HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2020-12 05/04/2020
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, OREGON
RESOLUTION NO. ___________
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD 2020 CONSOLIDATED PLAN FOR
SUBMISSION TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
WHEREAS, the Cities of Eugene and Springfield have formed a consortium in order to be eligible as an
entitlement community to receive HOME Investment Partnership funds. Preparation of a Consolidated
Plan for Housing and Community Development is a federal requirement in order for local entitlement
jurisdictions to receive federal housing and community development funds administered by the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development;
WHEREAS, the Cities of Eugene and Springfield have jointly prepared the Eugene-Springfield 2020
Consolidated Plan in order to meet that federal requirement, a summary of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference;
WHEREAS, the thirty-day period for the purpose of receiving public comment on the draft
Consolidated Plan began on March 2, 2020 and ended on April 1, 2020. During that period, public
hearings were held to receive testimony on the draft Consolidated Plan by representatives of
Springfield and Eugene serving on the Eugene-Springfield Consolidated Plan Advisory Committee;
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Springfield has reviewed and considered the
Consolidated Plan Summary (Summary) attached hereto as Exhibit A; copies of the Summary and the
complete Consolidated Plan submittal were made available for public review and a reference to a digital
copy of the complete Consolidated Plan submittal is included in the Summary; and
WHEREAS, the Eugene-Springfield Consolidated Plan Advisory Committee has reviewed and
considered the testimony presented at the public hearings,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD:
Section 1: Based on the above findings, which are adopted herein, and after consideration
of the public testimony provided at the hearings held on the Eugene-Springfield 2020 Consolidated
Plan, the Eugene-Springfield 2020 Consolidated Plan Summary, attached as Exhibit A hereto, is hereby
approved.
: This Resolution will take effect upon adoption by the Council and approval by the
Section 2
Mayor.
ADOPTED by the Common Council of the City of Springfield this ___ day of _________, ____,
by a vote of _____ for and ____ against.
_______________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________
City Recorder
5/1/2020
Exhibit A, Page 1 of 21
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CITY OF EUGENE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
eugene-or.gov/hudconplanspringfield-or.gov
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 2 of 21
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TheEugene-Springfield 2020 Consolidated Plan presents a strategic vision for housing and
community development for the period beginningin July 2020 and ending in June 2025. The
goals and activities outlined in the Consolidated Plan are based on priorities identified through
an analysis of community needs as well as an extensive community outreach process. This analysis
and subsequent refinements through further public input took place primarily from October 2019
through April 2020. The strategy laid out in this document relied on a snapshot of economic, housing
and social conditions using data available at that time. While data is limited, efforts have been
made to reflect the emerging impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. What is clear is that the
pandemic will have severe impact on the local economy, housing market, and welfare of the
residents of Eugene and Springfield. These changes will have the greatest impact on the low-and
moderate- income and other vulnerable residents that programs identified in the plan seek to
assist. Conditions faced by these residents and priority needs identified in this plan will remain
critical. Some concerns, such as housing and food instability, domestic violence, and the viability of
small businesses may be exacerbated. The strategies identified in this plan will continue to alleviate
some hardships faced by our lower income residents in the wake of the pandemic. The cities of
Eugene and Springfield will continue to analyze local conditions and strategically deploy the
resources identified in this plan, as well as new federal resources from the CARES Act that will be
made available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Cities of Eugene and Springfield must complete and adopt a Consolidated Plan every five
years in order to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment
Partnership Program (HOME) and other grantsfrom the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD). The purpose of CDBGand HOME is to advance the followingstatutory
objectives principally for extremely low-income, low-income and moderate-income residents:
Provide decent, safe, and affordable housing
Create suitable living environments(CDBG)
Expand economic opportunities (CDBG)
Expand the supply of decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing (HOME)
In addition, the Cities of Eugene and Springfield must complete a One Year Action Plan (Action
Plan) for each fiscal year within the five-year period. The Action Plan describes the Cities’ annual
allocation process for specific uses of HOME and CDBG funds during a specific fiscal year. The
first Action Plan, for HUD programyear 2020 will be completed and submitted to HUD along
with the 2020 Consolidated Plan.
The following summary of the Eugene-Springfield Consolidated Plan provides an overview of the
Consultation and Citizen Participation process, Community Profile and Needs, Priority Needs, and
a Strategic Plan. This document is a summary of materials submitted through HUD’s electronic plan
submission template.
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 3 of 21
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The Cities of Eugene and Springfield conducted extensive consultation with key partners, stakeholders
and community members in identifying Housing and Community Development needs from November
2019 through January 2020. The consultation process built on work that has been ongoing by
committees and boardsthat bring together a broad range of stakeholders. In addition to
consultationswith stakeholders, the needs identified reflect information gathered through web-based
surveys forboth service agencies and community residents, public forums tohear communitymembers,
and input from the Consolidated Plan AdvisoryCommittee.
Individuals representing government and policy makers, nonprofitorganizations, affordable
housingproviders,and other interested parties wereinvited toparticipate to ensure that as many
points of view as possiblewere heard.Overthecourse of one-on-one interviews and twelve small
focus groupmeetings, approximately 133 public participants and 21 city staff provided their
feedback in person.
Advisory Body Consultations
The assessment engaged several committees thatareactively evaluatingand addressinghousing,
homeless, fair housing,and community development needs including:
Lane County Poverty & Homelessness Board
Intergovernmental Human Services Commission
Intergovernmental Housing Policy Board
United Way of Lane County Community Investment Steering Committee
Eugene Affordable Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee
Eugene Planning Commission
2020 Consolidated Plan 2Eugene and Springfield, OR
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 4 of 21
Agency Survey
In addition to these meetings, online surveys were completed by 68 representatives from 38 agencies.
The responders noted that the greatest barrier to finding and maintaining housing in the cities was
rental costs and finding vacant units, and that creating additional affordable housing is the greatest
housing need. The responders also identified needs for housing rehabilitation and emergency repairs,
as well as accessibility improvements and downpayment assistance. Preventing homelessness and
providing housing for homeless individuals was also identified as a high priority, and the homeless
population was identified as the population most in need of housing assistance and services. Survey
responses were received from the following agencies:
Applegate
Lane County Health and Human Services
Catholic Community Services of LaneCounty
Centro Latino Americano Lane Independent Living Alliance(LILA)
Cornerstone Community Housing Looking Glass Community Services
Department of Human Services Options Counseling and Family Services
DevNW Oregon Law Center
Ebbert Memorial United Methodist ChurchRelief Nursery, Inc.
Emerald VillageEugene ShelterCare
First Place Family CenterSponsors, Inc.
Springfield Eugene Tenant Association
FOOD for Lane County
HeadStart of Lane County SquareOne Villages
Here toHelp Housing
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County
HIV Alliance
Supportive Services for Veteran Families
Home for Good Housing Agency
White Bird Clinic
Hosea Youth Services
Womenspace, Inc.
JenningsGroupInc
Lane Council of Governments
Eugene and Springfield, OR
2020 Consolidated Plan
3
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 5 of 21
Information from the Public
WrittenComments
Written public comments were accepted during the 30-day public comment period and were
incorporated into the Consolidated Plan.
Community Survey
A surveywas developed tocollect input fromcommunity members to identify priority needs and
collectinformation on conditionsinthecommunity.Thesurveywasdistributed on the internet and
through social media in both English and Spanish. Partner agenciesalso helped by distributing
the surveyto their clients, where appropriate. A total of 216 responses were received.
Responders to the Community Survey identified the most needed services for both renters and
owners. For renters, responders identified top needs as ongoing rental assistance, security
Deposit assistance, and emergency rental assistance. For owners, responders identified
mortgageassistance, foreclosure prevention, and utility/energy payment support as the highest
needs. Responders identified mentalhealthand addiction services and housingservicesas the
greatest social service needs. Respondentsalso identified assist human service agencies with
facilities acquisition or improvements as the most needed Community Development Need.
Open House
The Cities of Eugene and Springfield hosted an Open House on Affordable Housing and Community
Development, on February 12, 2020. Community members had the opportunity to learn about and
provide feedback on the draft priority needs and draft strategies for the 2020 Consolidated Plan.
The event was attended by over 130 community members, who were also asked to rank the
proposed strategies and to provide comments.
Resident ParticipationPlan
A requirement of the Consolidated Plan is to develop and utilize a strategy to achieve resident
public participation.This plan was updated in 2020 and is summarized here.
The Cities will continue to encourage participation by low- and moderate-income persons
throughout the community. Emphasis will be placed on reaching out to minority populations, non-
English-speaking persons, and persons with disabilities, in the preparation of the Plan. The Cities
will also notify andseek the participation of local and regional institutions and other
organizations,includingbusinesses, developers, communityand faith-basedorganizations, in the
development and implementation of the Consolidated Plan.
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 6 of 21
The Cities will make vital information that pertainstotheConsolidated Plan availableto the
resident, publicagencies and other interested parties on an annualbasis. The information to be
made available includes the amount of assistance the Cities expect to receive, available unspent
prior year’s funds and related program income, the range of activities to be undertaken, including
the estimated amount of CDBG and other funds that will be expended on low- and moderate-
income persons.
The Cities will provide interested parties with a reasonable opportunity to comment on the Plan
or on anyamendments to the Plan. The Cities will consider any comments or views of interested
parties received in writing or orally, at any of the public hearings, or during the specified public
comment review period.
Meetings areannounced through posting on City websites and in the Register Guard. All public
hearings areadvertised in the Register-Guard Newspaper 14days or more prior to the hearing.
For the development of the Consolidated Plan, one public hearing in addition to multiple public
meetings to obtain resident views regarding the proposed priority needs and strategies for the
five-year period.
Public meetings are held at timesconvenientto potential and actual beneficiariesin locations that
meet Americans withDisabilities Act accessibility standards. With 48 hours’ notice priortoany
public meeting, the Cities can provide the following services: an interpreter and audio equipment
for the hearing impaired; a reader to review printed materials with the sightimpaired, and a
foreign language interpreter for non-Englishspeaking residents.
Due to public health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the final meetings and public
hearings had to be held in an online format. Efforts were made to provide call-in options to
facilitate access for individuals with limited technology access.
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 7 of 21
Community Profile and Needs
The Eugene-Springfield Consolidated Plan relies upon multiple forms of qualitative and quantitative
data as well as community inputin order to identify housing,homelessness,and community
development needs and trends. This picture of needisthebasis of the proposed objectives and
outcomes for the 2020 Consolidated Plan. In addition to the US Census, updated American
Community Survey (ACS) data and community surveys that provides the foundation for development
of the document,the Cities of Eugene and Springfield built on the work of several active committees
and recent studies that addressed housing, homeless and community development. The assessment
was also informed by additional consultations with city officials and other important stakeholders
such asthe Intergovernmental Human Services Commission, UnitedWay of LaneCounty, Lane
County Poverty & Homelessness Board, Homes for Good (PHA), and the Intergovernmental
Housing Policy Board.
In 2020, the regional economy has continued to diversify and improve, while at the same time leaving
many in the community still struggling to find jobs with wages to cover increasing housing costs.
There is a significant number of households whocannot meet thebasic needs for food, shelter,medical
care and transportation. In addition, there are a growing number of seniors, persons with
disabilities, and others who are unable to work. These factors, combined with a very tight housing
market,have resulted inmany households paying more than they can afford, and a growing number
of persons experiencing homelessness.It is important to note that the impacts of the COVID-19 are
too recent to be reflected in the data used for the analysis provided below.
Population Growth
The overall population has grown steadily in both cities since 2000, reaching a combined 223,958 in
2017. Population grew to 163,135 in Eugene (18% growth since 2000) and 60,823 in Springfield
(15% growth) in 2017.
Age Distribution
The population of Eugene and Springfieldisaging.In 2000, people aged 60 to 75 accounted for
8% of the total population. This grew to 14% in2017. For thesame period,peopleunder45
accounted for 67% of the population in2000, and this has dropped to 63% in 2017.
Racial and Ethnic Composition
Eugene and Springfieldare becoming increasingly racially and ethnicallydiverse. Latino residents
are the fastest growing population, representing 10.2% of the population in the two cities, and this
population has grown 26.4% between 2000 and 2017. Approximately 21% of the population of
the cities are either Latino or minority race.
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 8 of 21
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As of 2017, family householdsstill makeup thelargest percentage of households with 54% (Eugene
–52%, Springfield – 59%), and of those, 10% of households is single female headed households.
There has also been a significant increase in single person households which now make up 45% of
all households. The largest growth in household typeisnon-family households which increased 57%
between 2000 and 2017. Average household size 2.33 in Eugene and 2.50 in Springfield.
Income £ 0®µ¤±³¸
Although growing,Median HouseholdIncome for both Eugene ($47,489)and Springfield ($41,700)
is lower than the US ($57,652) and Lane County ($47,710). Further,there are manyresidents in
both cities that are struggling, as evidenced by other indicators: 19% of Eugene residents and 28%
of Springfield residents receive food stamp benefits (SNAP), and 49% of students from the three
Public SchoolDistricts in Eugene and Springfield are eligible for free and reducedlunch.Low wages
also contribute to financial instability. In 2017, 21% of households in Eugene and 20% of households
in Springfield had incomes below thepoverty level.
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 9 of 21
Persons with Disabilities
In the Cities of Eugene and Springfield, about 32,438 people, or 14%, live with one or more
disabilities. Thehighest reported disabilities include ambulatory(8%), cognitive (8%), and difficulty
with independent living (7%).
Persons Experiencing Homelessness
The 2019 Point-in-TimeCount (PIT) identified2,165peoplein Lane County experiencing
homelessness, a 32% increase from 2018 and 49% increase from 2016. Over two-thirds of this
population, or 1633 individuals, met HUD’s definition of unsheltered, which includes 411persons
staying in “alternative to shelter” programs such as Dusk to Dawn, Opportunity Village, and
Conestoga Huts. The 2019 PIT count also found that 759 persons experiencing homelessness were
seriously mentally ill, 724 were chronically homeless, 525 reported substance abuse, 173 were
veterans, and 113 were families with children staying in a shelter. For FY 2018, Lane County
reported that 2,753 unduplicated individuals who were homeless received human services from one
or moreagencies.During the 2018-2019 school year, the three public school districts in Eugene
and Springfield report 1,629 homeless youth, includes students who arestaying with friends or
family. The reported number includes 482 homeless youth who were unaccompanied.
Persons with Special Needs who are not Homeless
Limited new data exists specific to non-homeless special needs populations in the cities of Eugene
and Springfield.Thereare numerous sub-populationsinthiscommunity. Of those, there aresome
that have both sufficientnumbers and unique housing and service needs that warrant identification.
Those include the following: families with children, seniors, ex-offenders, people with HIV/AIDS,
victims of domestic violence, people with drug and alcohol addictions, people who are evicted or
foreclosed, people with physical and mental disabilities, veterans, youth and young adults, and
youth aging out of foster care.
%¬¯«®¸¬¤³ and Economy
Economic conditions in Eugene and Springfield have recovered significantly in the past decade, and
the regionhas emerged as a more diversified economy thanit was duringtheGreat Recession.
The number of jobs has grown steadilyduring the decade, and unemployment rates have remained
relatively low during recent years (below 6%). Wages haverisenas well, although the loss of
manufacturing jobs still has tempered wage growth in the region.
In 2018, unemployment was 4.50%. Employment growth combined with retirements and declining
unemployment rates is creating a strengthening economy. Asthe economy continues to improve, the
labormarket tightens, availability of skilled workers may create a challenge for employers.
Unemployment in the region has been decreasing but opportunities are limited for young unskilled
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 10 of 21
workers. Thenew workforce of youth 16-24 years old accounts for 38% of the workforce.
Getting younger workers to work inskilledcareeropportunities will allow the younger workforce
to establish the experience and income that first jobs provide, a key workforce challenge facing both
cities. The workforce problems facing younger workers todaymay follow them well into the future
through lower lifetimeearnings.
While there have been recent and significant job losses as a result of COVID-19, it is unclear how
sustained these job losses will be as social distancing measures diminish. It is apparent however that
many people with limited incomes are experiencing financial instability as a result of recent events.
Housing Units £ Tenure
Together, Eugeneand Springfieldcontain 97,224 housingunits. The majority (61%) of thehousing
stock is single-family units, withtheremainderconsisting of multi-family units (33%) and a small
share of mobile/manufactured homes (6%). This balance has remained relatively stable since
1990, although planners in both cities anticipate a gradual increase in multi-family housing to
accommodate futurepopulation needs. For rental households, 41% in Eugeneand Springfield live
in 2-bedroomhomes.Increasingly, homes with three-bedrooms are being occupied by renters,
climbing to 30% in 2017 from 25% in 2010. Renter households occupying studios and one-
bedroom homes has stayed relatively stable since 2010, edging up from 29% to 30%.
Eugene has recently shifted to a majority renter city, where 52% of households rented their home
in 2017. Springfield retains a slight majority of owner-occupied homes, where 51% of households
own and 49% rent.
Manufactured dwelling parks areareaswhere people rent or lease a space for their manufactured
home, whichthey may rent or own. A manufactureddwelling is a moreaffordable way for many
people to own a home or live independentlyinan environment for older individuals. About 5% of
the housing units in Eugene and Springfield are manufactured home park spaces, with nearly 40%
of the homes inthree census tracts. These tractsarelocated in west Eugene, Glenwood, andmid-
Springfield.
!²²¨²³¤£ and Public Housing
A variety of assisted housing developments are currentlyavailable and serving low-income persons
in the cities of Eugene and Springfield. There are at total of 4,452 assisted housing unitsin 113
developments in both cities,includingprojectssubsidized with Section 8, Low-Income Housing Tax
Credits, or other project-based subsidies. Eugeneand its urban growth boundary have a total of
3,516 units in 83 developments and Springfield and its urban growth boundary have 866 units in 28
developments.
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 11 of 21
Homes for Good serves as the housing authority for the cities of Eugene and Springfield. There are
a total of 595publichousingunitsinLaneCountywith383 of thoseinEugeneandSpringfield,and
as of February 2020,98.9% were leased. Additionally, Homes for Good has 3,065 total vouchers
(3,056 in use), of which236 are designated as Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (192 in use).
For all voucher programs, 6% are held by households with one or more persons who identify as a
minorityrace or ethnicity.
Homes for Good maintains a waiting list for all their public housing units. There are approximately
1800 households on public housing waiting listswithtypical wait times between 1 and 5 years. The
Section 8 waitinglist was last opened in 2019 and 4,887people responded to the online
application. At this pointin time, 74% of families issued vouchers are able to lease a unit.
Housing Cost Burden
While wages and incomes have continuedtorise in recent years, theyhave not kept pace with the
cost of both ownerand rental housingin both cities.From2010 to 2017, Median Household Income
rose 14%in Eugeneandby 15% in Springfield.
Housing costs in the Eugene-Springfield areahave risen more sharply since 2010, especially in
recent years. Median home prices have increased by about130% between 2000 and 2019 in
both Eugene and Springfield, reaching $320,000 in Eugene and $270,100 in Springfield (Zillow
October 2019). Median Rental Rates have also increased substantially faster than incomes, if not
as dramatically as home values. Between 2010 and 2019, the median rental rate rose to $1,373
in Eugene (47% increase) and $1,181 in Springfield (58% increase).
As a result, many households pay morefor housingthanisaffordable, or are unable to affordany
housing. Households paying more than30% of household income are considered to have a ‘housing
cost burden’. A majority of all renters in Eugene (55%) andslightly under half of all renters in
Springfield (48%) are considered housing cost burdened, while a smaller but significant share of
all homeowners in each jurisdiction are also cost burdened (Eugene – 27%, Springfield – 29%).
Housing Conditions £ Lead " ²¤£ Paint
In thecities of Eugene and Springfield, approximately 60% (55,005) of thetotal housing units were
built prior to 1980 and may contain lead-based paint. Approximately 11,437 homes pose
potential lead-based paint hazards in the cities of Eugene and Springfield.
Despite the age of thehousing stock, the physical condition of the housing inEugene and Springfield
is generally good, as therearerelatively few housing units (1,875) in the area that are considered
substandard according to HUD.Of those,90%arerental units, and 59% are occupied by people
making 50%or less of the average median income. Based on input received during provider and
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 12 of 21
public consultations, units available to low-income residents tend to have more significant issues, and
because of the scarcity of affordable low-income housing, residents are reluctant to raise their
concerns for fear of losing the housing.
Priority Needs
The purpose of identifying the community needs and trends, conducting surveys and meetingwith
providers is to identify what the priority needs are for the low-and moderate-income households in
this community for the next five years. Listed below are the needs that were identified through the
analysis that have been identified as priority needs to address using HUD funds.
Renters
Rising rents has created a substantial gap in decent quality housing affordable to very low-, low-
and moderate-income households in both cities. There are 21,535 such households earning less than
80% of AMI in Eugene,and 7,270 such households in Springfield, whichmake up63% of allrenters.
Renter households earningless than80% of area median income (very-low, low- and
moderate- incomes):Overthree quarters of these households spend more than 30% of
their income on housing costs (79% in Eugene, 74% in Springfield). Moreover, 54% of
these households in Eugene and 35% of these households in Springfield spend 50% of their
income on housing costs.
Renter households earning less than 50% of area median income (very-low and low-
income): A modestly greater share of these households alsospendmore than 30% of their
income on housing costs. However, the significantly more of these households pay morethan
50% of their income on housing costs(Eugene – 68%, Springfield – 57%).
By April 2020, a growing number of residents have experienced a severe loss of income
due to the COVID-19 pandemic, raising the risk of housing instability and homelessness,
and potentially destabilizing existing affordable housing developments due to
interruptions in rental income.
Homeowners
Rising home values havealso reducedthe availability of qualityhousing affordable to low-and
moderate- income households. There are 7,390 owner households (23% of all owners) earning
less than 80% of AMIin Eugene, and 4,470 owner households (37% of all owners) in Springfield,
substantially fewer than the number of rentersinthis income bracket. Low, very low- and even
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 13 of 21
moderate-income homeowner households need increased access to affordable homeownership
opportunities and support to remain homeowners. The high costs also reduce opportunities for
potential homebuyers.
A significant majority of low-income owners experience a housing cost burden, over-
crowding,and/or substandard housingconditions(Eugene – 78%, Springfield – 59%).
Ownerhouseholds earning lessthan 80%of area median income (very-low, low- and
moderate- incomes): A significant majority of these homeowners spendmore than30% of
their income on housingcosts (Eugene – 66%, Springfield – 57%). Moreover, 41% of these
households in Eugene and 28% of these households in Springfield spend 50% of their
income on housing costs.
Owner households earninglessthan 50%of area median income (very-low and low-
income): There are 3,370 owner occupied households in Eugene, and 2,030 in Springfield
earning less than 50% AMI. Over three quarters (77%) of these households in Eugene and
over half (56%) of households in Springfield spend more than30% of theirincome on
housingcosts.59% of these owner households inEugene and39%inSpringfieldspend
more than 50% of their income on housing costs.
People Experiencing Homelessness
People need accessto housing and supportive services to preventthemfrombecoming homeless
and to leave homelessness.
The 2019 Point in Time Count identified 2,165 people experiencing homelessness.
Of those, 1,633 were unsheltered, 84 werefamilies with children staying in a shelter, 841
werechronically homeless, 197 were veterans, 525 reported substance abuse and 759
were seriously mentally ill.
The 2019 PIT Count identified 145 unaccompanied youth, with 21 in Emergency Shelter (6
youth under age 18), 16 in TransitionalHousing(6 youth underage18),and 108
unsheltered (14 youth under age18). A total of 26 unaccompanied homeless youth were
under age 18, 119 were ages 18-24.
Lane County reports 26 agencies with 170 projects in WellSky, a management information
system used to share information among service providers on services provided to at-risk,
homeless, or near homeless clients.
Lane County reported that 2,753 unduplicated individuals whowere homelessreceived
human services from one or more agencies in fiscal year 2018.
The three public school districts in Eugene and Springfield report 1,629 homeless youth
during 2019, and this definition includes students who are staying with friends or family.
The definition of homeless for purposes of the Plan includes people who are “doubled-up”.
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Exhibit A, Page 14 of 21
Non-(®¬¤«¤²² 3¯¤¢¨ « .¤¤£² 0®¯´« ³¨®²
People with special needs need additional supportfor housing and supportiveservices. Thisincludes
families withchildren, seniors, ex-offenders, people withHIV/AIDS, victims of domestic violence,
people with drug and alcohol addictions, people who are evicted or foreclosed, peoplewith
physical and mental disabilities, veterans, youth and young adults, and youth aging out of foster
care.
Special needs populations need additional support as it relates to affordable housing,
human services, employment opportunities, and accessibility improvements in housing and
public facilities.
In both cities,49% of studentsinthe three public districts are eligible for free or reduced
lunch.
Onein seven Oregonians and one in five children in Oregon are food insecure.
Free local bus passes, gasoline, care repair, driver’s license, ID cardor birth certificatefee
wereallidentified asdifficultto access based upon feedback provided by the constituency
surveyed.
There is one domestic violence provider in Eugene. Records indicated there areminimal
domestic violence and sexual assault providers, with limited shelter space and housing assets
dedicated to survivors and those fleeing domestic violence.
In the Community Survey, respondents identified mental health and addiction services and
housingservices asthe greatestsocial services needs. Respondents also identified Assist
human serviceagencies with facilitiesacquisition or improvements as the most needed
Community Development Need.
Employment Opportunities
People who have low incomes, are unemployed or underemployed need a broader range of
employment opportunities, including self-employment
AfterLane County lost 18,000jobs between 2007 and 2010, employment has
continued to grow \[back to pre-recession levels\], currently peaking at95%as of 2017. As
unemployment rateshave declined in recent years, so too has job growth since 2016.
Workers in the Eugene Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage
of $22.75 in May 2018, about 9 percent below the nationwide average of $24.98.
Not all sectors have returned to pre-recession levels, including financial activities,
construction, manufacturing, and information.
In 2019, the top three reasons employers found it difficult to fill vacancies were: (1) lack
of applicants, (2) unfavorable working conditions, and (3) lack of qualified candidates
(Hiring Challenges for unfulfilled job vacancies, May 2019).
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Exhibit A, Page 15 of 21
The loss of jobs combined with the subsequent recession, have widened the page between
employed wages and housing gaps.
Community Survey responders identified creating jobs in low-income neighborhoods as the
greatest economic development need.
Low-Income !±¤ ² and Areas of Slums £ Blight
Geographicareas defined as areas of slums or blight or as low-income areas need additional
support for rehabilitation and public facilityand infrastructureimprovements.
There are several areas in this community that are or could meet theHUDrequirement for
an area of slums and blight whichwouldallow different uses of CDBG funds. These areas
could benefit from increasedinvestments in the area. There arealso specific properties with
deteriorated conditions that couldaddressed using CDBG funds.
There are several areas of this community that are characterized by51% or more low- to
moderate-income residents,whichcan benefit from increased investments in this area.
Strategic Plan
As partof the consolidated planning process,priority needs were identifiedbased on the needs
assessment, market analysis, stakeholder consultation, and input fromresidents. Next, strategies
and goals were developed toaddress these priority needs withthe cities’ anticipated CDBG and
HOME grants,which will help leverage additional public and private resources.
Below isa summary of the strategies that have been identifiedthat both meet priority needs and
are also eligible uses of HUD funds. A table following this section shows therelationship between
identified strategies and the priority needs of Eugene and Springfield for use of federal funds
received from HUD. During the public comment period in March 2020, nonprofit partners and
stakeholders reported concerns about residents already experiencing sudden and significant losses
of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond the real threats among residents of housing
instability and homelessness, affordable housing agencies reported concerns about the
destabilization of existing affordable housing developments due to interruptions in rental income. As
a result of these comments, a fifth housing strategy — Provide Rent Assistance — was added to
provide an option to address housing instability among renters and preserve existing affordable
rental housing.
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 16 of 21
Priority Needs
PriorityNeedExplanationComments
Renters
About three quarters of moderate-and low-Between 2010 and 2019, the median rental rate rose to $1,373 in
Low- and very low-income
income renters spend more than 30% of theirEugene (47% increase) and $1,181 in Springfield (58% increase)
people need increased access
income on housing costs (Eugene –79%,
Significant increase in need from 2013 to 2017;
to quality affordable rental Springfield –74%)
•Many more moderate-income households spend more
housing as well as rental
The majority of low-income renters spendthan 30% on housing
assistance
•Many more low- and very income households spend
more than 50% of their income on housing
more than 50% on housing
costs (Eugene –68%, Springfield –57%)
Homeowners
A significant majority of low-income ownersLow-income households spending more than 30% of income
Low- and very low-income
experience over-crowding, substandardhousing have increased in Eugene but remains steady in
people need increased access
housing, or a housing cost burden (Eugene –Springfield
to affordable homeownership
78%, Springfield –59%)
Low-income households spending more than 50% of income
opportunities and support to
housing have increased in both Eugene and Springfield
A significant majority of moderate- and low-
remain homeowners
income owners spend more than 30% of their
income on housing costs (Eugene –66%,
Springfield –57%)
A large percentage of low-income owners
spend more than 50% of their income on
housing costs (Eugene – 59%, Springfield –
39%)
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 17 of 21
PriorityNeedExplanationComments
People experiencing
A total of 2,165 homeless individuals were Majority of the homeless population in Eugene (73%) and
Homelessness
served in FY 2019 by agencies funded by Springfield (88%) are experiencing unsheltered homelessness
People need access to
Lane County•Shortage of low-barrier year-round emergency shelter
housing and supportive and shelter beds in Eugene and Springfield
The three public school districts in Eugene
services to prevent them from
In 2017, one in four persons exiting permanent housing in Lane
and Springfield report 1,629 homeless youth
becoming homeless and to
during 2019 (includes students who are County returned to homelessness
leave homelessness
staying with friends orfamily)
There are no youth-specific resources for transition-age youth
(18-24)
The definition of homeless for purposes of this
Plan includes people who are“doubled-up”Due to low rental vacancy (3.6% in Eugene and 3.4% in
Springfield) and even lower affordable unit rental vacancy, the
Shortage of year-round low-barrier emergency
Lane County Continuum of Care struggles with voucher or tenant-
shelter beds, especially for single individuals
based programs
and victims of Domestic Violence
Lack of diversion and rapid exit services for
those exiting Permanent Housing
Non-Homeless Special
People with special needs including families There were 32,438 elderly (over the age of 65) and 3,310 frail
Needs Populations
with children, seniors, ex-offenders, people elderly (that need assistance with daily living) in Eugene-
Special needs populations
with HIV/AIDS, victims of domestic violence, Springfield (2017 ACS)
need additional support as it
people with drug and alcohol addictions,
The disability rate is 13.5 percent in Eugene and 18.6 percent in
relates to affordable
people who are evicted or foreclosed, people
Springfield
housing,human services, and
with physical and mental disabilities,
Physical disabilities can include hearing, vision, cognitive,
employmentopportunities
veterans, youth, and youth aging out of foster
ambulatory, self-care or independent living difficulties
care
In the Community Survey, respondents identified mental health
and addiction servicesand housing servicesas the greatest
social service needs. Respondents also identified assist human
service agencies with facilities acquisition or improvementsas the
most needed Community Development Need
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 18 of 21
Employment Opportunities
Job growth and low unemployment rates hasThe United Way ALICE report found that 58% of all jobs in Oregon
People who have low
not yielded better wages for many youngerare low-wage (less than $20/hour), with contract positions (non-
incomes, are unemployed or
residents and workers lacking necessary skillsbenefited) increasing, a factor in job and housing insecurity
underemployed need a
The new workforce of youth 16-24 years oldThere is a need to increase high-wage and living wage career
broader range of employment
accounts for 38% of the workforceemployment opportunities for youth
opportunities, including self-
Current low unemployment rates andLower wages are exacerbating housing affordability for some
employment
retirements in workforce has created demandworkers
for skilled workers in some industries
Low-Income Areas & Areas
There are several areas in this community thatNeed to support low-and moderate-income neighborhoods
of Slums and Blight
are or could meet the HUD requirement for anthrough public improvements such as infrastructure and public
Geographic areas that meet
area of slums and blight which would allowfacilities
federal criteria as areas of different uses of CDBG funds. These areas
Low-Income Areas have been mapped for both jurisdictions
slums and blight or as low-could benefit from increased investments in
Support currently designated slum/blight areas
thearea
income areas and need
additional support for
There are several areas of this community that
rehabilitation and public
are characterized by 51% or more low- to
improvements
moderate-income residents, which can benefit
from increased investments in thisarea
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 19 of 21
Affordable Housing Strategy
EugeneSpringfield
HOME
PriorityNeeds
Strategy/GoalPossibleExamples
Measurements
Consortium
CDBGCDBG
Addressed
Numberofhousingunits
IncreasethesupplyofRenters,LandAcquisition.
400
5
5
constructed,reconstructed, acquired
affordablehousingHomeowners,Developmentofnewrental
orpreserved
(HOMEandCDBG)Homeless,Specialhousing.OperatingSupport
NeedsforCommunityHousingNumberofCHDOsassisted
3
DevelopmentOrganizations.
Housingforhomelessadded
100
Numberofsitesacquired
2
2
RehabilitateexistingRenters, Homeless,ContinueandexpandpubliclyNumberofrentalunitsrehabilitated
350 5
housingstockSpecialNeeds,Low-supportedrehabilitationand
Numberofhomeownerunitsrehabilitated
affordabletolow-IncomeAreas,accessibilityimprovements.
incomepersonsHomeowners
150 300
(CDBG)
ProvidedownHomeownersAssist low-incomeresidentsHouseholds assisted withdirect assistance
paymentassistancewiththefirst-timepurchaseoftohomebuyers
forhomeownershipa home.
20 20
(CDBG)
Provide rental RentersAssist low-income residents to Households provided rental assistance
assistance for remain in stable housing.
housing stability
20
and homelessness
prevention (HOME)
RemovebarrierstoRenters,Supportprogramsthat assureMaintainHousingPolicyboard
affordableandHomeowners,housingopportunitiesare
Numberoffairhousingevents
20
supportivehousingHomeless,Low -providedwithout
IncomeAreadiscrimination.Support
Maintainfairhousing services
(CDBG)
HousingPolicyBoard.Update
Non-Homeless
UpdateFairHousingPlan
FairHousingPlan.
SpecialNeeds
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 20 of 21
Community Development Strategy
EugeneSpringfield
StrategyPossibleExamplesMeasurements
PriorityNeeds
CDBGCDBG
Addressed
Support a humanHomeless,FundcapitalimprovementstofacilitiesPersons assisted withpublicfacilityactivities
20,000 5,000
servicesdeliverySpecialNeedsownedbynon-profits.
systemtoaddressthe
Fundnon-profitservices throughthe
Persons assisted withpublic service activities
60,000
100,000
needsofhomeless
Human ServicesCommission.
persons,specialneeds,
Fundjobtraining.
Numberofpublicfacilitiesimproved
5 2
andotherlow-income
Fund housing stability counseling and
populations(CDBG)
Numberoftransitionaloremergencybeds
assistance.
20 5
added
PromoteeconomicEmploymentProvidebelowmarketfinancingtolocalJobscreatedorretained
150 5
developmentandOpportunitiesbusinessescreatingorretainingjobs.
Businesses assisted
25 1
employmentProvidemicro-enterprisetraining,
opportunitiesthroughanddevelopmentopportunities.
Microbusinesstrainees
thecreationofjobsand
150 5
businessdevelopment
(CDBG)
MakestrategicRenters, Owners,ProvidefinancingforactivitieswhichBusinesses assisted withfaçadetreatmentor
1
investmentstoimproveHomeless,Specialeliminateslumsandblight,includingbuildingrehab
low- incomeNeeds,Low-Incomeacquisition,clearance,rehabandhistoric
Numberofprojectscompleted
2 2
neighborhoodsandAreasandSlums &preservationandeconomicdevelopment
otherareasofslumsBlight,Employmentactivities,infrastructureandpublicfacility
Persons assisted withpublicimprovementactivity
andblight(CDBG)Opportunitiesimprovements.
5,000 5,000
Resolution No. 2020-12
Exhibit A, Page 21 of 21
Resolution No. 2020-12