The area enjoys an excellent location on the Atlantic seaboard at the southern terminus of the Eastern Megalopolis stretching from Boston to Norfolk, within easy access of a majority of the markets in the country and ready access to Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The area has enjoyed a generally strong economy for many years. Historically, unemployment in the area has been low in comparison to that in other parts of the country. Much of this strength was due to the highly diverse nature of the economy. Recent national trends have now affected the area economy. Henrico County enjoys an excellent quality of life and continues as an affordable housing market, offering a wide range of housing opportunities for its residents.
The Henrico County Consolidated Plan presents a strategy for housing and community development in the County. It contains a One Year Action Plan for spending $1.640 million of Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) funds in 1995-1996. These funds will be spend for economic development, commercial revitalization, infrastructure, a neighborhood facility, housing rehabilitation, a residential group home for the mentally disabled, and a program of services for at-risk youth.
The process for the Consolidated Plan has included public hearings and
extensive discussions and meetings with other agencies, other jurisdictions,
individual citizens and private organizations. On March 15, 1994 Henrico County
held a pubic hearing on the Consolidated Plan process. On February 14, 1995 the
County sent letters to public agencies requesting proposals for the use of CDBG
funds. On February 27, 1995 the County sent letters to individuals and private
non-profit groups requesting proposals for the use of CDBG funds and information
concerning community development needs, and providing information concerning the
Consolidated Plan schedule. On February 27, 1995 the County sent letters to
Henrico Social Services and Henrico Mental Health and Mental Retardation
Services Board requesting information on needs. On April 19, 1995 the County
held a pubic hearing on housing and community development needs. On June 23,
1995 the County advertised the draft of the Consolidated Plan for public review
and comment. The Board of Supervisors conducted a public hearing and adopted
the Consolidated Plan on July 26, 1995.
Henrico County's population grew by some 20.6% since 1980 to 217,881 persons, ranking it first in total population in the Richmond region and second in the Sate of Virginia. The Richmond region has a population of some 740,000. While the White population increased 11%, the Black population grew from 27,096 to 43,827 for a 62% increase. In perspective, the growth rate resulted in White households comprising 80% of the total households. Black households make up 18%. Hispanic, Native American and Asian households each made up 1% or less of total households.
Henrico's Median Family Income (MFI) in 1990 ranked it 3rd of 8
jurisdictions in the region at $42,173. Median Household Income ranked 6th of
8 jurisdictions in the region at $35,604, down from 2nd in 1980. Census Bureau
surveys show about 5.4% of the population is below the poverty level. Large
areas of the County qualify for assistance under the CDBG area eligibility
criteria. For all households, 16% have incomes at or below 50% of MFI and 17%
have incomes between 51% and 80% of MFI. Of White households, 15% have incomes
at or below 50% of MFI. Of Black households, 24% have incomes at or below 50%
of MFI.
Henrico's Annual Fiscal Plan for 1995 notes that the County's economy is primarily dependent upon retail trade, services and manufacturing. The County has a good mix of residential(66%) to commercial(34%)property value. Of 14 FORTUNE 500 companies located in the Richmond area, 3 are in Henrico County. The areas ready access to markets makes it an excellent location for manufacturing, distribution facilities, and regional and corporate offices. The area is the ninth largest home to corporate America headquarters, more than 35 major corporations. Few areas in the County have an unemployment rate exceeding 5%.
Henrico County is a mature suburban environment with a need to maintain the existing housing stock and older neighborhoods. Since 1991 the County has committed funds for the rehabilitation of homes, especially for the elderly homeowner. Typically these elderly homeowners actually served by the program have total household incomes below $10,000 and many have income at $3,000 to $5,000. In addition, the Board of Supervisors commitment to the provision of bathrooms has all but eliminated the use of pit privies or homes without complete bathroom facilities.
Thirty-five percent of renters and 17% of owners have some housing problems( For purposes of the Consolidated Plan "some housing problems" is defined as paying more than 30% of income for housing or living in overcrowded houses or those that lack complete bathroom facilities. Henrico has very few homes without complete bathroom facilities and only 1,118 overcrowded houses. Of those earning 0 to 30% of median family income, 71% of renters and owners have some problems. Of those households earning 31% to 50% of median family income, 66% have some housing problems. Of the group earning 51% to 80% of median family income 41% have some housing problems. While 17% of all owners have some housing problems, 24% of minorities have some housing problems. While 35% of all renters have some problems, the incidence for black renters is similar at 36% and slightly higher for all minorities at 38%.
Henrico County is an affordable and diverse single and multi-family market.
In 1990 Henrico had 94,539 housing units. Seventy percent are single-family units and the balance multi-family. Sixty percent of the housing stock is occupied by owners, some 34% by renters and 6% is vacant. An average of 2.41 persons live in each occupied housing unit.
Single family activity is reflected in "subdivision processing". In 1988, 2,326 subdivision lots were recorded. This figure declined 18% in 1989, 31% in 1990 and 40% in 1991. Subdivision activity reflected 1,230 subdivision lots recorded as of June 1993 and 1,547 by June of 1994, both significantly below 1988.
Rental units increased 42% between 1980 and 1990. Multi-family activity fell after the period of assumed overbuilding related to the 1981 Tax Law, subsequent 1986 Tax Law and subsequent contraction of credit.
There is an ongoing waiting list for residential rehabilitation, which currently exceeds 100 persons. Henrico seeks to assist the elderly through this program to keep elderly very low income residents in their homes and the ownership rate at no less than the current 60% of occupied homes.
Henrico has supported Sec. 202 assistance for elderly tenants, but assistance has not been available under the program.
The Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services Board has some 300 low and very low income special population residents on the waiting list for housing assistance.
Henrico has not identified a homeless population. The Census survey identified only 13 at the St. Joseph's Villa transitional shelter for mothers and children and 1 on the street. Henrico County provides financial assistance to CARITAS a homeless shelter which serves the metropolitan area.
Henrico Social Services reported 1,450 households receiving food stamps on an expedited basis. Social Services provided $40,000 in payments to 200 households to prevent eviction, provide overnight lodging, or to pay utilities.
Henrico has no public housing. Assisted housing grew 95% between 1980 and 1990. The County has some 3,514 assisted housing units, including sec. 8, Sec. 236 and Sec. 42 Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Henrico's share of assisted housing has increased significantly while the share of its neighboring jurisdictions has decreased.
The County has supported applications for Sec. 202 assistance for elderly tenants, but assistance has not been available.
Henrico Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services Board maintains a waiting list of some 300 in need of housing.
Henrico has only a few homes in need of bathrooms and 1,118 overcrowded homes reflected in the census data. Other households having "some housing needs" are based on those which pay more than 30% of income for housing. Based on current standards, the 30% rule of thumb and incomes in the country, a large portion of the population cannot afford housing. This is an economic condition. Henrico's strategy is to promote economic development and the creation of jobs to enable residents to afford housing.
Strategically, the county has made plans for the revitalization of aging commercial and residential environments.
During the Fair Housing Assessment the County discovered a lack of information concerning fair housing complaints and related data. Requests were made to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Virginia Fair Housing Office and others, but information was not available. On July 26, 1995 Henrico adopted its Proclamation to support fair housing efforts.
Of Henrico's 89,138 occupied housing units, only 3,616 were built prior to 1940. Twenty- eight percent were built between 1940 and 1959. About 40% was built between 1960 and the ban. The estimated lead-based paint incidence is 3, 254 units built before 1940, 19,786 units built between 1940 and 1959, and 21, 902 built between 1960 and 1979. These total 44,942 or 50% of all occupied housing units. Of these 39,256 units are occupied by low or very low income persons.
Henrico's strategy is to promote economic development and job opportunities. Community Development Block Grant activities are designed to support this objective. These include an array of activities which fall into the categories of economic development and jobs, infrastructure, and the quality of life. These activities include an economic development reserve from which to fund economic development projects for the creation of jobs, commercial revitalization projects identified as a result of economic development planning, drainage projects to support neighborhood revitalization, residential rehabilitation, group homes for special populations, a community center for low income neighborhood kids, and a program of tutoring, mentorship and related services for at-risk kids.
The development of the Consolidated Plan is an ongoing process, which is
directly related to annual planning for the CDBG program and for community
development planning in general. This process involves ongoing coordination
with county agencies including Health, Public Works, the Building Official,
Public Utilities, Mental Health and Retardation, the Planning Office, Social
Services, Police and others. In addition, it involves ongoing coordination with
several non-profit organizations for both CDBG and Consolidated Planning
purposes.
As set forth in the Consolidated Plan, housing needs are related to those groups which pay more than 30% of income for housing. This is an economic problem. Henrico County's strategy is to promote economic development and job opportunities. Priorities include funding for economic development purposes. Strategy includes focus on promotion of economic development and support infrastructure and quality of life. Focus is on implementation of neighborhood and commercial revitalization plans.
Priorities for housing include residential rehabilitation, support for assistance for elderly tenants, Sec. 8 vouchers for special populations, weatherization, use of state and local funds for special populations, and group homes for special populations.
Priorities for homelessness and those threatened with homelessness include financial support for the CARITAS shelter, private programs for transitional shelter for women and children, and Social Services emergency financial support for emergency shelter.
Non-housing community development priorities are defined through the comprehensive plan and Capital Improvements Program. Priorities include to encourage continued homeownership, to attract new and expanding commercial and industrial activities, and to maintain balanced growth, with sufficient revenue from the non-residential sector to compensate for the costs for services of residential development.
Priorities include flood drain improvements, water and sewer improvements, streets, parks and recreational facilities, commercial/industrial rehabilitation, commercial/industrial infrastructure, and employment training.
All of Henrico's CDBG housing activities and programs have been designed to assist low and very low income households. Henrico Social Services coordinates with the Planning Office in planning for the CDBG Program and the Consolidated plan. Henrico Social Services provides financial assistance for emergency housing for those threatened with homelessness. Henrico's strategy is to promote economic development and job opportunities and those activities which support and enhance an environment for economic opportunity through enhancement of the infrastructure and the quality of life.
Resources for non-housing community development activities are provided through the local Capital Improvements Program and are estimated in excess of $459 million. State and local funds exceeding $4 million were used over last two years for housing special populations. Private investments in development activities make a significant contribution to the overall environmental vitality of the County. Henrico has no public housing or housing office. Subsidized housing is privately developed and owned. Henrico receives some $1.6 million under the CDBG Program. Private programs include local lending institutions's affordable housing programs and an array of private non-profit activities.
Henrico seeks every opportunity to coordinate resources available through federal, state, regional and local agencies to maximize the response to needs. This approach is now used in the Community Development Block Grant Program, in which the County Planning Office, Henrico Social Services, Henrico Area Mental Health and Retardation Services Board, Public Works, Public Utilities, and Police are all focused in a neighborhood to maximize the impact of the program effort.
Providence Park is one neighborhood in which County resources have been concentrated to reduce environmental blight and enhance CDBG activities.
A coordinated approach is also used in the implementation of commercial
revitalization activities.
The Henrico County One Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of some $1.6 million of CDBG and other funds that include:
Investments of CDBG funds have been focused in low income neighborhoods of Providence Park and Crestview. Efforts have also focused on commercial areas serving low income neighborhoods. Some activities, such as residential rehabilitation, are County-wide. Many provide public facilities in low income neighborhoods.
Housing goals include 50 units to be rehabilitated for the elderly, Sec. 202 assistance for elderly tenants, 66 vouchers for the mentally disabled, housing for 93 mental health clients, housing for 72 mental retardation clients, transitional housing for mothers and children, emergency housing for 200 families, and a group home for 3 mentally disabled clients.
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; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).
John Young,
CDBG Administrator
PH: (804) 672-4279
