homeowners repair their substandard home, assist 10 first-time homebuyers purchase their home, assist landlords repair 13 rental units to be designated as rental for low to moderate income persons within the CDBG strategy areas and continue to support the House of Refuge and Women & Children's Shelter who provide temporary housing to those in need.
MAP 1 shows points of interest in the City of Orange.
MAP 2 shows points of interest in the City of Orange 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 Orange during its 1995 program year, with unemployment data shaded by block group and low- and moderate-income areas outlined.
Gay Myers
PH: (409) 883-1034.
