Growth limiting ability to fund affordable housing

Greg Harman

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2000 | 10:46 a.m.

Henderson has been able to match or exceed its 1999-2000 goals to aid its low-income residents, the city's Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report found.

But fantastic growth and high land prices have limited the overall success of the city's numerous charitable programs, funded by state and federal grant dollars and outlined in a five-year comprehensive plan.

"As one of the fastest-growing cities in America, the sheer volume of persons and households (moving) into the community acts as a barrier itself to fulfilling the strategies identified," the report states. "Due to the annual growth of over 10 percent, the rising cost of developable land is becoming a barrier to developing affordable housing."

The annual self-evaluation report is required by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development from cities that benefit significantly from the agency's Community Development Block Grants.

During fiscal 2000, which ended June 30, Henderson was able to construct a play park for physically and mentally handicapped children; fund organizations that provide low-income residents with food, legal assistance, health care and housing repairs; and increase home ownership and employment opportunities for the poor, the report found.

"All the public service activities either met or exceeded our goals," Skeet Fitzgerald, housing and grants manager for Henderson's Community Development Department, said. "I think we really feel we're moving ahead."

But to provide for its growing population, Henderson needs to find other sources of grant money, the report noted.

Henderson received $1.2 million from HUD in fiscal 2000, including $811,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds and $428,000 in HUD Home Funds. It also received $180,000 from the state in a low-income housing trust fund.

The report is available for public review at the Henderson office of Community Development in City Hall. The Henderson City Council is expected to receive the report Sept. 19.