Loading...
CITY OF CLEARWATER FISCAL YEAR 2000 - 2001 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT ellPGIC - fl-SGr~ --ws Listed below is a summary of the activities and expenditures of the Housing Division as it relates to . the FY 2000-01 Consolidated Plan. tf7_ /)J ef!, /.;J-/3.u / Activi Demolition CDBG Pro ram Administration HOME Pro ram Administration Public Services Public Facilities & 1m rovements CDBG Infill Housin HOME Infill Housin CDBG Housin Rehabilitation CDBG Economic Develo ment Relocation Community Housing Develo ment Or . Rental Housing Development- HOME TOTAL FY 2000-01 Community Development Block Grant And Home Programs Budget and Expenditures Summary Bud et Ex enditures $28,000 224,200 47,200 159,031 382,550 150,450 439,600 289,666 310,000 20,000 7,263 164,820 35,121 137,716 224,002 7,119 64,839 119,476 191,134 17,500 69,450 56,488 13,978 $1,039,456 110,000 $2,230,147 '1 .. CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000-2001 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The overall purpose of the community planning and development programs as stated in Section 91 of the Housing and Community Development Act, as amended, with programs funded through the Community Development Block Grant Program and the HOME Investment Partnership Program is to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities principally for low to moderate income persons. The primary means toward this end is to extend and strengthen partnerships among all levels of government and the private sector, including for profit and non-profit organizations in production and operation of affordable housing. Providing decent housing is the main purpose of these programs. Decent housing includes assisting homeless individuals and families, retaining the existing housing stock by rehabilitating existing housing units and increasing the availability of permanent affordable housing by building new affordable rental and owner occupied units and providing down payment assistance. The second purpose includes increasing public services and public facilities to improve the safety and livability of neighborhoods as a suitable living environment. The third purpose is to expand economic opportunities to low to moderate income individuals by creating or retaining jobs or creating and/or expanding businesses in the low to moderate income neighborhoods. The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) is the principal administrative report to document how effective the City has been in expending CDBG and HOME funds to meet the objectives listed above. It serves as the basis for program monitoring for compliance and for financial audits. It provides HUD with necessary information for the Department to meet its requirement to assess each grantee's ability to carry out relevant Community Planning Development (CPD) programs in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations. It provides information necessary for HUD's Annual Report to the U. S. Congress and provides grantees an opportunity to describe to citizens their successes in revitalization deteriorated neighborhoods and meeting objectives stipulated in our Consolidated Plan. The City's FY 2000 CAPER contains information on the City's assessment of activities as they relate to the five year goals and objectives, affirmatively furthering fair housing, affordable housing, continuum of care, leveraging resources, citizens participation, and self-evaluation. ASSESSMENT OF FIVE YEAR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES In July 2000, the City of Clearwater City Commission approved the FY 2000-05 Consolidated Plan for funding from the Community Development Block Grant Program, HOME Investment Partnership Program, and State Housing Incentive Partnership Program. In September 2000, the City's Consolidated Plan was approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The five year consolidated plan included three main key activities. They included the- following: (1) providing decent, safe, and affordable housing; (2) increasing public services and facilities to improve the safety of the neighborhoods; and (3) expanding economic opportunities for low and moderate income people by creating or retaining jobs or creating and or expanding businesses in low to moderate income neighborhoods. The city has identified five general strategies to provide affordable housing affordable housing over the next five-year period. They are to provide decent, adequate and affordable housing in safe and desirable environments for (1) renters, (2) homeowners, and (3) homebuyers and to provide housing and supportive services for (4) homeless and (5) non-homeless with special needs. Rental Stratel!V The strategy for rental includes maintaining existing rental housing stock through rehabilitation, new construction, conversion, providing additional funding for acquisition/rehabilitation, and providing additional rental assistance to very low-income households so that housing costs, including utilities, do not exceed 30% of gross monthly Income. A rental housing market analysis conducted by Pardue, Heid, Chruch, Smith and Waller showed a tightening rental housing market in Clearwater. In 1995 the vacancy rate was 3.8%. In 1997 the vacancy rate shrank to 2.1 %. The tight rental housing supply is reflected in the amount the elderly pay for rent. The market analysis identified that 1,689 elderly rental households are paying more than 35% of their household income for rent. These households represent 44.6% of all elderly renters in Clearwater. The rental goal is to facilitate the renovation of four multi-family properties over the next five years. During the reporting period, the City of Clearwater allocated $460,000 in a combination of HOME, SHIP and non-grant funds to renovate the Fulton Street Apartments. The complex has 16 units and is owned by the City. The Clearwater Housing Authority managed the property and provided Section 8 vouchers for residents of the complex. Upon completion, the project will serve low to moderate-income households. The project is anticipated to be completed in the next reporting period. ~ The City also allocated $50,000 in HOME funds to the Community Service Foundation to purchase and rehabilitate four rental units that would provide housing to low to moderate- income families. The agency was unable to reach its goal due to excessive high price for rental housing units in the area. Housine: Stratee:ies The City of Clearwater implemented three basic strategies for assisting in the provision of decent, safe and affordable housing. The strategies consist of homeowner rehabilitation, which includes emergency repairs and disabled retrofitting, down payment and closing cost assistance for homebuyers and acquisition/rehabilitation/new construction. In the FY 2000-01 funding year, the City of Clearwater implemented its sub-recipient housing pool. Funds in the housing pool were used for down payment, closing cost assistance, rehabilitation and new construction. SHIP and HOME monies fund the Housing Pool. Participants in the Housing pool may draw upon these funds for eligible activities. For larger developments, a non-profit may be allocated funds in a line of credit format. This allows for the development of small infill projects as well as the acquisition of several single existing units for rehabilitation and resale. Clearwater's Housing Division oversees the activities of its sub-recipient participants and administers a rehabilitation and emergency repair program using CDBG and SHIP funds. Homeowner Strateldes The strategy for homeowners list the following as its strategy: (1) bring housing up to standard and modernize when possible, (2) remove architectural barriers, (3) demolish units that prove economically infeasible to rehabilitate and provide relocation benefits, (4) ensuring housing cost is less than 30% of household income, and (5) promote energy efficiency and prevent loss of home. The five year goal is to renovate 100+ housing units through the homeowner rehabilitation program, complete 25+ emergency repairs through the emergency repair program, and retro-fit 25+ homes to make them more assessable for physically challenged individuals through the Disabled Retrofitting Program. Twenty-eight percent of the housing units in Clearwater are over 30 years of age. To assist homeowners, who need rehabilitation, the City offers loans through the Challenge 2000 Loan Program and a Rehabilitation Loan Program. The loans are available to owner occupied households with income that are very low, low, or moderate income. In FY 2000-01, the City made twelve rehabilitation loans with SHIP funds. Of the twelve loan made; three were made to families with low income and nine were made to families with very low income. These activities resulted in expenditures in the amount of $111,232. An additional five new loans were made with CDBG funds. This resulted in 2 expenditures of$78,135. Homebuver Stratel!V The strategies for homebuyers include providing housing counseling programs, financial assistance to very low and low-income households with down payment and closing costs. Other strategies include providing a means to finance the cost of rehabilitation as part of acquisition, providing additional housing units affordable to very low and low-income households, upgrading neighborhoods and encouraging activities to promote safe neighborhoods. A priority needs study identified the cost burden for owner households with cost burdens greater than 30% as a medium level priority for households below 50% of area median income. It also shows a high priority of needs for households with a cost burden greater than 50% whose income is between 51-80% of area median. According to the 1990 Census, the median cost for owner occupied housing is $80,400. It was determined that families whose income was very low or low would not be able to afford owner occupied housing without subsidy. Some moderate-income households would be able to afford a home provided they had good credit. The five-year goal for homebuyers calls for assisting 50+ homebuyers per year with down payment and closing costs assistance and assisting 100+ homebuyers to receive educational services about purchasing a home. The City offers several programs that help make housing more affordable to low and moderate-income homebuyers. The City's Home Ownership Program will lend funds to purchase land, provide down payment assistance, pay impact fees, disposition costs, closing costs and build new homes for income eligible first time home buyers. Funds in this program are also available to five non-profit agencies financing their clients home ownership needs. These agencies include Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., Community Service Foundation, Pinellas Homestead, and Habitat for Humanity and Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation. The funds will also be leveraged against private sector financing to provide affordable housing. In this reporting period, twelve families were provided down payment assistance through the State Housing Incentive Partnership Program (SHIP). There were a total of $80,893 provided for this assistance with resulted in the private sector providing $724,128 in financing. The City did not use federal funds for down payment assistance. In addition to loans, housing counseling services were provided by three of the City's housing subrecipients. They include Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. who administers a Fast Track Housing Counseling Program, Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation (TBCDC) who administers a Home Buyers Club, and 3 Community Services Foundation (CSF) who administers a Neighbor's Housing Counseling Program. Funding in the amount of $30,005 was provided for the TBCDC and $20,000 for CSF through the SHIP Program. The City did not fund Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. housing counseling program. Over 374 individuals/families took part in the counseling services during the reporting period. Homeless Stratel!V The Pinellas County Coalition for the homeless has estimated that there are 3200 homeless individuals in Pinellas County on any given day. They estimate that 77% are non-elderly adults aged 18 to 59 years of age. In addition, they state that 21 % is children under the age of 18, 51 % are single adult males, and 16% are females. The coalition further announced that 39% of the homeless have chronic or serious alcohol and/or drug abuse problems. Twenty-five percent present conditions of acute or chronic mental illness and 45% have additional illnesses such as HIV or AIDS or other serious illnesses. Other issues that lead to homelessness include unemployment, lack of affordable housing, lack of transportation, and physical and emotional abuse. Strategies for the homeless included developing programs that meet the emergency housing and supportive service needs of the homeless, including special sub-populations and the street homeless. Other strategies include preventing low-income individuals and families with children from becoming homeless and developing programs to help the homeless make the transition to permanent housing and independent living. The five-year goals established in the consolidated plan state that the City will continue to work with providers of homeless services and provide funding on a project by project basis to increase the number of transitional housing units for both adults and youth. Funding for the operation of homeless programs will be given priority when determining funding priorities for social services. The City provided CDBG funding to two agencies assisting the homeless in FY 2000- 2001. The Mustard Seed's Turning Point program received $10,500 to cover administrative costs. The Turning Point is an inebriate receiving center that provides a safe haven for both walk in clientele and those who are picked up by law enforcement and other agencies. The program provides food, temporary shelter, and counseling. After an initial assessment, clients are placed in longer term housing and assisted in finding a job and are provided other services as necessary. The program assisted 118 individuals out of its goal of 199. The City also funded the Clearwater Homeless Intervention Program in the amount $40,886 for operational support for a program which provides temporary shelter, food and clothing. The agency goal was to house 1062 homeless individuals but ended up assisting 1,200 during the reporting period. The program requires participants to seek and retain 4 employment and receive counseling. Upon stabilization, clients are moved into transitional housing. The Homeless Emergency Project received funding in the amount of $54,000 to renovate two structures for transitional housing. The units were proposed to house 35 individuals per year. At the end of the reporting period the agency assisted 53 homeless individuals. In addition to short and long-term housing for the homeless, the HEP provides job placement, medical, dental and psychological counseling. A total of $12,000 was provided to Religious Community Services - Grace House to renovate their facility with provides transitional housing for homeless families. In addition to shelter the agency provides food, and other material necessities for an eight- week period. Each family receives case management services, tutoring for children, and medical and mental health care on site. The agency set a goal of providing housing to 340 families during the reporting period but actually provided services to 917 families. Funding in the amount of $200,000 was also provided to Religious Community Services - The Havens to build an extension on their existing spouse abuse shelter. The agency's goal was to provide a shelter to 450 families in FY 2000-01. In addition to housing the agency provided case management and other related services to 443 families. The new shelter will provide an estimated 20% increase in housing for victims of domestic violence. In all a total of $317,386 was allocated to homeless needs in FY 2000-2001. This allocation has resulted in 2,731 homeless individual/families being provided a place to live and get back on their feet. Non-Homeless Stratel!V In 1991 the Area Agency on Aging conducted a service needs assessment to determine which services were identified as most needed by seniors. Transportation for shopping and medical appointments was reported as most needed. Following these two top categories were information about services and programs, home delivered meals, help in getting legal advice and house cleaning. The ability to provide in-home and community services to seniors positively impacts their ability to live independently in the housing environment of their choice. Since the elderly are no longer able to perform the more strenuous chores for themselves and may lack the fmances to hire help, homes become a health and fire hazard. By providing these services, the elderly may live independently longer. The strategy for housing and supportive services for non-homeless persons with special needs (the elderly, frail elderly, severe mental illness, developmentally disabled, physically disabled, alcohol/other drug addicted person with HIV / AIDS) include upgrading existing and/or providing additional supportive housing and services. 5 In addition, the City will assist programs that provide services to marginally mentally disabled residents with basic life skill programs to assist them in becoming self-sufficient. The creation of self-sufficiency programs geared toward the specific challenges such as attention deficit disorder, anger control and completion of education may accomplish this objective. Other programs the City will address over the next five years include the following: . Programs to assist those entering the work force, such as corporate mentoring, affordable childcare and transportation, and private sector mentoring programs. · Programs to strengthen small businesses such as micro-lending programs, and other small business support. . Programs for older teens, including after school programs, programs to assist in encouraging them to stay in school, transitional living facilities for homeless youth, street outreach programs maternity services. CDBG funds were provided in the amount of $25,347 to Pinellas Opportunity Council to administer a Chore Services Program. Through this program various chore services were provided to thirty-six elderly, frail elderly, developmentally disabled and physically disabled individuals to assist them in remaining in their home and not being placed in a nursing home. NON-HOUSING OBJECTIVES The City also listed other non-housing objectives in its five-year strategy. They include eliminating slum and blighting influences, eliminating conditions which are detrimental to health, safety, and public welfare, the reduction of the isolation of income groups within the community, the alleviation of physical and economic distress through the stimulation of private investment, and the establishment, stabilization and expansion of small businesses. To encourage some of the activities over the next five years the city will support activities that will: . Facilitate community and economic development within the North and South Greenwood Areas . Assist not-for-profit agenCIes In achieving goals uncovered 10 the citizen participation process. · Assist not-for-profit agencies in expanding their programs and or relocating services to better serve the community. 6 There are several non-housing factors that cause a blighting influence on communities. They range from vacant boarded structures to crime. During this reporting period the City acquired three vacant dilapidated structures with CDBG assistance. The structures will be demolished and made available for positive low to moderate-income activities. Two other structures were razed through the City's Brownsfield Program. NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION STRATEGY The City of Clearwater's Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy is a component of the City's Five Year Consolidated Plan. The strategy is established to promote a flexible design in the City's allocation of funds provided by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Devel<?pment Block Grant Program (CDBG) to promote innovative programs in economically disadvantaged areas of the City. The strategy provides for enhanced regulatory flexibility in the program requirements for providing CDBG funds for economic development, hoUsing and public service activities. In terms of economic development relief, the strategy allows job creation or retention efforts relief by not requiring businesses to track the income of people hired or retained. Economic development activities carried out in the approved neighborhood revitalization are also exempt from the aggregate public benefit standards. The relief for public service activities can be viewed in terms of the regulatory requirements that no more than 15% of the total CDBG allocation can be used for public services activities. Under this strategy, all public services offered within the subject neighborhoods and carried out as part of qualified projects by a Community Based Development Organization, (CBDO) are exempt from the public service cap of 15%. Therefore, the City will be able to offer a more intensive level of service to stimulate revitalization. It will also allow the City to address some of the urgent needs of the disadvantaged community by offering job training and other related economic development assistance. In the housing arena, the revitalization strategy will allow the City to track scattered site housing units as a single strategy. This will permit the City to provide housing opportunities to not only low to moderate-income families, to other families who earn between 80-120% of area median. This will increase the level of affordable housing units and thereby raise the income level of the neighborhood. The revitalization strategy area, in Clearwater, includes two different neighborhoods. They include the North Greenwood Community and South Greenwood Community. They both have their own goals and objectives. The North Greenwood Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area has identified the following strategies to improve their neighborhood. They include the elimination of the poor conditions of structures, 7 remediation of low-level contaminated sites, reverse declining property values, expanding business opportunities, creation of new investment opportunities in the neighborhood, increase new job training and placement opportunities, reduce the unemployment rate, empower neighborhood residents to eliminate crime, and strengthen coordination of community organizations in the redevelopment effort. The South Greenwood Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area has the same general strategies of the North Greenwood Area. The South Greenwood area would like to see additional educational opportunities of businesses, a new neighborhood training facility, a new childcare facility, job training opportunities, a community library, new homes, better social services, better collaboration of existing organizations, and more crime awareness programs. The City has taken several steps over the years to address the strategies in the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy. Steps included developing a flexible code enforcement program, purchasing and demolishing dilapidated buildings, working with local law enforcement to reduce crime, funding outreach programs and providing loans to small businesses. Other activities are discussed throughout this document. AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING Until October 1999, the City of Clearwater had designated the Human Relations Department as the lead agency in affirmatively furthering fair housing and enforcing the local fair housing ordinance. They investigated and enforced the fair housing laws and provided the administrative procedures in which the City follows to enforce the fair housing laws, as well as to respond to any fair housing complaints received by the City. The City of Clearwater no longer directly enforces fair housing laws. The responsibility was assigned Pinellas County Human Relations Department since their office investigates and makes recommendations on all fair housing issues for other areas of Pinellas County with the exception of the City of St. Petersburg. Actions taken by the City of Clearwater Human Relations department during the reporting period include the following: (1) distributing fair housing literature at housing fairs, job fairs, and special activities and (2) obtaining a proclamation for fair housing month. In addition to the Human Relations Department, the City is working with Clearwater Realtors through the Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement Program (V AMAP) to further fair housing opportunities in real estate transactions. To further these efforts of the V AMAP, the Clearwater Board of Realtors enlisted the services of the Community Housing Resource Board to focus on the federal, state and local enforcement agencies, 8 "'- housing industry groups and volunteer community groups working together to promote fair housing practices. These efforts include the following: . Providing public information on fair housing. . Assessing community fair housing needs and identifying local problems and issues that impede equal housing opportunity. . Evaluating performance and effectiveness of the V AMAP. . Expanding minority involvement in the real estate industry. . Expanding public awareness of housing opportunities in the community. . Developing cooperative solutions to problems associated with the implementation of the V AMAP. Other actions during the FY 2000-01 fiscal year include the following: . Continue to support the operations of the Pinellas County Human Relations Department, Clearwater Board of Realtors, and the Community Housing Resource Board. . Provide $50,005 in funds through the State Housing Incentive Program to the Community Service Foundation and Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation to implement home buyers training programs to encourage homeowner opportunities throughout the City. AFFORDABLE HOUSING The Housing Element of the City's Comprehensive Plan prepared in March 2000 states as one of its objectives for housing that "the City shall continue to provide assistance and incentives for the development of housing that is affordable to very low, low, and moderate income households, including those with special needs, consistent with the level of growth in these income categories". The following policies have been prepared to effect this change. Policies: 13.2.1 Continue to utilize Community Development Block Grant Program funds for the construction and/or rehabilitation of housing units that will be affordable to very low and low-income households consistent with federal income guidelines. 13.2.2 Continue to use federal programs to provide rental subsidy assistance to low and some moderate-income households.I 9 13.2.3 Continue to review new construction techniques, materials, building codes, and housing codes in order to determine where housing costs can be reduced without sacrificing the quality of housing for very low and low-income households. 13.2.4 The City shall continue to utilize the Challenge 2000 Program to assist very low, low, and moderate-income households in obtaining mortgage financing. 13.2.5 The City shall continue to support the addition of rental housing as needed to meet the needs of very-low, low, and moderate-income households. For information detailing the progress made in meeting specific objectives of providing affordable housing, including number of extremely low income, low income, and moderate income renter and owner households assisted during the reporting period and the number of households assisted, please see the housing strategies listed on pages 3-4. CONTINUUM OF CARE NARRATIVE In March 2000, the City held a Homeless and Special Needs workshop with organizations that work in those areas. The workshop was held to determine the continuum of care needs of residents in Clearwater for the next five years. Participants in the work group identified the following needs for the city. They include (1) the need for additional youth living facilities, (2) street outreach programs for youth, (3) youth maternity services, (4) programs for dealing with populations who are communicably ill, (5) onsite mental health services, (6) programs for recent released inmates, (7) more transitional housing, and (8) money for existing programs. The work group indicated that money for operating their services was a necessity. They indicated that often they receive funding for one year and not the next which breaks program continuity. Further, the populations being served have no way of paying for the services and it is often difficult for smaller agencies to provide services and develop other fundraising programs. Participants in a public service workshop also echoed the need for continuum of care services. They stated that there is a need for a consolidated family resources center, transitional housing for youths, additional transitional and single room occupancy housing, supportive services and housing for persons with HIV and AIDS population, assistance with lead based paint and asbestos abatement, a north county inebriate receiving center, transitional housing for teen mothers, and additional seniors programs. The City of Clearwater listed continuum of care issues as a high priority in its Five Year Consolidated Plan. During this reporting period, the City provided $40,886 in CDBG funds to the Clearwater Homeless Intervention Project as operating capital for the Emergency Shelter Facility as part as it continuum of care. The City's Police Department provided addition dollars for program operations. The facility provided shelter, food, 10 counseling, and case management services to 1,211 individuals. A total of $10,500 was provided to the Mustard Seed - Turning Point for inebriated homeless individuals. During the reporting period, the agency assisted 118 homeless individuals from Clearwater. The Homeless Emergency Project received funding in the amount $54,000 to renovate two structures for transitional housing. The units were proposed to house 35 individuals per year. At the end of the reporting period the agency assisted 53 homeless individuals. In addition to short and long -term housing for the homeless, the HEP provides job placement, medical, dental and psychological counseling. A total of $12,000 was provided to Religious Community Services - Grace House to renovate their facility with provides transitional housing for homeless families. In addition to shelter the agency provides food, and other material necessities for an eight- week period. Each family receives case management services, tutoring for children, and medical and mental health care on site. The agency set a goal of providing housing to 340 families during the reporting period but actually provided services to 917 families. Funding in the amount of $200,000 was also provided to Religious Community Services - The Havens to build an extension on their existing spouse abuse shelter. The agency's goal was to provide a shelter to 450 families in FY 2000-01. In addition to housing, the agency provided case management and other related services to 443 families. The new shelter will provide an estimated 20% increase in housing . for victims of domestic violence. CDBG funds were provided in the amount of $25,347 to Pinellas Opportunity Council to administer a Chore Services Program. Through this program various chore services were provided to thirty-six elderly, frail elderly, developmentally disabled and physically disabled individuals to assist them in remaining in their home and not being place in a nursing home. In addition to the continuum of care projects listed above, the City provided $38,280 to the Kimberly Home to renovate a house that will provide housing for up to four homeless pregnant teenagers. During this reporting the period the agency was able to help one pregnant teenage child. OTHER ACTIONS Fosterine: and maintainine: affordable housinl! The City of Clearwater has been very proactive in fostering and maintaining affordable housing. Although the City cannot control the cost of labor or goods or land costs, they have done other things to keep the units affordable. They include the following: . designing homes that are practical and efficient. 11 . subsidizing for impact fees. . providing financing at below market rates to clients. . funding subrecipients to acquire vacant properties and build affordable houses. . working with subrecipients to acquire homes foreclosed by HUD and reselling them as affordable housing units. . paying for infrastructure improvements with general revenue funds. . changing the City's development code to reduce street size and other development Issues. . working with the local housing authority to buy property and resell for affordable housing. . working with developers to put together applications for funding through the low income housing tax credit program, state of Florida housing bond program and other resources to build rental units for affordable housing. Barriers to Affordable Housinl!: Through the State Housing Incentive Partnership Program (SHIP) Clearwater's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee reviewed the following areas to identify potential barriers to affordable housing. . Affordable housing definitions . Permit Processing . Impact Fee requirements . Infrastructure capacity . Residential Zoning Density . Transfer of Development Rights . On-site Parking and Setback requirements . Zero-lot Line Development . Sidewalk and Street Requirements . Regulatory Review Processes . Inventory of lands suitable for affordable housing development The Committee determined Clearwater already had systems in place to address these potential barriers. They did recommend several additional steps to address potential barriers. First, they recommended a change in the definition of affordable housing to 12 "Safe and sanitary housing which can be rented or purchased in the market without spending more than 30% of a household's income and which is available to a household earning 100% or less of area median income for non-elderly and able bodied residents, and 120% or less of area median income for elderly and disabled residents." Second, the committee recommended reducing the parking requirements of 1.5 spaces per unit for multi-family and 2 per unit for single-family developments for elderly and very low-income projects. Third, the committee recommended setbacks in older neighborhoods is consistent with the existing block face average. Fourth, they recommended amending the housing code to allow garage apartments. Finally, they recommended changing the receipt and referral process to reduce the processing time for developments of 25 acres or less. Based upon the results by the steering committee, the City of Clearwater will continue to research, monitor and carry out programs that affect the objectives identified in the consolidated plan. The Housing Division will continue to push the following agenda to: . The expedited processing of permits for affordable housing projects. . The modification of impact fee requirements. . The allowance of increased density levels. . The reservation of infrastructure capacity for housing for very low and low income persons. . The transfer of development rights as a f10ancing mechanism for housing for very low-income persons. . The reduction of parking and setback requirements. . The allowance of zero lot lines. . The modification of sidewalk and street improvements. . The establishment of a process by which the City considers, before adoption, procedures and policies that have a significant impact on the cost of housing. . The preparation of a printed inventory of locally owned public lands suitable for affordable housing. To reduce barriers to affordable housing the city will work with applicable agencies to investigate impact fee waiver programs, a contractor referral service to identify available projects, assistance in clearing zoning issues and other barriers to construction of affordable housing. To assist with financing costs, the city will work toward eliminating predatory lending practices in the service areas. The city will work to re-establish its financial partnerships to encourage affordable rates and terms for borrowers. In addition, the city will investigate programs to help reduce the costs to home buyers and those seeking to rehabilitate housing in the target areas. The city will also investigate loan programs that 13 ~ will help the very low --income homebuyers achieve homeownership by creating special incentives for the provision of affordable housing. Comprehensive Plan Analvsis The city will use the housing element of the Comprehensive Plan to monitor and measure the program's effectiveness in reaching the goals and objectives ofthe program. Fostering and maintaining affordable housing is one of the City's primary goals. In this year's plan, the City will use SHIP funds to finance impact fees associated with building new homes. Impact fees are not eligible under the CDBG program. We will continue to review construction standards to reduce costs without sacrificing the quality of housing units. Lead Based Paint Lead based paint is a serious problem throughout cities across America. It is usually prevalent in homes built prior to the 1970. Clearwater's housing stock is relatively new with the average home being built after 1970. However the City still maintains that lead based paint is a serious issue and conducts housing inspections to determine if there are defective paint surfaces. If lead conditions are present, the lead paint is either removed or covered in a manner described by HUD. No lead based paint conditions were found during this reporting period. The City will continue its effort to rid structures of lead based paint. We will continue to test and remove all lead based paint surfaces in structure rehabilitation under our programs. Clearwater will use the services of the Pinellas County Environmental Department to test all structures with defective paint surfaces and the local Health Department to test children for elevated blood levels. The North Greenwood Community Health Center has agreed to participate with the City by providing a meeting area for neighborhood based education programs, disseminating information on the hazards of Lead Based Paint, and provide blood screening. To arrest the Lead Based Paint Hazards in Clearwater, the City formed a collaboration and partnership with other agencies and applied for a $1,003,302 Healthy Homes Grant. The collaboration included an interagency partnership with Pinellas County Health Department's Lead Intervention and Healthy Home Team, as well as four community- based organizations. The community based organizations include the UNO Federation, serving the Hispanic population, the Greenwood Community Health Resource Center which provides care to predominantly African American community, Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Service, Inc, which provides rehabilitation services in the targeted area, and Pinellas Opportunity Council - Chore Services which provides cleaning services to the elderly population. 14 Program activities will include the following: · Collaboration between public-private agencies involving housing, health, and community-based organizations to facilitate a Healthy Home Team to go door to door in the targeted Brownfields area to identify children and homes at risk. · Assurances that children identified at risk receive blood lead testing and the child with elevated lead levels receives follow-up care. · Promotion of a public awareness campaign through education to physicians and the community and disbursement of educational materials · Assessment of homes at risk to identify lead hazard control services to eliminate hazards identified in homes. · Initiation of supportive lead hazard control services to eliminate hazards identified in homes. · Evaluation of prevention activities to measure the impact and outcome of program services and intervention efforts in the community. Poverty Level Assessment Reducing the number of residents who live below the poverty level is very important to the City of Clearwater. The City realized that the most effective way to reduce the number of persons below the poverty level was to increase their income though providing employment opportunities. The City will provide funding to support service organizations that reduce impediments for families allowing them to rise above the poverty level. Clearwater provides economic development opportunities to for profit businesses that agree to hire lower income individuals. Through the coordination among programs including the EP A and State Brownsfield Redevelopment initiatives and the federal Weed and Seed Program, Juvenile Welfare Board, Clearwater Stars, United Way, the Eckerd Foundation, and the University of South Florida, Clearwater will expand our efforts this year to reduce impediments. Institutional Structure To overcome gaps in institutional structures and enhance coordination, the City implemented several practices that have been successful. First, local lenders were provided with information relative to the City's housing programs and offer a coordinated effort for the lending institution to prosper. 15 The City has established a relationship with local lenders to work together to provide home ownership and home buyer opportunities for low to moderate-income families. The City and its subrecipients pre-qualify clients to the lender's specification and provide gap financing in the form of down payment assistance. Other actions undertaken by the City included developing institutional structures and enhanced coordination between public and private housing and social service agencies. The City provided $25,000 to Partners In Self-Sufficiency to administer a self-sufficiency program that provides housing and educational opportunities to single parent low-income households. Under the program the local housing authority provides section 8 certificates or vouchers to program participants while they are pursuing education and job training. At the end of the program, participants should have saved enough money for a down payment on a home. The City's Housing Division would further assist them with housing opportunities. Public Housine: and Residential Initiatives The City understands the benefits of improving public housing and residents' initiatives. To improve the lives of families in the public housing complex the City targeted the children to break the cycle. The City will continue to work with the local housing authority to foster innovative public housing developments and residential initiatives. To help with resident initiatives the City provided $25,000 for operations to the Partners In Self Sufficiency Program. This program provides residents on public assistance (Section 8) with housing, counseling and case management services that encourage participants to become self-sufficient and purchase their own home. The agency assisted 230 families during this reporting period. The City also provided funding for other support organizations to administer services to children in public housing. Ten thousand nine hundred fifty dollars was provided to the Jasmine Court Boys and Girls Club to implement recreational and educational programs in the Jasmine Court Public Housing Complex. An additional $10,348 was provided to the Jasmine Court Girls Inc. to provide operational support to a program that provide self- esteem and self-awareness programs to girls who live in the housing complex. These programs provided support to over 226 children in the housing complex. Leverae:ine: Resources · The City's efforts to provide affordable housing and other services to low to moderate-income families have resulted in leveraging a great amount of additional resources. · Providing funds to build an extension for the Havens Spouse Abuse shelter ($200,000) led to the agency securing a $200,000 from Pinellas County Community 16 Development Department and approximately $600,000 in private sector capital. . The City provided $30,000 in CDBG funds to complete an economic development study for North Greenwood. This resulted in a $70,000 award for the study from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Through the Infill Housing and Down Payment Assistance Programs, Clearwater works closely with the private lending community to leverage private investment in home ownership. Please see Homebuyers Section for accomplishments. In addition, Clearwater works with Community Service Foundation, Partners in Self Sufficiency, Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation, and Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Service, Inc. to provide homeownership counseling to support our housing programs. Through the Brownfield Program the City has obtained $100,000 in additional assessment funding for a Brownfield Pilot program. They have also been awarded $144,000 through the U.S. EPA Brownfield job Training Pilot and $255,000 from the State of Florida to fund the assessment and clean up of orphaned and abandoned sites in the Brownfield area and neighborhood revitalization strategy area. Citizen Comments Please see attachment # 1 SELF EVALUATION Our assessment of the previous year's activity shows that the City has made strides to address the majority of high priority projects. The areas listed as high priority include funding and implementation of (1) senior centers, (2) youth centers, (3) day care centers, (4) health facilities, (5) parking facilities, (6) employment training, (7) fair housing counseling, (8) tenant landlord counseling, (9) commercial/industrial infrastructure, (10) micro businesses, (11) economic development technical assistance, and (12) code enforcement. With funds allocated to the City (1,001,000) from the FY 2000-01 CDBG Program entitlement, $120,000 in anticipated program income, $ 442,896 in reprogrammed funds, and $463,000 from HOME Program and $854,299 from the State Housing Incentive Partnership Program Entitlement plus $288,986 in program income and reprogrammed funds from the SHIP Program. The program funded included the following: Demolition Demo-Reconstruction Relocation CHDO Set Aside Program Administration $ 28,000 260,000 20,000 69,450 460,830 17 .!- Economic Development Home Ownership/Rehabilitation Rental Housing Development Public Facilities Public Services 300,000 1,583,571 110,000 382,550 159,031 $3,373,432 The City remains committed to the projects listed above and did not amend the plan to adjust any of the projects. It obtained the resources listed above and solicited grants to obtain additional funding. The programs listed above were consistent with the five year consolidated plan and the housing element of the City's Comprehensive Plan. Through the public service awards, the City funded four organizations in operational support. The funding provided to these organizations total $159,031. The individual awards to the public service organizations are as follows. Clearwater Homeless Intervention Project, Inc. received $40,886 in operational support to operate an overnight homeless shelter for individuals. The shelter provided overnight housing and case management services to 1,211 homeless individuals during the reporting period. Partners in Self Sufficiency received the second highest allocation in the public sector arena. They received $25,000 to administer a family self sufficiency program for single family households on public assistance to turn their lives around and become self sufficient. The other two organizations that received public service awards included the Pinellas Opportunity Council and the Mustard Seed Foundation. Pinellas Opportunity Council received $25,347 to provide chore services to the elderly and physically impaired households. During this reporting period, 36 elderly/physically-impaired households were assisted. The final public service awarded agency was the Mustard Seed - Turning Point. The agency was awarded $10,500 to operate an inebriate center for homeless individuals who were intoxicated or abused drugs. The center assisted 118 Clearwater individuals during the fiscal year. Funds provided for rental housing in this year's action plan ($110,000) were allocated to Community Service Foundation and Fulton Apartments. Fulton Apartments are a 16-unit rental complex that will be renovated. In this year's action plan, an additional $60,000 in HOME funds was allocated for the project. The project is currently in the design stage and is due to begin in January 2001. In the prior year plan, $210,000 in HOME Funds and $70,000 in non-federal funds were allocated to the project. This will bring the total funding availability to $340,000 for the renovation of the project. Fifty thousand dollars were also allocated to Community Service Foundation for rental property acquisition and rehabilitation. Funding for homeownership activities totaled $1,843,570 in CDBG, HOME Program and SHIP funds for FY 2000. The activities funded these programs included owner-occupied 18 . ~ ~ rehabilitation, down payment assistance, new housing development, real property acquisition and disposition, and housing counseling programs. In the Economic Development Program, $300,000 was allocated to provide job training and placement services and direct loans to for profit businesses. The impact on the community for building new homes in the neighborhood revitalization strategy has been positive. There is more community spirit and reinvestment. As a result of the new homes, there is a minor trend for families with higher incomes to move back into the neighborhoods. Also, according to the Pinellas County Property Appraisers Office, the property values in the area have increased by 10% and could indicate a trend. Because 100% of the funds expended were for benefits to low to moderate-income families the national objectives were met. The expenditure of these funds did not result in the permanent displacement of families or businesses. Temporary relocation expenses were provided while homes were rehabilitated and to one family displaced three years ago. CDBG NARRATIVE Relationshiv of the use of CDBG funds to the vriorities needs e:oals and svecific obiectives. The City utilized a strategy of diversification when selecting CDBG eligible activities. Funds in the amount of $460,830 were provided for administration $300,000 for economic development; $1,843,570 for housing activities (rehabilitation, down payment assistance, acquisition, disposition, etc.); $382,550 for public facilities and improvements and $159,031 for public services. Details of how these funds addressed the individual objectives are listed in the self- evaluation section of this report. Nature and reasons for any chane:es in vroe:ram obiectives There were no changes or amendment to program objectives. Assessment of e:rantee efforts in carrvine: out the vlanned actions . All resources (CDBG, HOME and SHIP) listed in the consolidated plan were obtained with the exception of the Community Pride Child Care Center, Career Options and the Strive Program. Community Pride had applied for additional funding but was unable to obtain resources sufficient to achieve its goals. Career Options discontinued its operations early in the funding cycle and did not draw upon its allocated funds and Strive did not receive funding during the period. 19 . , · The City supported the Homeless Emergency Housing group in an application for federal funds. · In addition to CDBG, HOME and SHIP funds, the City was successful in obtaining private sector leveraging for new housing construction and financing home purchases. Actions of funds used outside the national obiectives All CDBG funds were used for activities that meet the national objectives. Acquisition. rehabilitation and demolition narrative Neither the City, nor its subrecipients, acquired or rehabilitated buildings that resulted in the displacement of business, individuals or families as a result of projects funded with CDBG or HOME dollars. All properties that were acquired with CDBG funds were voluntary and mostly vacant parcels. The City's subrecipients purchased all properties acquired during this reporting period. They include Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Service, Inc., Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation, Community Service Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity. When subrecipients become interested in a property they want to acquire, the following steps are required: The subrecipient informs the property owner that they are interested 10 the property. The subrecipient sends out HUD Guide Notice - Disclosures to Sellers with Voluntary, Arm's Length Purchase Offer. The subrecipient informs the owner that they do not have the power of eminent domain and that the purchase would be a strictly voluntary transaction. If the owner is interested in selling the property, then an appraisal is obtained. The subrecipient then determines just compensation for the property. The subrecipient then offers just compensation to the owner. Should the owner agree to the offer, the subrecipient may purchase the property. If the offer is not acceptable to the owner, then both parties walk away from the deal. 20 'J! CDBG funds were expended for a prior fiscal year Uniform Relocation Act triggered project. This expenditure was part of a five-year payout of relocation benefits to a family that was displaced as a result of acquisition. Temporary relocation benefits were provided to eligible homeowners while their homes were being rehabilitated. Temporary benefits include moving, storage, temporary rents, and utilities. A total of $2,760 was expended to demolish one vacant dilapidated building. The demolition of this building resulted in the construction of a home for low to moderate- income family. The home was built without federal assistance. Economic DeveloDment Narrative For fiscal year 2000 the City provided $300,000 for economic development activities. The funds were provided to a subrecipient (CNHS) for loan funds to for profit businesses to hire low to moderate income individuals or provide an area benefit to a low to moderate- income community and Lockheed Martin for job placement services. With these resources the agencies provided ten loans to businesses. Limited Clientele Narrative The City and its subrecipients maintain files that document all clients who qualify for the limited clientele designation. Proe:ram Income Narrative Please see HUD Financial Summary Report - Program Income Section Rehabilitation Proe:ram Narrative Please see Self Evaluation Section of Report Please see HUD Rehabilitation Report. HOME NARRATIVE HOME Proe:ram Distribution Analysis The City received an allocation of $463,000 in HOME Funds for FY 00/01. The majority of the funds were set aside for rental housing development. The rental housing development will result in the renovation of 16 affordable units. All of the units will be HOME assisted. The project is underway and is scheduled for completion during the next 21 . , reporting period. The remalmng HOME allocation will be used for homebuyer opportunities, housing rehabilitation, and administration. The City of Clearwater has two certified CHDOs. Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, a long time partner was formally adopted in October 1999. In June of2000, the Largo Area Development Corporation (LADC) was approved. Both will participate in providing affordable single-family infill housing to the City in targeted areas. HOME Match Report Please see attached Match Report Minority and Women's Business Enterprises Report - HUD Form-4107 Please see attached Minority and Women's Business Enterprise Report. HOME Inspections and affirmatively marketine: actions and outreach to minority and women owned businesses. Two rental housing developments previously funded and subject to HOME monitoring were inspected during this reporting period. One rental project is not completed, however the HOME assisted units were completed. An inspection of the completed units has occurred. They are floating units. The rental housing development project funded in this reporting period is in the pre- construction stage and scheduled for completion in the next reporting period. This project will include all of the affirmative marketing actions and outreach to minority and women owned businesses as required under the Section 3 requirements. HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS NARRATIVE The City of Clearwater did not receive any HOPW A funding during this reporting period EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT NARRATIVE The City of Clearwater did not receive any ESG funding during this reporting period. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION The City maintains a Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board to encourage public participation. The Board meets bi-monthly on the first Tuesday and discusses and makes recommendations on housing related issues. The meetings are sometimes held in each low-income neighborhood once a year. The City Clerk Office maintains minutes from these meeting. 22