The City of Pasco is one of three cities known as the Tri-Cities located in Southeastern Washington. Pasco is known as the transportation hub of Southeastern Washington and is located at the convergence of two major rivers, the Columbia River and the Snake River.
The City of Pasco's 1995 Consolidated Plan presents a strategic vision for housing and community development in the greater Pasco area. It includes a one year action plan for spending approximately $660,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Program Income funds in 1995. These funds will primarily be spent on housing and improving the neighborhood facilities located in low and moderate income neighborhoods.
In 1994, HUD introduced a new process called the Consolidated Plan. This plan calls for a single comprehensive process to analyze needs, develop strategies, and submit action plans for activities funded under four separate programs in HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development. These programs are Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). It is the City of Pasco's intent to pose a new citizen participation process in 1995. It will begin implementing the citizen participation process through 1995, refining and improving it throughout the year so it is in normal operation in 1996. this citizen participation will have the following components:
The City will maintain regular communication with the surrounding jurisdictions to keep them informed about Pasco's Community Development Work.
The City will identify community agencies, housing authorities, and other
entities who provide services to Pasco citizens and ask them to serve as a
consortium which will periodically advise the City on housing and community
development needs.
According to the 1990 Census, the City of Pasco had a population of 20,337.
The City of Pasco is a part of Franklin County which had a population, according
to the 1990 Census, of 37,473. Pasco's population has increased by 13 percent
between 1980 and 1990. The elderly population of Pasco has increased
substantially since the 1980 Census. People age 65 and over have grown from 10
percent of the population to 11.9 percent of the population in Pasco. Minority
families make up approximately 40 percent of the City's population. This is an
increase from 20 percent shown in the 1980 Census. A vast majority of this
increase is the hispanic community. Fifty-seven percent of all households in
Franklin County are low to moderate income households.
Although some diversification of the economy base has occurred over the last 10 years, 51 percent of the jobs are provided by major employers, as reported by the Chamber of Commerce for the cities of Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland. We are still directly related to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation activities. The City of Pasco has seen a greater diversification as its economy is centered in farm related activities. Franklin County's unemployment rate remains above the national average, reflecting a 20.4 percent decrease in Hanford related employment over the past year.
Several critical housing needs are identified in the consolidated plan:
Of all the low income groups, large families of five persons or more have the hardest time in finding a suitable dwelling and affordability of such a dwelling.
Much of the housing stock in the City of Pasco dates back to the 1940's. Many of these homes have never been approved and remain in need of permanent foundation, improved electrical service, heating systems, and weatherization. It has been estimated that between 20 and 30 percent of all homes in the City's core residential area were substandard and need some form of rehabilitation.
Virtually no affordable multi-family units have been constructed in the City of Pasco in the last 10 years. One bright note is that the vacancy rate has risen dramatically in the last year to approximately 10 percent due to the lay-offs in the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
Although vacancy rates have risen in the past year and a half, which means rents have stabilized and in some areas decreased, they are still beyond the price range of most low income households. In Franklin County, 50 percent of all renter households have incomes of less than 50 percent of median. Of these, 59 percent are below 30 percent of medium. Of the families that have incomes of less than 30 percent of medium, 80 percent are having housing problems and 72 percent are cost burdened.
Information on the needs of homeless families in Pasco comes mainly from the number of requests received by the Pasco Housing Authority. In addition to the Pasco Housing Authority, temporary shelter is provided by the Salvation Army and Tri-Cities Union Gospel Mission, both located in Pasco. The vast majority of homeless served are transitional. Although these shelters are consistently full, the program director states there is always room for those in need.
The Pasco Housing Authority owns and operates 280 rental units of various sizes for qualified low income families. In addition, they manage a 60 unit apartment complex for the elderly and disabled.
Tri-Cities low cost housing operates Arbor Elm Apartments, a 104 unit apartment complex for the low income. Both of these projects are consistently full.
The Pasco Housing Authority is able to assist approximately 194 families with HUD's Section 8 rental assistance program. The Housing Authority consistently has over 100 families on the Section 8 waiting list. Preference is given to families that have a rent and utility burden greater than 50 percent of their family income.
Lack of affordable housing is one of the most critical housing problems in the Pasco area. Over the last year and a half, the City has reviewed its policies to assist with encouraging affordable housing. In 1994, the City amended its zoning regulations with respect to modular homes. The amendment will include new definitions for modular homes and create provisions that would permit modular homes throughout the community. In other activities the City has created a binding site plan process that could be used for the establishment of condominium type lots to cover development costs. The City has also worked with local developers in establishing a non-traditional sub division that will create more affordable building lots.
The City of Pasco is continuing to work with the Pasco Housing Authority to ensure fair housing regulations for all citizens. There are no current court orders, consent decrees, or HUD imposed sanctions that affect the provision of fair housing remedies.
The City of Pasco will follow HUD guidelines in evaluation possible lead-based paint problems in all proposed housing rehabilitation for 1995.
Beyond our programs to help the low income housing needs in the community,
the City of Pasco has concentrated a great deal of effort to improve the
neighborhood facilities to serve low income families. With the use of CDBG
funds, the City of Pasco has completed the construction of the new civic center
which will be used to provide recreational activities for low to moderate income
families. The City of Pasco has also upgraded a majority of parks in low to
moderate income areas and has provided counselors to run recreational programs
for low income families.
The overall goal of the City of Pasco is to increase the supply of housing stock through rehabilitation of existing housing units and the provision of rental assistance to alleviate the rental cost burden of low income families and individuals along with increasing the opportunity of home ownership for low income families.
It is also the goal of the City of Pasco to improve its existing recreational centers and construct new activity centers for low to moderate income families.
It is the priority of the City of Pasco to improve its existing housing stock by its ongoing rehabilitation program. It is also possible for the home owner to upgrade their housing unit.
Home ownership for low to moderate income families is a major priority for the City of Pasco. To help foster home ownership for low income persons, the City is selling surplus residential lots in East Pasco to private developers at below market valuation. It is required that these developers build affordable housing for low to moderate income people. the average selling price per dwelling is approximately $60,000.
Rental payment assistance has become an important component of our housing program through the Pasco Housing Authority. Approximately 50 percent of all renter households are at or below 50 percent of median income. These households are most at risk of paying more than 30 percent of the income for housing.
Improving existing public facilities and constructing new public facilities for low to moderate income people has become an important component in the community's CDBG program. These projects could include community park improvements, recreational and use center improvements, infrastructure improvement or new construction of all of the above.
The City is working with the Pasco Housing Authority to create an initiative of self sufficiency for public housing residents. This is an ongoing process.
The City of Pasco works closely with local lending institutions and private developers in creating affordable housing programs for the low to moderate income people.
The City and the Pasco Housing Authority will participate in an annual
Housing Needs Seminar conducted by the Southeastern Washington Office of Aging
and Long Term Care. The purpose is to share information on needs and strategies
to help meet needs.
The City of Pasco's One-Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of approximately $660,000 in CDBG funds in addition to program income. These funds will be spent mainly in the following areas:
A vast majority of projects for 1995 to be funded by the CDBG program will be located in low to moderate income neighborhoods.
The City of Pasco will be the lead agency for the majority of the projects in 1995. The community action center will provide the lead for the low to moderate income housing project in East Pasco, combining private developers.
The City of Pasco's housing goals for 1995 include: to rehabilitate 8 housing units, provide funds to assist five single family residences for low to moderate income people, and to provide rental assistance to approximately 194 low income families through HUD's Section 8 Program.
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.
Jeff Bailie
Ph (509) 545-3441
