Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 11-23-2010 Regular — reading text

west), and First Street ( south) for Target Area 1, and the area between Bay Street and Burnette Avenue in the northwest portion of the City for Target Area 2 ( See attached map). These two areas are the areas within the City of low income and minority concentration. Target Area 1 is located within the Community Redevelopment Area ( CRA) which is an area identified as blighted and corresponds with the Beal Parkway Neighborhood. The CRA prepared a plan for the Beal Parkway Neighborhood. The Plan identifies specific projects needed within this area. The Community Redevelopment Agency allocates funds each year towards these projects. For example, construction on the Chester Pruitt Park Improvements project began in FY 2008 -09. The Beal Parkway Neighborhood Gateway Park and Clock Tower project was completed in FY 2008 -09. CRA funds were also allocated in FY 2008 -09 to purchase one residential lot on Methodist Avenue SE for Habitat for Humanity to build multi -family residential units. Streetscape projects are also funded by the CRA and are planned for this neighborhood. The engineering design of the streetscape projects is scheduled for FY 2009 -10. In summary, both CDBG and CRA funds are directed to the CDBG Target Area 1. Target Area 2, north of Lovejoy Road, is adjacent to Okaloosa County' s Front Porch Community and is known as Sylvania Heights. This entire neighborhood is primarily low -income and minority concentrated. It is a relatively isolated neighborhood north of the City' s Commerce and Technology Park. The City has allocated substantial resources to this area for housing rehabilitation and World Changers projects through CDBG funds and SHIP funds, stormwater improvements, code enforcement, and police protection. In FY 2009 -10, CDBG funds are directed to this target area for World Changer projects and potential infrastructure improvements. Approximately 29% of the grant funds will be directed to the Public Facilities and Youth Services programs based upon the applications received and the need. Another  27% of the funds are allocated specifically in the target area for infrastructure improvements. At this time, it is impossible to determine the exact amount of World Changer projects that will be located within the target areas. Specifically, $ 20,000 of CDBG funds are allocated to the Chester Pruitt Summer Enrichment Program and after school tutoring program which targets low- to moderate -income youth of minority concentration between the ages of 6 -12. In addition, $ 15, 000 is allocated to the Gregg Chapel A.M.E. Church daycare center for a new brick and aluminum perimeter fence around the playground area. This program has approximately 24 youth participants of low- to moderate -income families of minority concentration. Another $ 6, 000 in funding has been allocated to S4P Synergy, Inc. for the purchase of a natural gas emergency generator which will be used to power a distribution center, soup kitchen, and food pantry in the event of a disaster. The distribution center will benefit over 2, 000 residents in the greater Fort Walton Beach area and will be conveniently located for easy access by FWBHA residents. A total of $37, 768 is allocated towards infrastructure improvements in the target areas and will consist of the construction of sidewalks, multi -use paths, and/ or the replacement of potable water, sanitary sewer, and /or stormwater systems. The final $35, 000 is allocated to the World Changers program, which will benefit up to 20 single family residences based on qualifying criteria that target homeowners, who are elderly, physically handicapped, and single mothers, often a minority, who qualify by income. e) Homeless and Other Special Needs Activities. Under this category, the City will not undertake these activities but will support several operating agencies that are providing valuable services to prevent homelessness and to assist those who are already homeless. The City participates on the Okaloosa/Walton Continuum of Care Board and assists agencies who help the homeless with expertise to address community concerns. CDBG funds are not sufficient to provide actual funding for these types of programs. Some of these agencies provide limited shelter and comprehensive transitional permanent housing services to homeless families, many of which have female heads of households. Others are coordinating housing assistance for homeless and at -risk families by emphasizing prevention, shelter referrals, and relocation services. The role of the Okaloosa/Walton Homeless Continuum of Care, Opportunity, Inc, is to provide a monthly forum in which community stakeholders, homeless persons, and formerly homeless persons can collaborate on needed services and request ideas and help from participating agencies. The Continuum of Care applies for federal and state funding, which it distributes to service providers based on results from a request for proposal process. Once funds are awarded, the Continuum of Care monitors expenditures and program delivery, and reports back to the appropriate government agencies. The Continuum of Care receives some funds for direct services, which are used to support collective programs, such as health clinics, provision of bicycles, and other essential needs beyond the capacity of individual members. In 2008, the Continuum of Care made successful applications for $ 600, 000 in federal funds and  121, 000 in state funds, which were distributed to community service providers. Bridgeway Center, Inc. provides assistance to those who have been homeless for at least a year, or homeless four times in the last three years, and who have chronic mental illness and /or substance abuse disorders. Case managers link clients to housing, employment, benefits, and mental health and /or substance abuse treatment. Two participating agencies provide a limited number of shelter beds. The Shelter House provides a safe haven for women, children, and men in imminent danger of domestic violence. FRESH Start recently completed a development for ten units of transitional housing for women and families, called Harbour Place Apartments on Bobolink Street NE, in FY 2008 -09. Both agencies receive funding from the Okaloosa/Walton Homeless Continuum of Care Opportunity, Inc. The Continuum of Care is developing a web -based system of tracking services provided and the numbers of persons. Homeless persons are issued cards that can be scanned at any point of service delivery. Eventually, the system will be used to coordinate care and match individual needs to available services throughout the two - county region. Becoming homeless is not difficult. Transitioning back to self sufficiency - requires, at minimum: Affordable housing Temporary emergency shelter Storage for personal belongings Easier access to health care Financial counseling, bank accounts Job skills training Resource center for receiving mail, phone messages, looking for jobs Expanded funding for subsidized child care The City will continue to work with the Continuum of Care to identify funding sources for an emergency homeless shelter which would provide shelter for at least 50 homeless individuals. The City has agreed to provide a cold night shelter in one of its community centers, if needed. Unfortunately, the City' s CDBG funds are not sufficient to provide actual funding for these activities. The City of Fort Walton Beach entitlement allocation is insufficient to provide funding or staff time to address the housing needs of the homeless, elderly, frail elderly, persons with disabilities, person with HIV A / IDS, persons with alcohol or other substance abuse problems other than what has been mentioned above. The housing rehabilitation program and World Changers program, as well as the City Changers programs, funded by CDBG do assist the special needs populations who have homes that need rehabilitation. Through the CRA, funding is potentially available to local agencies to assist them in addressing the needs of the homeless and other special needs individuals. f) Other Actions ( 91. 220F) Meeting Underserved Needs. The primary target of activities funded by the CDBG program is improvement of living conditions for low- to moderate - income persons. The activities are focused on assisting persons in the community to obtain and maintain suitable housing and adequate living standards in stable or improving neighborhoods. The activities included in the Consolidated Plan are designed to overcome obstacles and meet the underserved needs of low- and moderate -income persons. Housing program activities for improvement of occupied housing, expansion of decent and attractive affordable housing stocks, and assistance to persons to enable them to live in decent and sustainable housing are direct methods to improve living conditions. Activities that improve infrastructure improve the quality of life and raise the standard of living for all of the people in the neighborhood served by the infrastructure. Public services and facilities that meet community needs, particularly for the young and the elderly, provide a means by which persons may receive needed services and benefits that will enable them to live decently; and, in the case of children, develop the future capability to provide for themselves. Obstacles. The primary obstacle to meeting underserved housing and community development needs of the City is available funding, which is shrinking each year. Demand for assistance exceeds the supply of available resources. The number of lower income individuals, families, and neighborhoods in need, coupled with the complexity of issues they face is steadily increasing in both scale and cost. The combination of these factors places substantial new burdens on an already strained housing and community development delivery system. The City developed a Resource Guide that identifies all of the various agencies and services within Okaloosa County. United Way now maintains the guide and it can be found on their web site at http:// www.united- way.org/ FCFH.htm. Community Development Block Grants. Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( Public Law f93 -383) created the Community Development Block Grant funding program. It is allocated primarily through the entitlement communities and state and small cities program. The primary objective of the CDBG program is to develop viable urban communities,by providing decent housing and suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities principally for persons of low- and