Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 06-26-12 regular — reading text

10. t.a Low to Moderate Income Estimates* TRACT BLKGRP LOWMOD LOWMODUNIV LOWMODPCT 22500 3 827 1534 53. 9 22600 1 634 1028 61. 7 22600 3 693 878 78. 9 22900 3 94 153 61. 4 Source: HUD /Census D. I. 2000 LEAD -BASED PAINT HAZARDS (91. 205e, 91. 2151) The City' s lead -based paint hazard reduction strategy is three -fold: education, testing, and remediation. The education objective includes providing handouts and booklets, LL specifically `Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home" at City Hall. This year the City will highlight the hazards of lead -based paint on the City' s web site by including . oa° information that encourages children to have blood tests to check for the presence of elevated lead levels. The testing objective includes evaluating and/ or testing for the 1 presence of lead -based paint for units proposed for painting and/ or re- roofing. The ° 0 remediation objective includes having a certified consultant/contractor remove paint and repair the surface if such hazards are determined to exist on units proposed for v rehabilitation. Estimated number of housing units containing lead -based paint hazards occupied by extremely low, low, and moderate income families: 3, 652. Anti- Poverty Strategy ( 91. 215j) According to the most recent Census data, two of the twelve census tracts in the City of Fort Walton Beach have more than 15 % of the population living in poverty. The national estimated poverty rate is 15. 3 %. The poverty rate of the whole City is estimated to be 10. 7% of the population. The City is continuing to work closely with the several local organizations through the CDBG program to reduce poverty. The City provides funding to these agencies through the CDBG grant program applications targeting homeless, very low, and low income households. V. HOUSING Housing Needs ( 91. 205) Rapid population growth between 2004 and 2007 in Northwest Florida led to a greater demand for housing which in mm led to an increase in housing prices. Many factors contributed to the increase in development costs of new housing including soaring land 8 Packet Pg. 53  1o. t. a prices, decreasing land supply - especially in communities such as Fort Walton Beach that are essentially land- locked and almost completely built out — and increasing costs of material and labor. On the surface it appears that much of the existing housing stock in the City, specifically the CDBG target area, is attainable, in that many of the homes were purchased in the 1950s and 1960s and the mortgages have been paid — allowing homeowners to " age in place" or, in the case of absentee landlords, allowing for less than market rents. However, many of the older homes are becoming deteriorated and there has been little reinvestment by the property owners. Many of the current homeowners are elderly and living on fixed incomes so they may not be able to maintain the structures and the yards. The owners of rental housing may not have the means or economic incentive to reinvest. Rental increases necessitated by rising property insurance costs and property taxes are passed on to the tenants, which may affect their ability to remain in the housing. Changing demographics mean that the construction of single family detached homes may no longer adequately meet current and projected housing needs. While the single -family detached home will remain the housing product of choice for many, demand is growing for greater alternatives in housing. The opportunities to expand the range of housing choices are myriad and the City can benefit from a wider range in type and quantity of housing choices. Housing Objectives Public Housing Strategy ( 91. 210b) There are currently two City public housing areas in Fort Walton Beach: Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority ( FWBHA) on Robinwood Drive SW and Germany Terrace on Carson Drive SE, containing 50 units. The FWBHA receives assistance through the Comprehensive Improvement Assistance Program ( CAP). The FWBHA has not been designated as " troubled' by HUD. Also, the City is working with the FWBHA and HUD on redevelopment of the Germany Terrace housing project, described as Sound Side in the Affordable Housing section of the Consolidated Plan. The Sound Side project is scheduled to begin construction in Fall 2012 with demolition of the existing Germany Terrace development scheduled for Summer 2012. This development will provide 200 new multi- family apartments. The City works closely with the FWBHA and continues to encourage homeownership through the sponsorship and exhibition at the Housing Expo each year. The Chester Pruitt Summer Enrichment program and after school tutoring are available and in close proximity to FWBHA residents as well as the future residents of Sound Side. The City also coordinates its transportation planning to help meets the needs of those who depend on public housing. The City works with Okaloosa County to ensure fixed -route transit service at the housing units. Barriers to Affordable Housing ( 91. 220j): As per the requirements of the adopted SHIP Affordable Housing Incentive Plan, the City will undertake the following actions to remove barriers to affordable housing ( these actions will not necessarily be funded through the CDBG program): expedite processing of permits for affordable housing 9 Packet Pg. 54  10. 1. 5 projects, modification of street requirements; down payment assistance and closing cost assistance; minor repairs to existing single family owner occupied housing units through the World Changers program, which is a faith -based partnership; and acquisition of property for low- to moderato -income housing through Habitat for Humanity. The City' s Comprehensive Plan also outlines a Housing Element and a plan to provide for affordable housing as it relates to local policy, land use, and zoning. Homelessness ( 91. 205) Under this category, the City will not fully undertake a comprehensive action program to address the housing needs of the homeless due to the amount of the City' s entitlement o CDBG funds. Unfortunately, the City' s entitlement CDBG funds do not provide sufficient funding to directly manage and fully support this type of program. The City will, however, support several operating agencies that are providing valuable services to ? prevent homelessness and to assist those who are already homeless. The City participates li on the Okaloosa/ Walton Continuum of Care Board and assists agencies who help the o. homeless with expertise to address community concerns. The City will continue to work v° Q 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. Some of e 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 Okaloosa/ Walton Homeless Continuum of Care Opportunity, Inc. provides 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. Also, the 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. Lastly, two more 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. Harbour Place Apartments consists of 10 units for a total of 12, 460 square feet. There are two each 750 square foot two bedroom, one bath units and eight each 960 10 Packet Pg. 55  10.— a square foot three bedroom, two bath units. Each floor also has a storage room with 750 square foot each. All units meet Fair Housing requirements and five percent of the units are available for handicapped tenants. A complete list of local agencies providing services and assistance to the homeless and special needs populations is found below. Local services include but are not limited to ( 91. 210d): 1. Waterfront Rescue Mission – The target population is men with substance abuse and disorders. 2. Bridgeway Center, Inc. – Assists men and women requiring crisis stabilization and detoxification. 3. Salvation Army – The target population is men. 4. FRESH Start – Targets working parents and single women, primarily transitional housing for persons with jobs. 5. Shelter House– Women and children in imminent danger of harm from domestic violence. 6. Family Life Center – Pregnant and unwed mothers. 7. Lutheran Services – Runaway teens. 8. SADA – Men and women with substance abuse disorders; must agree to enroll in Christian recovery program. 9. Catholic Charities – Transients, emergencies. There is not a shelter but there are limited funds for hotel stays. 10. Red Cross – Persons rendered homeless by fire. No shelter, but limited funds for hotel stays. 11. Harbor House – Men with substance abuse disorders; transitional