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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-06-1996 - VII-A a 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda Item No �- ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 6, 1996 SUBJECT: Orange County Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development -------------------------------- ------------------------------- DEPARTMENT: Housing/Community Dev. PUBLIC HEARING YES_x_ NO Budget Amendment YES NO x -------------------------------- ------------------------------- ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT Tara L. Fikes, 2490 Executive Summary TELEPHONE NUMBER Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Mebane 227-2031 Durham 688-7331 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- PURPOSE : To receive comments from the public regarding the housing and non-housing needs included in the 1995 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development Programs in Orange County and proposed uses of 1996-97 HOME funds . BACKGROUND: In 1995, a Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development Programs in Orange County was developed and approved by the U.S . Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) . This document details the housing needs of very low income, low income and moderated income families and special population groups in addition to outlining the strategies and plans for addressing those needs. The Consolidated Plan is required for all communities receiving HOME funds and CDBG entitlement funds (Chapel Hill) . Each year local communities are required to reassess the needs of the community. This public hearing provides an opportunity for citizens, public agencies and other interested parties to provide input into the plan. In addition, the public is asked to comment on proposed uses of anticipated 1996-97 HOME funds. In order to inform the general public of this opportunity and encourage participation, notices have been placed in the Chapel Hill Herald and sent to local non-profit agencies. RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends receiving comments as information. 4 2 i S. Department or Hou"V and urban Development once of Community Planning and oevebpmena Orange County Consolidated Plan for 1995 Citizen's Summary Located In North Carolina, Orange County includes not only the towns of Carftro and Hillsborough, but also Chapel Hill, the home of the largest campus of the State university. The presence of university students, more aftent and transient than other county residents, has created an imbalance In terms of housing and community development needs Orange County must; therefore, concentrate its efforts on serving a strong urban community and nasal areas as well. Action Plan The Consolidated Plan for Orange County has a total budget of nearly$1.1 million, of which $468,000 comes from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)funds and $500,000 from HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds (with$112,5Q0 in applicant match). Citizan Participation Development of the Consolidated Plan for Orange County was undertaken by a staff working group that included a representative from each municipal/county jurisdiction throughout the region. Having developed a draft plan, the working group presented it to the public for comment. Copies of the draft were available at the following locations: Chapel Hill Town Hall, Chapel Hill Public library, Carrbom Town Hall, Orange County Department of Housing and Community Development, Orange County Library, and Hillsborough Town Hall. in addiction to an advertisement describing the plan published in the Chapel Hill Herald, notices were mailed to members of all human service agencies, housing nonprofit board members, and the Chapel Hill Housing Advisory Committee members, informing them of the availability of this document for comment. The Chapel Hill Town Council held two public hearings to elicit citizen comments, and the Orange County Board of Commissioners held one public hearing. COMMUNITY PROFILE In I=1 the population of Orange County was 92,572. Of that numbor, 81 percent were white, 16 percent were African American, and 4 percent were other minority groups.Although the Asian-America and Pacfic Islander population constituted less than 1 percent of the total population, approximW*71 percent of the county's new Asian-American population resided in Chapel HiII. J 3 According to the 1990 census, 9,932 of all households in Orange County were considered very low income, with incomes between 0-50 percent of median family income (MFQ. With the exception of whites, a disproportionate percentage among all other racial groups was very low income, ranging from 37 percent of the Native-American population to 44 percent of the Atrtc:an-American population. HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS condidom ,• The high cost of homeownership has forced merry families to purchase housing in other counties and commute into Orange County for work.The inflation of the rental market by University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) students has caused hardships for femiBes with Incomes below 50 percent of MFI. larger rental units are particularly scarce. Market Condhkms Although the median value of a new home was$147,577 in 1990, among the highest in the State, the median Income for a family of four was$46,800. Because of this imbalance,the majority of residents cannot afford to buy a home within the county limits. The availability of basic rental units was also a major concern, especially in the Chapel HiII/Carrboro area. Many UNC-CH students have the financial means to compete with very low- and low-income residents for the least expensive housing.The scarcity of three-bedroom or more units has made it difficult for large families to find adequate housing. Affordable Housing Needs According to the 1990 census, Orange County had the highest percentage of very low- income households with housing problems in North Carolina; 77 percent of residents in this category cite cost burden and overcrowding as major issues. The county had 12,012 low- income households, of which 5,189 were kmated in Chapel Hill. According to a 1989 report from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center. 1,052 units In Orange County lacked indoor plumbing. The lack of affordable housing forced renters to live in substandard units. Housing problems were reported in 66 percent of very low-income households, and 97 percent of large families were forced to live In overcrowded, substandard units. The majority of the 3.919 homeowners In this Category were cost burdened, paying between 31-50 percent of their income on housing. The 7,070 other low4ncorne residents, who earned 51-80 percent of MFi, experienced fewer housing problems. Approximately 36 percent of the low-income renters in Orange County and 43 percent of those in Chapel Hill had housing problems. Homeless Needs l 4 The numbers of homeless persons in Orange County have increased dramatically. From January 1 through December 1, 1994,the kterFaith Council Community House reported serving 879 individuals, of whom 2 out of 3 were males. Of this number, S36 were African American, 272 were white, and 62 were Hispanic. An additional 12,000 families, mostly female handed, were threatened with homelessness. The greatest increase in the homeless population in Orange County was among women, children, and families,frequently victims of domestic violence. Between 1991 and 1991,the number of homeless women increased by 10 percent and the number of homeless children Increased by 35 percent. Since the Battered Women's Shelter for Orange County and Durham County Is located in Durham, women who wanted to maintain their children's attendance in the Chapel Hin-Carrboro Schdots had no other option but the homeless shelter. However,the InterFaith Council Community House,the only shelter that serves the needs of Orange County's homeless population, was not designed to accommodate families with children. There were no public or private single-room occupancy facilities in Orange County to provide transition for shelter residents. Substance abuse treatment was provided at only one halfway house for women, and no Comparable facilities existed for men. Public and Assisted Housing Needs Orange County's only public housing consisted of the 336 units located In Chapel Hill. As of May 1, 1995, 22 of these units were vacant; 16 of them were located In the South Estes Drive development, which was scheduled for renovation.The majority of Chapel Hill's public housing units were two-and three-bedroom units. The county's Section a program, administered by the Orange County Housing and Community Development Department, Included 403 certificates, 101 vouchers, and 97 moderate rehabilitation units.The other 265 units of assisted housing included the following: 68 from Section a new construction, 81 from the Farmers Home 515 program, 94 from Section 236, and 26 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Loan Management Program. 9wders to Affor kAft Housing The Consolidated Plan for Orange County identified the following barriers to affordable housing: • High cost of public improvements. In southern Orange County, where vacant . land served by public utilities is very limited,the price of land with water and sewer service is too high for the development of affordable housing. In unincorporated Orange County, although land accessible to urban services is available. marry existing residencas lack adequate plumbing facilities.An estimated 10-20 percent of county septic systems fait at any given moment. • Lack of adequate transportation.While the public transportation system In the Chapel Hill-Carrboro urban area is comprehensive, access to jobs'end facilities outside the urban area is limited by a lack of transportation. Fair HaushM 5 i Orange County wpl consult with the local Human Rights and Relations Department to determine a method for conducting on onoyalo of impodimonto to fair housing choioo. Lead-based PaM According to the 1990 census, 22,653 very low- and low-income housing units In Orange County built between 1960 and 1979 were contaminated with lead-based paint. Of this number, 10,238 were rental units and 12,417 were owner occupied. According to the grange County Health Department, one case of feed-based paint poisoning has been reported in the county since 1993. In that case an investigation of the home was conducted, and abatement of4he lead hazard was completed by the property owner. In addition, 492 children were screened in Orange County; 59 had elevated blood-lead levels. A11 children who receive medical treatment from the Well Child Clinic are tested for exposure to lewd-based paint each year. Evaluations of the prevalence of lead-based paint in housing units will be Conducted through Orange County, and lead abatement will be prescribed for all dwellings targeted for rehabilitation. in addition. all assisted-housing tenants will be inkwmed of the hazards of lead- based paint. The Orange County Health Department provides ongoing consultation to local housing staff. Other Issues Among special populations the 12-bed Freedom House was the only facility for women recovering from substance abuse.Although the AIDS Service Agency of Orange County Identified 82 HIV-infected Orange County residents in 1989,the only adequate emergency medical facility for persona with HIV(AIDS in the county is University of North Carolina Hospital. A six-bed domiciliary care home was opened in 199s by the AIDS Service Agency of Orange. Conwriunity Development Needs Orange County has identified the need for increased economic development opportunities for low- and moderate-income citizens and revitalization of businesses serving lowincome neighborhoods in Chapel Hill. HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Housing Priorid" The Consolidated Plan for Orange County identified the following housing priorities for 1995- 2000: e Provide rehabilitation assistance for very low-and low-income homeowners and renters. 6 • Reduce the number of owner-occupied and rental housing units without indoor plumbing. • Provide assistance to households at less than 80 percent of MFi to connect to existing public water and sewer systems. • Facilitate the construction of up to 50 now units of rental housing that is affordable to very low and low-income families. • Create transitional housing units for homeless individuals. Nonhousing Community DwWopment Priorities The Consolidated Plan for Orange County identified the following community development priorities: • Provide economic development opportunities to low-and moderate-income citizens In Chapel HUI. • Revitalize the business areas serving low-income neighborhoods of Chapel Hill. Antipoverty Strategy The Joint Orange Chatham Community Action Agency designed the county's antipoverty strategy. This strategy seeks to establish and coordinate linkages between governmental and other social service programs to facilitate the effective delivery of services to low-income individuals.The strategy includes the right of lower income residents to do the following: • Secure and retain meaningful employment. • Attain an adequate education. • Make better use of available income. • Obtain and maintain adequate housing and a suitable living environment. • Obtain emergency assistance to meet immediate and urgent family needs. • Remove obstacles that block the achievement of self-sufficiency. • Achieve greater participation in the affairs of the community. Coordirartlon of the Strs"le Plan Through the Orange Community Housing Corporation, Orange County, Chapel Hip, Carrboro, and Hillsborough work in collaboration to implement the plan, as follows: • The Chapel HE Planning Department administers the CDBG program. • The Orange County Housing and Community Development Department administers the Section 8 program and serves as the lead agency for the Orange County HOME Consortium,which includes Orange County. Carrboro. Chapel Hilt, and Hillsborough. • The Chapel Hilt Department of Housing operates public housing in Chapel Hilt and Carrboro. 7 4 • The Town of Carrboro administers the Carrboro CDBG Small Cities program. • The Hillsborough Planning Department Is responsible for planning and policy development for the town, including the recently adopted 2010 plan. ONE-YEAR ACTION PLAN Deactlp*m of Key Projects The Consolidated Plan for Orange County identified the following key projects: • Land aoquisition, rehabil taftn, and public services for children in the Pine Knolls neighborhood ($80,000). • infrastructure, including the upgrade of parking lots, sid•waiks, landsoaping, open areas, street furniture, street lights, signage, and traft signals 040,000). • Rehabilitation of public housing in the South Estes Drive and Craig Gomains neighborhoods (3300,000). • Housing rehabilitation loans to low-income owner and renter households ($3W1000)- • Acquisition of eight units In the Carr Court neighborhood In Carrboro for rehabilitation and sate to low-income households($1 M500). • Construction of the InterFaith Council's Project HomeStart transitional housing development on Homestead Road in Chapel Hill ($30,000).