Spokane County was entitled for receipt of an annual allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds in 1988. In 1991 the County also became entitled for HOME Investment Partnership funds. The jurisdiction is entitled as an Urban County Entitlement and is comprised of a large unincorporated area and 10 small cities. Activities are selected and funds are allocated for all activities through an annual competitive request for proposal process.
The Spokane County Consolidated Plan describes how Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Entitlement funds and other available resources will be used in the small cities and unincorporated areas of Spokane County to address affordable housing and community development needs. The plan provides a strategy for improving the quality of local communities and the standard of living for persons who are lower income.
This Consolidated Plan Provides an inventory of housing resources, an overview of housing ownership and rental trends, and identification of gaps in needed housing services. It identifies and prioritizes local affordable housing, infrastructure, public facility, economic development, public services, historic preservation, planning, and other Community Development and Housing needs. The Plan contains the County's strategies, goals and objectives which will direct the expenditure of federal CDBG and HOME funds for the next five years. It identifies and describes proposed projects for the 1995 Program Year and allocates over $2.6 million in 1995 federal funds.
The primary method to involve citizens in the Community Development and HOME Programs is the use of a 20 member Citizen Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee review proposals and makes funding recommendations to the County. Application selection criteria, program objectives and policies and other program aspects are reviewed and adopted by this public group.
The Community Development Advisory Committee conducted two public meetings to provide an opportunity for citizens to identify and prioritize needs. Each of the 10 small cities which comprise the entitlement consortium conducted their own public hearings to inform area citizens about the Programs. The Community Development Division surveyed over 250 entities to request information regarding housing and community development needs. To ensure that the Plan addressed a variety of needs the Division meet with the City of Spokane, Spokane Housing Authority, all 10 local municipal governments, over 15 special purpose districts, local CHDO's, community action agencies, the County Health District and other County Departments to identify needs.
A narrative brief on the Plan was published in the Spokesman Review
Newspaper on January 26, 1995 to announce the beginning of a 30 day public
comment period. On February 13, 1995 the Division and the Community Development
Advisory Committee conducted a public hearing for the purpose of obtaining
public comment on a DRAFT Consolidated Plan. The Community Development Advisory
Committee on February 23, 1995 considered all public comments prior to adopting
the Plan. The final proposed Plan was forwarded to the Board of Spokane County
Commissioners for their (and the public's) consideration and comment on or about
March 14, 1995. Copies of the Plan are available at the Division and at local
libraries. Over 200 copies have been distributed to interested organizations
and individuals.
Spokane County has a population of 366,000 persons. Approximately 49% of the County's population resides within the City of Spokane. The City of Spokane has its own entitlements for CDBG and HOME funds and this document does not affect any planning completed by that jurisdiction. The unincorporated area has about 46% of the County's population. The remaining 5% of County residents live within the ten small cities of Airway Heights, Cheney, Deer Park, Fairfield, Latah, Medical Lake, Millwood, Rockford, Spangle, and Waverly. Approximately half of the County's population (excluding the City of Spokane) live in the unincorporated Spokane Valley area and 19,000 residents live in the ten small cities and over 4,800 people live at Fairchild Air Force Base. Spokane County residents live in dense unincorporated neighborhoods, low density suburban developments, small cities of 100 to 8,000 persons, and rural areas.
70% of the population of the unincorporated area and small cities is made up of small families (,less than 4 persons) and 11% are large families of more than five persons. Elderly households make up approximately 21% of the County's households. The County has approximately 10,179 residents who are members of an ethnic minority group. Spokane County's ethnic and racial minority population is increasing at a faster rate than the general population. Since 1980, the minority population in the unincorporated area and small cities has increased by 38%, while the general population increased by 10% in the same time period.
Nearly half (45%) of the minority population in Spokane County reside outside the City of Spokane. This figure is even higher for specific minority groups. Over half of the Hispanic population (52%) reside outside the City of Spokane. Together, the minority population makes up almost 6% of the unincorporated area and small city population of the County. Much of the minority population is young (under the age of 18). The majority of Spokane County's minority-headed households (54%) are renters. Spokane County has no significant areas of low income or racial concentration.
More than 7,800 County households have incomes of less than 50% of the area median income. 74% of the very low-income renter households and 28% of very low- income homeowners are paying an excessive portion of their income for housing. The number of very low-income renters in Spokane County is expected to increase by 600- 700 during the next five years.
Spokane County has almost 11,000 low income households (51% - 80% of the Spokane area median income). 5,300 of these low income households own their own home and the balance are renters. 6,000 low-income Spokane County households pay more than 30% of their income for housing and 2,600 of these households pay 50% or more of their income for housing. A third of both renters and owner- occupants pay more than 30% of their income for housing.
More than 5,700 County households have an income at 81% to 95% of median
family and 2/3 of those households are homeowners. 23% of those households pay
an excessive portion of their income for housing.
The average monthly rent for a two-bedroom/single bath unit increased from $298 in 1988 to $534 in 1994, representing a 79% increase. Larger units are rented for considerably higher amounts, from $390 in 1988 to $688 in 1994 . Average rents for units are widely variable throughout the County, ranging from $534 (for an average two bedroom unit) in the Spokane Valley to $325 in the town of Fairfield.
The average household earning 30% of the median family income can only afford to pay $238 per month for a typical 2 bedroom rental unit. Rent charged for that unit averages $534 per month. Likewise, those households at 50% of the median family income would have $397 per month available for housing and the average household in the 80% of median income bracket would have $635 a month for housing costs.
From 1988 to 1994 the average sales price for new and existing housing increased from $53,601 to $102,848, a 91.90% change. The rate of home ownership in Spokane County has decreased from 69% in 1970 to 64% in 1994.
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The Spokane County Community Development Block Grant and HOME Program will provide incentives for Citizens, area governments, and organizations to develop a consensus on how CDBG and HOME funds can be responsibly and prudently used to improve the urban, rural and small City neighborhoods of Spokane County.
The principles of environmental guardianship, nurturing of work ethic, preservation of families and communities of people, protection of those who are unable to protect themselves, and development of opportunities which open options to all those who wish to improve their community and home environments will provide the keystone for consensus actions.
The purpose of the Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) is to expand the supply of decent, affordable housing for low and very low, and extremely low income families, build local capacity to carry out affordable housing programs, and to provide for coordinated assistance to participants in the development of affordable low-income housing.
Spokane County will address public facilities needs by: 1) Providing an adequate, good quality supply of water through upgrading source, distribution and storage systems, 2) Providing adequate and safe collection and treatment of sewage, 3) Reducing the number of unpaved streets in residential areas and providing an adequate sidewalk system in areas where pedestrian safety is in jeopard, 4) Improving existing park and recreation facilities and increasing recreational opportunities in unserved areas, 5) Increasing the accessibility of public facilities by removing architectural barriers, 6) Restoring properties which have special historic, architectural, or aesthetic value, 7) Undertaking other activities which revitalize deteriorating or deteriorated neighbor hoods.
Spokane County will address economic development needs by; 1) Providing low interest loans to new or existing businesses which will create or retain jobs available to lower income persons in areas in which affordable and decent housing and other needed supportive services are available to workers, 2) Providing skills training, job placement and other activities which promote employment for lower income persons, and 3) Providing local infrastructure improvements including transportation facilities, child care facilities, paved roads, utilities services, or rehabilitation of commercial structures which are essential to development of industrial and other business activities.
Spokane County will address planning needs by funding water system planning, sewer lagoon planning, Growth Management Act mandates, activities which address fair housing needs or increase the capacity of local governmental entities and not-for- profits to conduct needed affordable housing and community development activities.
The Spokane County Consolidated Plan contains a table listing several dozen federal, state and local government sources in addition to various private resources available to increase the level of resources to address high priority housing and community development needs.
Community Development Block Grant and HOME projects which meet identified needs are prioritized in several ways. Small Cities establish their own priorities through their own citizen participation process. Activities which address the identified needs of special purpose districts or other governmental entities are prioritized by the proposing entity based on long range plans and individual citizen participation processes. Needs which have been reported by other entities (individuals or enterprises responding to survey requests or in attendance at public hearings) are prioritized by Division staff, the Community Development Citizen Advisory Committee, and the County Commissioners. Prioritization generally follows the following criteria:
Listed below are a sample of projects. Over 58 projects will be undertaken during the 1995 Program Year.
MILLWOOD, TOWN OF - SEWER CONNECTION PROGRAM- Connection of single family owner-occupied housing units to the community centralized sewage collection and treatment system. Forty homes will be connected. $76,000 in 1995 CDBG funds have been obligated to the project. Millwood is an incorporated Town in census tract 105.01 and is located in the central, eastern part of Spokane County.
AIRWAY HEIGHTS, CITY OF - TRAFFIC LIGHT INSTALLATION- The City proposes to install traffic lights to handle vehicular traffic and protect pedestrians who are currently crossing a four lane highway which has no marked or lighted safety egress. $115,000 in CDBG funds have been allocated to the project. The City of Airway Heights is 66.7% LMI and 772 households will benefit from the improvements. Airway Heights is located in census tract 104.01 in the western part of Spokane County.
CARNHOPE IRRIGATION DISTRICT WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT- The district proposes to install 300 feet of 10-inch water main to connect mains. The project will improve area fireflow and potable water sources. All 1,750 district residents, including 1013 persons below 80% of MFI will benefit from the improvements. Carnhope Irrigation District is located in census tract 123 in the eastern urban, unincorporated area of Spokane County. $23,400 in 1995 CDBG funds will be provided.
SNAP FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS PROGRAM Down payment and home buying assistance will be provided to lower income first time buyers. Buyers will receive 6 hours of training to qualify for the Housekey Program, Fannie Mae's Community Homebuyers Program, DAP, or private lender's Home Partners Program. HOME funds will be used for ownership assistance, down payments and closing costs. $28,056 in 1995 HOME and an additional $121,944 in unobligated 1994 HOME funds will be provided to the project. SNAP is a Spokane County CHDO. SNAP administrative offices are located at 2116 East First Avenue, Spokane County. Homes may be purchased in any area of Spokane County.
SPOKANE FOOD BANK- CDBG funds will provide for purchase, re-packaging, shipping, storage & distribution of food at local distribution sites throughout Spokane County. $24,569 in 1995 CDBG funds have been allocated. Over 40,000 persons below 80% of MFI will receive food. Spokane Food Bank is located at 1234 E. Front Ave, Spokane, WA 99202.
The County will fund several projects which address physical accessibility for persons with disabilities to public buildings to ensure that such persons have full access to needed services. Projects include improving the Medical Lake City Hall, park restrooms in Cheney and Rockford and a community swimming pool in the Spokane Valley area. NOVA, a sheltered workshop for developmentally disabled persons will be rehabilitated to make work stations and areas accessible for workers with limited mobility. The Salvation Army SAFE Center for homeless families will be rehabilitated to ensure that emergency shelter facilities are available to County residents in crisis.
The Advisory Committee recommended human service projects which primarily serve low, very low, and extremely low income persons in the unincorporated areas and small cities of Spokane County. The Committee also considered the cost per person of the activity in relationship to other similar activities, the availability and use of other funding sources, and the degree to which the activity provides services that are effective, appropriate, and necessary to the beneficiary.
The SNAP Homeless Center has been funded to provide shelter and emergency assistance through provision of case management to homeless families. Funding has been provided to the Alternatives to Domestic Violence Program for providing shelter, legal advocacy and emergency intervention services to families who are in crisis due to domestic violence. Dominican Outreach Transitional Living Center provides transitional housing and supportive services to formerly homeless, single parents and their children Single Parent Outreach has been funded to provide vocational and educational opportunities and support to single parents and their families.
Recommended human service activities also include those which provide preventative services for persons or households who are at risk of becoming homeless or provide services to those persons who are homeless. Such projects include Spokane Legal Services for persons at risk for losing their shelter, income or utilities. Community Centers have been recommended for funding in Medical Lake, Cheney (Cheney Ecumenical), Airway Heights (West Plains Community Center), and county wide services provided through Cancer Patient Care. These programs and centers provide services which assist persons with basic subsistence by providing hot meals, health clinics, nutrition supplements, educational programs, crisis intervention, family programs and/or child care, and other essential human services to homeless persons, elderly, minority, disabled, and lower income persons and children. Lilac Blind Association which provides support to elderly persons with low vision and the North County Transportation Program which provides transportation where no public service is available ensure that persons at risk may live independently in their own homes.
Spokane County will provide HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance to households which meet national selection and local priority criteria. Beneficiaries are usually large families, develop mentally disabled or chronically mentally ill persons who are homeless or reside in substandard housing. HOME Funds will also be provided during 1995 to Inland Empire Residential Resources to develop affordable rental units for persons with developmental disabilities.
Homeless and very low income families will be provided the opportunity to obtain ownership of their own home through SNAP's Airway Towers Project and Homeownership Programs. CDBG funds have been provided to the Spokane Neighborhood Action Program's Minor Home Repair Program to fund emergency repairs that prevent lower income homeowners from becoming homeless due to unsafe or unhealthy housing conditions.
Assistance will be provided to over 300 households who cannot afford to connect to community infrastructure systems. Through the City of Millwood's and Spokane County's Community Aquifer Protection Assistance (CAPA) Program many households are improved by providing assistance with $3,500 sewering assessments and/or sewer system connection costs averaging $1,600 each.
MAP 2 depicts points of interest and Low and Moderate Income Area Outlined.
MAP 3 depicts Low and Moderate Income Area Outlined and Areas of Minority Concentration.
MAP 4 depicts Low and Moderate Income Area Outlined and Percentage of Unemployment.
MAP 5, MAP 6, MAP 7, and MAP 8 depicts Neighborhood Level Project maps.
Jan Neidig-Leeper
Ph: (509) 458-2521