The City of Suffolk is located in southeastern Virginia in the heart of the Hampton Roads region. Suffolk is the largest city in Virginia in land area, covering approximately 430 square miles. As part of the Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Newport News Metropolitan Statistical Area, Suffolk is 20 miles from Norfolk, 90 miles from Richmond and 200 miles from Washington, D.C. Agribusiness has been and still is a major component of the local economy, with the peanut serving as the primary cash crop. Suffolk's economy is becoming more diversified through extensive residential, commercial and industrial development. The present City of Suffolk is the result of a 1974 consolidation of the former City of Suffolk, Nansemond County and Towns of Holland and Whaleyville.
The City of Suffolk Consolidated Plan includes a five year strategic outline which brings the needs and resources of this expansive community together in a coordinated housing and community development strategy. The Consolidated Plan includes a One Year Action Plan for spending approximately $848,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in 1995-96. These funds will primarily be spent on extension of City water and sewer lines, improvements to recreational facilities, and housing rehabilitation.
The Consolidated Plan was prepared with a significant amount of public
involvement, utilizing several outreach tools. There were three phases to the
citizen participation process: an informal pre-planning phase prior to
preparation of the draft Consolidated Plan; a review and comment phase for
development of the Citizen Participation Plan; and a formal citizen
participation phase for the final Consolidated Plan. The City conducted a total
of six public hearings through all phases of the citizen participation process,
after being publicized in three local newspapers and the City's municipal access
cable television channel. Two public hearings were held during the pre-planning
phase, two hearings occurred during the Citizen Participation Plan phase, and a
final set of public hearings were conducted by the Suffolk City Council on the
Consolidated Plan during the 30 day public comment period. Copies of the
Citizen Participation Plan and the Consolidated Plan were made available to the
public through the City's public libraries and the Department of Management
Services.
Commerce and the Nansemond River gave birth to the Town of Suffolk in the 1700's. Many of Suffolk's first settlers were from Suffolk County, England. The present City of Suffolk was established in January, 1974 through a two-stage consolidation of the Towns of Holland and Whaleyville, the County of Nansemond and the City of Suffolk. The end result was a new municipality encompassing a total of 430 square miles, making it the largest city in land area in Virginia and the 11th largest in the country. According to the 1990 Census, the population of Suffolk was 54,121, up 14% from 1980. The fastest growth has been in three person or less single family households. The majority of the City's 1990 population was white (54%), 44% were African-American, and 2% were other minorities.
The City's median household income (MHI) per the 1990 Census was $26,125.
Fifty two percent of all households in Suffolk were low and moderate income
(with incomes below 80 percent of MHI). African Americans and the elderly were
disproportionately represented in the very low income category (incomes between
31 and 50 percent of MHI). Thirty percent of the census tracts in the City
contained concentrations of racial/ethnic minorities. These areas were largely
grouped in inner-city Suffolk and small pockets across the City.
Federal, State, and municipal government, maritime-related industries, and health services are among the major employers in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Newport News Metropolitan Statistical Area. Government, health care, agribusiness, and food processing dominate the Suffolk economy. Suffolk has a civilian labor force of 26,000 and an unemployment rate of 5.3%. Suffolk retains 52.6% of its workforce and draws commuters from other areas.
Based on the 1990 Census, the need for owner-occupied and renter-occupied units is on the rise in Suffolk. In addition, the Consolidated Plan identifies the provision of more affordable housing and the rehabilitation of the City's existing housing stock as critical housing needs. Funding is needed to assist eligible low income homeowners with the rehabilitation of their homes. Incentives are also needed to generate more affordable owner and renter housing in the market. There is a general need for more supportive services, with African American households having the greatest overall need for housing and supportive services.
Among renter households in the City, very low income African American households have the greatest need, followed by very low income elderly households, low income elderly households, and low income large family households. Among owner households, very low income elderly homeowners have the greatest need, followed by low income African American households, and low income elderly households.
The 1990 Census indicates that the City of Suffolk had 20,011 year-round housing units, including 18,516 occupied units and 1,495 vacant units. Of the occupied units, 68% were owner units and 32% were rental units. The vacancy rate for rental units was 7.2%, compared to 1.7% for owner units. Despite seasonal fluctuations, vacancy rates appear to be decreasing over time.
Within the last two or three years, the City has experienced a building boom, issuing a record number of building permits for single family dwellings. The majority of new residential housing construction is occurring in northeastern Suffolk, as well as in scattered sites from northern Suffolk down to the inner-city area.
The 1990 Census also indicates that approximately 19% of the City's rental housing stock, and 15% of owner units, were classified in substandard condition. However, 16% of the substandard rental stock, and 14% of the owner housing stock are deemed suitable for rehabilitation.
The 1990 Census indicated that the median value for owner-occupied housing was $70,700 and the median contract rent was $250. Most of the new single family housing constructed in the past couple of years is beyond the reach of Suffolk's low and moderate income households. Construction of affordable multi-family housing has not kept pace with demand. Construction of more upscale single family housing is expected to be the trend for at least the next several years.
Households with incomes at or below 30% of the Median Household Income have the greatest housing cost burden. These residents are in critical need of some form of rental assistance/subsidy and affordable housing alternatives, as well as supportive services. Low and moderate income first-time home buyers are in need of downpayment assistance, home purchase and maintenance training, and financial counselling.
The homeless in Suffolk fall into several broad categories: transients; victims of domestic problems; substance abusers; and at-risk families. According to a 1992-93 study by the regional planning district commission, Suffolk had 543 persons in need of shelter during this period. Because of a lack of homeless service providers within the City, estimating the number and type of homeless individuals in the City at any given time is difficult.
Suffolk has two homeless shelters that can accommodate up to 23 persons or up to 7 families at any one time. Homeless individuals with substance abuse problems are referred to the regional mental health care facility for further assessment and treatment. The City's Social Services Department provides benefits eligibility assessments and referrals to other regional shelters for homeless individuals. There is a significant need for more transitional housing for single adults. More emphasis needs to be placed on providing sheltered persons with adequate training and supportive services to help them break the cycle of homelessness.
The City has 466 public housing units managed by the local redevelopment and housing authority. Of the 466 units, 142 are 0-1 bedroom, 190 are 2 bedrooms, and 134 are 3 or more bedrooms. The vacancy rate for public housing units is .2%. The local redevelopment and housing authority also administers the federal Section 8 rental assistance program. Section 8 vouchers and certificates are currently provided to 677 households in the City. None of the City's public housing units contain lead-based paint; however, many of the units are in need of modernization and rehabilitation. The waiting lists for Section 8 and public housing far outpace the available supply at any given time.
There continues to be a high demand for various types of supportive services among the special needs population in Suffolk. This population incudes the elderly, frail elderly, persons with disabilities, substance abusers, persons with HIV/AIDS and their families, and public housing residents.
The most readily identifiable barrier to affordable housing in Suffolk are the fees associated with getting a residence connected to the municipal water and sewer lines. These costs are generally passed on to the buyer by the developer. Another significant barrier to affordable housing is the high cost of much of the new housing constructed relative to median income in Suffolk. The need to rehabilitate the existing housing stock and provide assistance to first-time homebuyers are also perceived as barriers to affordability. The City continues to evaluate its policies on land development and residential regulation (i.e. zoning requirements, building and housing codes, permits and fees, taxes) to ensure that its policies are not impediments to affordable housing.
Under the Consolidated Plan, the City has certified that it will affirmatively further fair housing and will conduct an Assessment of Impediments to Fair Housing. Suffolk has joined several surrounding localities in trying to establish a HOME Program consortium, with funding to be provided through HUD. It is anticipated that the HOME consortium, if established, will assume responsibility for completing the Assessment of Impediments to Fair Housing and serve as a clearinghouse for fair housing investigations.
It is estimated that more than 75% of the homes constructed in Suffolk prior to 1978 contain lead-based paint. Of the City's 20,011 year-round housing units, 2,539 were built before 1940, 4,198 were built between 1940 and 1959, and 7,201 were built between 1960 and 1979. According to the local health department, there have been five cases of elevated lead levels in blood samples from children within the past year, but the causes of these elevated lead levels have not been correlated or pinpointed.
With a land area of 430 square miles, a primary concern for the City is to ensure that all residents in this diverse community have access to clean water and sanitary facilities. Steady progress is being made in extending municipal water and sewer lines to residents throughout the City. CDBG funding has enabled the City to expedite the provision of water and sewer infrastructure to low and moderate income areas. With proper water and sewage facilities available to its low and moderate income citizens, the City has been able to establish a foundation on which to address the goals of providing safe, decent and affordable housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities.
Coordination of activities under the Consolidated Plan will be led by the
City of Suffolk's Department of Management Services. The City's various
housing, community development and supportive service providers will work
individually toward achieving the overall five year goals. Where appropriate,
the lead agency will facilitate coordination and communication between the
agencies.
Suffolk's Consolidated Plan serves as a comprehensive planning tool for housing and community development efforts in the City. The Consolidated Plan was prepared as a collaborative effort between several City departments, other public agencies, local non-profit service providers and concerned individuals, supported by the Suffolk City Council, with the common interest of improving housing and supportive services in the City.
The provision of safe, decent and affordable housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities for citizens are the City's primary housing and community development objectives. Housing problems in Suffolk are primarily related to low income and substandard housing stock, except for special populations such as the elderly and large families. Housing objectives will focus on increasing the supply of affordable housing and rehabilitating the existing housing stock. Community development objectives will focus on expanding water and sewer infrastructure, revitalizing the central business district, providing adequate community and recreational facilities, and facilitating economic opportunities for low income citizens.
The City's priorities are as follows: assist very low, low and moderate income homeowners in rehabilitating substandard housing; modernize public housing units; rehabilitate substandard community facilities and infrastructure of benefit to very low, low and moderate income persons; provide first-time homeownership opportunities for low and moderate income households with children; maintain or increase the level of community supportive services available to very low, low and moderate income persons; and provide rental assistance to extremely low and very low income households.
Providing rental assistance for extremely low, and very low income small, large and elderly households will be a high priority over the next five years. Moderate priority is given to low income households in the same categories. The target number for increased assistance is 5,000 units in the next five years, funded through the Section 8 Program. Additionally, the City plans to facilitate affordable housing opportunities through the HOME Program, with the goal of assisting 100 households in the next five years.
There is a high priority need for senior centers, youth centers, child care centers, parks and recreational facilities and infrastructure improvements. The extension of City water and sewer lines to low and moderate income areas is also a high priority. Over the next five years, the City will fund projects in these categories through its capital improvements budget.
The City supports and will engage in activities designed to help alleviate poverty, with the following objectives in mind: enhance and increase economic development and employment opportunities; enhance educational opportunities; enhance job training and other marketable skills; provide household finance and money management opportunities; and provide incentives to those on public assistance to become self-sufficient.
Within the City, 22 federal, state, local and private programs currently provide services to the community. The primary federal resources include CDBG, Section 8, public housing, and various social services support programs (i.e. Title XIX, Food Stamps). Resources available through the state include social services support programs and housing assistance. Local resources include the City, the local redevelopment and housing authority, and lending institution community service programs and other non-profit initiatives.
The City of Suffolk's One-Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of approximately $1.3 million in CDBG and HUD public housing improvement funds.
The majority of projects in the One-Year Plan will occur in low and moderate income residential areas, largely in the inner-city and just north of this area. Project funds were allocated after receiving public input through the citizen participation process.
The lead agencies responsible for implementation of the One-Year projects are the City's Department of Management Services (for CDBG-funded projects); and the Suffolk redevelopment and Housing Authority (for public housing modernization funds).
The City will continue to pursue the establishment of a regional HOME Consortium through HUD and will continue to work with lending institutions, private developers, and non-profit community development corporations to expand the availability of safe, decent and affordable housing. The City's primary homeless shelter anticipates serving approximately 100 homeless mothers and fathers with children in the next year. The Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority will continue to provide rental assistance through Section 8 vouchers and certificates and housing opportunities through its public housing units. Priority is given to homeless persons for public housing units.
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.
Mark H. Woodward
Senior Administrative Analyst
City of Suffolk, Dept. of Management Services
441 Market Street, P.O. Box 1858
Suffolk, Virginia 23439
Ph. (804) 925-6339
Fax (804) 925-6386
