Executive Summary ap-05 Executive Summary 24 cfr 91. 200

AP-50 Geographic Distribution – 91.220(f)

Description of the geographic areas of the entitlement (including areas of low-income and minority concentration) where assistance will be directed

CDBG funds are being directed to the Local Strategy Area known as the "BG Reinvestment Area".  This area contains Census Tracts 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, the city portion of 112, and Census Block Group 113.1.  The City has received HUD designation of this area as a Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area.  77% of the population in the NRSA is LMI, and over 50% of the City’s African-American and Hispanic population are concentrated in this area.  Approximately, eighty percent of the City's annual allocation is being used for neighborhood improvements within this area.  This annual action plan includes completing projects in the second neighborhood of focus, Census Tract 112.

Geographic Distribution

Target Area	Percentage of Funds
BG Reinvestment Area	80

Table - Geographic Distribution
Rationale for the priorities for allocating investments geographically

Rationale for the priorities for allocating investments geographically

During the Consolidated Planning process, staff saw trends develop related to the Census Tracts listed above.  When compared to the City overall it became apparent that this area had the lowest income levels, highest percentage of rental properties, highest level of minorities, oldest housing stock, lowest percentage of owner occupied properties, highest levels of unemployment, and a concentration of housing problems for all income levels.  During the development of the Consolidated Plan, meetings were held with local service providers, residents, and stakeholders to discuss the housing and community development needs in the City.  Several common themes emerged from the meetings.  These included the needs for quality affordable housing, economic opportunity, and public improvements primarily in the neighborhoods of the aforementioned census tracts.  The City committed to investing funds in this area specifically and target the investments to the needs of the specific neighborhood.  Neighborhood Improvements were identified with input from City staff representing a variety of departments and input from the residents in each individual neighborhood of the NRSA.  The current neighborhood selected for improvements, Census Tract 112, is a large area with numerous challenges similar to the rest of the BGRA.  However, unlike adjacent BGRA neighborhoods, Census Tract 112 was not included in the Enterprise Zone previously funded under the USDA.  Therefore Census Tract 112 didn't receive targeted investments like nearby neighborhoods did to overcome the community development and housing challenges.  The City will be allocating investments to Census Tract 112 for the next 2-3 years.

Discussion

A map of the BG Reinvestment Area can be found Section #2 of the AP-05 Executive Summary.

Affordable Housing

AP-55 Affordable Housing – 91.220(g)

Introduction

As part of the Neighborhood Improvements Program (NIP), the City will partner with an outside agency in Census Tract 112, to provide new affordable housing stock. Below is a listing of the goals for the upcoming fiscal year.

One Year Goals for the Number of Households to be Supported
Homeless	0
Non-Homeless	4
Special-Needs	0
Total	4

Table - One Year Goals for Affordable Housing by Support Requirement

One Year Goals for the Number of Households Supported Through
Rental Assistance	0
The Production of New Units	4
Rehab of Existing Units	0
Acquisition of Existing Units	0
Total	4

Table - One Year Goals for Affordable Housing by Support Type

Discussion

The City plans to partner with an outside agency to provide new affordable home ownership for four LMI families.

AP-60 Public Housing – 91.220(h)

Introduction

The City of Bowling Green is fortunate to have quality housing authorities providing services to low income residents.   The Housing Authority of Bowling Green (HABG) operates the public housing portion and controls approximately 600 units spread over five separate developments.  The City of Bowling Green operates a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program with 606 vouchers. The greatest need for both agencies is the availability of large unit rentals.

Actions planned during the next year to address the needs to public housing

Bowling Green is becoming more diverse and the size of families within Bowling Green is changing.  We have seen families struggle to locate suitable rental housing for large families.  Currently there are sufficient numbers of accessible units in both Public Housing and within the HCV program.  We are unsure on how much the demand will grow as the population continues to age.  The other issue we face in accessible units is that most are contained in larger apartment complexes that may or may not participate in the HCV program, so even though the number of units is available they may not be affordable to the population that needs them.  Fortunately the Housing Authority of Bowling Green was recently funded with $1,000,000 of CDBG funding under the state program for low income senior housing.  The funds will go towards the construction of 16 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom ADA accessible units which is expected to be completed during the upcoming fiscal year.

Actions to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in management and participate in homeownership

Both the Housing Authority of Bowling Green (HABG) and the City of Bowling Green encourage participation in the management of their respective programs.  The Housing Authority maintains a Resident Advisory Board to be a voice of the residents for the management of the public housing program, the City establishes a Resident Advisory Board each year for review of its Annual Plan.  Additionally, the Housing Authority brought six public housing residents to the CDBG Public Meeting for the development of the Consolidated Plan to ensure they had a voice in the development of the Consolidated Plan.

The HABG is very active in the promotion of homeownership for LMI individuals.  The HABG received approximately $2.3 Million in NSP funding for the development of affordable housing, used CDBG funds for the completion of 12 rental conversion projects and built approximately 20 homes as part of the City's Lee Square development.  The City's HCV program utilizes graduates of the Housing Authority's Homeowner program for Homeownership Vouchers.

The City and the HABG have a history of partnering together for the creation and development of affordable housing opportunities.  In recent years the City partnered with HABG for the acquisition and rehabilitation of several vacant rental properties for a rental conversion/ affordable home ownership program.   

The City of Bowling Green’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program has vouchers available for qualified individuals seeking affordable home ownership.  Current there are approximately seventeen vouchers for home ownership.

The City of Bowling Green also has partnered in the past with Habitat for Humanity in the development of an affordable housing community where several houses were built for LMI families.  Through Habitat for Humanity's program, families are educated to become better equipped with management of home ownership. 

The City will be partnering with an outside agency for the provision of affordable home ownership for LMI families which includes home ownership and budgeting classes. Public housing residents will have the same opportunities for this project.

If the PHA is designated as troubled, describe the manner in which financial assistance will be provided or other assistance

Neither, the Housing Authority of Bowling Green or the City's Housing Choice Voucher program has been designated as troubled by HUD.

Discussion

Through taking actions to provide affordable home ownership, more opportunities will be available for public housing residents to gain quality affordable home ownership.