City of Newark, OH-DRAFT

FY 2014 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan HUD Grantee

Mayor Jeff Hall Director of Development Community Development Block Gran Mark Mauter 740-670-7533 [email protected]

40 West Main Street, Newark, OH 43055

0 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds Fifth 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.

Narrative Responses

GENERAL

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary is required. Include the objectives and outcomes identified in the plan and an evaluation of past performance.

Program Year 5 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 5 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, 2009. 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) 2014, the City of Newark CDBG program will undergo transitions both in areas served and in activities performed. The level of 2014 CDBG funding is undetermined. The City has estimated a 10% reduction from the 2013 allocation of $731,270. There will be an overall shift in the approach to planning and development by the City of Newark Department of Development.

1 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds During FY 2014, Newark will enter the fifth 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 $658,143. and expects to re- program prior year’s funding ($365,600.). Total funding sources for FY 2013 are, therefore, estimated at $1,023,743. The City’s FY 2014 program year will begin on January 1, 2014, and end on December 31, 2014.

Activities to be funded in FY2013 include:

Housing Programs Implementation Support and technical assistance to area non-profits: Licking County Coalition of Care Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio, Inc. Salvation Army St. Vincent de Paul/St. Vincent Haven Subrecipient Technical Support Fair housing Landlord/Tenant Services Technical Support Landlord-tenant services Downtown Revitalization Fund - Buildings Downtown Revitalization Fund - Infrastructure Street Rehabilitation Technicl Support (Slum and Blight) Sidewalks City Street Light Improvements Economic Development Technical Support Newark Development Partners Community Improvement Corporation Small Business Financial Assistance Street Rehabilitation Technical Support Street Rehabilitation - Infrastructure Costs -construction of street improvements Parks Improvements Park Improvements Technical Support Denison University Garden of Hope Neighborhood revitalization demolition and clearance Technical Support-L/M benefit Emergency/Minor home repair General administration, planning and oversight Unprogrammed funds

The total expenditures equal $1,023,743. less $131,120. for administration and planning, $527,023. is subject to the L/M calculation. The slum and blight expenditures total $29,000. The L/M benefiting expenditures total $498,023. The percentage of L/M benefit is 94%.

2 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds The following is a summary of each proposed activity and the associated objectives and outcomes.

2014 CDBG Activities Summary of Objectives and Outcomes

Street Improvements

The Street Rehabilitation activity objective is creating a suitable living environment. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($50,000.)

The Street Rehabilitation Technical Support activity (Implementation) activity objective is creating a suitable living environment. The outcome category is availability/accessibility.

The activity also involves the design and construction of multi-modal transportation improvements. These improvements will focus on improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. ($9,535.)

The Sidewalks activity objective is creating suitable living environments. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($10,000.)

The City Street Light Improvements activity objective is creating a suitable living environment. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($2,000.)

Downtown (See Economic Development for other Downtown related activities)

Street Rehabilitation Technical Support (Implementation) Slum and Blight (S/B) activity objective is creating economic opportunity. The outcome category is sustainability. ($14,000.)

Transitional Housing

The St. Vincent de Paul/St. Vincent Haven - Transitional Housing activity objective is providing decent housing. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($5,000.)

Licking County Coalition of Care-Transitional Housing activity objective is providing decent housing. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($4,000.)

3 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds The Salvation Army - Homeless Shelter per diems activity objective is providing decent housing. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($5,000.00)

Fair Housing

The Landlord/Tenant Services activity objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($18,000.)

The Landlord/Tenant Technical Support (Implementation) activity objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($4,205.)

Social Service Agency Housing

The Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio, Inc. Prevention activity is to provide decent housing. The outcome category is availability/accessibility. ($5,000.)

Subrecipients

The Subrecipient Technical Support activity objectives are providing decent housing and creating economic opportunity. The outcome categories are availability/accessibility and sustainability. ($7,200.)

Housing

The Housing Programs (Implementation) activity objective is providing decent housing. The outcome category is affordability. ($113,678.)

The Emergency/Minor Home Repair activity objective is providing decent housing. The outcome category is affordability. ($15,000.)

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. ($10,000.)

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. ($10,000.)

4 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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.)

Economic Development (ED) Technical Support 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. ($103,855.)

Newark Development Partners Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) - The non- profit organization with a ten member board of directors. The objective is providing economic opportunity. The outcome category is sustainability. ($60,000.)

Section 1724.01 Community Improvement Corporations-Ohio Revised Code:

(1) “Community Improvement Corporation” means an economic development corporation or a county land reutilization corporation.

(2) “Economic development corporation” means a corporation organized for the purposes described in division (B)(1) of this section.

(3) “County land reutilization corporation” means a corporation organized under section 1724.04 of the Revised Code for the purposes described in division (B)(2) of this section.

(B) A corporation not for profit may be organized in the manner provided in section 1702.04 of the Revised Code, and as provided in sections 1724.01 to 1724.09 of the Revised Code, for the purposes of:

(1) Advancing, encouraging, and promoting the industrial, economic, commercial, and civic development of a community or area; or

(2)(a) Facilitating the reclamation, rehabilitation, and reutilization of vacant, abandoned, tax-foreclosed, or other real property within the county for whose benefit the corporation is being organized, but not limited to the purposes described in division (B)(2) of this section;

(b) Efficiently holding and managing vacant, abandoned, or tax-foreclosed real property pending its reclamation, rehabilitation, and reutilization;

(c) Assisting governmental entities and other nonprofit or for-profit persons to assemble, clear, and clear the title of property described in this division in a coordinated manner; or

5 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds (d) Promoting economic and housing development in the county or region.

Effective Date: 08-17-1961; 2008 SB353 04-07-2009

Other

The Clearance/Demolition Technical Support activity (Implementation) - Low- Mod Benefit activity objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. ($5,000.)

The Un-programmed Funds activity objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. ($16,406.)

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 Park facility. Funding cannot be used for maintenance. ($48,000.)

The Parks Improvement Technical Support activity (Implementation) objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. ($5,144.)

The Denison University-Helping Hands Garden of Hope activity objective is creating economic opportunity. The outcome category is sustainability. ($1,000.)

Administration

The General Admin. (Management and oversight) activity objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. ($131,120.)

Past Performance in January -October 2013 references funds drawn (expended) FY 2012 and FY 2013

Activities: Budget Expended Public Facilities & Infrastructure $ 228,075.72 $220,527.17 Public Services $ 83,638.91 $42,155.59 Housing $ 399,254.60 $306,888.91 Economic Development $ 294,788.85 $220,685.43 Other (Demolition & Code Enforcement) $ 199,205.90 $159,204.72 Administration & Planning* $ 228,075.72 $93,320.72 Total Funding $ 1,433,039.60 $1,042,782.50

6 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

1. Public Facilities and Improvements

Street Improvements - Sidewalks, paving, ADA curb ramps-492-505- $30,128.90 Downtown Supportive Costs-509- $36,676.04 Downtown Revitalization - Street Related (Implementation) $1,700.02 Denison University Helping Hands Garden-503- $469.08 Mobility Improvements-494- $8,143.28 West Postal Sewer Project-512- $51,950.61 ODNR NatureWorks- 504- $0 Park Improvements - T.J. Evans Park and Hollander Pool Park-508-$91,459.24

2. Public Services

St. Vincent DePaul-502- $6,266.85 Fair Housing/Landlord Tenant Implementation-493- $11,381.96 Behavioral Healthcare Partners: Homeless Prevention-499- $11,386.60 Salvation Army-Homeless Shelter per Diem -501- $6,300 LCCH - Homeless Transitional -497- $5,414.23 Coalition of Care—528-$2,516.30

3. Housing

Operational Assistance Emergency/Minor Home Repair Loans -495- $37,891.42 Housing Program Implementation -490- $179,331.34 Relocation-491- $89,666.15

4. Economic Development

Downtown Revitalization Fund – Buildings-511- $20,591.30 Downtown Revitalization Fund – Infrastructure-510- $0 Economic Development Technical Assistance-506- $159,196.85 Small Business Financial Assistance-498- $0 CIC-517-$30,897.28

5. Other

Demolition/Clearance Low/Mod Benefit-500- $45,227.46 Unprogrammed Funds- Code Enforcement-507- $113,977.26

7 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 6. Administrations and Planning-General Administration Management and Oversight- 489-$93,320.72

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Updates- January-September 2013.

Code Enforcement Program Progress Report 2013

Enforcement Program Summary, 2013

Inspections Completed: 1631 Cases Closed Due to Compliance: Total Violations 4,322 Total Corrected 649 Demolitions Completed: 3

Emergency/Minor Home Repair Program Progress . projects (January-August 2013)

To date we have completed:

1 plumbing repair

And we have approved applications for the following work:

1 sewer hook up

Working on:

1 bathroom repair

CDBG-Revolving Loan Fund

To date we have completed:

1 hot water tank replacement 1 air conditioning repair

Applications for the following work:

4 sewer hook ups

Working on:

8 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

Bathroom repair Kitchen/exterior

The City of Newark provides for Citizen Participation in the development of the FY 2014 Action Plan. In accordance with HUD regulations, public hearings were held on February 27, 2013 and October 9, 2013, 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 beginning October 9, 2013 and ending November 8, 2013:

• Licking County Public Library, 101 Main Street • 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, 2013.

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 5 Action Plan General Questions response:

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 Newark.

9 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

During the 2014 FY the City’s comprehensive plan, which was completed in 2009, will be updated. The city’s slum and blight designation area will be updated to include the eligible commercial streets in need of rehabilitation. 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 2014 to include all eligible census tracts in the city.

Many of the activities funded in 2014 will focus on economic and community redevelopment of Newark’s downtown core. These activities range from funding for small business development and private building façade improvements, community planning, infrastructure projects, improved city services, and economic development assistance and incentives.

Changes in 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.

In addition to the CDBG funding, we have over $193,172.96. (as of September 2012) in CHIP/HOMERevolving Loan Fund money that can be used for housing rehabilitation as well as for infill housing. The City plans is reviewing options to commit $100,000. Towards a new construction-Habitat, or new construciton-non Habitat. The Licking County Coalition for Housing has a partnership with Licking County Developmental Disabilities . Funding is avialable for new construction for inidividuals with developmental disablities.

Special attention must be paid to the needs of special populations. The Salvation Army and the Licking County Coalition for Homeless were awarded, $144,000.00 and $104,328. 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 the recipient a HUD funded Supportive Housing Grant totaling $590,179. and $34,967./$35,000.. from United Way of Licking County/VA Homeless Veteran GPD.

10 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

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.

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 5 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

11 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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 2014 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 FY2014:

• City of Newark Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funds • Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority • Columbia Gas of Ohio (Warm Choice) • 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

12 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

Due to funding cuts and the changing direction of planning and development in the City influenced the choices made for the FY 2014 One Year Plan. Public Services, for example compriseds 7% of the FY 2014 One Year Plan . Housing and Administration and Planning each comprise 20% . Public Facilities and Infrastrucutre comprise 21% and Economic Development has the largest share at 29%. The Other categoy (clearance/demolition technical support and unprogrammed funds) comprise 3%. The 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 non- housing 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.

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 5 Action Plan Citizen Participation response:

13 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds The City of Newark developed the FY 2014 One-Year Use of Funds/Action Plan based on the needs and priorities described in the FY 2010-2014 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 2014 One-Year Use of Funds at the public library Downtown location, Newark branch library, and at the Department of Development, and City website: https://www.newarkohio.net for a thirty-day public review period beginning October 9, 2013. The City of Newark held public hearings for citizens to comment on the FY 2014 One-Year Use of Funds on February 27 and October 9, 2013. 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, and through various social service agencies, and two radio stations-WCLT and WHTH/WNKO. Items discussed at the public hearing will be included the FY 2014 One-Year Use of Funds application process and proposed projects.

The February 27, 2013 and October 9, 2013 public hearing minutes will be sumittted to HUD by the November 15, 2013.

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 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 will continue to evolve 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.

The minutes will outline the response to inquiries made at the public hearings. They will be submitted by November 15, 2013 to HUD.

14 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds The public hearing and comment period requirements will end November 8, 2013. The sign-in sheet and minutes of the public hearings follow the Certifications section of the final One Year Plan. Citizen comments will be included in the final Plan and indicate that the Newark Development Director and staff specifically and adequately addressed comments.

Institutional Structure

1. Describe actions that will take place during the next year to develop institutional structure.

Program Year 5 Action Plan Institutional Structure response:

The City of Newark developed the FY 2014 One-Year Use of Funds/Action Plan based on the needs and priorities described in the FY 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan submission, the knowledge and expertise of Development staff, various City departments, local 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 2014 One-Year Use of Funds at the local public library, branch library, and at the Department of Development for a thirty- day public review period beginning October 9 2013. The City of Newark held public hearings for citizens to comment on the FY2 2014 One-Year Use of Funds on February 27 and October 9, 2013. Hearings were held in City Council Chamber at 40 West Main Street, Newark. Public hearing notices were advertised in The Newark Advocate, two radio stations, City Website (www.newarkohio.net), and through various social service agencies. Items discussed at the public hearing are included the final FY 2014 One-Year Use of Funds application process and proposed projects.

15 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds Copies of the minutes from the February and October public hearing will be attached to the final plan document. Following the October 9, 2013 public hearing, responses will be sent within the fifteen day period as required by the Citizen Participation plan.

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 5 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.

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.

16 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

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, low- income, and moderate-income families, and how the plan for the reduction of lead- based hazards is related to the extent of lead poisoning and hazards.

Program Year 5 Action Plan Lead-based Paint response:

In October 2009 the City received notification of a third HUD Lead Hazard Control (LHC) Grant totaling $3.07 million. This grant ran from 12/2009 – 12/2012.

The City expended $2,605,731.63 The local match totaled $750,000. 130 units were abated from lead based paint hazards. The amount expended for administrative costs was $127,676.36.

The City submitted an application in 2012 for a HUD Lead Hazard Control Grant, but was not awarded funding by HUD. Future funding opportunities will be considered by the City.

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 low- to moderate-income owner-occupants and property owners renting to low- to moderate-income tenants with children living within the assisted housing units.

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.

• 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.

17 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds • 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 consider pursuing any additional funds available to address LBP hazards. Successful implementation, began with the FY 2003, 2007, and 2009 Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grants.

• 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.

18 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

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 5 Action Plan Specific Objectives response:

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.

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 2011. 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 owner- occupied and rental properties.

19 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) 2009 Grant: 2011– October 2013

Grant Budget Activities: Budget Expended Owner Rehabilitation $225,000 $87,966. Fair Housing Program $7,584 (CDBG) $ 7134.62 General Administration $25,000 $4,369. Total: $250,000 $99,469.62

In 2009, The City of Newark was awarded an $858,584.00 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: 2009 – 2013. Grant Budget Activities: Budget Expended Implementation $772,726 $772,726 General Administration $85,858 $80,235 Total: $858,584 $852,961

NSP Revolving Loan Fund

o Current Balance: $57,990.49

20 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

Needs of Public Housing 277 E Main – Before (top left) & During Demolition (top right & below)

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.

Program Year 5 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 LMHA currently has 1061 Housing Choice Vouchers under lease. There are 730 regular vouchers, 19 Family Unification Program vouchers, 27 Welfare to Work vouchers, and 285 Non-Elderly Disabled vouchers. The Housing Choice Vouchers are used through-out Licking County, although the majority is used within the city of Newark. Of the 1061 Housing Choice Vouchers currently under lease; 44% are families that have children 15% are over the age of 62 26% are earning between $6,000 - $10,000 276 has one adult working 34 have two or more adults working 751 have no adults working

The LMHA continues to experience a tremendous increase in HAP costs in the HCV Program. The attrition rate continues to remain low. Recently, the LMHA opened the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist and received approximately 1,000 applications. The LMHA’s local preferences for the HCV waitlist are veterans and the non-elderly disabled. The average wait for assistance is approximately 2-3 years.

The LMHA has 41 Shelter Plus Care vouchers, but additional people can be housed under this program based on the funding. Currently, there are 43 Shelter Plus Care vouchers under lease. The Shelter Plus Care Program houses 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 individuals. The population

21 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds has few options when affordable housing is not attainable. Those with mental illness easily become homeless. Of the Shelter Plus Care Vouchers currently under lease: 21% are families that have children 22% are earning between $6,000 - $10,000 3 have one adult working 40 have no adults working

All LMHA Programs lease up quickly. Therefore, the need for programs such as these is apparent.

The Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority has one seven (7) story Public Housing building (Terrace Gardens Apartments) consisting of 99 units serving the elderly and near elderly. The building also consists of 3 non-elderly disabled units. Terrace Gardens is located in Newark near the central core, providing its residents with accessibility to many services and activities.

Terrace Gardens was built in 1976 and at that time it was built to provide basic housing and was the only such facility in the county.

Terrace Gardens Apartments receives Capital Improvement Funds averaging $84,000 annually. These funds are used for improvements such as those completed in the last several years. They are as follows: new roof, terrace removal, new windows, new HVAC through the wall units, new entry doors, new front drive, new community walkways, (with the assistance of the CDBG funds), replacement of sprinkler heads, community room, lobby renovations and replacement of the call box system.. The Capital Improvement Funds will be used for the following future improvements: Overhaul of two elevators, replacement of fire pumps scheduled for 2014 and repair/replacement of boiler system scheduled for 2016.

Terrace Garden’s occupancy rate is currently at 100%. The waiting list consists of 94 applicants. Terrace Gardens’ waiting list has been steadily growing for the last year.

The LMHA also operates the Homeownership Program for the participants on our HCV Program. The Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority has implemented and teaches 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 City will continue to support the ongoing efforts of the Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority and encourage resident participation in the management of Terrace Gardens Apartments. The Housing Authority has aggressively pursued additional housing vouchers for Licking County residents and has successfully partnered with

22 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds several social service organizations in Licking County to obtain additional vouchers for special needs populations.

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 low- income housing financed with income tax credits to construct units of lower rent housing. Within the last five 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 has provided funding to the local Habitat for Humanity through its Comprehensive Housing Improvement Plan (CHIP) and HOME Revolving Loan fund to build affordable housing. The City is in the process of drafting a new memorandum of understanding with Habitat for Humanity MidOhio for new housing.

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.

23 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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 $113,678. in CDBG funds for the implementation of housing programs.

The City’s emergency minor home repair program will have $15,000. to provide loan assistance for income eligible owner occupied homes in need of minor repairs. This activity meets Specific Objective HSP5, H1, 4.

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 5 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 43055.

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

24 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds • 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

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.

25 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

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 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 those 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.

10.1 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

26 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds planning stages in a way that embodies the respect for human dignity, perseverance, and hope.

Recommendation:

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.

10.2 Fair Housing Enforcement

Recommendation:

27 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

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 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.

10.3 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.

10.4 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

28 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds demonstrate a strong demand that is inadequately being served by traditional banking services.

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:

29 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 1. Promote quality home ownership education in both English and Spanish, especially aimed at the low and moderate income markets.

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.

10.5 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 de- concentration by increasing those housing providers willing to participate in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program of MHA.

30 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

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 § 92.205(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 § 92.254 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 § 92.206(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.

31 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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 91.215(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 5 Action Plan HOME/ADDI response:

In August 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, 2013.

The purpose of this program is to provide resources to maintain, improve, or expand affordable housing for low to moderate income Ohioans. 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.

32 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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 2012. 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 5 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 self- sufficiency 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.

33 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds Specific Objective HSP2: 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.

Specific Objective HSP3: 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.

Specific Objective HSP4: 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.

34 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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 5 Action Plan ESG response:

The City of Newark will not receive ESG funding during the program year.

35 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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 5 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: Extend complete sanitary sewer services to two (2) low- to moderate-income neighborhoods.

Specific Objective CD2: Update and improve park and recreation spaces/facilities in one (1) low- to moderate-income neighborhood per year.

Specific Objective CD3: Repair and improve street surfaces, sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic control devices, and/or street lighting in two (2) low- to moderate-income neighborhoods per year.

36 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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: 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.

Specific Objective CD9: 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 low- income 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.

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.

37 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

Community Development initiatives include those activities such as public facilities and improvements, public services, and economic development.

Public Facilities and Infrastructure

The City will commit $139,679. in FY 2014 CDBG funds for public facilities and infrastructure.

Of this amount, the City will commit $50,000. 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.

The City will commit $9,535. for street rehabilitation technical suport .

$2,000. Will be targeted at City street light improvements and underground wiring in conduit.

The location is as follows: Second Street from Walnut to Locust North and South Park Place Third Street from South Park Place to Locust Fourth Street from W. Main to Locust Locust from Fifth Street to Second Street.

This project will help the City meet Specific Objective CD3.

Park Improvements totaling $48,000. will be utilized at the City’s park facilities. 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.

There will also be $5,144. for Park Improvements Technical Support.

The project meets objective CD 2.

$14,000. Is slated for street rehabilitation technical support in the downtown slum and blight area. 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.

38 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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 $18,000.00 towards the provision of tenant/landlord services and fair housing services for Newark. This activity helps the City meet Specific Objective CD10.

$4,205. will provide landlord/tenant services technical support. This activity helps the City meet Specific Objective CD10.

St. Vincent de Paul/St. Vincent Haven will receive $5,000. in FY 2014 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 $5,000. 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 Care to provide transitional housing and related services. The City will provide $4,000 in CDBG funds. 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 $5,000.00 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 $144,000.grant from the Ohio Department, and a $75,000. grant from United Way of Licking County. This project will help the City meet Specific Objective HSP1.

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Other

The Un-programmed Funds activity objective is providing a suitable living environment. The outcome category is sustainability. ($16,406.)

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 low- income 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 non- profits during the FY 2014 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 2014.

The City will continue its demolition activity in 2014 by commiting $5,000. in funds for the provision of LMI clearance and demolition technical support. 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.

40 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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. Since 2013, area non profits may also apply to the emergency/minor home repair activity. Plans are to establish a grant program for emergency/minor home repairs.

The Denison University Helping Hands Garden of Hope will benefit from $1,000. 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 gardens. 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.

During 2012 the Denison Garden project was expanded to Western Avenue and plans are to create another community garden on the east side of Newaerk.

The activity will help the City meet Specific Objective CD2.

A downtown revitalization activity will receive $10,000. for buildings and $5,000. for infrastructure. The small business financial assistance acitivity will receive $10,000. 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

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

41 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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 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 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

42 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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 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

43 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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. ($10,000.). 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.). 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. ($103,855.) The activity helps the City meet Specific Objective CD7, 8 and 9.

Newark Development Partners is a Community Improvement Corporation within the meaning of Ohio Revised Code Section 1724.01 It will serve as the agency and instrumentality of the City for commercial and retail development. The primary functions of the Newark Development Partners are business attraction, business retention and expansion, and business creation. The outcome category is sustainability. ($60,000.) 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 5 Action Plan Antipoverty Strategy response:

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

44 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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 19,840 100.0 Family households (families) [7] 12,057 60.8 With own children under 18 years 5,488 27.7 Husband-wife family 8,078 40.7 With own children under 18 years 3,027 15.3 Male householder, no wife present 1,045 5.3 With own children under 18 years 614 3.1 Female householder, no husband present 2,934 14.8 With own children under 18 years 1,847 9.3 Nonfamily households [7] 7,783 39.2 Householder living alone 6,324 31.9 Male 2,595 13.1 65 years and over 611 3.1 Female 3,729 18.8 65 years and over 1,833 9.2 Households with individuals under 18 years 6,117 30.8 Households with individuals 65 years and over 5,050 25.5 Average household size 2.35 ( X ) Average family size [7] 2.94 ( X )

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HOUSING OCCUPANCY Number Percent Total housing units 21,976 100.0 Occupied housing units 19,840 90.3 Vacant housing units 2,136 9.7 For rent 997 4.5 Rented, not occupied 31 0.1 For sale only 321 1.5 Sold, not occupied 60 0.3 For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use 87 0.4 All other vacants 640 2.9 Homeowner vacancy rate (percent) [8] 2.8 ( X ) Rental vacancy rate (percent) [9] 10.3 ( X )

HOUSING TENURE Number Percent Occupied housing units 19,840 100.0 Owner-occupied housing units 11,193 56.4 Population in owner-occupied housing units 26,758 ( X ) Average household size of owner-occupied units 2.39 ( X ) Renter-occupied housing units 8,647 43.6 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.

46 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds 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 owner- occupants 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 (91.220 (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.

47 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

Program Year 5 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.

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.

48 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds

9. Please note any evaluations, studies or other assessments that will be conducted on the local HOPWA program during the next year.

Program Year 5 Action Plan HOPWA response:

The City of Newark will not apply for HOPWA funds during FY 2014. 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 5 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.

49 City of Newark 2014 CDBG One Year Use of Funds