ADGENDA 2-03-2015

Executive Summary ES-05
Executive Summary - 24 CFR 91.200(c), 91.220(b)
HUD CONSOLIDATED PLAN

1. Introduction

The Consolidated Plan for the City of Middletown has been prepared in response to a consolidated process developed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program.

This Consolidated Plan outlines housing, community and economic development needs, priorities, strategies, and projects that will be undertaken by the City of Irving with the funds that the City receives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As an entitlement community, the City receives an annual share of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and through the Butler County HOME Consortium, Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funds. In order to receive its CDBG entitlement, the City must submit this Consolidated Plan and First Year Annual Action Plan to HUD. The funds are intended to provide lower and moderate-income households with viable communities, including decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities. Eligible activities include community facilities and improvements, housing rehabilitation and preservation, development activities, public services, economic development, planning, and program administration.

The Consolidated Plan serves the following functions: 1) A planning document for the City, which builds upon a citizen participation process; 2) An application for federal funds under HUD’s formula grant programs; 3) A strategy to be followed in carrying out HUD programs; and, 4) An action plan that provides a basis for assessing performance.

2. Summary of the objectives and outcomes identified in the Plan Needs Assessment Overview

Neighborhood revitalization and poverty are critical concerns in Middletown. The median household income in the City is $35,853, which is 67.5 percent of the national figure of $53,046. Thus, 23.0 percent of the population lives in poverty, a figure well above the national 15.4 percent.

This low income level and high rate of poverty is reflected in the deterioration and disinvestment in properties across the City. Thus, neighborhood revitalization is critical to improving the City’s situation and resources have been and will continue to be allocated to this effort. Neighborhoods are the basic building blocks of our community. One neighborhood by itself should have all the elements of a village with housing, parks, schools, shopping, employment and civic uses. The City has embarked upon a new, more comprehensive strategy to overcome market forces. Given the condition of some neighborhoods, reliance on the private sector to turn undesirable neighborhoods around is an unlikely strategy. Public Consolidated Plan MIDDLETOWN 1 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 07/31/2015 sector leaderships and incentives are being employed to entice private sector participation through a comprehensive multiyear revitalization process. Blighting influences are being removed and housing units are required meet the minimum building code before a neighborhood’s revitalization process is concluded. This strategy requires a proactive approach and a concentration of resources into select neighborhoods, and this deliberate concentration of resources has resulted in significant progress in the targeted neighborhoods.

The needs in the target neighborhoods are numerous and varied. The principal needs are: 1) housing rehabilitation for both owner and renter units, 2) improve/revitalize neighborhoods, 3) preventing homelessness and assisting the homeless, 4) providing a range of services and assistance to low-income residents, 5) maintaining and improving public facilities and infrastructure, and 6) ensuring fair housing opportunities.

The City believes that rehabilitation of both rental and owner housing units is a High priority, as these efforts keep people in affordable housing and, especially for extremely low-income and elderly homeowners may serve to prevent homelessness. Similarly, Homeless activities, ranging from providing emergency shelter to preventing homelessness receive a High priority. Thus, the City will focus on multiple efforts including rental rehabilitation, as well as homeowner repair to provide affordable housing and in many instances prevent homelessness.

While the City supports programs for affordable homeownership, the opportunities for homeownership among the City’s low-income residents are limited by the poor economy, job uncertainty, strict lending criteria and significant down payment requirements. Homeowner loan programs are still given a High priority ranking, however, and efforts will be made to assist those seeking to purchase a home.

Because of the difficult economic situation in the City’s low/mod Census Tracts the provision of Public Service Programs receives a High priority rank. The need for a wide range of services, including programs for seniors and youth, feeding programs, and child care, is present in each of these areas.

Public Facilities and Infrastructure are very important to the City and receive a High rating.

Fair Housing is a concern in the City and also receives a High ranking.

Market conditions, especially increasing rental costs, low incomes, and stagnant wages create the needs for the rental programs, while high down payment requirements and stringent loan standards create a need for home buyer assistance programs.

The City’s homelessness strategy is a multi-pronged approach the emphasizes homelessness prevention, immediate assistance and rapid re-housing; support for persons and families as they transition to economic and housing stability; and efforts to prevent those persons from returning to homelessness. The City of Middletown participates in the Butler County Housing and Homeless Coalition which consists of a wide array of individuals and entities that directly and indirectly serve homeless persons. Through a variety of coordinating councils, networks and other organizational structures the housing needs and priorities for the homeless are analyzed. The integration and coordination of resources and programs ensures that housing and support services are broad based, comprehensive and organized. The County’s Housing and Homeless Coalition meets on a regular basis and has actively sought program funds in a collaborative manner. Consolidated Plan MIDDLETOWN 2 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 07/31/2015) The City’s anti-poverty strategy is part of an effort to create jobs and improve the local economy. The creation of economic opportunities is not an isolated solution to alleviating poverty, and the City also works with community partners to identify educational, life skills and training needs and provide opportunities for self-empowerment that will enable low- and moderate-income residents to become and continue to be self-sufficient and economically independent. These programs have an immediate impact on primary needs of the low-income population and the causes of poverty.

3. Evaluation of past performance

Past performance and activities were a part of formulating the strategies for this Plan. The City’s needs are many and significant, and the success of previous programs and the need to complete some already under way did influence both public and staff perceptions of needs and priorities. The Self-Evaluation sections of our recent CAPERs describe our progress in providing decent, safe, and affordable housing, in the demolition of dilapidated structures, the improvement of the housing stock through our code enforcement program and the provision of important public services.

4. Summary of citizen participation process and consultation process

As noted in PR-10, Consultation, well publicized public hearings were held on two occasions – November 19, 2014 in the Community Revitalization Department Conference Room in City Hall, One Donham Plaza, and on February 3, 2015 at a City Council meeting. These sessions were part of a concerted effort to obtain as much public input as possible in the course of Plan preparation.

The City also conducted two focus group meetings, held on November 19 and 20, 2014 at City Hall. Representatives from community service organizations attended one session, and members of the housing development and real estate community attended another. Active participation by attendees at both meetings provided insight into community and neighborhood needs.

The City also prepared a Web-based community survey to obtain additional public input. The survey was available on the City Website from October 18 until November 27, 2014, and hard copies were made available at the first public hearings, and at the focus group meetings. The City did not receive any completed surveys.

The City ensures that all Public Hearings are held at times and locations convenient to potential and actual beneficiaries and with accommodations for persons with disabilities. Upon request, in advance of the meeting, the City will attempt to make accommodations for those individuals in need of special assistance. The City also provides technical assistance workshops for all interested in the programs.

5. Summary of public comments

The City received program and priority ideas from the public during the focus group meetings. However, no comments were received during the 30-day public review period.

6. Summary of comments or views not accepted and the reasons for not accepting them
Consolidated Plan MIDDLETOWN 3 OMB Control No: 2506-0117 (exp. 07/31/2015) The City accepted all comments that were offered.