At the time of its founding in 1895, Port Arthur, Texas, was envisioned as a rail and shipping center. Between 1900 and 1930, it became a major city with a thriving central business district. By 1960 the community seemed poised for continued growth, with a population exceeding 60,000. Instead, however, Port Arthur's population has steadily decreased to 58,724, a trend generally attributed to a shifting demographic and ethnic mix and to the decline in the petrochemical and oil refining industries on which the local economy has been dependent.
The city of Port Arthur is requesting $481,000 in HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds and $2 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support its community development, housing, and homeless services.
In an effort to increase public participation, the city of Port Arthur conducted two public hearings during the planning process of the Consolidated Plan. The first public hearing was hosted by First Interstate Bank, which is located within a lower income area of the city, on November 16, 1994. In order to provide continuity in the planning process, many of the same groups, organizations, and persons that participated in the Empowerment Zone application process were invited to attend. The purpose of the hearing was to inform the public of the new planning process and to solicit comments and suggestions on the allocation of funds. On February 24, 1995, a draft summary of the Consolidated Plan was published in the Port Arthur News and copies of the draft were made available for public review. The second public hearing was held on March 28, 1995, during a scheduled city council meeting. Notices were published in the newspaper and letters were sent out inviting interested individuals to comment on the draft plan.
The character and fortune of Port Arthur have been influenced by some of the same forces that have affected many urban communities across the country. The proliferation of the automobile enabled residents and businesses to move to suburban areas, a process magnified by concurrent "white flight." Between 1960 and 1990, Port Arthur saw a 12- percent decrease in total population, even though it annexed four contiguous towns (with more than 10,000 residents) during that period. This situation has caused a steep decline in property values, and, subsequently, in property tax revenues for the city, precisely at a time when local government goods and services are most needed.
Port Arthur's population is approximately 49 percent white, 42 percent African American, 5 percent Asian American/Pacific Islander, and almost 8 percent Hispanic. The city has an unusually large elderly population; persons over age 60 made up 22 percent of Port Arthur's population in 1990 compared with 14 percent in the State of Texas. Many younger families reportedly were forced to leave the city to find work when the petrochemical industry collapsed in the mid-1980s; however, there is some anecdotal evidence that this trend may have been reversed in the past 2 years.
Unemployment in Port Arthur has been high for the past several years and currently stands at 13.9 percent, more than twice the State's average rate of 6.9 percent.
Thirty-eight percent of Port Arthur's 22,286 households are classified as either extremely low-or low-income. The income categories used by Port Arthur are:
Port Arthur has a 65-percent owner-occupancy rate. Forty-six percent of all owner-occupied units are owned by minorities, a percentage nearly equal to their share of the local population and higher than the State average. The median house value in Port Arthur is $30,400, which illustrates the modest nature of the average home in Port Arthur. Unfortunately, a large percentage of these homes are in need of repair and renovation. One-third of low-income owners and 65 percent of extremely low-income owners experience a housing cost burden greater than 30 percent of their income.
The median rent per month is $223 in Port Arthur, out of reach for most extremely low- and low-income households. Fifty-seven percent of low-income renters and 56 percent of extremely low-income renters experience a housing cost burden greater than 30 percent of their income.
The local vacancy rate is 13 percent, but the city estimates that 600 of these units are severely substandard and unsuitable for rehabilitation.
There are a total of 8,524 extremely low- and low-income households in Port Arthur. The incidence of housing problems among these households is high. Sixty-four percent of all extremely low-income households experience some housing problem, such as a high cost burden, overcrowding, or physical deficiency of the unit. For extremely low-income renters, the incidence of housing problems is 62 percent; for extremely low-income owners, it is 66 percent. Half of all low-income households experience some housing problem. For low-income renters, the incidence of housing problems is 65 percent and for low-income owners, it is 39 percent. At every income level, housing problems are most frequent among large renter families, who are more likely to have cost burdens and live in overcrowded units.
Port Arthur has a small homeless population. To obtain current statistics on the homeless population within the city, a one-night survey was performed on November 30, 1994. A total of 30 persons sought emergency shelter that night, of whom:
The number of unsheltered homeless is not known.
To address the needs of the homeless, the city has 5 shelters, 2 soup kitchens, and 1 food bank, with a total of at least 37 beds for persons seeking emergency shelter.
The Port Arthur Public Housing Authority is currently assisting 1,063 families through its Section 8 Rental Assistance Program and 284 families through public housing. The housing authority's waiting lists for public housing and rental assistance have been open continuously since 1985. As of March 1995, the public housing waiting list had 374 applicants and the Section 8 waiting list had 1,312 applicants. Ten units of public housing are being renovated to improve accessibility for the physically disabled.
The Port Arthur Housing Authority was 1 of 36 agencies in southeast Texas that participated in the Young vs. Cisneros lawsuit, which sought the elimination of racial segregation in public housing complexes. The housing authority is guided by a desegregation plan, prepared by the courts, to help it comply with the court order.
The city of Port Arthur has incorporated the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's lead-based paint guidelines into its Housing Assistance Program guidelines. All properties to be rehabilitated are subject to inspection to determine the existence of lead-based paint in exterior and interior surface finishes. In its efforts to reduce lead-based paint hazards in public housing units, the housing authority completed a Comprehensive Modernization Program in 1988. The program included testing for lead-based paint and removing and abating any hazards detected.
The city of Port Arthur will continue to develop better working relationships with nonprofit organizations, local businesses, government, and health providers in Jefferson County to facilitate its efforts to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing.
Over the 5 years of this Consolidated Plan, Port Arthur will work to provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons. This strategy emphasizes the rehabilitation of owner-occupied, single-family housing and the provision of opportunities for low- and moderate-income families to become first-time homebuyers. Another priority of the city is to improve the availability and quality of rental housing for small and large families.
The vision statement for the city reads:
Our vision is to create a city that is physically attractive, friendly and safe; a city where residents are gainfully employed in a diverse local and regional economy that successfully competes in the global market; a city that offers excellent educational opportunities and varied cultural experiences; a city that fosters values that support stable families, high individual achievement and strong character development; a united community that grows from the strength of its diversity.
This following outline identifies the city's strategies for addressing affordable housing needs during the next 5 years:
The city of Port Arthur has designated the following nonhousing community development needs as priorities for the next 5 years:
The city has initiated the Lamar University-Port Arthur Scholarship Program for low-income residents who wish to attend college. The program provides financial assistance for tuition, fees, and books. Students may enroll in a vocational or technical program or complete the first 2 years of a traditional college program, with the goal of earning a baccalaureate degree. It is hoped that once students have successfully completed coursework, they will have gained the necessary skills to obtain employment, thereby increasing their incomes.
The Port Arthur Housing Authority has set up two programs to reduce the number of households living below the poverty line. The Family Self-Sufficiency Program offers participants the opportunity to enroll in college, receive their GED, start a business, or receive on-the-job training. Child-care and transportation services are provided and, as an additional incentive, an escrow account is set up for each participant. When participants succeed in becoming self-sufficient within the 5-year period, they are paid the balance in their escrow account.
The housing authority's second program, the Survival Skills Workshops, consists of a series of ten 3-hour workshops that teach women basic survival and behavioral skills. They are taught coping mechanisms that promote self-confidence and the ability to function in a work environment.
In addition to receiving Federal HOME and CDBG funds, Port Arthur will also receive the following funds to aid in its housing and community development activities:
The city of Port Arthur intends to initiate an information exchange committee with other agencies who often solicit data from each other. This type of committee will enhance coordination between public and assisted housing providers and private and governmental health, mental health, and service agencies. The city hopes that through an open exchange of ideas and information these agencies can assist one another in their efforts to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing.
The city of Port Arthur has committed to the following key projects for the next year:
Monitoring of the activities described in the plan will be carried out by the Community Development Division of the city of Port Arthur and by the Port Arthur Housing Authority.
MAP 1 depicts points of interest in the jurisdiction.
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.
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 projects 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; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).
