The economic base in Danville, Virginia, traditionally has been tobacco and textiles. Over the past 30 years, the city's Development Council has focused on diversifying Danville's economy to generate employment opportunities and to revitalize the community. Having aligned itself with various organizations and agencies to create influential partnerships, the city is in a position to serve its residents more effectively.
The Consolidated Plan for Danville has a budget of $2 million, of which $1.5 million is composed of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and $480,000 is composed of HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds.
The Consolidated Plan development process involved analyzing existing data, surveying various organizations, and consulting local service agencies. Input was received from a Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy Task Force, comprising representatives familiar with the housing needs of low- to moderate-income citizens. A variety of public and private organizations also participated, including: Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (DRHA); Danville Development Council; Danville Health Department; Danville Division of Social Services; Danville-Pittsylvania Mental Health Services Board; Dove's, Inc.; Habitat for Humanity; Salvation Army; God's Storehouse; Holiday Village Apartment of the Elderly and Handicapped; Telamon Corporation; Pittsylvania County Community Action Agency; Roman Eagle Memorial Home; and Southside AIDS Venture (SAVE).
The city's Neighborhood Partnership Program, adopted in 1991 by the Danville City Council to ensure the participation of low- and moderate-income citizens, helped boost resident input. Citizen participation was maximized through public meetings, a newsletter, and mailings.
According to the 1990 census, Danville had 21,712 households, over half of which were family households, 7,192 were non-family households, and 6,549 were single-person households. The city's average household size has declined, from an average of 2.92 persons in 1970, to an average of 2.38 persons in 1990. Almost 60 percent of the housing units in Danville are owner occupied, as compared to almost 80 percent for Pittsylvania County and 66 percent for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The median family income (MFI) in Danville in 1990 was $27,572, and 19 percent of the city's population lived at that time below the poverty level. Thirty-five percent of all minority households were in the extremely low-income category, earning 0-30 percent of MFI.
Although Danville's economic base historically has been associated with tobacco and textiles, a concerted effort has been made over the past 30 years to diversify the local economy. Of significance is the development of two new industrial parks that have expanded the city's economic base.
Nearly one-quarter of the houses in Danville were built prior to 1939. Only 3 percent were built between 1985 and 1990. In 1990, 197 occupied housing units lacked complete plumbing facilities. The city does not have any records regarding the current number of substandard units.
Based on the 1990 census, overcrowding has become less of a problem in the city than it was in 1980 when 3.3 percent of occupied housing units were overcrowded. By 1990 this number had decreased to 2.6 percent. In Danville 4.1 percent of all renters and 1 percent of all owners lived in overcrowded units.
In 1990 the majority of housing units (69 percent) in Danville were single-family detached units. Most units had four to six rooms, and only 2.5 percent contained two or less rooms. The median value of a house in Danville was $47,000, as compared to $91,000 for the Commonwealth. Average rent was $154, although it ranged throughout the city from $93 to $378.
Of the 23,297 housing units identified in 1990, 21,712 were occupied. Data for that year indicated a 1.3 percent-owned unit vacancy rate and a 6.9 rental vacancy rate.
Danville had 8,485 rental households in 1990, one-third of which were cost burdened (paying more than 30 percent of income on housing costs). The city also had 13,179 owner-occupied units, 13.3 percent of which were cost burdened.
The 1990 census also counted almost 9,800 persons living below the poverty level. This figure represents 15 percent of all families in the city and 25 percent of all families with children under 18 years old. When only female-headed families are considered, the figures rise substantially: 53.1 percent of female-headed families with children under 18 and 61.1 percent of female-headed families with children under 5 lived below the poverty line.
Minorities, who also were disproportionately represented in the low-income owner and renter categories, experienced higher cost burden and housing problems. While 61 percent of all extremely low-income owner households (those earning 0-30 percent of MFI) experienced housing problems, nearly 73 percent of minority-headed households experienced similar problems. Forty-two percent of minority-headed rental households experienced housing problems, compared with 37 percent of all rental households.
In general, homelessness does not appear to be a significant problem in Danville. A 1990 single-night enumeration counted a total of 61 persons in emergency shelters. During calendar year 1991, the Salvation Army provided shelter to 263 nonresident homeless individuals and 50 resident homeless individuals.
The Salvation Army uses vouchers to arrange overnight housing at the Leeland Hotel and at other establishments. In addition, homeless programs of the Pittsylvania County Community Action, Inc., provide shelter, food, and utility assistance to individuals and families, and Doves, Inc., provides assistance to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
DRHA administers five public housing developments scattered throughout the city, including: Cardinal Village, Liberty View, Cedar Terrace, Ingram Heights, and Pleasant View. Of the 619 units offered in the 5 developments, 22 percent are one-bedroom units, 47 percent are two-bedroom units, and 31 percent are three-bedroom units or larger. There are no efficiency units in the Danville public housing stock. In 1995 there were 5 vacant one- bedroom units, 46 vacant two-bedroom units, and 15 vacant three-bedroom units or larger.
In a recent count, there were 632 renters receiving Section 8 assistance in Danville, with 75 percent receiving certificates rather than vouchers. The majority of Section 8 units were one- and two-bedroom units.
The city of Danville has a fair housing officer and a fair housing helpline to assist residents. Fair housing issues, which usually involve tenant-landlord situations, are investigated and referred to appropriate agencies. The fair housing officer attends a variety of seminars, places fair housing advertisements in the local newspaper, distributes fair housing posters, and holds classes for local realtors who are being recertified.
Because 92 percent of the Danville housing stock was built prior to 1980, an estimated 14,337 to 18,290 housing units may contain lead-based paint. The Danville Health Department reported recently that of five children tested, four had blood-lead levels below 14 g/dL and have not required retesting. However, one child had a level of 20 g/dL.
The city's Housing and Development Division explains potential lead hazards to residents participating in community rehabilitation programs. The Danville Health Department, which records the incidence of elevated lead levels and lead poisoning in children, notifies the parents of children at risk of lead exposure and periodically tests children as part of its general clinic procedures.
Danville's Mental Health Services Board establishes and operates community mental health, mental retardation, substance abuse, and prevention programs for Danville and Pittsylvania County. With the help of supportive services from the Independent Housing Assistance Program, the Board provides a variety of residential programs to people with mental illness, mental retardation, or substance abuse problems.
Danville's elderly population has been increasing over the past decade. Several local housing facilities provide elderly residents with subsidized units, supportive care, and 24-hour nursing service. However, the majority of these facilities have long waiting lists, and the community's need for these services exceeds capacity.
The Consolidated Plan for Danville identified the following community development needs:
The city of Danville seeks to provide a comprehensive approach to addressing the problems and needs of its low- and moderate-income residents through housing, neighborhood improvement, unemployment, and education strategies.
The highest housing priority identified in the Consolidated Plan for Danville is to
assist 500 low-income and moderate-income homeowners and renters in the form of rental subsidies, rehabilitation and repair grants and loans, and first-time homebuyer financial and technical assistance.
The Consolidated Plan for Danville identified the following community development priorities:
The Danville Community Development Department acts as the lead agency in coordinating the Consolidated Plan and collaborates with various agencies and organizations on implementing the plan.
The Consolidated Plan for Danville identified the following key projects:
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 depicts Neighborhood Segments and proposed HUD funded projects.
MAP 7 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects indicated in MAP 6.
MAP 8 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded project(s) from a street level vantage point.
Mellin L. Parker
Housing and Development Division Director
Department of Community Development
PO Box 3300
Danville, Virginia 24543
Phone: 804-799-5262
Fax: 804-799-5102
