The Consolidated Plan contains the City of Kenosha's priority housing and non-housing community development needs and objectives for the five year period 1995-1999. It includes a one-year action plan for spending approximately $1.8 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and program income. These funds will primarily be spent on housing and neighborhood livability activities.
The City of Kenosha held one public hearing and invited citizens to attend
eight City Committee meetings during the Plan approval process. In addition,
the City involved many neighborhood groups and individuals during strategy
meetings for the development of the Enterprise Community application. This
process resulted in the development of needs, priorities and strategies for the
City's established neighborhoods which were then utilized during the
consolidated planning process.
The population of Kenosha has remained fairly stable during the last decade
with an increase from 77,685 residents in 1980 to 84,394 in 1994. Although the
population has remained relatively stable, the makeup of the population is
changing. Some significant shifts from 1980 to 1990 include increases in the
minority population from 6.1% to 10.2% (Blacks - 3.6% to 6.4%; Hispanic - 4.6%
to 5.9%), and increases in the percentage of families living below poverty from
6.4% to 10%. The City's unemployment rate, as of March 1995, was 7.7%. This is
somewhat above the statewide average of 4.6%, but comparable to the national
average of 7.5%.
According to 1990 Census data, Kenosha had 31,176 units of housing and 43% of the housing stock was constructed prior to 1949. Also based on 1990 Census data, 91% of the city's housing built before 1940 is occupied by very low and low income households. Owner-occupied units comprise the majority of occupied units at 62% while renter- occupied units comprise 38%. The 1990 data also indicates a rental vacancy rate of 4.78% and only 0.79% of the vacant housing units are for sale. An exterior windshield survey of 3,416 houses in the three low to moderate income neighborhoods, Columbus, Washington, and Wilson, found that 52% of the buildings were sound, 48% were substandard and 1% was not suitable for rehabilitation.
The priority housing needs were developed after consultation with local housing providers as well as utilizing the information contained in the 1994 Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) and the 1995 CHAS Annual Plan. Both of these Plans involved the surveying of the housing providers as to their goals for the period in which the Plans covered.
The City also used information from the U.S. Department of HUD pertaining to cost burden, physical defects and overcrowding when establishing the housing and homeless strategies, priority needs and objectives. Based on this data the City has established the following as housing needs: increased homeownership, rehabilitation of owner occupied housing, rehabilitation of renter occupied housing, new construction, and rental assistance.
In 1990, the median market value of single family homes was $58,700, with the cost of constructing a home, excluding the lot, was $87,060. As of October, 1994, Fair Market Rents were $340 for efficiencies, $422 for 1 bedroom, $518 for 2 bedroom, $710 for 3 bedroom, and $798 for 4 bedroom units.
Construction of housing in the area has been on the rise over the past several years due to substantial growth and development in the area. This is largely due to the City's location between the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan area and the lower housing costs, taxes, and overall cost of living in Kenosha.
The top priority for assistance is given to the groups which are disproportionate compared with that of the community at large. The following is a listing of groups which exhibit the most need:
The City of Kenosha contracted with the Planning and Design Institute to study the emergency shelter facility and service needs of the community. The study estimated that in 1993 there were 3,077 persons in need of emergency shelter facility services. Of these persons, nearly 55% were children age 18 or under and approximately 77% (of 60% of those using shelters) were members of a family of two or more persons. The study also found that nearly 20% of persons using the shelters did so for reasons related to domestic violence. The study data suggests that there is not an immediate need for additional "bed" capacity for the emergency shelters. The study also showed that while the City of Kenosha appears to be addressing the immediate need of the emergency or crisis situations, little concerted effort is being made to move families and individuals beyond the crisis stage.
The City of Kenosha has no public housing. However, the Kenosha Housing Authority (KHA) strives to ensure that the Section 8 Rent Assistance Program includes families with a broad range of incomes representative of the range of incomes of very low income families in the area. The KHA maintains a waiting list for the Section 8 program and the WHEDA Moderate Rehabilitation Program. There is a 2 - 5 year estimated wait for placement for the 909 applicants on the waiting list. The list was last opened in June, 1993. Through the City's experience with the rental assistance program, a need was identified to aid families in the subsidized rental assistance program to become economically self sufficient. To assist these lower income families, the KHA established a Family Self Sufficiency Program.
The current public policies relating to housing and, in particular, affordable housing do not appear to be excessive, exclusionary, or discriminatory nor do they duplicate any other polices. However, the City will continue to monitor those relevant public policies to ensure they do not change in such a manner as to constitute a barrier to affordable housing.
The City affirmatively furthers fair housing, which means it will conduct an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice within the City, take appropriate actions to overcome the effects of any impediments identified, and maintain records reflecting that analysis and actions. There are no current court orders, consent decrees, or HUD-imposed sanctions that affect the provision of fair housing remedies.
Of the 31,176 units of housing in Kenosha, 27,139 were built prior to 1980. For those 27,139 units, the following estimates are made: of the 8,867 very low income households - 7,077 have lead-based paint hazards, of the 15,405 low income households - 11,790 have lead-based paint hazards, and of the 3,047 other income households - 2,193 have lead-based paint hazards. The City's Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development has developed a procedure to identify potential lead-based paint hazards in projects completed as part of the City's housing rehabilitation program.
The City of Kenosha has established the non-housing community development needs as follows: neighborhood revitalization, economic development and jobs, public facilities, public services, removal of slums and blight, parks, recreation and cultural services, historic preservation, handicapped accessibility, and lakefront revitalization. The non-housing community development needs were developed through the Community Development Block Grant Needs and Objectives that have evolved over the life of the CDBG program.
The City of Kenosha is the lead agency and coordinates the consolidated
planning process with public and private agencies that provide assisted housing,
health services, and social services. In addition, the City holds public
meetings for interested citizens. The information obtained from these meetings,
from surveys, and from consultations with the agencies, such as the Kenosha
Housing Authority and Kenosha County Health Departments is used to develop the
needs, strategies, and objectives of this plan.
The primary objective of the City of Kenosha's Community Development program is to maintain the City as a viable urban community through the provisions of decent housing and a suitable living environment and the expansion and improvement of economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income.
The priority housing needs were developed after consultation with local housing providers as well as utilizing the information contained in the 1994 Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) and the 1995 CHAS Annual Plan. Both of these Plans involved the surveying of the housing providers as to their goals for the period in which the Plans covered. The City also used information from the U.S. Department of HUD pertaining to cost burden, physical defects and overcrowding when establishing the housing and homeless strategies, priority needs and objectives. Based on this date the City has established the following as the priorities for 1995; increased homeownership, rehabilitation of owner occupied housing, rehabilitation of renter occupied housing, new construction, and rental assistance.
The City of Kenosha has also established the non-housing community development needs and objectives for the following areas: neighborhood revitalization, economic development and job needs, public facility needs, public service needs, removal of slums and blight needs, parks, recreation and cultural service needs, historic preservation needs handicapped access needs, and lakefront revitalization needs.
Kenosha's market for owner-occupied housing units is quite tight, less than 1%, according to 1990 Census data. The City's philosophy is to promote homeownership to provide stability and improvement.
Emphasis will be placed upon rehabilitating housing units occupied by low income (0-80% MFI) households, particularly families.
Emphasis will be placed upon rehabilitating housing units occupied by very low income (0-50% MFI) households, particularly families.
The 1990 Census data indicates that large related renter households had a significant incidence for overcrowding as well a significant incidence for cost burden. Their housing needs may be assisted with rental assistance and a greater supply of larger affordable housing units.
Emphasis will be placed upon providing assistance to very low income (0-50% MFI) households, particularly families.
The priority non-housing community development needs are developed through the Community Development Block Grant Needs and Objectives that have evolved over the life of the CDBG program. The short term (one to two year period) objectives are listed below, the long term (three to five years) needs and objectives are listed in detail in the consolidated plan.
To provide citizens with viable neighborhoods and address those neighborhoods affected by blight and deterioration. Concentrating on the following Neighborhoods, Columbus Park, Lincoln Park, Washington Park and Wilson Heights, the short term objectives are: provide housing rehabilitation loans/grants, provide funding to non-profits to undertake housing rehabilitation and homeownership programs, develop and improve City parks, increase police patrols, resurface streets, replace curb and gutters, construct sidewalk ramps, eliminate dead-end streets, provide funding for Historic Preservation loans, improve exterior building conditions, and improve public utilities.
The City's industrial and commercial base must be maintained and expanded to sustain or increase the level of jobs, and increase the tax base. The short term objectives are: develop the underutilized lakefront property, improve neighborhood business areas, promote the creation of new jobs and the retention of existing jobs, improvement of downtown/uptown commercial districts, promote industrial expansion.
Improvements to public facilities are essential to revitalizing neighborhoods and maintaining an adequate level of city services to low and moderate income areas. The short term objectives are: replace deteriorated concrete sidewalks in city parks, improve City streets and sidewalks, resurface playgrounds in City parks, replace play equipment in City parks, install sidewalk ramps, replace deteriorated curb and gutter, upgrade deficient sanitary and waste sewers.
It is important to provide citizens with safe, clean, attractive, family supportive, service accessible, actively youth-involved neighborhoods. The short term objectives are: increase police patrols in low and moderate income areas, increase Fair Housing efforts, support youth programs, improve services for the homeless and special needs, assist in sheltering the homeless.
To provide citizens with viable neighborhoods, the short term objectives are: replace deteriorating sidewalks in City parks, resurface courts in City parks, develop/improve the lakefront, resurface asphalt streets, replace failed curb and gutter, renovate concrete streets, rehabilitate historically significant buildings, construct sidewalk ramps, improve City parks, improve public buildings, improve neighborhood business areas, remove blighted structures, improve building exteriors/facades, eliminate land use conflicts.
Parks and Park improvements must be in accordance with the Park Commission. The short term objectives are: improve the lakeshore, replace deteriorating sidewalks in City parks, resurface playgrounds in parks, resurface park courts, plant additional trees in parks, install new play equipment in parks.
The City has many structures of historical and architectural significance which need rehabilitation and recognition. The owners of historically and architecturally significant structures need assistance in their restoration, research and preservation. The short term objectives are: assist the Historic Preservation Commission, assist low and moderate income persons in housing restoration through the various housing rehabilitation programs, restore structures in historic districts, prepare historical studies, redesignate local landmarks under the new ordinance, protect historic sites, buildings and districts.
The City is located on the shore of Lake Michigan. The City's lakefront areas are presently in need of redevelopment. The short term objectives are: improve the lakeshore, provide public access along lakefront, redevelop lakefront areas, increase job opportunities, increase tax base.
The City has some physical and architectural barriers which make some facilities in the City inaccessible to handicapped and elderly persons. The short term objectives is to construct sidewalk ramps.
The City's strategy to reduce the number of Kenosha households below the poverty line includes a Family Self-Sufficiency program, a Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training program, a WorkFirst program, a Homeless Youth Program, and child care to assist parents living in emergency shelters to conduct job and housing searches.
Within the City of Kenosha, Federal, State, local and private programs provide resources to community. The primary Federal resources include CDBG, HOME, Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG), and Section 8. Resources available from the State include the Housing Cost Reduction Initiative (HCRI) and WHEDA funding. Other resources include a public/private partnership fund, the Kenosha Housing Partnership, which consists of the City (CDBG), local banks, and the Wisconsin Power and Light Company.
During the preparation of the consolidated plan, the City consulted with
public and private agencies that provide assisted housing, health services, and
social services. The City recently had an Emergency Shelter Facilities study
completed which involved the participation of homeless providers. Public
hearings were held during the preparation of the Enterprise Community Strategic
plan application and public meetings were also held to discuss the development
of strategies for the use of Community Development Block Grant and HOME program
funding. The City of Kenosha is the lead agency in this process.
The City's One-Year Action Plan outlines the proposed use of approximately $1,388,000 in CDBG funds, $508,000 in HOME funds, and $385,000 in program income. These funds will be spend mainly on economic development, public service, housing and neighborhood improvement and planning and management implementation activities, including:
All programs are conducted on a city-wide basis.
Projections are that the activities included in this Action Plan will improve the housing conditions for 1,138 households, including 320 designated as elderly households.
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, and proposed HUD funded projects.
