Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Transcription

1 City of Newark, Ohio Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan HUD Grantee 2012 Bob Diebold, Mayor Kimberly Burton, Director Department of Development Error! Reference 40 West source Main not Street, found. Newark, 0 OH 43055

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover sheet Letter from Mayor SF424 Resolution Third Year Action Plan Pages Executive Summary CDBG Activities 3-5 Past Performance in Program Year 3 Action Plan General questions Managing the Process Citizen Participation Institutional Structure Monitoring Lead-based Paint Specific Housing Objectives Needs of Public Housing Barriers to Affordable Housing 34 Analysis of Impediments Fair Housing HOME/ADDI 42 Specific Homeless Prevention Elements Community Development 46 Non-Housing Community Development Goals Public Facilities and Improvements Public Services Other Economic Development Anti-Poverty Non Homeless Special Needs Housing Specific HOPWA Objectives 60 Appendix CPMP Project Sheets 1-23 Map with Census Tracts Certifications Public Hearing Information Public Hearing Notice- 2/13/2011 Sign-In Sheet-3/3/2011 Minutes -3/3/2011 Public Hearing Notice-9/21/2011 Sign-In Sheet- 10/6/2011 Minutes-10/6/2011 City of Newark FY 2012 CDBG Funding Plan Third Program Year Action Plan

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8 Third Program Year Action Plan The CPMP Annual Action Plan includes the SF 424 and Narrative Responses to Action Plan questions that CDBG, HOME, HOPWA, and ESG grantees must respond to each year in order to be compliant with the Consolidated Planning Regulations. The Executive Summary narratives are optional. GENERAL Executive Summary Narrative Responses The Executive Summary is required. Include the objectives and outcomes identified in the plan and an evaluation of past performance. Program Year 3 Action Plan Executive Summary: The Executive Summary is required. Include the objectives and outcomes identified in the plan and an evaluation of past performance. Program Year 3 Action Plan Executive Summary: During 2009, the City of Newark Department of Development, developed a five-year Consolidated Plan. The Plan was submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on November 15, It is a planning document that profiles the housing and non-housing community development needs in the community and outlines a strategy to address those needs. It was developed in accordance with the Consolidated Plan Submission for Community Planning and Development Programs Final Rule published in Part 92 of Volume 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations for Community Planning and Development programs. For fiscal year (FY) 2012, the City of Newark CDBG program will undergo transitions both in areas served and in activities performed. An anticipated second straight year of decreased CDBG funding and an overall shift in the approach to planning and development by the City of Newark Department of Development will lead to changes in the emphasis and implementation of Newark s CDBG program. As this new approach to planning and development will follow a process, some of the changes to the CDBG program will occur in 2012 and others will occur in subsequent years. Third Program Year Action Plan 1

9 During FY 2012, Newark will enter the third year of the five-year Consolidated Plan. The City of Newark Department of Development will administer the City's Community Development Block Grant allocation. The City estimates a 17% reduction from the 2011 funding level of $775, = ($643,510.00) and expects to re-program prior year s funding ($40,000.00). Total funding sources for FY 2011 are, therefore, estimated at $683, The City s FY 2012 program year will begin on January 1, 2012, and end on December 31, Activities to be funded in FY2012 include: Housing Programs Implementation Support and technical assistance to area non-profits: Licking County Coalition for Housing Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio, Inc. Salvation Army St. Vincent de Paul/Coalition fof Care Denison University-Helping Hands Garden of Hope Fair housing Landlord/Tenant Services Supportive Costs Landlord-tenant counseling Code Enforcement Downtown Revitalization Fund - Buildings Downtown Revitalization Fund - Infrastructure Downtown Supportive Costs Economic Development Technical Assistance Mobility Improvements Sewer Project- West Postal Avenue Small Business Financial Assistance Street Rehabilitation Supportive Costs staff time for design of street and mobility improvements Street Rehabilitation - Infrastructure Costs -construction of street improvements Parks Improvements ODNR Grant Matches NatureWorks Neighborhood revitalization demolition and clearance-l/m benefit Emergency/Minor home repair General administration, planning and oversight Unprogrammed funds The target area is 72% low-moderate income. The City estimates a 17% reduction from the 2011 funding level of $775, = ($643,510.00) and expects to re-program prior Third Program Year Action Plan 2

10 year s funding ($40,000.00). The total expenditures equal $683, less $128, for administration and planning, $555, is subject to the L/M calculation. The slum and blight expenditures total $57, The L/M benefiting expenditures total $498, The percentage of L/M benefit is 90%. The City s FY 2012 program year will begin January 1, 2012 and end on December 31, The following is a summary of each proposed activity and the associated objectives and outcomes. Street Improvements 2012 CDBG Activities Summary of Objectives and Outcomes The Street Rehabilitation activity objectives are creating suitable living environments. The outcome category for the Street Rehabilitation ($12,500.00) and Street Rehabilitation Supportive Costs ($23,000.00) is availability/accessibility. ($35, total for both) The Mobility Improvements activity involves the design and construction of multi-modal transportation improvements. These improvements will focus on improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders. The activity objective is creating a suitable living environment. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($10,000.00) Sewer Improvements The Sanitary Sewer Improvements activity-west Postal Avenue - The objective is creating a suitable living environment. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($50,000.00) Downtown (See Economic Development for other Downtown related activities) The Downtown Supportive Costs (Implementation) activity objective is creating economic opportunity. The outcome category is sustainability. ($47,000.00) Transitional Housing The St. Vincent de Paul/Coalition of Care - Transitional Housing activity objective is providing decent housing. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($5,000.00) Third Program Year Action Plan 3

11 Fair Housing The Licking County Coalition for Housing - Homeless Transitional - Operating Expense activity objective is providing decent housing. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($5,000.00) The Salvation Army - Homeless Shelter per diems activity objective is providing decent housing. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($5,000.00) The Landlord/Tenant Services (Implementation) activity objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($21,000.00) Social Service Agency Housing Housing The Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio, Inc. Prevention activity is to provide decent housing. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($5,000.00) The Housing Programs (Implementation) activity objective is providing decent housing. The outcome category is affordability. ($70,000.00) The Emergency/Minor Home Repair activity is providing decent housing. The outcome category is affordability. ($17,500.00) Economic Development Small Business Financial Assistance is a loan/grant program that assists small businesses with startup and expansion costs. The objective is providing economic opportunity. The outcome category is sustainability. ($5,000.00) Downtown Revitalization Fund - Buildings activity will provide grants/loans to assist downtown businesses in efforts to revitalize their buildings. The objective is providing economic opportunity. The outcome category is sustainability. ($5,000.00) Downtown Revitalization - Infrastructure activity will provide grants/loans to assist downtown businesses with infrastructure improvements. The objective is providing economic opportunity. The outcome category is sustainability. ($5,000.00) Third Program Year Action Plan 4

12 Other Economic Development (ED) Technical Assistance is an activity that involves the coordination and monitoring of programs designed to enhance and promote economic development. This includes economic related inquiries, leads, and retention and expansion programs, ED related incentives and initiatives such as TIF, JEDD/Z, CRA programs, Brownfields clean-up, and other economic development related efforts focused on assistance for locally based businesses. The objective is providing economic opportunity. The outcome category is sustainability. ($109,000.00) The Clearance/Demolition - Low-Mod Benefit activity objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. ($25,000.00) Denison University - Helping Hands Garden of Hope activity objective is creating economic opportunity. The outcome category is sustainability. ($300.00) The Code Enforcement activity involves the enforcement of local codes, including payment of costs associated with property inspection and follow up action, such as legal proceedings. Code enforcement also involves the payment of salaries and overhead costs directly related to the enforcement of local codes. The objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. ($80,500.00) The Un-programmed Funds activity objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. ($2,010.00) The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) NatureWorks Grant - T.J. Evans Park match activity is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. ($2,200.00) The Parks Improvement activity is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. Funding will be utilized to purchase equipment for parks and to finance recreational events. The activity can also be utilized for upgrades to the Hollander Pool facility. Funding cannot be used for maintenance. ($50,000.00) Administration The General Admin. (Management and oversight) activity objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. ($128,500.00) Third Program Year Action Plan 5

13 Past Performance in 2011, through September 2011, included: Grant Budget Activities: Budget Expended Public Facilities $228,000 $86,000 Public Services $117,000 $68,000 Housing $386,000 $239,000 Economic Development $158,000 $71,000 Other $137,000 $43,000 Administration $200,000 $111,000 Total: $1,226,000 $618, % 80% 60% 40% 20% CDBG Budget Progress Expended Remaining 0% Public Fac Public Serv Housing Economic Dev Other Admin 1. Public Facilities and Improvements Street Improvements - Sidewalks, paving, ADA curb ramps Downtown Supportive Costs Downtown Activities - Livability/Safety Improvements-Continuing Program Demolition - Low Income and Spot Blight - Continuing Program C-Tec Garden on the Square Project Downtown Revitalization - Street Related (Implementation) Center for Disability Services - Improvements Denison University Helping Hands Garden East Newark Residents Sidewalks Project - Phase I Third Program Year Action Plan 6

14 ODNR Clean Ohio Trail Fund Grant Match (Church St. Bike Trail Project) ODNR Land and Water Conservation Grant Match (Hollander Pool) ODNR NatureWorks Grant Match for Town Commons Park ODNR NatureWorks Grant Match for North Street Park Park Improvements - T.J. Evans Park and Town Commons Park Kraner Behavioral Health- Slate Roof repair Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority- Terrace Gardens The Works - S. 2nd Street Curb and Sidewalk Replacement 2. Public Services 3. Housing St. Vincent DePaul/Coalition of Care - Woodlands/ New Beginnings Domestic Violence Shelter Licking County Coalition for Housing (LCCH) - Individualized Development Accounts Implementation - Continuing Program Pathways Fair Housing Implementation - Continuing Program Landlord/Tenant Services Implementation - Continuing Program Salvation Army-Homeless Shelter per Diem - Continuing Program LCCH - Homeless Transitional Operational Assistance - Continuing Program Emergency/Minor Home Repair Loans - Continuing Program Housing Program Implementation - Continuing Program Lead Hazard Control - Relocations 4. Economic Development 5. Other Micro business Development - Small Business Development Center Small Business Financial Assistance Licking County Chamber of Commerce - Workenomics Mental Health America of Licking County - Bridges Out of Poverty Downtown Revitalization Fund - Buildings Downtown Revitalization Fund - Infrastructure Economic Development Technical Assistance Demolition /Clearance Spot Blight Benefit Demolition/Clearance Low/Mod Benefit Unprogrammed Funds Third Program Year Action Plan 7

15 Code Enforcement 6. Administrations and Planning General Administration Management and Oversight- Continuing Program Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program The City is an entitlement community and therefore receives CDBG grants annually to fund projects that promote community and economic development. Department CDBG Programs Updates Code Enforcement Program Progress Inspections by Complaint Type Q1 Q2 Q3 Total Trash and Debris Graffiti Broken/Missing Windows Roof/Gutters Exterior Surface High Grass & Weeds Junk Motor Vehicles Insect and Rodent Infestations Rooming House Inspections Demolition Inspections Accessory Structures Misc/Interior Total ,004 Third Program Year Action Plan 8

16 Inspections by Property Type 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% Property Types Inspected 0% Progress Summary Inspections Completed: 1,004 Cases Closed Due to Compliance: 524 Fines Issued (First 8 months): $32,574 Fines & Fees Collected (First 8 months): $11,898 Demolition Program Summary Progress 10 houses expected to be bid and under contract by the end of 2011 Emergency/Minor Home Repair Program Progress 13 projects (January-October 2011) Replacement of main water line, air conditioner, (2) roof repair, hot water tank replacement, (2) furnace repair, furnace replacement, furnace replacement/air conditioner, electrical-circuit wiring, gas line/bathroom repair, hot water tank/drain water lines, sewer hookup/plumbing upgrades The City of Newark provides for Citizen Participation in the development of the FY 2012 Action Plan. In accordance with HUD regulations, public hearings were held on March 3, 2011 and October 6, 2011, at the Newark City Council Chamber, 40 West Main Street, Newark, OH. A copy of the Action Plan will be placed at the following locations for public review and a 30-day comment period: Licking County Public Library, 101 Main Street Third Program Year Action Plan 9

17 Emerson R. Miller Branch Public West Library, 990 West Main Street City of Newark Development Department, 40 West Main Street The One-Year Use of Funds/Action Plan will be submitted to the U.S. Dept. of HUD by November 15, General Questions 1. Describe the geographic areas of the jurisdiction (including areas of low income families and/or racial/minority concentration) in which assistance will be directed during the next year. Where appropriate, the jurisdiction should estimate the percentage of funds the jurisdiction plans to dedicate to target areas. 2. Describe the basis for allocating investments geographically within the jurisdiction (or within the EMSA for HOPWA) (91.215(a) (1)) during the next year and the rationale for assigning the priorities. 3. Describe actions that will take place during the next year to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs. 4. Identify the federal, state, and local resources expected to be made available to address the needs identified in the plan. Federal resources should include Section 8 funds made available to the jurisdiction, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and competitive McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act funds expected to be available to address priority needs and specific objectives identified in the strategic plan. Program Year 3 Action Plan General Questions response: Generally, the Department of Development will employ a more targeted approach to planning and development activities. This approach will identify several Community Corridors throughout the city. Each corridor will consist of one or more key commercial streets and the residential neighborhood surrounding those streets. Each year, the City s resources, including CDBG funding through the Department of Development, will be focused on improving the infrastructure, city services, livability, and economic opportunities in a selected Community Corridor. The intent of this targeted approach is to create a transformative impact on the area in which the CDBG funding and other city resources are concentrated. This will build capacity and stability within the community, thus reducing the need for CDBG funding in that area in the future. During the 2012 FY the City s comprehensive plan, which was completed in 2002, will be updated. As a part of this process, the Community Corridors will be identified. We anticipate that between four and eight community corridors will be part of the new Third Program Year Action Plan 10

18 comprehensive plan. The city s slum and blight designation area will be updated to include the eligible commercial streets in need of rehabilitation at the center of each corridor. The residential neighborhoods that surround the commercial streets will consist of Newark s low- and moderate-income areas. In order to complete the comprehensive plan update, the geographic area in which CDBG assistance will be provided will be expanded in 2012 to include all eligible census tracts in the city. In subsequent years, the geographic area of focus for CDBG assistance will shift with the Community Corridor that is selected each year. In addition to identifying the Community Corridors, the CDBG planning activities for 2012 will focus on assessing the unique needs of each corridor, fostering neighborhood involvement and support, and then prioritizing the corridors for implementation in the following years. Meanwhile, many of the activities funded in 2012 will continue to focus on the redevelopment of Newark s downtown core. These activities range from economic development technical assistance, to public infrastructure improvements, to funding for small business development and private building façade improvements. The continued improvement of Newark s downtown is critical to the success of the new Community Corridor approach, as each corridor radiates from and is vitally connected to the city s core. Newark s transition to the Community Corridor approach and reduced funding levels will also result in changes to the approach in funding social service agencies. Partnerships with other agencies, particularly those related to housing initiatives, and collaboration with other funding sources will continue to be critical to the success of Newark s CDBG program. However, ongoing funding to agencies that provide broad community services will become less of a priority in Newark s CDBG program. While all public and private entities alike must endure the current difficult economic climate, many of the agencies that have received CDBG funding from Newark in the past are able to acquire funding from other sources. Going forward, the focus of Newark s CDBG funding will to address the specific identified needs of each Community Corridor. While some of those needs may be best met by funding social service agencies, the emphasis will be on funding activities that will transform the neighborhood and can uniquely be accomplished by the City. These activities will likely include community planning, infrastructure projects, improved city services, and economic development assistance and incentives. In addition to the CDBG funding, we have over $195, (as of September 2011) in CHIP Revolving Loan Fund money that can be used for housing rehabilitation as well as for infill housing. The City has comitted $100,000 to Licking County Housing Inc. for acquistion, rehabilitation, and resale. However, because rehab costs are exceeding all of our estimates, we expect to use a portion of these CHIP funds to acquire lots, and perform land improvements. We will build infill houses through the use of Section 8 vouchers to provide home buyers with the income to make payments on mortgages. Third Program Year Action Plan 11

19 Thus, our per-house expenditures will go down while the total expenditure per home will go up and we will be increasing homeownership and eventually moving people off Section 8 to permenent self-sufficiency, making those vouchers available to the next in line on the LMHA waiting lists. Special attention must be paid to the needs of special populations. The Salvation Army and the Licking County Coalition for Homeless were awarded, $144, and $98, respectively from the Ohio Department of Development. The grant awards are through the State s Homeless Assistance Grant Program. This source funds direct housing, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing activities for low income Ohioans. The Program is funded with Ohio Housing Trust Fund dollars and federal McKinney Emergency Shelter Grant Program funds. The Salvation Army will also receive $5,000 to provide shelter and supportive services for the homeless. The Licking County Coalition for Housing is completing a HUD funded Supportive Housing Grant totaling $588, MBE s, DBE s and WBE s will be sought with a more coordinated effort than before in the City of Newark due to the restructuring of the State-Wide MBE/DEB Task Force and it s multiple sources of assistance. A current listing of Franklin County certified and registered MBE/DBE s has been obtained from the City of Columbus. The Ohio Department of Administrative Services, Deputy Director, Darryl A. Peal, is assisting the Task Force in building a single list of MBE/DEB contractors for Ohio. Also, the Department of Development is working on a Bond Guarantee Program that will assist in bonding contractors. This is new, as is their assistance with an affirmative action policy required by the State of Ohio, which is now online. Little by little barriers are being removed so that finding MBE, DBE, and WBE contractors and suppliers is becoming a reality. Although Licking County and Newark in particular are not heavily populated with MBE/DBE/WBE s, these new tools make it possible to find them in areas within close proximity and offer them the opportunity to participate in construction projects and bids for goods and services. Managing the Process 1. Identify the lead agency, entity, and agencies responsible for administering programs covered by the consolidated plan. 2. Identify the significant aspects of the process, by which the plan was developed, and the agencies, groups, organizations, and others who participated in the process. Third Program Year Action Plan 12

20 3. Describe actions that will take place during the next year to enhance coordination between public and private housing, health, and social service agencies. Program Year 3 Action Plan Citizen Participation response: The City of Newark is responsible for administering the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG); furthering fair housing; public services; coordinating and administering economic development activities; and coordinating the community Consolidated Plan process through the Department of Development. Various city departments are responsible for public improvements and public services: Division of Cemetery and Parks Division of Streets Division of Traffic Control Division of Engineering Department of Public Service Department of Public Safety Division of Water and Wastewater The staff of the Department of Development are assigned to carry out the various aspects of the comprehensive CDBG program such as housing rehabilitation, fair housing counseling, and economic development. Department of Development staff will pursue training on new programs and will continue to develop relationships with new and existing non-profits in the Newark area. The expected availability of resources in FY 2012 was determined by informal survey, known resources, controlled resources, and estimated resources based on information available at the time of the preparation of this document. The Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority will continue to administer the HUD Section 8 program and manage its sole 96-unit elderly public housing facility. This agency will also be the lead agency for increasing the involvement of residents in management of public housing projects. The LMHA will also provide the critical Section 8 home ownership vouchers for our infill housing. This activity is already in their Annual Plan and Five-Year Plan Update. Coordination of housing providers and knowledge of the housing process are keys to maximizing resources. The City of Newark reasonably expects the following organizations to commit affordable and supportive housing resources during FY2012: City of Newark Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funds Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority Columbia Gas of Ohio (Warm Choice) Third Program Year Action Plan 13

21 Ohio Energy Corporation (OEAC) LEADS Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Ohio Behavioral Healcare Partners (formerly Moundbuilders) Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities Salvation Army Center for Disability Services Licking County Housing Inc. Licking County Coalition for Housing Habitat for Humanity Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging United States Department of Energy Licking County Aging Program East Mound Community Development Corporation New Beginnings Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence Spencer Halfway House Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program State of Ohio HOME Program State of Ohio Housing Trust Fund HUD's Continuum of Care Homelessness Assistance Program Housing comprises 13% of Newark's 2012 CDBG entitlement grant. Due to funding cuts and the changing direction of planning and development in the City, revisions were necessary. Public Facilities and Improvements comprise the largest share of the 2012 One Year Plan. This amount has been determined by the City administration, discussed at public hearings, and awaits approval by Newark City Council. The City of Newark has lessening degrees of authority for other HUD-assisted programs and non-federal programs but will work for the development and completion of all quality projects and resources it identifies as consistent with this Consolidated Plan. Intensity of support will be somewhat dictated by the priority placed on the activity and the readiness of the project. The City of Newark is attempting to identify matching funds for new housing and nonhousing programs for local resources, foundations, and state funding. As of the writing of this document, there are no court orders restricting the receipt of assisted housing resources to any organization in Newark and no impact is anticipated. Citizen Participation 1. Provide a summary of the citizen participation process. Third Program Year Action Plan 14

22 2. Provide a summary of citizen comments or views on the plan. 3. Provide a summary of efforts made to broaden public participation in the development of the consolidated plan, including outreach to minorities and non- English speaking persons, as well as persons with disabilities. 4. Provide a written explanation of comments not accepted and the reasons why these comments were not accepted. *Please note that Citizen Comments and Responses may be included as additional files within the CPMP Tool. Program Year 3 Action Plan Citizen Participation response: The City of Newark developed the FY 2012 One-Year Use of Funds/Action Plan based on the needs and priorities described in the FY Consolidated Plan submission, the knowledge and expertise of Department of Development staff, various other City departments, local agencies that serve the community, suggestions from citizens, and the estimate of resources that would be available for community development activities. The City of Newark will place a copy of the FY 2012 One-Year Use of Funds at the public library Downtown location, Newark branch library, and at the Department of Development for a thirty-day public review period beginning October 6, The City of Newark held public hearings for citizens to comment on the FY 2012 One-Year Use of Funds on March 3 and October 6, Hearings were held in City Council Chamber at 40 West Main Street, Newark. Public hearing notices were advertised in The Newark Advocate, the City Website, two local radio stations, and through various social service agencies, local businesses, and the Chamber of Commerce. Items discussed at the public hearing included the FY 2012 One-Year Use of Funds application process and proposed projects. The March 3, 2011 and October 6, 2011 public hearing minutes are attached. The public hearing and comment period requirements were held in accordance with the City s Citizen Participation Plan. The sign in sheet and minutes of the public hearings follow the Certifications section of the One Year Plan, prior to its submission to HUD. The minutes indicate that citizen comments are included in the Plan and that the Newark Development Director and staff specifically and adequately addressed comments. The City of Newark Citizen Participation plan outlines the efforts to broaden public participation in the development of the plan. Public outreach includes print and Third Program Year Action Plan 15

23 electronic media, mailings to citizens, area social service agencies, schools, governmental agencies, and other community organizations. In addition, the City has a mailing list of these groups and is willing to make arrangements for those who are non- English speaking and those who are hearing impaired. The public hearings are also held in an ADA compliant environment so that persons with disabilities may attend and offer input. The City website is undergoing a major change to make it more user friendly. Information about the CDBG program and other initiatives administered and implemented by the Newark Department of Development are posted on a regular basis. There was one phone call during the thirty-day review period. The call was returned the day it was made. It was regarding funding for a nonprofit that did not submit an application. The caller was informed of the process and a copy of the draft activities was ed. There was no follow up to the City s to the nonprofit. The minutes outline the response to inquiries made at the public hearings. They will be submitted by November 15, 2011 to HUD. The public hearing and comment period requirements ended November 6, The sign-in sheet and minutes of the public hearings follow the Certifications section of the One Year Plan. The minutes indicate that citizen comments are included in the Plan and that the Newark Development Director and staff specifically and adequately addressed comments. The City of Newark Citizen Participation plan outlines the efforts to broaden public participation in the development of the plan. Public outreach includes print and electronic media, mailings to citizens, area social service agencies, schools, governmental agencies, and other community organizations. In addition, the City has a mailing list of these groups and is willing to make arrangements for those who are non- English speaking and those who are hearing impaired. The public hearings are also held in an ADA compliant environment so that persons with disabilities may attend and offer input. Institutional Structure 1. Describe actions that will take place during the next year to develop institutional structure. Program Year 3 Action Plan Institutional Structure response: The City of Newark developed the FY 2012 One-Year Use of Funds/Action Plan based on the needs and priorities described in the FY Consolidated Plan submission, the knowledge and expertise of Development staff, various City departments, local Third Program Year Action Plan 16

24 agencies that serve the community, suggestions from citizens, and the estimate of resources that would be available for community development activities. In addition, the staff of the Newark Department of Development will conduct an on going examiniation of policies and other issues in order to enhance and improve the delivery of services in the community. We hope to develop improvements that will be long range in scope yet preserve the quality of service already in place. The City of Newark placed a draft copy of the FY 2012 One-Year Use of Funds at the local public library, branch library, and at the Department of Development for a thirtyday public review period beginning October 6, 2011 The City of Newark held public hearings for citizens to comment on the FY2012 One-Year Use of Funds on March 3 and October 6, Hearings were held in City Council Chamber at 40 West Main Street, Newark. Public hearing notices were advertised in The Newark Advocate and through various social service agencies, local businesses, and the Chamber of Commerce. Items discussed at the public hearing included the FY 2012 One-Year Use of Funds application process and proposed projects. A copy of the minutes from the March and October public hearing are attached to this document. No responses were requested. Following the October 6, 2011 public hearing, our plan is to send responses within the fifteen day period as required by the Citizen Participation plan. That requirement was met for the one call received. Monitoring 1. Describe actions that will take place during the next year to monitor its housing and community development projects and ensure long-term compliance with program requirements and comprehensive planning requirements. Program Year 3 Action Plan Monitoring response: The City of Newark receives Federal Community Development Block Grant funds directly from HUD and Federal HOME Investment Partnership program funds from the State of Ohio. Generally, the City undertakes CDBG or HOME eligible activities directly with these funds. Occasionally, however, through subrecipient agreements, funds are made available to other organizations to carry out CDBG or HOME eligible activities. Third Program Year Action Plan 17

25 Regarding subrecipients, the City will use desk monitoring, meetings with subrecipients, and periodic reviews of subrecipient files, records, activities, or facilities. Development staff will receive appropriate training to stay up-to-date on HUD requirements and will revise the monitoring plan to keep it effective. In addition to periodic reports and regular review meetings to discuss compliance with the Consolidated Plan, the City of Newark will continue to prepare performance reports annually and undergo required State and Federal monitoring and prepare other reports as appropriate. The City will hold at least one public hearing for citizens to review and comment on the community's performance. Finally, HUD is responsible for reviewing Newark's approved Consolidated Plan strategy at least annually. To ensure timeliness of expenditures, the Account Clerk/Office Manager gives the Development Director reports of expenditures. Weekly staff meetings are held to address fiscal issues and problems, such as workloads, weather, and unexpected delays in getting plans prepared, contractors hired, etc., in meeting deadlines are discussed and dealt with. Also discussed are the results of monitoring visits to subrecipients. If needed, the Director will send a letter to a subrecipient falling behind schedule suggesting a loss of funding if timelines are not adhered to. Compliance with Housing Codes: As we undertake our neighborhood revitalization, a hole in our overall strategy would occur if we did not have our code enforcement agent undertake systematic code enforcement throughout the target area to ensure that the rental properties are being attended to. But our intent is to have such concentrated code enforcement occur along with our other revitalization efforts. And as we build infill housing and rehab LMI homeowners homes, we require that all contractors be licensed and that they take out appropriate permits, and that all such construction is inspected at all appropriate times during and at the completion of construction Lead-based Paint 1. Describe the actions that will take place during the next year to evaluate and reduce the number of housing units containing lead-based paint hazards in order to increase the inventory of lead-safe housing available to extremely low-income, lowincome, and moderate-income families, and how the plan for the reduction of leadbased hazards is related to the extent of lead poisoning and hazards. Program Year 3 Action Plan Lead-based Paint response: Third Program Year Action Plan 18

26 In October 2009 the City received notification of another HUD Lead Hazard Control (LHC) Grant totaling $3.07 million. 130 homes will have lead hazards removed during a three year grant cycle. As of September 30, 2011, lead hazards were removed from 51 housing units. This grant runs from 12/2009 9/2012. As of September 2011, $731,763 was expended. The local match expended totals $159, The administrative maximum funding totals $463,272. The amount expended for administration as of September 2011 totals $170,055. There will be coordination involving the City s Lead Grant and its rehabilitation activities. CDBG is providing the match for the three year lead grant. In addition, implementation of housing rehabilitation activities will be funded by CDBG and the HOME and CDBG revolving loan funds. The City of Newark Department of Development will continue to coordinate the efforts of our 2009 LHC Grant with the Licking County Health District, the Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority, and the Licking County Coalition for Housing, and the State of Ohio Department of Health. The coordination efforts include an extensive program of outreach, education, and leadbased paint (LBP) remediation to minimize and prevent the exposure of children, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age to LBP hazards and to reduce the risk of lead poisoning of children less than six years of age. The City of Newark Department of Development will also continue to coordinate the efforts of their housing rehabilitation programs and their NSP programs with the 09 LHC grant program in order to achieve comprehensive full housing rehabilitation whenever possible. The Department of Development will also continue to conduct the LBP risk assessments in conjunction with rehabilitation activities, loan processing, relocation, program compliance, performance monitoring, and handle all fiscal aspects of the program. Outreach and education efforts will continue to be conducted in cooperation with several community-based organizations, including several faith-based organizations. We are coordinating outreach and education presentations with the Licking County Coalition for Housing and are in discussions with Licking Memorial Hospital to incorporate presentations to their member physicians and their office staffs. The City of Newark will continue to provide a public registry of lead safe housing in conjunction with the Licking County Coalition for Housing. The program will benefit lowto moderate-income owner-occupants and property owners renting to low- to moderate-income tenants with children living within the assisted housing units. Third Program Year Action Plan 19

27 We currently have 19 State licensed certified lead abatement contractors on our approved contractor list, although a number of them are not actively bidding projects at this time. During the next three years, the City will continue to pursue the following strategy to address lead-based paint hazards: Education and Training - Education and training should be the primary focus of the City's strategy. Consequently, the strategy will incorporate the activities outlined below. The Licking County Department of Health will continue to provide information about LBP hazards upon request. The City will also continue to enforce a Property Maintenance Code relating to nuisances to the extent permitted by Ohio law. Program Design - In designing and operating its Federally-assisted programs, the City will follow regulatory requirements and will seek to find ways to reduce the costs of LBP hazard reduction requirements. Funding - The City will pursue any additional funds available to address LBP hazards. Successful implementation, began with the FY 2003 AND 2007 Lead- Based Paint Hazard Control grants. The 2009 award enables the City to continue services to the residents of Newark. Improve Regulatory Dialogue - The City will continue to encourage a dialogue between appropriate State and Federal officials to minimize any conflicts between State and Federal laws pertaining to the identification or treatment of LBP hazards. HEALTHY HOMES/LEAD HAZARD CONTROL PROGRAM The purpose of this grant program is to remove lead and other health hazards from residents homes. Lead 2009 Grant: 12/2009 9/2011 This grant runs from 12/2009 9/2012. Budget Progress (this does not reflect the revised budget numbers revisions are currently in progress) Third Program Year Action Plan 20

28 Grant Budget Match Funds Activities: Budget Expended Budget Expended Personnel $463,272 $170,055 $121,319 $24,586 Fringe Benefits $240,534 $91,010 Travel $31,455 $9,608 $18,440 $1,385 Equipment $20,000 $18,411 Supplies & Materials $9,773 $4,268 $24,327 $1,965 Consultants $17,472 $6,794 Contract $2,465,500 $504,186 $504,180 $27,878 Construction Costs Other Direct Costs $80,000 $25,235 $13,220 $5,615 Indirect Costs Total: $3,070,000 $731,763 $939,492 $159,233 0% Lead '09: Grant Budget 3% 0% 15% 0% 1% 1% 0% 0% Personnel Benefits Travel Equipment Lead '09: Match Funds Personnel Benefits 0% 1% 0% Travel 13% Equipment 80% Supplies Consultant s Contract 54% 2% 26% 0% 2% 2% Supplies Consultants Contract Third Program Year Action Plan 21

29 100% Lead '09: Grant Budget Progress Remaining Expended 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Personnel Travel Equipment Supplies Contract Direct Costs 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Lead '09: Match Funds Progress Remaining Expended Personnel Benefits Travel Supplies Consultants Contract Direct Costs Unit Progress o Complete: 46 o Cleared: 5 o Under Construction: 2 o Out to Bid: 1 o Awaiting Closing: 2 o Risk Assessments: 62 Third Program Year Action Plan 22

30 Lead 09 Grant Highlights Front View Before (above) & After (below) 212 S.5 th Street, Newark, Ohio Third Program Year Action Plan 23

31 HOUSING Specific Housing Objectives *Please also refer to the Housing Needs Table in the Needs.xls workbook. 1. Describe the priorities and specific objectives the jurisdiction hopes to achieve during the next year. 2. Describe how Federal, State, and local public and private sector resources that are reasonably expected to be available will be used to address identified needs for the period covered by this Action Plan. Program Year 3 Action Plan Specific Objectives response: Through our Community Corridor effort, we will select one-to-three streets within the target area to provide public improvements such as new sidewalks, lighting, street trees, demolition of spot blight, crime prevention measures, and perhaps yard fencing of a consistent character. In this way we can capitalize on limited funding to make a real, noticeable, and maybe even an amazing impact on the streetscapes. With that, we will emphasize spending rehabilitation dollars on these streets although it won t be possible or even advisable to spend all of them there. A central point of our strategy is the use of CHIP RLF money to acquire lots and perform lot preparation for the placement of infill housing of a design and character that is consistent with the central city s homes. We have identified a number of builders of such homes, all of which have a Community Development Program, which means they provide these homes at affordable costs. Having spent the CHIP RLF money to acquire and prepare lots, we will work with the Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority who will be putting working families and households through their Family Self Sufficiency Program to prepare them for home ownership. These households will choose the homes from among our designs and they will be built and paid for through loans secured from private lenders and paid off through the use of the vouchers and the residents own funds. In this way, we can drive down our per-unit costs of the CHIP Program and increase home ownership at the same time. Finally, we will undertake a concentrated code enforcement effort in these areas to address the problems of poorly maintained rental properties. Third Program Year Action Plan 24

32 Because predatory lending has become such a problem, especially for those LMI households who have received rehab loans from the City of Newark, we will educate all of our past and future homeowners as to the dangers of succumbing to these kinds of loans. We have already put a stop to subordinating our rehab loans to private lenders unless we can be convinced that the refinancing is in the best interest of the homeowner. It s often better to make a one-time subsistence payment to the homeowner than to see him fall victim to predatory lenders. The State of Ohio awarded the City a $250,000. Comprehensive Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) grant in August The grant cycle began in October. Six owner occupied homes will receive full rehabilitation during the grant cycle. HOME PROGRAM This is a state-funded grant program geared toward the rehabilitation of owneroccupied and rental properties. Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) 2009 Grant: 9/ /2011 The current grant runs from 9/ /2011. Budget Progress Grant Budget Activities: Budget Expended Owner Rehabilitation $246,000 $89,956 Rental Rehabilitation $205,000 $58,968 New Construction $40,000 $20,320 Fair Housing Program General Administration $49,100 $34,888 Total: $540,100 $204,132 Third Program Year Action Plan 25

33 CHIP '09: Grant Budget 7% 38% 9% 46% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% CHIP '09: Grant Budget Progress Owner Rental New Constr Admin Property Progress o Owner Rehabilitation 5 properties are completed These completed numbers are under the grant commitment by 1. o Rental Rehabilitation 3 rental properties are completed These completed numbers are under the grant commitment by 2. o New Construction (Habitat for Humanity Contract) 1 property is under construction & will be completed/occupied by mid-november. 1 property will not be completed. Home/CHIP Revolving Loan Fund: As of October 2011 o Budget Progress o Beginning Balance $144, o Program Income: $57, o Program Expenses: $7, o Current Balance: $195, Property Progress o Habitat for Humanity completed a housing unit at 190 Monroe. A HFH partner family resides in the home. They are currently installing the drywall. This project started this spring and was from the agreement signed in o In 2010 we have committed $100,000. to LCH Inc. for ARR funding Third Program Year Action Plan 26

34 In 2009, The City of Newark was awarded an $858, Neighborhood Stabilization Grant from the Ohio Department of Development. The federal funds are to be used to improve neighborhoods by buying and redeveloping abandoned and foreclosed properties, establishing a land bank, and demolishing blighted structures. The focus of the NSP funds is residential redevelopment. The awards were based on foreclosures; subprime loans, defaults, delinquencies and vacancies. More than $83 million was distributed among 17 cities, 12 counties, and 21 regions in Ohio. NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM (NSP) A State-funded program created to prevent the deterioration of neighborhoods through acquisition, rehabilitation, and resale of residential structures and limited demolition of blighted structures. NSP 1: 4/ /2011 This grant runs from 4/2009 5/2013. o Budget Progress Grant Budget Activities: Budget Expended Implementation $772,726 $734,471 General Administration $85,858 $67,763 Total: $858,584 $802,233 NSP1: Grant Budget 10% NSP1: Grant Budget Progress 100% 80% Remaining Expended 60% 40% 90% Imp Admin 20% 0% Imp Admin o Property Progress 5 property completed and sold 3 units have undergone demolition 2 units were demolished using NSP2 funds Third Program Year Action Plan 27

35 3 units (198, 275 & 279 W Church St properties) were demolished the first week of October. 2 news builds on W Church St (198/202 & 275/279) will begin shortly the foundations and framing will be completed by the end of the year, homes should be ready for sale by spring. NSP 2 o Overview: We negotiated a $120,000 contract with MORPC for demolitions in July 2011; contract was authorized in August 4, Funds had to be obligated by September 30, 2011 with a minimum of 8 properties demolished. 10 properties were able to be funded, exceeding the commitment by 2 properties. MORPC also took over the demolitions for 305 & 307 E. Main St and are administering those on their own. Progress: 6 properties have been demolished to date: Curtis Avenue North Avenue Jefferson St W Holliday S 5 th St S 5 th St 3 properties will be demolished this week (10/31/11-11/5/11): E Main Street (aka 281 E Main St) - today, 10/31/ S 3 rd Street - Wed 11/5 or Thurs 11/ S 3 rd Street - final asbestos abatement Thurs 11/4, demo Fri 11/5 1 property demolished week of November 7th Buena Vista St NSP Revolving Loan Fund: 1/2011 9/2011 Budget Progress o Beginning Balance (1/1/11): $82, o Program Income: $133, o Program Expenses: $27, o Current Balance: $188, Property Progress o A portion of the balance will be used to finalize the pre-demolition work for the properties slated for demolition under NSP1. Third Program Year Action Plan 28

36 o The remaining balance will be used on the 2 news builds on W Church St (198/202 & 275/279) NSP Program Highlights: 28 Curtis Before (top) & After (bottom) Third Program Year Action Plan 29

37 277 E Main Before (top left) & During Demolition (top right & below) Needs of Public Housing 1. Describe the manner in which the plan of the jurisdiction will help address the needs of public housing and activities it will undertake during the next year to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in management and participate in homeownership. 2. If the public housing agency is designated as "troubled" by HUD or otherwise is performing poorly, the jurisdiction shall describe the manner in which it will provide financial or other assistance in improving its operations to remove such designation during the next year. Third Program Year Action Plan 30

38 Program Year 3 Action Plan Public Housing Strategy response: The primary source of rental assistance in Licking County continues to be the Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority (LMHA). The Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority has one Public Housing project of 96 units serving the elderly and near elderly. It is located in Newark near the central core, providing its residents with accessibility to many services and activities. It was built nearly 30 years ago and at the time it was built it provided basic housing and was the only such facility in the county. Today, it is in need of significant improvements and finds itself in competition with newer, more attractive, Low-income Tax Credit projects serving the same or somewhat higher income groups (though still low-income. LIHTC projects rents, including utilities, are set to be affordable by households earning 60% of the median income for the MSA. Public Housing generally serves a much lower income group). The LMHA s sole source of improvement funds for this project, known as Terrace Gardens, is HUD s Capital Funds. The amount of Capital Funds averages around $99,000. This amount is not enough to complete the various maintenance issues the building needs at this time. Although major improvements have been made over the last six years there will be upcoming needed improvements in the near future. The improvements which have been recently completed are as follows: new roof, terrace removal, new windows, and all HVAC through the wall units. It will take years at the current rate to make the needed repairs, not to mention the need for cosmetic updates, which are needed to compete in the current market. Terrace Garden s occupancy rate is currently at 98%. The waiting list consists of 47 applicants comprised of 2 elderly, 39 near-elderly, and 6 non-elderly disabled individuals. The LMHA administers the Section 8 Program, which enables individuals and families to find their own housing throughout the county. Generally, they find their housing in Newark. The LMHA has 1016 vouchers under lease. There are 778 regular vouchers, 118 mainstream vouchers, 14 family unification vouchers, 35 welfare to work vouchers, and 71 non-elderly disabled vouchers. The LMHA has 41 Shelter Plus Care vouchers. The Shelter Plus Care Program house individuals and families who are homeless suffering from serious mental illness and/or chronic substance abuse. There is a growing need for adequate housing for disabled Third Program Year Action Plan 31

39 individuals. The population has few options when affordable housing is not attainable. Those with mental illness easily become homeless. The Shelter Plus Care, mainstream, and the non-elderly disabled programs lease up quickly. Therefore, the need for those programs is apparent. The LMHA pays rental assistance on many housing units throughout Licking County. Of the 1016 Housing Choice Vouchers currently under lease; 40% are families that have children 18% are over the age of 62 37% are earning between $6,000 - $10, has one adult working 25 have two or more adults working 728 have no adults working Of the Shelter Plus Care Vouchers currently under lease: 15% are families that have children 44% are earning between $6,000 - $10,000 2 have one adult working 32 have no adults working Due to the rapid decline in the economy, the LMHA has experienced a tremendous increase in HAP costs in the HCV Program. The attrition rate continues to remain low. Until recently, the LMHA maintained approximately 1,000 people on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list. The LMHA s local preference for the HCV waitlist is veterans and the non-elderly disabled. The average wait is approximately two years to get assistance. The LMHA also continues to operate a homeownership program for the participants on our program. Within the last year the Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority has implemented and continues to teach the following classes: Fair Housing, Personal Finance, Real Estate/Legal, Home Maintenance, Home Buyer Program, Home Purchasing and individual financial counseling sessions. This process takes program participants approximately one year to complete. The LMHA is about to start its second year of classes. The City will continue to support the ongoing efforts of the Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority and encourage resident participation in the management of its sole 96-unit elderly population building, with 3 non-elderly disabled units. The Housing Authority has aggressively pursued additional housing vouchers for Licking County residents and has very successfully partnered with several social service organizations in the count to obtain additional vouchers for special needs populations. Third Program Year Action Plan 32

40 The LMHA s status is of high performer per HUD s rating system. In addition, there are several privately owned Section 8 subsidized apartment communities that have project based assistance tied to their units. If we are able to make our home ownership program a success in terms of choosing homeowners who will continue to make strides in the job skills they will learn in the FSS program, that will free up money enabling the housing authority to issue more vouchers to those on the waiting list. LEADS Community Action Agency will continue to develop its Housing Management Division. This Division will manage the affordable housing properties owned by LEADS as well as continuing to investigate the acquisition of affordable rental properties currently owned by others. LEADS received low-income housing tax credits during 2002 to renovate the Avalon Building in downtown Newark for up to 20 units of affordable rental housing. The City supported LEADS application for low-income housing tax credits and State of Ohio Affordable Housing Development Program funds for this project. The City will continue to cooperate with for-profit and non-profit developers of lowincome housing financed with income tax credits to construct units of lower rent housing. Within the last four years, Woda Enterprises was awarded tax credits for 40 single-family homes the target area's east side. In addition, Newark will continue its support of Habitat for Humanity in its efforts to help low-income families construct new homes. The City provided funding to the local Habitat for Humanity to build one new home from its 2009 Comprehensive Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) Grant award. The City will encourage qualified non-profit organizations to apply for and develop transitional housing or permanent supportive housing options for homeless and at-risk populations. We will assist the Licking County Coalition for Housing in this endeavor again this year. We will also assist the Salvation Army again, providing $5,000 to operate their homeless shelter. This activity meets Specific Objective HSP1. There will be $70, in CDBG funds for the implementation of housing programs. The City s emergency minor home repair program will have $17, to provide loan assistance for income eligible owner occupied homes in need of minor repairs. This activity meets Specific Objective HSP5, H1, 4. Third Program Year Action Plan 33

41 As noted earlier, there are various funding sources to be tapped for new construction from tax credits to HOME. The City of Newark will support any entity in the application for these funds, if the project meets quality and location concerns of the City, and will supply technical assistance as needed. Barriers to Affordable Housing 1. Describe the actions that will take place during the next year to remove barriers to affordable housing. Program Year 3 Action Plan Barriers to Affordable Housing response: During 2010, Don Eager and Associates, updated the City s Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choices and identified impediments that need to be addressed in future years. An update will be completed every five years. The complete Analysis of Impediments was included in the City s 2010 One Year Use of Funds. This document is available on the City s website as well as at the two Newark locations of the Licking County Library, and the Department of Development at 40 West Main Street, Newark, OH The most predominate barrier to housing choice is affordability. To address this barrier, the City plans to continue its various housing programs as outlined in this document, as well as supporting the efforts of others to aid in the retention of the current housing stock and the development of new affordable housing. The second impediment appears to be a continuing lack of knowledge of Fair Housing Laws, especially as they relate to the protected classes of handicapped and familial status. We plan to continue our efforts to educate property owners, tenants, and the greater community at large by focusing our efforts on families with children and/or handicapped family members, as well as educating the general public, activities which will be completed by the City s Fair Housing Program through contract services provided by Donald Eager and Assoc. The update of the Analysis of Impediments included a comprehensive review of the following areas: Identification of Fair Housing Concerns and Problems Demographic Data and Income Characteristics Employment and Transportation Profile Housing Profile Maps Identification of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice Existing Programs, Services, and Activities Identification of Data Sources Third Program Year Action Plan 34

42 The Analysis of Impediments process involves a thorough examination of a variety of sources related to housing, affirmatively furthering fair housing, the fair housing delivery system and housing transactions, which affect people who are protected under fair housing law. It also requires active and involved public input and a review process via direct contact with stakeholders, focus group sessions with housing experts, public forums to collect input from citizens, distribution of draft reports for citizen review and formal presentation of findings. AI sources include census data; home mortgage industry data; federal, state and local housing complaint data; surveys of housing industry experts and stakeholders; and other housing information. Conducting a comprehensive Analysis of Impediments requires an in depth level of expertise on community fair housing issues. Panoptic city and county AIs seek to comply with the purpose and spirit of the Housing and Community Development Act and the nation s Fair Housing Act. To insure that every effort be taken to conduct a fair and balanced Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, prudent communities retain the services of an outside fair housing consultant. Federal Law mandates that every federal entitlement community be responsible for affirmatively furthering fair housing. Federal regulations go further than merely making this a requirement. Local communities must certify that they will affirmatively further fair housing and assume the responsibility of fair housing planning by conducting an analysis of impediments to fair housing. This report is a search for evidence that a policy, practice, standard or method of administration, although neutral on its face, operates to deny equal housing choice to an individual because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, religion, familial status or disability. The document produced as a result of this research is generally called the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI). The AI has reviewed a variety of questions that may affect the fair housing "health" of the community. It reviewed the practices and provisions of lending institutions, local housing-related codes and regulations, advertising for housing, past and present air housing activities, the real estate and rental industry, and affordable housing programs and issues. It also reviewed the concerns of affordable housing and how housing policies can affect the low and moderate income population. While some of these concerns, on their face, do not constitute fair housing related concerns, they can have an impact on equal choice in housing. The availability of housing and housing programs is important to a community. It does little good to provide home ownership programs if lenders that administer the programs require different terms and conditions of certain races, religions or sex. A rental rehabilitation program can offer the opportunity for individuals to live in safe and sanitary housing, but when a landlord/owner discriminates in his choice of tenants because of family status, race, disability, etc. the program does the community little Third Program Year Action Plan 35

43 good. Similarly, if a community is building affordable multi-family housing and fails to assure the accessibility of units for disabled persons, the project fails before it is begun. Some may argue that fair housing should only be concerned with the issues of equal choice or that fair housing should have nothing to do with the development of housing programs. Another argument is that Fair Housing Law protects persons based on race, religion, color, sex, national origin, familial status and disability and that other issues such as the source of income, marital status and age has nothing to do with fair housing. However, this is not true. Recent decisions by the courts are indicating that any policy or activity however neutral on its face that denies housing is of concern to the court and should be of concern to the community. The impact of fair housing considerations on the development of accessible multifamily housing is another example illustrating this point. Challenges are also being made in Newark regarding age, marital status, sexual preference and the provision of city services to low-moderate income (LMI) housing developments. Challenges reflect how fair housing laws and regulations respond and ultimately adapt to the housing concerns of the community. Current challenges should be used as an indicator by the community to adjust established policy to meet the housing needs of the protected as well as the unprotected classes. Below is a summary of the key findings and identified impediments and related recommendations. The consultant will both identify resources to implement these recommendations and suggest a feasible timetable NIMBY Issues Negative attitudes and community hostility is often directed toward group homes, proposed affordable housing units (project - based subsidized housing) and/or affordable single family home developments that are proposed in neighborhoods which are not economically distressed or racially isolated. The so-called NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) syndrome, and its cousin BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything), present both a formidable challenge and an opportunity to communities and developers of affordable housing and assisted housing. The challenge is obvious: the successful siting of needed housing. The opportunity is subtle, but significant: the administration of the project from its initial planning stages in a way that embodies the respect for human dignity, perseverance, and hope. Recommendation: Third Program Year Action Plan 36

44 1. Support a community-wide program to help reduce public opposition to group living facilities, public-assisted housing, and other unwanted land use through education and outreach. 2. Create materials for use by the city, community-based organizations and local fair housing groups to help educate residents who have concerns about new or existing group homes, public or assisted housing and other locally unwanted land use for the benefit of LMI households so that residents may better understand the potential benefits of such housing to the community as a whole. 3. Provide information on and support for enforcement of fair housing laws to help deter future efforts to block group homes, publicly assisted housing and other locally unwanted land use. 4. Develop a formal process that encourages and supports the use of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation, to help service providers and neighborhoods reconcile differences over group home issues, public-assisted housing, and similar unwanted land use. 5. Continue working to provide affordable housing for anyone that needs it, including the homeless and people with mental disabilities. 6. Provide education to local elected officials, landlords, property managers, and neighborhood associations on NIMBY ism, siting issues, and applicable fair housing laws. 7. Develop a means to identify potential site disputes early in the process and provide technical assistance and education tailored to that specific project. 8. Utilize the City of Newark s public information channel to educate the community on fair housing issues. 9. Examine the composition of local boards, commissions, and advisory bodies to determine representation of individuals in protected classes in decision making positions Fair Housing Enforcement Recommendation: 1. In addition to the provision of education and resources on fair housing issues and public forums for citizens to report housing discrimination, maintain and Third Program Year Action Plan 37

45 enhance the City s fair housing capacity to respond to and follow up on matters relating to illegal discrimination, including housing discrimination. 2. Conduct fair housing testing to ensure that fair housing laws are enforced and meritorious cases brought forward. 3. Increase efforts to collaborate between the local governments, Ohio Civil Rights Commission on, non-profit housing agencies, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in order to gather and share information, in a consistent and comparable manner, related to fair housing issues Accessibility The more critical issue today is the need to increase the amount of affordable and accessible housing stock in the community and to ensure that persons with physical or mental disabilities can fully enjoy their housing. In the Community Issues section of this report, the lack of handicap-accessible housing was cited by the community organizations, agencies or individuals responding as a significant barrier to one s ability to find housing. Recommendation: 1. Educate developers, non-profit organizations and architects about ways they can enhance the accessibility of existing units and increase the availability of accessible units; 2. Systematically inform housing providers and residents about their right to reasonable accommodations and modifications under fair housing law through the development and distribution of materials. 3. Evaluate contact points where citizens with accessible housing and other housing concerns contact the various city agencies and develop a strategy to improve efficiency and effectiveness (quality) of the city s response Lending Without access to financial services that charge reasonable fees, low and moderate income people will remain trapped in an endless cycle of debt. This debt weakens families which in turn weakens Newark neighborhoods. Bad debt prevents people from buying homes and being eligible for many jobs. The low and moderate income markets demonstrate a strong demand that is inadequately being served by traditional banking services. Third Program Year Action Plan 38

46 Subprime lenders have gained large markets in many areas within the city and the potential for predatory practices comes with this increased market presence. They tend to fill the gap when other lenders are not present in particular neighborhoods. The lack of HMDA reporting by non-regulated lenders causes difficulties in monitoring such activity and ensuring their accountability. Equal access to financial services is a difficult issue requiring the cooperation of all facets of the housing market. There is a significant need to work closely together, identifying predatory practices, and finding ways to eliminate them from the community. Recommendation: 1. Continue an emphasis on community education, particularly aimed at those populations targeted by predatory lenders. 2. Include information and education regarding predatory practices for those participating in city programs which provide equity, which may later become the subject of equity stripping predatory practices. 3. Identify sub-prime lenders in Newark and ensure the divisions between prime, sub-prime lending and predatory lending are understood by all sectors and the general public. Identify what institutions and transactions are regulated and identify any gaps. Include consideration of fringe financial industry practices in the areas of check cashing and payday loans, and explore the feasibility of making available alternative, legitimate services to address identified gaps. 5. Ensure all city grantee organizations serving persons who experience predatory lending practices receive training to identify and properly advise and /or refer persons to appropriate resources in the community. Lenders are clearly not reaching the minority communities in Newark and, when they do receive applications from non-white individuals and families, those applications are more likely to be denied. Thus the dream of home ownership is still eluding many qualified members of the minority communities. This is a critical issue for the City of Newark, since the purchase of a home is the primary way individuals and families build wealth. Without that asset base in the geographic areas with high percentages of minorities, there will be limited community reinvestment, including businesses like grocery stores and other retail services. Recommendation: 1. Promote quality home ownership education in both English and Spanish, especially aimed at the low and moderate income markets. Third Program Year Action Plan 39

47 2. Encourage the lending industry to conduct an ongoing campaign to increase minority loan applications for the purchase of homes including the provision of education to real estate professionals on the use of community lending products for LMI clientele. 3. Conduct and publicly publish annual reviews of lending institutions using HMDA data to determine if applications from non-white individuals and families are rising and if denials rates are comparable to White borrowers in the same income levels. Identify and develop a means of collecting equivalent data on non-regulated lenders that do not report HMDA data and include them in the annual review. 4. Monitor the progress of the lending industry through the annual reviews and through the results of matched pair fair housing testing. 5. Reward lenders engaged in serving the LMI market with community lending products or otherwise Affordable Rental Housing One of the most significant impediments identified in the Community Issues survey was the lack of affordable housing. Although some commenters felt that government/private programs were doing a good job of assisting individuals achieve affordable, safe and decent housing, others identified the need for credit counseling, financial management which could assist citizens in becoming 1st time home buyers. The increase in demand for affordable rental housing is becoming a major problem. As noted above in the NIMBY section, negative attitudes and community hostility towards affordable housing is a critical barrier to increasing affordable rental stock. Finding ways to address these attitudes is covered in the earlier recommendations. In addition, local communities must work with HUD, the state, NIFA, and the public housing authorities to increase efforts to provide housing to low-income residents. Recommendation: 1. Develop resources to facilitate implementation of the mobility counseling provisions of the plan. 2. Assist in the recruitment of landlords, developers and others to increase deconcentration by increasing those housing providers willing to participate in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program of MHA. Third Program Year Action Plan 40

48 3. Develop and encourage proactive education efforts (see recommendations to address NIMBY impediments) to facilitate implementation of the program by avoiding/averting/ minimizing these problems. Recruiting the involvement of non-profit, faith-based, grassroots and other existing community organizations in this effort is recommended for efficiency and effectiveness. 4. Consider the adoption of a city ordinance that would protect the additional characteristic of source of income or participation in Housing Choice voucher program. 5. Continue to support the cooperative efforts of the City Planning Department s code inspectors, the City Health Department, and other agencies to provide a rapid response to correct code and health violations and thus increase the supply of safe affordable rental housing. 6. Examine the composition of local boards, commissions, and advisory bodies to determine representation of individuals in protected classes in decision making positions. HOME/ American Dream Down payment Initiative (ADDI) 1. Describe other forms of investment not described in (b). 2. If the participating jurisdiction (PJ) will use HOME or ADDI funds for homebuyers, it must state the guidelines for resale or recapture, as required in of the HOME rule. 3. If the PJ will use HOME funds to refinance existing debt secured by multifamily housing that is that is being rehabilitated with HOME funds, it must state its refinancing guidelines required under (b). The guidelines shall describe the conditions under which the PJ will refinance existing debt. At a minimum these guidelines must: a. Demonstrate that rehabilitation is the primary eligible activity and ensure that this requirement is met by establishing a minimum level of rehabilitation per unit or a required ratio between rehabilitation and refinancing. b. Require a review of management practices to demonstrate that disinvestments in the property has not occurred; that the long-term needs of the project can be met; and that the feasibility of serving the targeted population over an extended affordability period can be demonstrated. c. State whether the new investment is being made to maintain current affordable units, create additional affordable units, or both. d. Specify the required period of affordability, whether it is the minimum 15 years or longer. Third Program Year Action Plan 41

49 e. Specify whether the investment of HOME funds may be jurisdiction-wide or limited to a specific geographic area, such as a neighborhood identified in a neighborhood revitalization strategy under 24 CFR (e) (2) or a federally designated Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community. f. State that HOME funds cannot be used to refinance multifamily loans made or insured by any federal program, including CDBG. 4. If the PJ is going to receive American Dream Down payment Initiative (ADDI) funds, please complete the following narratives: a. Describe the planned use of the ADDI funds. b. Describe the PJ's plan for conducting targeted outreach to residents and tenants of public housing and manufactured housing and to other families assisted by public housing agencies, for the purposes of ensuring that the ADDI funds are used to provide down payment assistance for such residents, tenants, and families. c. Describe the actions to be taken to ensure the suitability of families receiving ADDI funds to undertake and maintain homeownership, such as provision of housing counseling to homebuyers. Program Year 3 Action Plan HOME/ADDI response: In August 2009, the City was awarded a $540,000. Comprehensive Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) Grant from the State of Ohio. The purpose of this program is to provide resources to maintain, improve, or expand affordable housing for low to moderate income Ohioans. The funds were to be used for full rehabilitation of six owner occupied homes, five rental rehabilitation units, and new construction of two Habitat for Humanity homes. Statewide $32.4 million dollars were awarded to sixty-six communities in Ohio. It is anticipated that 2,531 low and moderate-income households, including approximately 5,531 people should be helped. The CHIP grant is expected to leverage nearly $21 million dollars in private and public dollars. In 2011 The City was awarded a $250,000. Comprehensive Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) Grant from the State of Ohio. Full rehabilitation of six owner occupied housing units will occur during the two year grant cycle, which ends October 31, Third Program Year Action Plan 42

50 HOMELESS Specific Homeless Prevention Elements *Please also refer to the Homeless Needs Table in the Needs.xls workbook 1. Sources of Funds Identify the private and public resources that the jurisdiction expects to receive during the next year to address homeless needs and to prevent homelessness. These include the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act programs, other special federal, state and local and private funds targeted to homeless individuals and families with children, especially the chronically homeless, the HUD formula programs, and any publicly-owned land or property. Please describe, briefly, the jurisdiction s plan for the investment and use of funds directed toward homelessness. 2. Homelessness In a narrative, describes how the action plan will address the specific objectives of the Strategic Plan and, ultimately, the priority needs identified. Please also identify potential obstacles to completing these action steps. 3. Chronic homelessness The jurisdiction must describe the specific planned action steps it will take over the next year aimed at eliminating chronic homelessness by Again, please identify barriers to achieving this. 4. Homelessness Prevention The jurisdiction must describe its planned action steps over the next year to address the individual and families with children at imminent risk of becoming homeless. 5. Discharge Coordination Policy Explain planned activities to implement a cohesive, community-wide Discharge Coordination Policy, and how, in the coming year, the community will move toward such a policy. Program Year 3 Action Plan Special Needs response: (The following goals and objectives are from the City s Five-Year Consolidated Plan.) Homeless and Special Populations Goals Goal: Provide housing opportunities, improve living conditions, and promote selfsufficiency among homeless and at-risk homeless individuals and families with children. Specific Objective HSP1: Maintain the existing supply of emergency shelters and transitional housing units by providing financial assistance and technical support to agencies serving the homeless. Third Program Year Action Plan 43

51 Specific Objective HSP2: Specific Objective HSP3: Specific Objective HSP4: Provide technical and financial assistance to non-profit organizations to help them develop two (2) additional permanent housing units for homeless persons through Habitat for Humanity. Provide deferred payment loans to two (2) at-risk low- to moderate-income homeowners per year for emergency housing repairs through Moundbuilders, now known as Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio. Provide technical and financial support to agencies providing housing placement, life skills training, and other supportive services to homeless and at-risk homeless individuals and families through the LCCH and the LMHA. Provide approximately 800 public transportation passes to homeless persons and victims of domestic violence per year. Goal: Improve housing affordability and living conditions for low- and moderate-income elderly, frail elderly, and physically disabled persons in the City of Newark by addressing housing quality, safety, accessibility, and value. Specific Objective HSP5: Substantially rehabilitate, provide emergency repairs, provide energy-efficiency improvements, and/or provide handicapped accessibility improvements to at least two (2) special needs households per year. The City, in conjunction with the Licking County Coalition for Housing, is working to identify low-income families and individuals in imminent danger of residing in shelters or being unsheltered because they lack access to permanent housing or have an inadequate support network. Existing resources are being adjusted to suit the needs of these families and individuals. As unmet needs are identified, new activities will be developed to help meet those needs. The community is working to address the unmet housing and service needs of persons with disabilities, the elderly, persons with AIDS, and low-income families who can benefit from participation in organized activities to achieve economic independence and self sufficiency. Third Program Year Action Plan 44

52 The existing social service network is able to provide a menu of services ranging from credit and financial counseling to parenting skills teaching and preschool instruction. The existing social service networks are able to provide rental assistance, a food pantry, and a clothes closet for children, transitional housing, emergency housing, and a variety of counseling services to meet the needs of residents. Programs for the disabled and elderly are all encompassing, providing home delivered meals, transportation, escorts to medical appointments and vocational and educational training. Most participants agree that any needed service is provided by some agency. The City will continue to support these agencies as it can, providing technical assistance as needed. Funds may also be available for the renovation of facilities or continuation of a successful program. Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) (States only) Describe the process for awarding grants to State recipients, and a description of how the allocation will be made available to units of local government. Program Year 3 Action Plan ESG response: The City of Newark will not receive ESG funding during the program year. Third Program Year Action Plan 45

53 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Community Development *Please also refer to the Community Development Table in the Needs.xls workbook. 1. Identify the jurisdiction's priority non-housing community development needs eligible for assistance by CDBG eligibility category specified in the Community Development Needs Table (formerly Table 2B), public facilities, public improvements, public services and economic development. 2. Identify specific long-term and short-term community development objectives (including economic development activities that create jobs), developed in accordance with the statutory goals described in section 24 CFR 91.1 and the primary objective of the CDBG program to provide decent housing and a suitable living environment and expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. *Note: Each specific objective developed to address a priority need, must be identified by number and contain proposed accomplishments, the time period (i.e., one, two, three, or more years), and annual program year numeric goals the jurisdiction hopes to achieve in quantitative terms, or in other measurable terms as identified and defined by the jurisdiction. Program Year 3 Action Plan Community Development response: (The following goals and objectives are from the City s Five-Year Consolidated Plan.) Non-Housing Community Development Goals: Goal: Work with residents and neighborhood organizations to create more livable, safe, clean, and attractive neighborhoods in the City of Newark. Specific Objective CD1: Specific Objective CD2: Specific Objective CD3: Extend complete sanitary sewer services to two (2) low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. Update and improve park and recreation spaces/facilities in one (1) low- to moderate-income neighborhood per year. Repair and improve street surfaces, sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic control devices, and/or street lighting in two (2) low- to moderate-income neighborhoods per year. Third Program Year Action Plan 46

54 Specific Objective CD4: Provide financial assistance to help eligible neighborhoods plan and implement systems to reduce problems with weeds, garbage, bulk trash, and/or rodents. One neighborhood will be assisted per year. Specific Objective CD5: Complete flood drain improvement projects in two (2) low- to moderate-income neighborhoods per year. Goal: Create and sustain economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals. Specific Objective CD6: Provide technical assistance to low- to moderate-income individuals who are working to start, stabilize, or expand a small business. Thirty-five (35) individuals will be assisted each year. Specific Objective CD7: Provide technical assistance to redevelop one (1) abandoned or underutilized site per year for commercial/industrial use, if possible. Goal: Maintain an economically viable, attractive downtown central business district in the City of Newark. Specific Objective CD8: Specific Objective CD9: Provide grants and/or loans to one (1) commercial property owner in the Central Business District each year for improvement of building facades/exteriors and correction of code violations. Develop and implement annual planning and policy priorities to guide redevelopment of the Central Business District. Goal: Maintain and enhance essential public services addressing the needs of lowincome youth, homeless persons, families, and senior citizens. Specific Objective CD10: Provide funding to public service providers to assist at least two hundred (200) additional households per year with landlord/tenant counseling, housing counseling, transportation services, nutrition services, recreation services, and/or neighborhood clean-ups. Third Program Year Action Plan 47

55 Specific Objective CD11: Provide funding and technical support to enhance one (1) existing youth center or park or develop one (1) new youth center or park in a low- to moderate-income neighborhood. Community Development initiatives include those activities such as public facilities and improvements, public services, and economic development. Public Facilities and Improvements The City will commit $195, in FY 2012 CDBG funds for public facilities and improvements. Of this amount, the City will commit $35, in CDBG funds for street rehabilitation. All streets will be located in low- to moderate-income areas and will be addressed according to need as established by the City Engineer. This project will help the City meet Specific Objective CD3. The City will implement a new activity, Mobility Improvements ($10,000.00). This funding will be committed to enhancing safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders. All improvements will occur in low- to moderate-income areas and will be addressed according to need by the Development Director and City Engineer. During 2011, The City made progress on a mobility project, the Church Street Bike project. A contractor has been selected for construction of the off-road portion of the project new multi-use path through the YMCA property and a new mid-block pedestrian crossing of W. Church Street that will improve safety for pedestrians crossing from the YMCA to White Field for football games. City staff recently completed design of the on-road portion of the project. Some of the on-road portion has already been striped. The rest of the on-road markings, along with the off-road part through the YMCA property are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. When complete, the 1.94 mile downtown bike connector will join the existing bike trails on the east and west sides of Newark, creating one continuous network of over 45 miles throughout the county. The project meets objective CD3. Park Improvements totaling $50, will be utilized at the City s park facilities. Third Program Year Action Plan 48

56 The Park Improvements activity is to be used by the City s Division of Parks to purchase equipment and implement enhancements for the City parks, which also includes the Hollander Pool facility. Funding cannot be utilized for maintenance. Match funding for a NatureWorks application to ODNR totals $2, The City s application will be reviewed in 2012, due to funding restrictions implemented by the State of Ohio. The application seeks to purchase slides and accessories for the children s play area at T.J. Evans Park. Also included is a request for funding to build a scuba diving platform, and replace 100 sections of guardrail. The project meets objective CD 2. The Newark Division of Engineering and Water and Wastewater divisions are working on a sanitary/storm sewer/waterline/roadway project for Channel and West Postal streets in the north end of town. An initial engineering study of the sewers in the area was completed by Jobes-Henderson. That study has suggested rehabilitation of existing sanitary sewers on Channel Street and new storm and sanitary sewers on West Postal to accommodate future improvements on Mt. Vernon Road. Plans also include the installation of a new waterline on West Postal. In the late 1990s, a project was completed on East Postal including Cherry and Crilly Streets to install new sanitary sewer in that area and was part of the City s Community Sewers Project. CDBG funds assisted income qualified homeowners in the area. As part of the City s work, a policy was developed to waive capacity fees to qualifying homeowners in the areas. The projects have eliminated a large portion of the City that is unsewered and helped improve the value of homes in the low income areas of Newark. The City of Newark plans to provide $50, in CDBG funding to assist with the installation of sanitary sewer on West Postal, a low income area of Newark. There are no sanitary sewers on the street and all of the homes will need to be connected to the sanitary sewer line. The total project cost is estimated at approximately $1,800,000. Other funding sources include SCIP funds, Stormwater Capital funds, Wastewater Capital funds, a possible DEFA Loan, Water Capital funds (possibly tied to a bond being issued for several other water projects), and possible ODOT funding. The project meets CD1. CDBG dollars totaling $47, will be set aside for downtown supportive costs. This activity provides funds for the implementation of downtown projects operated by the Department of Development to relieve the slum and blight conditions of the downtown and promote the general safety of the area. The activity meets CD 3, 8, and 9. Third Program Year Action Plan 49

57 The Courthouse Square is in the middle of the Target Area that was revised and made smaller last year to concentrate our activities in those areas that reflect the residences of low and moderate-income households. This is the center of activity with many restaurants, government offices, non-profits and other businesses that both serve and provide jobs to LMI individuals. The lawn of the Courthouse is a gathering place for free summer concerts, holiday gatherings, and a place for summer picnics at the many tables provided for that purpose. We would like to maintain and encourage this vitality. This acitivity meets Specfic Objective CD9. Public Services The City will commit $21, towards the provision of tenant/landlord services and fair housing services for Newark. This activity helps the City meet Specific Objective CD10. St. Vincent de Paul/Coalition of Care will receive $5, in FY 2012 CDBG funds to provide emergency housing, food, and transportation, rental payments to prevent eviction or security and utility deposits for LMI persons transitioning to permanent housing. LMI persons will benefit from the services during the grant cycle. The activity meets Specific Objective HSP1. Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio will receive $5, for its homeless prevention program. The funding will be used to provide both emergency and short term (3-6 mos.) transitional housing to individuals and families. In addition supportive services to assist clients in sercuring permanent housing and self sufficienty. The priority population are people who meet the definition of severely mentally ill/severely emotionally disturbed, severe substance abusers, and/or victims of domestic violence who are presumed to be, by federal regulation, low to moderate income persons. The project will help the City meet Specific Objective HSP4. The City will continue to cooperate with the non-profit Licking County Coalition for Housing to provide transitional housing and related services. The City will provide $5,000 in CDBG funds in support of the Coalition. The transitional housing program began the first of its renewed two-year HUD Supportive Housing Program grant on July 1, Newark s CDBG funds help to meet the local matching funds requirement for that grant. This project will help the City meet Specific Objective HSP1. The Salvation Army operates an emergency homeless shelter, serving over 6,000 families, men and women per year and providing meals to 20,000. Our commitment of $5, in CDBG funds will support 400 shelter nights providing a small portion of the Salvation Army s annual budget. This amount is made up of local private contributions, a Third Program Year Action Plan 50

58 grant from the Ohio Department, and a grant from United Way of Licking County. This project will help the City meet Specific Objective HSP1. Other The Code Enforcement activity involves the enforcement of local codes, including payment of costs associated with property inspection and follow up action, such as legal proceedings. Code enforcement also involves the payment of salaries and overhead costs directly related to the enforcement of local codes. The objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. ($80,500.00) The activity meets Specific Objective CD9. The Un-programmed Funds activity objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. ($2,010.00) The City seeks to change the demolition activity from being totally grant funded to that of a loan program. The reason for the change is directly linked to finding a way to sustain the solvency of the demolition activity when traditional funding sources are dwindling. Eligible nonprofit, commercial, business, and rental demolition project requests will structured as a loan instead of a grant. However, those income eligible homeowners, who qualify for the CDBG demolition activity, will be provided a grant instead of a loan. The logic in keeping a grant format for homeowners is that the income eligibility of our clientele often makes it prohibitive to secure a loan. Clients such as senior citizens often do not have the means to secure a loan due to limited incomes that are often drained by health care costs and other expenses. It is the opinion of the Development staff that the City should continue to provide lowincome homeowners, who may for example have a structure such as an old garage that presents a health and safety hazard as well as a neighborhood eyesore, a grant. The loan will be structured as a no interest loan that will be paid in monthly installments over a five-year period. The City Department of Community Development will operate the demolition loan program and all mortgage payments will be deposited in a revolving loan fund for future CDBG demolition activities. The plan is to extend this loan program to CDBG funded rehabilitation requests by nonprofits during the FY 2012 CDBG program year. The intent to generate program income for this activity will match that of the demolition loan program slated to begin during FY Third Program Year Action Plan 51

59 The City demolished ten homes to date. The City will continue its demolition activity in 2012 by commiting $25, in funds for the provision of LMI clearance and demolition. Demolition provides for the clearance and removal of unsafe structures within the city. Demolition will include such structures as single-family units, commercial structures and garages. Clearance or demolition activities are typically undertaken within eligible low-income neighborhoods, benefit low-income persons, clear sites for low-income housing, or create or retain low-income jobs. Most clearance or demolition activities eliminate specific instances of blight on a spot basis. This activity helps the City meet Specific Objectives CD4 and H5. As discussed at past public hearings, the demolition/clearance as well as rehabilitation acitivities requested by non- profit agencies will change from that of completely grant funded activity to a loan activity. The plan is to offer, to those qualified agencies seeking CDBG assistance, a no interest loan to be paid over a five to ten year period, depending on the size of the loan. The purpose in changing from completely grant funded activities is to stretch our existing resources and generate income that will permit the City to offer more funding for demolition/clearance and rehabilitation activites. Currently, the City s owner occupied rehabiltiation program as well as emergency repair activities function as a deferred loan program for qualified owner occupants. In 2012, area non profits may also apply to the emergency/minor home repair activity. The Denison University Helping Hands Garden of Hope will benefit from $ in CDBG funding. It is a project that utilizes the assistance of juveniles in the Newark Court system. They will work off community service hours by tending to an organic garden. Student volunteers from Denison University will assist the teenage girls. The garden produce is shared with a local church food pantry in a low income downtown neighborhood. The activity will help the City meet Specific Objective CD2. A downtown revitalization activity will receive $5, and a small business financial assistance acitivity will receive $5, The purpose is to encourage borrowers to do well planned restoration and business development in the dowwntown area. The goal is to create a more attractive and vibrant business district, and enhance economic development. The activities could help the City meet Specific Objective CD8 and CD9. The City of Newark Department of Community Development will utilize CDBG funds over the next several years to assist with infrastructure improvements to enhance other efforts being done by private and non-profit groups to achieve the goals of this plan. Economic Development Economic Development Technical Assistance Third Program Year Action Plan 52

60 The City s Economic Development Technical Assistance efforts will have a greater emphasis on business retention and expansion activities. The City will continue to participate in the Licking County Retention and Expansion Taskforce which concentrates on interviewing and assisting larger manufacturing, industrial, and warehousing operations. The City has recently developed a local business retention and expansion program which aims to interview and assist businesses ranging in size from small to large that do not meet the criteria of the County program. It is estimated that six (6) interviews will be conducted under the county program and twelve (12) interviews will be conducted under the city program. The goal is to secure the long term sustainability of existing local businesses and to achieve outcomes that will result in the creation and retention of jobs. The City will continue to provide guidance, all reasonable assistance, and/or direction to resources to all businesses that contact the City with questions or concerns. The goal is to reduce the time and effort businesses must spend working with governmental entities so that they may concentrate on their business. The City will continue responding to leads generated locally and through the State of Ohio as well as providing information on sites known to be available for development to inquisitors. This includes the maintenance of a listing of available sites and a development guide which can be provided to potential developers. The City will continue to work with both public and private development partners in moving development projects forward. This includes acting in an advising and facilitating capacity, providing information and assistance with local and other government incentives, and assisting development partners in navigating local regulations and requirements. Specifically, concerted efforts have been made and will continue in partnerships with local developers on properties located on the north end of downtown Newark and the area that serves as the gateway to downtown. The City also places special importance on working with developers on projects that will protect the City s historic resources such as the Louis Sullivan and Lansing Buildings. This includes assistance in strategizing rehabilitation, seeking alternative funding sources, and finding expert advisors. The City will continue to act as administrator for the local Tax Increment Financing Districts, Joint Economic Development Districts/Zones, and Community Reinvestment Areas. Further, the City will examine the creation of new tax incentive districts on a case by case basis. The City will continue to explore and pursue funding sources for identifying, evaluating, and preparing sites for redevelopment by the private sector. This includes the City s efforts to remediate vacant industrial sites and Brownfield sites and ready them for Third Program Year Action Plan 53

61 investment. Funding sources will be pursued from the State of Ohio and Federal Government to identify, assess, and remediate Brownfield sites in the City. Downtown Revitalization Fund Program The City will make grant funds available through the Downtown Revitalization Fund Program. The program is intended to encourage economic development in downtown Newark by assisting local businesses in creating an environment that is aesthetically attractive, functional for conducting business, and respectful of downtown s historic character. Grants are available to both new and existing businesses and organizations. Proposals that will have a positive effect on the abatement of building deterioration, job creation and retention, and the preservation of historic elements will be viewed most favorably by the City. This program consists of two separate funding opportunities to assist in improving buildings and infrastructure located in downtown Newark, Ohio: grants provided for exterior rehabilitation and renovation of buildings and grants provided for exterior non-building projects. The programs goals are: to assist local property owners and businesses in conducting building and property improvement projects, to improve the aesthetic appearance of downtown buildings and properties, to address the issues of building deterioration and local blight, to support the restoration of buildings to include their original historic features, to create construction jobs and jobs offered by new businesses with an emphasis on jobs to be offered to low to moderate income individuals, to continue to foster a favorable business climate in Newark and to serve as a catalyst for further business growth and revitalization. The selection of projects for the Downtown Revitalization Fund Program may be guided, in part, by the recently completed Courthouse Square Park Improvements Plan. Grant funds may specifically direct to restoring and protecting those downtown buildings and elements which have been identified as historic. Small Business Loan Guarantee Program The City of Newark and Park National Bank have partnered to create a citywide Small Business Loan Guarantee Program for small, for-profit businesses located in Newark, Ohio. In order to make loans more readily available, the City will use funding to offer loan guarantees on various types of business loans provided by Park National Bank. Applicants are not limited in the type of projects to which the loans may be applied. The program is intended to encourage economic development through the establishment of new businesses and growth of existing businesses. Loan proposals with a positive effect on job creation and retention, the abatement of building deterioration, and service to low-moderate income individuals will be viewed most favorably by the Third Program Year Action Plan 54

62 City. The loan guarantees offered by the City of Newark shall range between $1,000 and $5,000. The loan guarantee shall cover a maximum of 25% of the loan provided by Park National Bank. For the purposes of this program, the loans offered shall range between $4,000 and $50,000. Program goals are: to provide opportunities for local businesses to secure necessary financing for business improvement projects, to address the issues of building deterioration and local blight, to support the restoration of buildings to include their original features, to provide services to the low to moderate income population, to create jobs with an emphasis on jobs to be offered to low to moderate income individuals, to continue to foster a favorable business climate in Newark, and to serve as a catalyst for further business growth and revitalization. Downtown Revitalization Fund- Buildings is an activity that will provide grants/loans to assist downtown businesses in efforts to revitalize their buildings. The objective is providing economic opportunity. The outcome category is sustainability. ($5,000.00). The activity helps the City meet Specific Objective CD 8 Downtown Revitalization Fund- Infrastructure is an activity that will provide grants/loans to assist downtown businesses in efforts to revitalize their property/non-building infrastructure. The objective is providing economic opportunity. The outcome category is sustainability. ($5,000.00). The activity helps the City meet Specific Objective CD8. Economic Development Technical Assistance is an activity that involves the coordination and monitoring of programming designed to enhance and promote economic development. This includes economic related inquiries, leads, and retention and expansion programs, ED related incentives and initiatives such as TIFF, JEDD/Z, CRA programs, brownfield clean-up, and other economic development related efforts focused on assistance for locally based businesses. The objective is providing economic opportunity. The outcome category is sustainability. ($109,000.00) The activity helps the City meet Specific Objective CD7, 8 and 9. Antipoverty Strategy 1. Describe the actions that will take place during the next year to reduce the number of poverty level families. Program Year 3 Action Plan Antipoverty Strategy response: Third Program Year Action Plan 55

63 One common goal among social service agencies and programs is to eliminate poverty so that individuals and families may determine their own destiny. It is difficult, if not impossible, for planners to devise programs that ultimately eliminate poverty because of the myriad of variables. At best, we can hope our efforts help reduce the effects of poverty and do not increase poverty rates. The 2010 Census data for the City of Newark includes a population increase of 2.9% since the 2000 Census. The median age for residents is thirty-nine. Families(non-single residences) represented 62.7% of the population. One race comprises 97.4% and two races comprises 2.6% of the population: White- 92.8%, 3.3% Black-3/3%, Latino-1.2%, American Indian and Alaska Native-0.3%, Asian- 0.6%. HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE Number Percent Total households 19, Family households (families) [7] 12, With own children under 18 years 5, Husband-wife family 8, With own children under 18 years 3, Male householder, no wife present 1, With own children under 18 years Female householder, no husband present 2, With own children under 18 years 1, Nonfamily households [7] 7, Householder living alone 6, Male 2, years and over Female 3, years and over 1, Households with individuals under 18 years 6, Households with individuals 65 years and over 5, Average household size 2.35 ( X ) Average family size [7] 2.94 ( X ) Third Program Year Action Plan 56

64 HOUSING OCCUPANCY Number Percent Total housing units 21, Occupied housing units 19, Vacant housing units 2, For rent Rented, not occupied For sale only Sold, not occupied For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use All other vacants Homeowner vacancy rate (percent) [8] 2.8 ( X ) Rental vacancy rate (percent) [9] 10.3 ( X ) HOUSING TENURE Number Percent Occupied housing units 19, Owner-occupied housing units 11, Population in owner-occupied housing units 26,758 ( X ) Average household size of owner-occupied units 2.39 ( X ) Renter-occupied housing units 8, Population in renter-occupied housing units 19,804 ( X ) Average household size of renter-occupied units 2.29 ( X ) Fighting poverty must occur on many levels. Generally, that means doing as much as we can do on many fronts. We coordinate housing rehabilitation to maintain our affordable housing stock. We conduct public works projects to provide decent facilities for our community. There are tax abatement programs to encourage job attraction, retention, and expansion. We have developed various assistance activities for small start-up businesses. The impact of our programs and projects is but one small part of a much greater picture. Good paying, strong fringe benefit jobs seem to be an element that greatly determines the level of poverty in a community as jobs provide those seeking economic security with the means to take care of their own needs. But jobs move around looking for the best environment for the owners or investors. Today good paying jobs are being lost due to foreign competition, leveraged buyouts of companies, environmental issues, and government policies. There is very little that individuals or even local government officials can do about policies that are passed by inaccessible international committees that determine trade agreements, like the GATT Treaty. All of these actions have an overall effect on the health of this country and each minute action adds up in the long run. Third Program Year Action Plan 57

65 The City of Newark provides a number of economic development tools in its efforts to help encourage stable and lucrative employment opportunities for citizens, and thereby reduce poverty. Tax incentives are one element made available through two programs. Community Reinvestment Areas are currently designated in four neighborhoods in Newark. This program provides property tax abatement on new construction and improvements for up to fifteen years. The Enterprise Zone Program covers the entire city and provides tax abatement on property improvements, inventory, and equipment for up to ten years. The City has worked with local banks to create a micro loan program financed primarily through the Small Business Administration. Newark has become a site for the Small Business Development Center to provide counseling and information to small and expanding businesses. Clearing a site through the City's demolition program can greatly assist a growing business create or retain low- to moderate-income jobs and make redevelopment in distressed areas economically feasible. Cooperation with developers, the local chamber of commerce, lenders, business leaders, and others can lead to economic action. Maintaining low taxes and municipal operating costs helps to lure new and retain old businesses. The City continues to support existing social service agencies, providing supportive services to their respective clientele. In addition, the City is working with the Licking County Coalition for Housing providing transitional housing and intensive case management services with the goal of reducing the likelihood that "clients" will need long term support or return to the "welfare rolls." We support working families through assistance to Habitat for Humanity, which provides affordable housing. We are embarking on a new and exciting concentrated Neighborhood Revitalization effort. And finally, we will continue our rehabilitation programs, which provide assistance to owneroccupants and investment owners, to stabilize and preserve our housing stock that is affordable to low-income persons. All of the tools described above, used responsibly, can help in securing economic opportunities for all citizens, which works to reduce the incidence of poverty. NON-HOMELESS SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING Non-homeless Special Needs ( (c) and (e)) *Please also refer to the Non-homeless Special Needs Table in the Needs.xls workbook. 1. Describe the priorities and specific objectives the jurisdiction hopes to achieve for the period covered by the Action Plan. 2. Describe how Federal, State, and local public and private sector resources that are Third Program Year Action Plan 58

66 reasonably expected to be available will be used to address identified needs for the period covered by this Action Plan. Program Year 3 Action Plan Specific Objectives response: Special Needs Housing goals are included in the Homeless and Special Needs section above. Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS *Please also refer to the HOPWA Table in the Needs.xls workbook. 1. Provide a Brief description of the organization, the area of service, the name of the program contacts, and a broad overview of the range/ type of housing activities to be done during the next year. 2. Report on the actions taken during the year that addressed the special needs of persons who are not homeless but require supportive housing, and assistance for persons who are homeless. 3. Evaluate the progress in meeting its specific objective of providing affordable housing, including a comparison of actual outputs and outcomes to proposed goals and progress made on the other planned actions indicated in the strategic and action plans. The evaluation can address any related program adjustments or future plans. 4. Report on annual HOPWA output goals for the number of households assisted during the year in: (1) short-term rent, mortgage and utility payments to avoid homelessness; (2) rental assistance programs; and (3) in housing facilities, such as community residences and SRO dwellings, where funds are used to develop and/or operate these facilities. Include any assessment of client outcomes for achieving housing stability, reduced risks of homelessness and improved access to care. 5. Report on the use of committed leveraging from other public and private resources that helped to address needs identified in the plan. 6. Provide an analysis of the extent to which HOPWA funds were distributed among different categories of housing needs consistent with the geographic distribution plans identified in its approved Consolidated Plan. 7. Describe any barriers (including non-regulatory) encountered, actions in response to barriers, and recommendations for program improvement. Third Program Year Action Plan 59

67 8. Please describe the expected trends facing the community in meeting the needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS and provide additional information regarding the administration of services to people with HIV/AIDS. 9. Please note any evaluations, studies or other assessments that will be conducted on the local HOPWA program during the next year. Program Year 3 Action Plan HOPWA response: The City of Newark will not apply for HOPWA funds during FY Instead, the City will continue to support other organizations in their application for HOPWA funds. HOPWA funds were awarded to the Licking County Coalition for Housing through the Franklin County Board of Health, and LCCH is using those funds to provide short-term rental assistance and supportive services for AIDS afflicted families to prevent them from becoming homeless. Should the need arise for additional HOPWA facilities in the future, the City of Newark would work closely with the appropriate organizations to insure facilities and services are being provided to those in need. At such time, the City of Newark would consider applying for HOPWA funds and would continue to support applications from other organizations. Specific HOPWA Objectives Describe how Federal, State, and local public and private sector resources that are reasonably expected to be available will be used to address identified needs for the period covered by the Action Plan. Program Year 3 Specific HOPWA Objectives response: The City of Newark will not receive HOPWA funding during the program year. Other Narrative Include any Action Plan information that was not covered by a narrative in any other section. Third Program Year Action Plan 60

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