The City of Janesville, population 54,533, is the county seat for Rock County, which has a population of 143,108. Janesville is home to over 90 manufacturing companies including General Motors Truck and Bus Platform, SSI Technologies, Parker Pen Company, and Accudyne. The City has developed and maintains a wide variety of recreational facilities including a park system with more then 1,900 acres of facilities such as community parks, tennis courts, an arboretum, hiking, biking, cross-country ski trails, beaches, swimming pools, golf courses and a City-owned museum.
The City of Janesville's Consolidated Plan includes a coordinated housing and community development strategy for the five year period 1995 - 1999. It has been developed to achieve the goals of providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities primarily for low and very-low income residents. It includes a One-Year Action Plan for spending approximately $1 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and program income.
In developing this Consolidated Plan, the City of Janesville followed
procedures outlined in the Citizen Participation Plan adopted for the Community
Development Block Grant Program. All meetings at which the Plan was discussed
were open to the public and proper notice was given following the Wisconsin Open
Meeting Law. Documents were made available to the public at the Janesville
Public Library, 1900 S. Center Avenue, the Senior Citizen's Center, 69 S. Water
Street, and at the Municipal Building during normal operation hours. An initial
public hearing was held on June 15, 1994 to obtain citizen input on needs and
potential activities to be funded. On October 12, 1994, the Consolidated Plan
in draft form was made available to the public and a public hearing was held on
October 19, 1994. Comments were accepted until November 11, 1994.
Between 1980 and 1990, the population of Janesville grew 2% (or 1,139) from 51,071 to 52,210. Households increased by 10% (or 1,839) and the over age 65 population grew by 4.4% (or 162). The minority population of the city equals 2.7% of the total population and lives in every census tract in the community. Since 1980, the White population has grown by 1% and the minority population by 56%. Of that minority population, the Black population grew by 156%, the Hispanic population (all races) grew by 64%, the Native American population by 53%, and the Asian and Pacific Islanders population grew by 117%.
The City of Janesville has nine (9) block groups with 6,961 persons in which
more than 51% of the population has incomes below 80% of Rock County median
income. An additional five block groups with an additional 6,700 persons have
44.41% (the first quartile) of the households having incomes below 80% of the
median income. Minority persons live throughout the community and are not
concentrated in any one area. Between 1980 and 1990, median family income
grew by 65% while median rent increased by 100%. The median value of a house
grew by 18.6% and the average sales price increased 23.5%. There are 1,210
rental households with income below 30% of median family income and 1,089 with
incomes between 31% and 50%.
The analysis of housing conditions was based on a survey done by the City in 1988 and on 1990 census data. Based on this information, it was determined that 35% of owner- occupied units (or 877), 90% of renter-occupied (or 1,223) and 61% of the vacant units (or 203) built before 19940 were considered substandard for a total of 2,303 units. Of these units, 98% (or 859 owner-occupied, 1,199 renter-occupied and 199 vacant) are suitable for rehabilitation. Approximately 68% of the units in need of rehabilitation are located within the target area for the City's housing rehabilitation program.
The following housing needs have been identified:
Between 1980 and 1990, median family income grew by 65% while median rent grew by 100%. Median house value grew by 18.6% and average sales price increased by 23.5%. The shows that rental housing became more expensive while housing prices remained relatively low through 1990. The City of Janesville has a low vacancy rate. The 1990 Census indicated the vacancy rate for rental units was 3.9%.
The City has a wide range of home prices in both the owner and rental markets. The median sales price of a two-bedroom home in 1994 was $77,950, the median listing price was $90,000 - $99,000. According to the 1990 census data, median rent paid was $410. Between 1990 and 1994, 420 multi-family units have been added to the supply while the vacancy rate fell from 7.9% in 1990 to 5.1% in 1994. The new units being produced include both market rate buildings and projects with Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) support. 132 units have been built to date using LIHTC funding. Three new LIHTC projects with 134 units were under construction when this plan was prepared. There are a total of 554 project-based subsidized housing units funded by a variety of federal housing programs including Section 221(d)(3), Section 8 New Construction, Section 202, and Section 811. There are no vacancies in these projects and each one maintains a waiting list.
The City of Janesville and the Salvation Army with the assistance of 21 North Rock County social service agencies conducted a survey of homeless persons for two weeks in the Spring of 1993. The survey was conducted to determine if there was a need for the provision of a homeless shelter. The survey concluded that the current needs of the homeless in North Rock County were being met by existing programs of vouchers and other assistance. There was not enough unmet need to justify a homeless shelter. The 1990 Census counted 35 homeless persons in Janesville, all of whom were sheltered. Nearly one-third of those persons surveyed in 1993 indicated a need for short-term shelter of 1 to 7 days and about 36% stated shelter or permanent housing was needed for an indefinite period of time.
Employment was the most frequently identified need, followed by counseling services, nutritional/meals programs and physical health care.
The City of Janesville has no public housing. The Janesville Community Development Authority (CDA) administers the Section 8 Existing program. As of 1994, the CDA had funding authority to assist 472 families, using 307 Certificates and 165 Vouchers. Although there are usuallycertificates available, households coming to the top of the waiting list have shown a reluctance to accept a certificate as opposed to a voucher because of the difficulty in finding units in the city with rents below the Fair Market Rent limit set by HUD.
In 1991, the City of Janesville Planning Department completed an analysis of barriers to affordable housing. The analysis showed that the City of Janesville has not taken public policy positions, nor has it adopted ordinances which would unnecessarily increase the cost of residential housing.
The City of Janesville has an active Community Housing Resources Board which was created in 1980 to work with he Board of Realtors in implementing the Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement. The City also adopted a revised Fair Housing Ordinance in 1988 which provides for investigation and settlement of complaints. There are no institutional barriers to fair housing.
Based on national statistics, there are potentially 12,002 housing units in the City of Janesville that have some level of lead-based paint. Of these, 4,032 are renter-occupied and 7,970 are owner-occupied. It is estimated that there are 1,478 very low income (below 50% MFI) renter-occupied households, 762 other low income (50 - 80% MFI) renter-occupied households, 1,104 very low income owner-occupied households and 526 other low income owner-occupied households living in units with some level of lead-based paint.
Specific Community Development needs which are anticipated to be addressed using CDBG funds over the next 5 years are :Downtown Redevelopment, including demolition of blighted buildings, acquisition of contiguous parcels to be made available for redevelopment, increased safety, and public infrastructure improvements; Economic Revitalization, including creation of jobs for low and moderate income persons, provision of land for new or expanded facilities, or loans for acquisition of buildings or equipment; and Neighborhood Revitalization Activities, including code enforcement, demolition of blighted structures, neighborhood park redevelopment, traffic safety improvements, increasing handicapped accessibility, solving traffic problems and providing open space along the Rock River.
Other social-type needs are health services for very low income persons with no insurance, youth facilities and recreational services, community outreach or social work services, child care, tenant/landlord counseling, employment training, transportation services, substance abuse, and historic preservation.
The Community Development Department administers the CDBG program and the
Section 8 Rental Assistance Programs. The other major means of coordination is
the Emergency and Transitional Housing Task Force and the Central City Working
Group. In addition, a county-wide information and referral system is being
developed. The City has good working relationships with the County and State
agencies and works with the four surrounding townships through the Metropolitan
Planning Organization.
The City's vision for change focusses on the central city area. Specifically it includes downtown revitalization to facilitate the change from a commercial center to an office/ institutional base along with increasing residential uses, as well as residential neighborhood revitalization. The neighborhood activities are targeted to making the central city a good place to live by attacking the problems of housing decay and the physical and social needs of the residents. Activities include residential rehabilitation; spot blight elimination; code enforcement; infrastructure improvements including streets, sidewalks, and parks; and social and health care needs. The business loan program provides loans to businesses which result in creation of jobs for low and moderate income persons.
In developing this consolidated plan strategy, the City reviewed current market and community conditions. The construction of new rental units is continuing. The cost of rental housing has increased more than the average household income between 1980 and 1990. There is a shortage of large-family (3 or more bedrooms) rental units. Increased code enforcement is necessary to maintain and improve the quality of the older housing stock. The older housing stock is most affordable, but also need rehabilitation. Homeownership has been decreasing in the older areas leading to a more transient population and decreased neighborhood stability. All of these factors influenced the development of this strategy.
The priority given to the Priority Housing Needs of Renter and Owner households is based on the numbers and percent of those falling into each of the categories. A percentage greater than 50% of the population was given a high need; between 20% and 50% was given a medium need and below 20% was given a low need.
Highest priorities were given to small and large family renter households, elderly renter households, and homeowners with incomes 0 - 50% of median family income and housing cost burdens > 30% and > 50%; elderly renters with incomes 51 - 80% of MFI with housing cost burdens of >30%; large family renters with incomes 0 - 30%MFI and physically defective homes or living in overcrowded conditions.
Homeless needs were given a high priority because there is no overall system for a continuum of care and no permanent shelter except for those victims of domestic abuse. The City is working with the Emergency and Transitional Housing Task Force to develop a system for addressing homelessness.
Priority Community Development needs were not ranked. The balance between what is available and what is needed, versus what is desirable has not been defined. In addition, there is always the question as to who should be providing a service or facility. The City Council makes a number of these decisions in the development of the annual city budget and the capital improvement program. The City uses a variety of tools to meet its community development needs. Besides federal and state programs, these include Tax Increment Financing. Specific categories of needs to be addressed over the next five years include downtown redevelopment, economic revitalization, and neighborhood activities.
The major program for reducing the number of households with incomes below the poverty line is the Section 8 Family Self-Sufficiency program. As the City obtains more experience with this program, other possibilities may arise. In addition, several of the programs being funded by the CDBG program should have a positive impact on the reduction of poverty. These include the tutoring project of the Boys and Girls Club, the Wilson School Social Worker, the Local Economic Development Revolving Fund, the Community Outreach Program, and the funding for Healthnet.
The major public resources available to the City include CDBG, Section 108 Loan Program, Section Rental Assistance Program, Tax Increment Financing Programs, Wisconsin Rental Rehabilitation Program, HOPE 3 Program, Low Income Housing Preservation Program, Section 811, Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation, Supportive Housing for the Elderly, Supportive Housing, Public Housing Demonstration and Supplemental Assistance to Assist the Homeless.
Resources currently available through the State of Wisconsin include the Housing Cost Reduction Initiatives Program, HOME Programs, Rental Energy Program, Emergency Shelter Grant, Lead Based Paint Abatement, Multi-Family Rental Housing Development and Preservation, Housing for Handicapped Homeless, Transitional Housing for Homeless, Historic Preservation Tax Credits, Community Housing Alternatives Program, Mental Health Services for the Homeless, Community Options Program, State Shelter Subsidy Funds, Transitional Housing Operating Funds, Emergency Assistance for Homeless, Low Income Energy Assistance, Low Income Weatherization, Local Housing Organization Grant program.
Private resources include the Heartland Development Corporation, the YWCA, local lenders, private developers for commercial projects, Community Action, Inc., and the Private Industry Council.
Several Nonprofit organizations are involved in the City, including ECHO, Lutheran Social Services, Community Action, Inc., Habitat for Humanity, Heartland Properties, Inc., and the YWCA.
While state and federal resources are listed as available, it should be noted that the majority of these are competitve programs for which there is no guarantee of funding. The City generally applies for the State HCRI and HOME programs and additional Section 8 units, Historic Preservation Tax Credits and other tax credits are only available to the private sector.
Most of the funding sources to be used by the City are administered by the
Community Development Department. Staff works with other city departments to
implement activities and monitor progress.
The City's One Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of approximately $722,000 in CDBG funds and $249,000 in program income. These funds will be spent on Housing Rehabilitation, Downtown Slum/Blight Elimination, Expanded Police Protection, Neighborhood Activities, Residential Blight Elimination, Local Homeownership Program, and Business Loan Program, including:
The central city is the target area for most housing related programs because it is the area of greatest need. Elderly and handicapped persons anywhere in the city are eligible for rehabilitation loans. The homeownership program is available anywhere in the city; however, there are additional programs for housing in the central city area.
The Community Development Department is the lead agency for the CDBG program and the Section 8 program. Most other programs and services are provided by other public and nonprofit agencies. The Community Development Department has good working relationships with these other agencies.
Highlights of the City of Janesville's housing goals for the first year include 18 households assisted to become homeowners, 45 owner and renter households assisted with housing rehabilitation loans, the resolution of 525 code violations, the acquisition and demolition of 5 blighted properties, and the construction of 30 new units of housing.
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.
