2014-2018 Consolidated Plan for the Community Development

Transcription

the Community of Care Network, Douglas County Transit Solutions, and Douglas County
Seniors’ Council. There were 428 surveys collected during this process. The community survey
was translated into Spanish, as that is the most common language spoken by residents with
limited English proficiency.
Two focus group meetings were held. During these meetings, staff presented survey results and
providers and residents had an opportunity to provide input on the priorities and goals outlined in
the draft Consolidated Plan.
The Draft Plan was available for a 30-day public comment period from May 8 through June 6,
2014. The document was available online and hard copies were available at the Philip S. Miller
Building and at each of the Library branches. As of the date of this report, no comments on the
draft have been received.
D.
2014-2018 Consolidated Plan
Priority needs for the Douglas County CDBG program were established based on survey results
and focus group feedback. Based on HUD’s new Consolidated Plan template, priorities can be
classified as either high or low.
Need Area
Housing
Public Services
Public Facilities and Improvements
Economic Development
Infrastructure
Priority
High
High
High
High
Low
Goals and objectives were created for each of the priority needs identified through the outreach
process. The following goals and objectives will allow funding to be directed toward a wide
range of eligible projects to meet the needs identified by the community.
High Priorities
Housing Goal: Expand available housing options to eligible residents.
H1: Develop and maintain quality affordable housing for owners and renters.
H2: Increase and maintain accessible housing options for the disabled and aging populations.
H3: Develop and maintain permanent supportive housing.
Public Services Goal 1: Expand services that create conditions for eligible residents to
obtain and maintain self-sufficiency.
PS1.1: Increase affordable transportation options.
PS1.2: Provide services to prepare eligible residents for employment.
PS1.3: Provide supportive services.
Public Services Goal 2: Increase services available to eligible residents.
PS2.1: Provide assistance to meet or supplement basic needs.
Public Facilities and Improvements Goal: Improve, expand or build facilities for eligible
residents.
PF1: Increase the organization’s capacity to deliver quality services.
CDBG 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan
Board of County Commissioners' Staff Report
Page 2 of 211
Economic Development Goal: Create conditions that strengthen businesses and provide
for a robust economy.
ED1: Help local businesses grow and prosper by increasing or retaining the number of jobs
available.
Low Priority
Infrastructure Goal: Improve existing and provide for new infrastructure where
appropriate to enhance the quality of life for eligible residents.
I1: Provide public infrastructure improvements such as water and sewer, drainage,
accessibility modifications, sidewalks and road paving in CDBG target areas by leveraging
funds.
E.
Proposed 2014 Projects
Douglas County’s CDBG allocation for the 2014 program year is $853,273. An additional
$97,472 will be reallocated from 2013 resulting in a total of $950,745 available for the 2014
program year. Public services programs were recommended for an allocation of $130,554
based on HUD’s public services cap of 15 percent. There is also a 20 percent cap for program
administration. Staff is recommending 18 percent ($153,589) for program administration.
The 2014 program year is the first year that will utilize the priorities, goals and objectives outlined
in the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan. A formal application process was used for organizations to
submit proposals for 2014 funding.
The CDBG Advisory Board used the following criteria to evaluate projects and develop the
overall recommendations submitted for the Board of County Commissioners’ review:
1. The project meets the federal and local eligibility guidelines of the CDBG program.
2. The organization proposing the project has the capacity to complete the project in a
timely manner.
3. The project is well defined and has all necessary components in place to be successfully
implemented.
4. The project is fiscally feasible, and provides an effective use of CDBG funds to address
the priority needs of low- and moderate-income residents in the county.
The Advisory Board reviewed the 15 applications submitted, and recommended funding 13 of
the proposed projects. Staff concurs with the Advisory Board’s recommendations of the
following award allocations for the 2014 CDBG program year.
Audio Information Network of Colorado (AINC) Audio Information Services ($5,000)
CDBG funds will go toward the production of Douglas County news programming for the blind,
visually impaired, and print-disabled individuals who lack access to ink print information.
Brothers Redevelopment, Incorporated (BRI) Housing Rehabilitation ($80,000)
Funds will be used on homeowner rehabilitation projects for low-income, elderly, and disabled
residents. This project will assist 12 qualified homeowners.
Castle Rock Senior Center (CRSC) Transportation Coordinator ($18,000)
The transportation coordinator schedules trips for medical appointments, errands, and other
activities. The coordinator provides training for volunteer drivers to properly assist clients with
special needs. CDBG funds will pay a portion of the salary for this staff member to schedule an
estimated 700 trips per month.
Page 3 of 211
Crisis Center (formerly Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center) Voice over Internet
Protocal Telephone System ($12,000)
CDBG will fund an updated phone system that will increase efficiency, and improve access to
services.
Department of Community Development (DCD) Douglas County Cares Program ($30,304)
CDBG funds will help stabilize housing for approximately 28 families participating in the Douglas
County Cares program by providing either rent assistance or shelter in a motel until other
housing opportunities become available. The program is designed to assist clients in reaching
and maintaining self-sufficiency.
Douglas County Housing Partnership (DCHP) Home Ownership Program ($258,900)
Funds will be used to provide low- and moderate-income residents down payment assistance.
Borrowers who meet the qualifications receive up to $15,000 for down payment assistance in the
form of a 30-year second mortgage at a 3 percent interest rate.
Douglas/Elbert Task Force (D/ETF) Overnight Lodging Assistance ($7,500)
The D/ETF will use CDBG funds to provide emergency overnight lodging for the homeless,
transients and victims of crime. The program also provides assistance to those in need due to
severe weather.
D/ETF Emergency Rent Assistance ($20,000)
The D/ETF’s rent assistance program provides a one-time housing assistance payment of $250
on behalf of eligible clients who present an eviction or foreclosure notice. The goal of the
program is to help families and individuals in economic crisis remain in their homes for another
30 days and prevent homelessness.
D/ETF Emergency Utility Assistance ($20,000)
The D/ETF offers eligible clients up to $750 (lifetime) in utility assistance for heat, electricity, and
water.
D/ETF Building Renovation ($175,000)
CDBG funds will be used to reconfigure the interior of the D/ETF’s building. This will result in the
ability to increase their client load by 20 to 25 percent.
Inter-Faith Community Services (IFCS) Homeless Prevention Program ($5,750)
The Homeless Prevention Program provides rent assistance to low- and moderate-income
individuals and families to prevent homelessness. IFCS will use CDBG funds to provide rent
assistance to clients in Lone Tree and Highlands Ranch.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Castle Rock (SVdP-CR) ($12,000)
Eligible residents will receive one-time rent assistance so that families can remain in their homes
and avoid homelessness.
Town of Castle Rock ADA Alley Rehabilitation ($152,702)
Many buildings in downtown Castle Rock cannot accommodate ADA ramps in the front of the
building without affecting the historic quality of the store fronts or interfering with pedestrian
traffic on the sidewalks. It is possible to locate ADA ramps in the alleyways at the rear of the
building. CDBG funds will be used to repair alleys where ADA parking is available, providing
ADA accessibility for customers and employees.
Page 4 of 211
CDBG Program Administration ($153,589)
The County will use CDBG funds to administer the program. Funds will be used for salaries,
benefits, training, and other activities required to operate the CDBG grant program.
Alternative Project Funding
CDBG applicants are advised that every effort should be made to complete their projects and
expend allocated funds within a one-year timeframe. If there are instances where applicants are
unable to spend down their grant in a timely manner, funds will likely be reallocated to partially
funded or alternative projects. Should funding become available, the CDBG Advisory Board
ranked the following projects to receive funding:
Housing, Public Facilities and Infrastructure Projects:
1. Town of Castle Rock – ADA Alley Rehabilitation
2. DCHP – Home Ownership Program
3. D/ETF – Facility Improvements
4. BRI – Housing Rehabilitation
5. Sedalia Water and Sanitation District – Water Line Improvements
Public Services Projects:
1. Douglas County DCD – Douglas County Cares Program
2. D/ETF – Rent Assistance
3. SVdP-CR – Rent Assistance
4. IFCS – Rent Assistance
5. AINC – Audio Information Services
6. D/ETF – Utility Assistance
F.
Staff Recommendation
The Douglas County 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan complies with all CDBG regulations and the
County’s procedural guidelines. It is staff’s recommendation that the Resolution adopting the
2014-2018 Consolidated Plan be approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
Attachments
· 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan
· Resolution Adopting the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan
· Certifications
· SF-424 Form
Page 5 of 211
Consolidated Plan Table of Contents
Executive Summary
ES-05 Executive Summary .............................................................................................1
The Process
PR-05 Lead and Responsible Agencies .........................................................................4
PR-10 Consultation ........................................................................................................5
PR-15 Citizen Participation ...........................................................................................18
Needs Assessment
NA-05 Overview ...........................................................................................................24
NA-10 Housing Needs Assessment ..............................................................................26
NA-15 Disproportionately Greater Need: Housing Problems ....................................... 34
NA-20 Disproportionately Greater Need: Severe Housing Problems ........................... 37
NA-25 Disproportionately Greater Need: Housing Cost Burdens ................................. 40
NA-30 Disproportionately Greater Need: Discussion ..................................................42
NA-35 Public Housing ..................................................................................................43
NA-40 Homeless Needs Assessment ...........................................................................47
NA-45 Non-Homeless Special Needs Assessment .......................................................52
NA-50 Non-Housing Community Development Needs ..................................................54
Housing Market Analysis
MA-05 Overview ...........................................................................................................56
MA-10 Number of Housing Units ..................................................................................57
MA-15 Housing Market Analysis: Cost of Housing .......................................................62
MA-20 Housing Market Analysis: Condition of Housing ...............................................65
MA-25 Public and Assisted Housing .............................................................................68
MA-30 Homeless Facilities and Services ......................................................................70
MA-35 Special Needs Facilities and Services ...............................................................74
MA-40 Barriers to Affordable Housing ..........................................................................79
MA-45 Non-Housing Community Development Assets .................................................81
MA-50 Needs and Market Analysis Discussion.............................................................89
Strategic Plan
SP-05 Overview ...........................................................................................................92
Sp-10 Geographic Priorities..........................................................................................93
SP-25 Priority Needs ....................................................................................................94
SP-30 Influence of Market Conditions...........................................................................95
SP-35 Anticipated Resources .......................................................................................96
SP-40 Institutional Delivery Structure ...........................................................................98
SP-45 Goals Summary ...............................................................................................104
SP-50 Public Housing Accessibility and Involvement.................................................. 110
SP-55 Barriers to Affordable Housing ......................................................................... 111
SP-60 Homeless Strategy ..........................................................................................114
SP-65 Lead Based Paint Hazards ..............................................................................117
SP-70 Anti-Poverty Strategy .......................................................................................118
SP-80 Monitoring ........................................................................................................121
Page 6 of 211
Action Plan
AP-15 Expected Resources........................................................................................123
AP-20 Annual Goals and Objectives ........................................................................... 126
AP-35 Projects ...........................................................................................................130
AP-38 Project Summary .............................................................................................131
AP-50 Geographic Distribution ...................................................................................143
AP-55 Affordable Housing ..........................................................................................144
AP-60 Public Housing .................................................................................................146
AP-65 Homeless and Other Special Needs Activities ................................................. 147
AP-75 Barriers to Affordable Housing ......................................................................... 155
AP-85 Other Actions ...................................................................................................156
AP-90 Program Specific Requirements ...................................................................... 161
Appendix
Citizen Participation Plan
Language Assistance Plan
Summary of Provider Survey Results
Summary of Community Survey Results
Page 7 of 211
Executive Summary
ES-05 Executive Summary - 24 CFR 91.200(c), 91.220(b)
1.
Introduction
Each year Douglas County is eligible to receive approximately $800,000 in federal Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. In order to receive these funds, the County must
complete a Consolidated Plan every five years. The purpose of the Consolidated Plan is to:
1. Identify the County’s housing and community development needs, priorities, goals and
strategies.
2. Stipulate how funds will be allocated to housing and community development activities.
In addition to the five-year Consolidated Plan, the County is required to complete two annual
reports. The Annual Action Plan specifies how the County proposes to allocate funds for each
program year, and the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
identifies the County’ s accomplishments for the previous program year. The County is also
required to examine barriers to fair housing choice and develop a mitigation plan through an
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) every three to five years.
The 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan for Douglas County was prepared in accordance with
Sections 91.100 through 91.230 of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s
(HUD) Consolidated Plan regulations. It contains:
· An analysis of demographic and economic conditions in the county.
· A review of housing conditions and affordability.
· An analysis of housing and community development needs.
· The 2014 Annual Action Plan.
· Citizens Participation Plan.
This Plan was prepared by the Douglas County Community and Resource Services Division of
the Department of Community Development. It was approved by the Douglas County Board of
County Commissioners and submitted to HUD for the federal fiscal years 2014-2018.
2.
Summary of the objectives and outcomes identified in the Plan Needs
Assessment Overview
The surveys and focus groups clearly identified that the needs of the community today closely
resemble the needs outlined in the 2009-2013 Consolidated Plan. Projects related to housing
and public services continue to be a high priority for residents. Based on previous CDBG
program history and new data collected through the citizen participation process, the following
priorities, goals and objectives were developed:
High Priorities
Housing (H) Goal: Expand available housing options to eligible residents.
H2: Increase and maintain accessible housing options for the disabled and aging
populations.
Page 8 of 211
Public Services Goal (PS1): Expand services that create conditions for eligible residents
to obtain and maintain self-sufficiency.
Public Services Goal 2 (PS2): Increase services available to eligible residents.
Public Facilities and Improvements (PFI) Goal: Improve, expand or build facilities for
eligible residents.
PFI1: Increase the organization’s capacity to deliver quality services.
Economic Development (ED) Goal: Create conditions that strengthen businesses and
provide for a robust economy.
ED1: Help local businesses grow and prosper by increasing or retaining the number of
jobs available.
Low Priority
Infrastructure (I) Goal: Improve existing and provide for new infrastructure where
accessibility modifications, sidewalks and road paving in CDBG target areas by
leveraging funds.
Estimated outcomes for each of the objectives were also established to set a benchmark for
achievement.
3.
Evaluation of past performance
Douglas County leaders and CDBG staff understand the value of CDBG dollars and the impact
this funding has on those in need. This critical annual funding source is important to the
community. CDBG staff works with subgrantees to ensure that projects are carried out as
planned, within a timely manner, and that all federal and local regulations are met. Over the
years Douglas County has funded many organizations that have implemented a variety of
successful projects to benefit low- and moderate-income and presumed eligible residents.
CDBG program history, along with input gathered through the citizen participation process, was
taken into consideration in determining the priorities, goals, objectives and outcomes for the
next five-year period. Goals and objectives were written to be broad enough to include a wide
array of projects. Resident and provider feedback indicated that there continues to be a need
for projects similar to those funded in the past, such as the salary for a transportation
coordinator. Projects are typically completed within the contracted timeframe, and serve many
of Douglas County’s most vulnerable residents.
4.
Summary of citizen participation process and consultation process
The Consolidated Plan and Action Plan were developed with a strong emphasis on community
input. The County conducted a citizen outreach process to elicit input regarding community
development and housing needs. This process consisted of a community survey of Douglas
Page 9 of 211
County residents; a provider survey of organizations serving county residents; research and
information gathered from local organizations; and two focus groups. The process will conclude
with an open house and one public hearing.
The County accepted public comments on the Draft Plan and the Annual Action Plan from May
8 to June 6, 2014. A public notice was published in local Douglas County community
newspapers informing residents of the opportunity to review the draft documents, attend an
open house, and comment at a public hearing. The Draft Plans were available on the County’s
website, and hard copies were available at the Douglas County Philip S. Miller Building, 100
Third St. in Castle Rock, and at the larger Douglas County library branches. A TTY number for
the hearing impaired was also provided, as well as whom to contact for an interpreter or special
needs accommodations to review the documents or to attend an event.
5.
Summary of public comments
CDBG staff encouraged public participation throughout the Consolidated Plan process. A total
of 388 community surveys and 40 provider surveys were collected and used to guide the
development of program priorities, goals and objectives for the next five-year period. Housing,
public services, public facilities and improvements and economic development were identified
as high priorities. Infrastructure was identified as a low priority. Two separate focus groups
were held; one for residents with 23 attendees and one for providers with 30 attendees. Staff
presented these priority levels to each focus group. Attendees indicated they were in
agreement with the priorities.
Survey results and input received at the focus groups provided information that led to the
creation of the goals and objectives. Focus group participants were asked to discuss the high
priorities. Affordable, accessible and permanent supportive housing were identified as the
greatest types of housing needs. Transportation was also ranked as a high priority need.
Other public services needs identified in the focus groups included emergency assistance, case
management, adult education, child care and job training and placement. Since the main
purpose of the focus group discussions was to gain feedback on the high priorities, the low
priority goals and objectives were established based on CDBG history and survey results. All
goals and objectives created were developed to encompass the variety of projects and services
identified by the community.
6.
Summary of comments or views not accepted and the reasons for not
accepting them
Throughout the citizen participation process, six surveys were not accepted. Each of these
surveys was completed by people living outside of Douglas County.
7.
Summary
In conclusion, CDBG projects funded throughout the next five years will meet a priority, goal and
objective. Residents and providers will continue to be informed and invited to participate in the
CDBG process to ensure projects meet the needs of the community.
Page 10 of 211
The Process
PR-05 Lead & Responsible Agencies 24 CFR 91.200(b)
1.
Describe agency/entity responsible for preparing the Consolidated Plan
and those responsible for administration of each grant program and funding
source
The following are the agencies/entities responsible for preparing the Consolidated Plan and
those responsible for administration of each grant program and funding source.
Agency Role
Lead Agency
Name
DOUGLAS COUNTY
Department/Agency
Department of Community
Development
Table 1 – Responsible Agencies
Narrative
In 2002, Douglas County met the population threshold to qualify as an entitlement community
and apply for CDBG funding. In order to continue to qualify as an Urban County, HUD requires
entitlement communities to create a five-year long-range Strategic Plan outlining how future
CDBG funds can be used. This Strategic Plan is based on input from the community, and in
accordance with the Citizen Participation Plan.
Consolidated Plan Public Contact Information
Tina Dill, Resource Services Supervisor
100 Third St.
Castle Rock, CO 80104
303-814-4380
[email protected]
Page 11 of 211
PR-10 Consultation - 91.100, 91.200(b), 91.215(l)
1.
Introduction
The Consolidated Plan identifies the community’s needs and ways to address these needs
throughout the next five years. To ensure that community needs were accurately identified,
Douglas County’s public outreach process consisted of reaching out to stakeholders such as
service providers, clients, and residents.
Summary of the jurisdiction’s activities to enhance coordination between public
and assisted housing providers and private and governmental health, mental
health and service agencies
Douglas County is an inter-connected community with leaders who understand the value of
communication and collaboration. In 2002, the Partnership of Douglas County Governments
(PDCG) was formed. Current members include: Douglas County, the Towns of Castle Rock,
Lone Tree and Parker; the Cities of Castle Pines and Lone Tree; Highlands Ranch Metro
District; and Douglas County Libraries. The PDCG’s mission is “to build and maintain
relationships, foster communication and share information among local governmental entities for
the purpose of identifying and achieving cost savings; improvements in operations,
programming efficiency; and service enhancements County wide.”
This group meets monthly and works to address specific issues in the county. The Douglas
County Housing Partnership (DCHP), the local housing authority, was launched as a directive of
the PDCG to address the lack of affordable housing for people who work in the area. Each
year, the DCHP typically applies for CDBG funds for their Home Ownership Program. DCHP
formed partnerships with several of Douglas County’s affordable housing apartment complexes,
and in some cases, applied for CDBG funding to support the projects.
Douglas County also works closely with Tri-County Health Department (TCHD), which has two
offices located in Douglas County (Castle Rock and Lone Tree). CDBG funds were awarded to
the Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network in 2006 and 2007 to support psychiatric services
for youth. The Douglas County Neighbor Network program was developed through Douglas
County’s Adult Services program and has expanded substantially since it was initiated. In order
to further develop its organizational capacity, Neighbor Network applied to work under the
Colorado Nonprofit Development Center. TCHD, Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network,
Neighbor Network, and numerous other service providers participate in Douglas County’s
Community of Care Network (CCN).
The CCN is a group of government agencies, local non-profits, faith-based organizations and
service providers that partner together to address issues of poverty and homelessness in
Douglas County. The CCN works to educate the community regarding the need to support
residents who face homelessness. The group collaborates frequently to serve clients with a
wide range of needs and works to initiate system-wide changes that will better serve the
vulnerable population.
Another group that was established to focus on transportation services and options is the
Douglas County Transit Solutions. Its mission is to collaboratively develop resources to meet
the mobility needs in Douglas County. In 2012, DCTS created a Local Coordinating Council
(LCC) among 21 founding member organizations including jurisdictions, key transit providers,
Page 12 of 211
and relevant community organizations. Increasing transit options in Douglas County can benefit
businesses interested in locating here.
Douglas County’s Economic Development program partners with local municipalities, economic
development councils, and others to support business development in the county.
Describe coordination with the Continuum of Care and efforts to address the
needs of homeless persons (particularly chronically homeless individuals and
families, families with children, veterans, and unaccompanied youth) and persons
at risk of homelessness
The CCN, formerly the Douglas County Homeless Prevention Coalition, was formed in late 2005
as a coordinated system of support for individuals and families in crisis in Douglas County
including homeless persons and persons at-risk of homelessness. The CCN meets on a
monthly basis to keep members apprised of available services and client’s needs.
The CCN has held several events to reach out to Douglas County’s vulnerable population. In
November 2012, CCN participated in the region-wide vulnerability index related to homeless
veterans at three Douglas County locations. The CCN organizes annual “Strive to Thrive”
events that are held twice per year for the vulnerable population. Attendees received a hot
meal, bags of groceries, and signed up for a variety of services. The winter event is held in
conjunction with the Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative’s (MDHI) Point-in-Time Study.
The summer event is held at the end of July to help prepare students for going back to school.
Parents can sign kids up for the free school lunch program and receive services through
Douglas County School District’s Homeless Education Program. Other agencies have staff
available to discuss services and programs that attendees might be eligible to receive.
The Homeless Education Program has a staff person that works with homeless families of
children enrolled in the district. During the 2012-2013 school year, 902 Douglas County
students were served by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program. Homeless
students receive the basic essentials for succeeding in school. DCSD staff makes sure
students who are experiencing homelessness are provided the same opportunities and rights as
other children. Homeless students have the right to enroll in school without all of the necessary
documentation, be tested for gifted and talented programs, and have the ability to participate in
sports or other extracurricular activities. The DCSD makes referrals to Human Services,
Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, the DCHP and other housing authorities, as well as other agencies
as appropriate. Staff members throughout the district are educated on how to identify homeless
students and connect families with the services available to them through the District.
Douglas County has been working with Family Tree to offer permanent supportive housing to
eligible residents using Emergency Services Grant (ESG) funds. DCHP staff and CCN
members understand the need for permanent supportive housing and are actively searching for
additional opportunities to increase the number of units available.
Several organizations participating in the CCN, offer services and housing for Douglas County
residents leaving systems of care. Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network offers a variety of
mental health services and some limited housing options for eligible residents. Many nursing
homes offer housing for residents undergoing rehabilitation. The Douglas County Youth
Initiative offers programs to help youth succeed. The Youth Initiative also administers the
Page 13 of 211
WrapAround program that assists students and their families in overcoming complex issues.
Many of these programs are described in the Marketing Analysis of the Consolidated Plan.
Describe consultation with the Continuum(s) of Care that serves the jurisdiction's
area in determining how to allocate ESG funds, develop performance standards
and evaluate outcomes, and develop funding, policies and procedures for the
administration of HMIS
Douglas County does not receive ESG funds or HMIS funds directly. MDHI is the lead agency
overseeing the Continuum of Care for the Denver metro area. ESG and HMIS dollars are
passed through MDHI to organizations throughout the metro area, some of which serve Douglas
County clients. A staff member from the DCHP is on MDHI’s Board and also works with the
Continuum of Care to evaluate ESG applications and standards. Douglas County’s Community
of Care Navigator coordinates with MDHI and oversees the Point-in-Time Survey collection
efforts in Douglas County. The navigator also participates as a member of their Coordinating
Council and HMIS Committee.
Although ESG funds are provided to organizations that serve Douglas County residents, it is
difficult for residents to access services because these organizations do not have offices located
in the County. The CCN is currently working closely with these agencies to identify solutions to
the lack of access to these services.
2.
Describe Agencies, groups, organizations and others who participated in
the process and describe the jurisdictions consultations with housing, social
service agencies and other entities
Provider surveys were available online for any provider to complete beginning on September
18, 2013. There was a push for organizations to complete the provider survey by October 31,
2013 to allow staff to develop a Language Assistance Plan. The survey was available online
through the end of January 2014 to increase participation. Hard copies of the survey were
handed out at the CCN and DCTS meetings. Emails were distributed to CDBG, CCN, Seniors’
Council and DCTS members providing links to the online survey and encouraging participation.
A provider focus group was held on February 19, 2014. Providers had the opportunity to
indicate on their completed survey if they were interested in participating in a focus group.
Those who indicated interest and all organizations that were asked to complete the provider
survey were invited to attend the provider focus group. Information regarding the focus group
was also listed on Douglas County’s CDBG website and any provider was welcome to attend.
Providers were also invited to review the Consolidated Plan and share comments at an open
house held on May 29, 2014 at the Douglas County Philip S. Miller Building at 100 Third St. in
Castle Rock. The open house date and information was promoted at the focus groups, sent out
in emails, and was listed in the legal section of the local newspapers. An advertisement was
also placed in the main section of the local newspapers to further reach out to residents and
providers.
The following organizations participated in the provider survey or the provider focus group as
part of the Consolidated Plan process:
Page 14 of 211
Organization
Agency/Group/
Organization
Type
What section of the
plan was addressed
by consultation?
City of Castle
Pines
Other
government –
Local
Non-housing
Community
Development Strategy
City of Lone Tree
Other
government –
Local
Non-housing
Community
Town of Castle
Rock
Other
government –
Local
Non-housing
Community
Town of Parker
Other
government –
Local
Non-housing
Community
All About Seniors,
Inc.
Services –
Elderly Persons
Alternatives
Pregnancy Center
- Services –
Health
- Services –
Education
- Services –
Persons with
HIV/AIDS
- Services –
Health
- Services –
Elderly
Persons
- Housing Needs
Assessment
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Non- housing
Community
Development
Strategy
Always Best Care
Seniors
Arapahoe/Douglas
Mental Health
Network
- Services Health
Page 15 of 211
- Housing Needs
Assessment
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Describe how the agency/group/
organization was consulted. What
are the anticipated outcomes of the
consultation or areas for improved
coordination?
- Representative on the CDBG
Advisory Board
- Completed provider survey
- Attended community focus group
- Input assisted in creating priorities,
goals and objectives
Advisory Board
- Attended community focus group
Advisory Board
Advisory Board
- Attended focus group
Audio Information
Network of
Colorado
Calvary Chapel
Castle Rock
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
- Services –
Elderly
Persons
- Other –
Emergency
Assistance
-
-
-
Castle Rock
Senior Center
Catholic Charities
of Colorado
Springs
- Services –
Elderly
Persons
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
-
- Services –
Homeless
- Services –
Education
-
-
-
-
-
Page 16 of 211
Development
Strategy
Non-Homeless
Special Needs
Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
Homeless Needs –
Chronically
homeless
Homeless Needs –
Families with
children
Homelessness
Needs – Veterans
Homelessness
Needs –
Unaccompanied
Youth
Homelessness
Strategy
Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
Anti-poverty
Strategy
Housing Need
Assessment
Non-homeless
Special Needs
Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
Homeless Needs –
Chronically
homeless
Homeless Needs –
Families with
children
Homelessness
Needs – Veterans
Homelessness
Needs –
Unaccompanied
Youth
Homelessness
Strategy
Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
Anti-poverty
- Attended provider focus group
Community of
Care Network
- Other
government –
County
- Services –
Homeless
- Other –
Emergency
Assistance
Cresthill Middle
School SSN
Department
- Other
government –
County
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
- Services –
Children
- Service –
Education
- Services –
Victims of
Domestic
Violence
Crisis Center
Crown Crest of
Parker
Rehabilitation and
Living Center
- Services –
Elderly
Persons
- Services –
Health
Page 17 of 211
Strategy
- Homeless Needs –
Chronically
homeless
Families with
children
- Homelessness
Needs – Veterans
- Homelessness
Needs –
Unaccompanied
Youth
- Homelessness
Strategy
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Market Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Anti-poverty
Strategy
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
Families with
children
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Market Analysis
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Market Analysis
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Provided information regarding the
clients they serve and their needs,
other services available in Douglas
County, other funding sources, etc.
Developmental
Pathways
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
- Housing
Douglas County
Adult Services
- Other
government –
County
- Services –
Elderly
Persons
- Services –
Education
Douglas County
Educational
Foundation
- Other
government –
County
- Services –
Children
- Services –
Education
- Housing
- PHA
- Services –
Education
- Other
government –
County
- Other
government –
County
- Services –
Health
- Child Welfare
Agency
- Services –
Homeless
- Other –
Emergency
Assistance
Douglas County
Housing
Partnership
Douglas County
Human Services
Douglas County
Libraries
- Other
government –
County
Page 18 of 211
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Non-Homeless
Special needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Market Analysis
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Market Analysis
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
Chronically
homeless
Families with
children
- Homeless needs –
Veterans
Unaccompanied
Youth
- Homelessness
Strategy
- Anti-Poverty
Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Non-homeless
Special Needs
- Non-housing
- Services –
Education
Douglas County
Neighbor Network
Douglas County
School District –
Student Wellness
Program
Douglas County
School District –
Homeless
Education
Program
- Services –
Elderly
Persons
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
- Other
government –
County
- Services –
Education
- Services –
Children
- Services –
Health
- Other
government –
County
- Services –
Education
- Services –
Children
- Services –
Homeless
Douglas County
Youth Initiative
- Other
government –
County
- Services –
Children
- Services –
Education
Douglas/Elbert
Task Force
- Services –
Homeless
- Other –
Emergency
Assistance
Page 19 of 211
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
Families with
children
Unaccompanied
youth
- Homeless Strategy
- Anti-Poverty
Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
Families with
children
Unaccompanied
youth
- Non-housing
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
Chronically
homeless
Families with
children
- Homelessness
Needs – Veterans
- Provided information regarding the
clients they serve and their needs,
other services available in Douglas
County, other funding sources, etc.
Easter Seals of
Colorado
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
El Grupo VIDA
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
- Services –
Children
Family Tree
- Services –
Victims of
Domestic
Violence
- Services –
Homeless
- Other –
Emergency
Assistance
Page 20 of 211
- Homelessness
Needs –
Unaccompanied
Youth
- Homelessness
Strategy
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Market Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Anti-poverty
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Non-homeless
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Non-homeless
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
Chronically
homeless
Families with
children
- Homelessness
Needs – Veterans
- Homelessness
Needs –
Unaccompanied
Youth
- Homelessness
Strategy
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Market Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Anti-poverty
Strategy
Fresh Harvest
Food Bank
- Services –
Homeless
- Other –
Emergency
Assistance
Griffith Centers for
Children
- Services –
Children
- Services –
Victims of
Domestic
Violence
- Services –
Education
- Services Homeless
Highlands Ranch
Senior Outreach
Services
- Services –
Elderly
Persons
Oakwood Senior
Apartments
- Housing
- Services –
Elderly
Persons
Page 21 of 211
Chronically
homeless
Families with
children
- Homelessness
Needs – Veterans
- Homelessness
Needs –
Unaccompanied
Youth
- Homelessness
Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Anti-poverty
Strategy
Chronically
homeless
Families with
children
- Homelessness
Needs – Veterans
- Homelessness
Needs –
Unaccompanied
Youth
- Homelessness
Strategy
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Market Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Anti-poverty
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Non-housing
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Non-housing
Special Needs
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
Open Plan
Consultants, LLC
- Services –
Elderly
Persons
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
Parker Senior
Center
- Services –
Elderly
Persons
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
Parker Task Force
- Services –
Homeless
- Other –
Emergency
Assistance
Promise Ranch
Therapeutic
Riding
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
- Services –
Children
- Services –
Education
- Services Health
- Services –
Persons with
Rooster Ranch,
Inc.
Page 22 of 211
- Market Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Non-housing
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Non-housing
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
Chronically
homeless
Families with
children
- Homelessness
Needs – Veterans
- Homelessness
Needs –
Unaccompanied
Youth
- Homelessness
Strategy
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Market Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Anti-poverty
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Non-housing
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
St. Vincent de
Paul Society of
Castle Rock
Disabilities
- Services –
Education
- Services –
Employment
- Services Health
- Services –
Homeless
- Other –
Emergency
Assistance
The Arc Arapahoe
and Douglas
Counties
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
- Services –
Education
Tri-County Health
Department
- Services –
Health
- Services –
Education
- Services –
Elderly
Persons
- Services –
Persons with
Disabilities
- Services –
Health
- Regional
organization
Volunteers of
America, Meals on
Wheels
- Non-housing
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
Chronically
homeless
Families with
children
- Homelessness
Needs – Veterans
- Homelessness
Needs –
Unaccompanied
Youth
- Homelessness
Strategy
- Non-Homeless
Special Needs
- Market Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Anti-poverty
Strategy
- Housing Need
Assessment
- Non-housing
Special Needs
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
- Non-housing
Community
Development
Strategy
Table 2 – Agencies, groups, organizations who participated
Page 23 of 211
Identify any Agency Types not consulted and provide rationale for not consulting
Outreach for the Douglas County Consolidated Plan process was comprehensive. All agencies
providing services to Douglas County residents were encouraged to participate. A total of
approximately 144 organizations were included as part of the Consolidated Plan outreach
process.
Other local/regional/state/federal planning efforts considered when preparing the
Plan
Name of Plan
Lead Organization
Continuum of Care
Metropolitan Denver Homeless
Initiative
2030 Comprehensive Master
Plan (CMP)
Community Services Block Grant
(CSBG) Community Action Plan
Douglas County Department of
Community Development
Douglas County Department of
Board Policy Manual
Douglas County Board of County
Commissioners
How do the goals of your
Strategic Plan overlap with the
goals of each plan?
The goals were developed in
coordination with the Continuum
of Care.
The goals developed in this plan
are in compliance with the CMP.
The goals were developed to
coordinate with the CSBG
program.
The goals developed in this plan
are in compliance with the
community services goal
identified in the Board Policy
Manual.
Table 3 – Other local / regional / federal planning efforts
Describe cooperation and coordination with other public entities, including the
State and any adjacent units of general local government, in the implementation
of the Consolidated Plan (91.215(l))
The following public entities were contacted for input and coordination of the Consolidated Plan:
all participating jurisdictions within the county, Tri-County Health Department, Denver Regional
Council of Governments, Douglas County School District, Douglas County Libraries, Highlands
Ranch Metro District, Highlands Ranch Community Association, South Suburban Parks and
Recreation, Louviers Mutual Service Company and Sedalia Water and Sanitation District.
Jurisdictions are included on the contact list and invited to participate in all stages of the CDBG
process. It is valuable for all agencies to be aware of projects that are being funded and the
types of services available to residents.
Narrative (optional):
N/A
Page 24 of 211
PR-15 Citizen Participation
1.
Summary of citizen participation process/Efforts made to broaden citizen
participation
Summarize citizen participation process and how it impacted goal-setting
Douglas County has a proactive approach to including the public in all planning processes. It is
especially necessary for a plan of this nature, as the purpose of this plan is to provide funds
toward projects that will meet the community’s needs. A Citizens Participation Plan has been
developed to ensure a consistent framework provides maximum opportunities for residents and
stakeholders to be involved in the CDBG planning process. A Language Assistance Plan is
also used to ensure residents who have limited English proficiency are not excluded from the
process. Both plans are included in the appendix. CDBG staff makes every effort to request
feedback from organizations that provide a wide variety of services to low- and moderateincome and presumed eligible residents.
The first step in the participation process was to gather data. CDBG staff developed a
community survey for the purposes of learning more about the demographics, issues, and
needs Douglas County’s vulnerable population are facing. The majority of Douglas County
residents speak English. Those who don’t, primarily speak Spanish. A Spanish version of the
community survey was given to organizations to hand out to Spanish-speaking clients. St.
Vincent de Paul Society of Castle Rock offers a class for adult Spanish speakers learning
English. Class attendees were provided the Spanish community survey. Both versions of the
community survey were available on the CDBG website from July 17, 2013 through January 31,
2014 for any Douglas County resident to complete. A total of 388 community surveys were
received. The results of both surveys have been summarized and are available in the Appendix.
The following events were scheduled to increase participation from vulnerable residents:
Survey Events
Event
Strive to Thrive
Back to School Event
Date and Time
July 25, 2013
4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Douglas County Housing
Partnership’s Homebuyer
Education Class
Oakwood’s Food Bank Day
November 18, 2013
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Lincoln Pointe Lofts resident
outreach
January 18, 2014
9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
Strive to Thrive
Winter Event
January 28, 2014
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
December 18, 2013
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location
Cresthill Middle School
9195 Cresthill Lane
Highlands Ranch, CO 80130
Douglas County Housing Partnership
9350 Heritage Hills Circle
Lone Tree, CO 80124
Oakwood Senior Apartments
559 Oakwood Drive
Lincoln Pointe Lofts Apartments
9783 Pyramid Court
Englewood, CO 80112
Calvary Chapel Castle Rock
1100 Caprice Drive
Survey Distribution Locations
To increase participation, hard copies of the surveys were provided at the locations below or
given to providers to make available to their clients.
Page 25 of 211
Castle Rock 1 and 2 Apartments
432 S. Gilbert St.
Castle Rock Senior Center
2323 Woodlands Blvd.
Crisis Center
At their shelter (location is confidential)
Developmental Pathways
325 Inverness Dr. South
Englewood, CO 80112
Douglas/Elbert Task Force
1638 Park St.
Douglas County Philip S. Miller Library
Adult Literacy Program
100 S. Wilcox St.
Fresh Harvest Food Bank (flyer)
8250 Park Meadows Dr., Suite 130
Lone Tree, CO 80104
Highlands Ranch Senior Services
62 Plaza Dr.
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Larkspur Station Mobile Home (flyer)
9669 Spruce Mountain Rd.
Larkspur, CO 80118
Larkspur Post Office (flyer)
96 Perry Park Ave.
Larkspur, CO 80118
Larkspur Town Hall (flyer)
9524 Spruce Mountain Rd.
Larkspur, CO 80118
Oakwood Senior Apartments
559 Oakwood Dr.
Parker Hilltop Apartments (flyer)
19600 Clubhouse Dr.
Parker, CO 80138
Page 26 of 211
Parker Senior Center
10675 Longs Way
Parker, CO 80138
Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Castle Rock
2746 5th St.
The Arc Arapahoe and Douglas Counties
6538 S. Racine Cir.
Centennial, CO 80111
The Reserve at Castle Highlands (flyer)
1040 Highland Vista Ave.
To the Rescue
6405 E. Ponderosa Dr.
Parker, CO 80138
Town of Parker
20120 E. Mainstreet
Parker, CO 80138
Tri-County Health Department
Castle Rock Office
4400 Castleton Ct.
Lone Tree Office
9350 Heritage Hills Cir.
Lone Tree, CO 80124
The second step in the participation process was to hold a community focus group. All
community members were invited and welcome to attend the community focus group on
February 27, 2014 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Residents who completed the community survey and
indicated interest in participating were reminded of the focus group. Informational postcards
about the community focus group were given to providers to hand out to clients. Information
regarding the focus group was also listed on Douglas County’s CDBG website.
The community focus group was attended by 23 residents representing a variety of needs.
Interests ranged from senior housing to services for the disabled population to transit.
The priorities, goals and objectives identified in the Consolidated Plan were a direct result of the
data and comments collected through the surveys and focus groups. Survey results determined
the initial priorities. Both focus groups were asked if they agreed with the priority levels or if
they would like to see changes. Participants expressed agreement with the priority levels.
Step three of the participation process was to check back in with residents through the
Consolidated Plan draft. Information collected from the surveys and focus groups were
analyzed and priorities, goals and objectives were developed. Hard copies of the plan were
Page 27 of 211
made available at the front desk of the Douglas County Philip S. Miller Building (administration
building), and at the Douglas County Library branches in Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Highlands
Ranch, Lone Tree, Parker and Roxborough. Cover sheets attached to the plan indicated that
the draft was available from May 8 to June 6, 2014 during the 30-day public comment period. It
also included who to contact if interpreters or special accommodations were needed to review
the plan or attend the open house.
CDBG staff advertised an open house on May 29 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Douglas County
Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third St. in Castle Rock. Providers and residents were asked to
share comments after reviewing the plan to ensure their needs were addressed. Input was also
requested regarding the proposed projects in the Annual Action Plan for the 2014 program year.
The open house date and information was promoted at the focus groups. Open house
postcards were created and emailed out to providers to hand out to clients. The open house
information was included in the public notice placed in the legal section of the local newspapers
as well as in the advertisement in the main section. Both the Consolidated Plan document and
invitation to the open house were available on the CDBG website.
The legal section and advertisement also announced that the public was invited to attend a
public hearing on Wednesday, June 11, 2014. During the public hearing, the Board of County
Commissioners will ask the audience if the public has any comments before reviewing the plan.
The plan will then be sent to HUD for their review.
Page 28 of 211
Citizen Participation Outreach
Mode of
Outreach
Target of
Outreach
Provider Survey
(available 9/18/13 –
01/31/14)
Community Survey
Online (available
07/17/13 –
01/31/14)
Service providers
Summary
of
response/
attendance
40 survey
responses
Summary of
comments
received
Please see
survey results in
appendix
Please see
survey results in
appendix
Summary of
comments
not accepted
and reasons
All comments
were
accepted
All comments
were
accepted
URL
(If
applicable)
N/A
LMI and
presumed eligible
Douglas County
residents
17 survey
responses
Strive to Thrive
Event on 07/25/13
(hard copies)
LMI and
presumed eligible
Douglas County
residents
23 survey
responses
Please see
survey results in
appendix
All comments
were
accepted
N/A
Douglas County
Housing
Partnership
Homebuyer
Education Class
11/18/13
(hard copies)
Oakwood Senior
Apartments’ Food
Bank Day on
12/18/13
(hard copies)
Lincoln Pointe Lofts
Breakfast
01/18/14
(hard copies)
LMI and
presumed eligible
Douglas County
residents
4 survey
responses
Please see
survey results in
appendix
All comments
were
accepted
N/A
Seniors living in
affordable housing
apartments
28 survey
responses
Please see
survey results in
appendix
All comments
were
accepted
N/A
LMI and
presumed eligible
Douglas County
residents
8 survey
responses
Please see
survey results in
appendix
N/A
Strive to Thrive
Event on 01/28/14
(hard copies)
LMI and
presumed eligible
Douglas County
residents
8 survey
responses
Please see
survey results in
appendix
One
employee
completed
the survey as
a resident
All comments
were
accepted
Castle Rock Senior
Center (hard
copies)
Seniors
18 survey
responses
Please see
survey results in
appendix
All comments
were
accepted
N/A
Crisis Center
(hard copies)
Domestic violence
victims
0 survey
responses
N/A
Douglas County
Library – Adult
Literacy Program
(hard copies)
LMI and
presumed eligible
Douglas County
residents
2 survey
responses
Please see
survey results in
appendix
Respondent
had a Denver
address.
All comments
were
accepted
Page 29 of 211
The survey is
no longer
available
online
N/A
N/A
Mode of
Outreach
Target of
Outreach
Summary
of
response/
attendance
122 survey
responses
Summary of
comments
received
Douglas/Elbert
Task Force (hard
copies)
LMI and
presumed eligible
Douglas County
residents
Douglas County
Neighbor Network
(hard copies)
Seniors
11 survey
responses
Please see
survey results in
appendix
Parker Senior
Center (hard
copies)
Seniors
11 survey
responses
Please see
survey results in
appendix
St. Vincent de Paul
of Castle Rock
(hard copies)
LMI and
presumed eligible
Douglas County
residents
70 survey
responses
Tri-County Health
Department (hard
copies)
LMI and
presumed eligible
Douglas County
residents
Hard copies of
survey mailed in
LMI and
presumed eligible
Douglas County
residents
Please see
survey results in
appendix
URL
(If
applicable)
N/A
N/A
N/A
Please see
survey results in
appendix
Two surveys
were
completed by
residents of
Elbert County
(did not
include those
numbers in
responses
received)
All comments
were
accepted
16 survey
responses
Please see
survey results in
appendix
All comments
were
accepted
N/A
10 survey
responses
Please see
survey results in
appendix
All comments
were
accepted
N/A
Table 4 – Citizen Participation Outreach
Page 30 of 211
Summary of
comments
not accepted
and reasons
Two surveys
were
completed by
residents of
Elbert County
(did not
include those
numbers in
responses
received)
All comments
were
accepted
N/A
Needs Assessment
NA-05 Overview
Needs Assessment Overview
Between 2000 and 2010, Douglas County’s population increased 62.4 percent making it the
fastest growing county in Colorado, and the 16th fastest growing county in the nation. Although
the influx of residents has slowed down, Douglas County continues to grow bringing in residents
of various income levels.
Although Douglas County’s median household income is one of the highest in the U.S. ($99,198
according to the 2006-2010 American Community Survey), 17 percent of households are low- or
moderate-income. These households, which are at or below 80 percent of AMI, are more likely
to have one or more housing problems (76 percent compared to 30 percent for households of all
income levels). They are also more likely to rent rather than own their homes (41 percent
compared to 17 percent), and are more likely to be racial or ethnic minorities (14 percent
compared to 12 percent).
The major housing problem in Douglas County is cost burden, which affects 29 percent of
households of all incomes. An individual, or family, who pays more than 30 percent of their
income for housing are considered cost burdened. Housing costs for renters include rent paid
by the tenant plus utilities. Owner housing costs consist of mortgage payments, taxes,
insurance and utilities. In Douglas County, 76 percent of households at or below 80 percent of
AMI are cost burdened. These households may find it more difficult to buy basic necessities like
food, clothing, transportation and healthcare.
Survey results indicated that housing should be a high priority. Approximately 56 percent of
respondents who completed the community survey felt that Douglas County’s availability of
affordable housing was below average. Responses to several questions further demonstrated
the need for affordable housing:
·
·
·
·
·
Almost 31 percent felt that affordable housing would most likely help improve their
current situation.
Approximately 13 percent were unable to pay their rent and therefore couldn’t secure
stable housing.
Affordable housing ranked first under the top three issues that would provide safe and
secure housing for low- and moderate-income residents.
Nearly 44 percent of persons with disabilities stated that the largest barrier in accessing
adequate housing was affordability.
Persons with disabilities ranked affordable housing as first in the top three improvements
most needed for persons with disabilities.
Douglas County lacks several types of housing that would help low- and moderate-income
residents become more self-sufficient. Although Douglas County has been expanding its
affordable housing options, additional affordable housing is needed throughout the county.
Page 31 of 211
Douglas County’s only shelter is for domestic violence victims. A homeless shelter does not
exist and neither does any transitional housing options for those who are working to overcome
barriers.
The second highest need among residents is transportation options. Approximately 51 percent
of community survey respondents indicated that Douglas County does not have adequate types
of transportation opportunities to meet their needs. Thirty-one percent were not sure if
transportation was meeting the needs of residents or not. When asked what transportation
opportunities were most needed, respondents could select more than one option resulting in:
·
·
·
·
·
79 percent - local bus services
34 percent - regional bus services
33 percent - more bus stops where service is available
12 percent - better sidewalk connections
5 percent - additional bike trails or bike lanes
Transportation also ranked third in terms of services that would most likely help improve
residents current situation; third in top three services that would help residents obtain and
maintain self-sufficiency; public services, which includes transportation services, ranked second
as a high priority for CDBG funds; and 19 percent of residents were unable to access services
due to lack of transportation.
Based on community and provider input, affordable housing and transportation services are the
two highest needs in Douglas County.
Page 32 of 211
NA-10 Housing Needs Assessment - 24 CFR 91.205 (a,b,c)
Summary of Housing Needs
Additional housing options in Douglas County are needed, particularly affordable housing units.
Residents making less than the median household income in Douglas County ($99,198) do not
have a wide range of options to meet their needs. In terms of housing problems, cost burden is
the greatest problem in the county. Douglas County’s housing stock is newer and meets local
building codes so that substandard housing, or housing lacking a kitchen or complete plumbing,
does not exist. Overcrowding with several people sharing a bedroom is also rare.
Demographics
Population
Households
Median Income
Base Year: 2000
175,469
60,887
$82,929.00
Most Recent Year: 2010
273,236
98,645
$99,198
% Change
56%
62%
20%
Table 5 - Housing Needs Assessment Demographics
Data Source:
2000 Census (Base Year), 2006-2010 ACS (Most Recent Year)
Number of Households Table
0-30%
HAMFI
3,470
1,164
189
>30-50%
HAMFI
4,085
1,550
335
>50-80%
HAMFI
9,534
3,818
819
>80-100%
HAMFI
7,964
3,505
975
Total Households *
Small Family Households *
Large Family Households *
Household contains at least one
person 62-74 years of age
410
694
1,739
1,237
Household contains at least one
person age 75 or older
469
440
839
410
Households with one or more children
6 years old or younger *
509
745
1,739
1,784
* the highest income category for these family types is >80% HAMFI
Data Source:
2006-2010 CHAS
Page 33 of 211
Table 6 - Total Households Table
>100%
HAMFI
73,600
47,335
7,630
8,213
2,004
17,539
Housing Needs Summary Tables
1. Housing Problems (Households with one of the listed needs)
NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS
Substandard Housing Lacking complete plumbing
or kitchen facilities
Severely Overcrowded With >1.51 people per room
(and complete kitchen and
plumbing)
Overcrowded - With 1.01-1.5
people per room (and none
of the above problems)
Housing cost burden greater
than 50% of income (and
none of the above problems)
Housing cost burden greater
than 30% of income (and
Zero/negative Income (and
Data Source:
0-30%
AMI
>3050%
AMI
Renter
>5080%
AMI
>80100%
AMI
Total
0-30%
AMI
25
20
10
0
55
10
0
20
0
30
15
0
0
4
19
0
0
0
0
0
25
60
34
35
154
0
4
80
29
113
1,160
1,110
244
30
2,544
1,300
1,250
2,139
939
5,628
150
820
1,759
550
3,279
194
365
2,260
2,359
5,178
0
0
0
100
224
0
0
0
224
100
2006-2010 CHAS
Owner
>5080%
AMI
>3050%
AMI
>80100%
AMI
Total
Table 7 – Housing Problems Table
2. Housing Problems 2 (Households with one or more Severe Housing Problems: Lacks
kitchen or complete plumbing, severe overcrowding, severe cost burden)
030%
AMI
Having 1 or more
of four housing
problems
1,225
Having none of
four housing
problems
330
Household has
negative income,
but none of the
other housing
problems
100
Data Source:
>3050%
AMI
Renter
>50>8080%
100%
AMI
AMI
Total
030%
AMI
>3050%
AMI
Owner
>50>8080%
100%
AMI
AMI
Total
1,185
284
69
2,763
1,310
1,255
2,239
969
5,773
924
3,010
2,505
6,769
270
740
3,994
4,413
9,417
0
0
100
224
0
0
0
224
0
2006-2010 CHAS
Page 34 of 211
Table 8 – Housing Problems 2
3. Cost Burden > 30%
0-30%
AMI
>3050%
AMI
Renter
>5080%
AMI
Small Related
520
899
Large Related
105
205
Elderly
179
318
Other
560
558
Total need by
1,364
1,980
income
Data
Source:
Total
709
150
258
890
2,007
0-30%
AMI
2,128
460
755
2,008
5,351
424
54
459
570
1,507
>3050%
AMI
Owner
>5080%
AMI
540
114
540
435
1,629
Total
2,183
478
1,033
784
4,478
3,147
646
2,032
1,789
7,614
Table 9 – Cost Burden > 30%
2006-2010 CHAS
4. Cost Burden > 50%
0-30%
AMI
>3050%
AMI
Renter
>5080%
AMI
Small Related
400
554
Large Related
90
105
Elderly
144
163
Other
560
294
Total need by
1,194
1,116
income
Data Source:
Total
89
0
65
80
234
0-30%
AMI
1,043
195
372
934
2,544
385
54
345
530
1,314
>3050%
AMI
Owner
>5080%
AMI
475
110
310
355
1,250
Total
1,079
228
438
445
2,190
1,939
392
1,093
1,330
4,754
Table 10 – Cost Burden > 50%
2006-2010 CHAS
5. Crowding (More than one person per room)
0>3030%
50%
AMI
AMI
Single family
households
25
60
Multiple, unrelated
family households
15
0
Other, non-family
households
0
0
Total need by
40
60
income
Data Source:
2006-2010 CHAS
Renter
>50>8080%
100%
AMI
AMI
Total
030%
AMI
Owner
>50>8080%
100%
AMI
AMI
Total
34
39
158
0
4
100
19
123
0
0
15
0
0
0
10
10
0
34
0
39
0
173
0
0
0
4
0
100
0
29
0
133
Table 11 – Crowding Information – 1/2
Page 35 of 211
>3050%
AMI
030%
AMI
Renter
>30>5050%
80%
AMI
AMI
Total
030%
AMI
Owner
>30>5050%
80%
AMI
AMI
Total
Households
with Children
Present
Table 12 – Crowding Information – 2/2
Describe the number and type of single person households in need of housing
assistance.
Single person households are classified as “other” in these tables. Of the nearly 5,000 “other”
households with incomes at or below 80 percent of AMI, 76 percent have a cost burden greater
than or equal to 30 percent, which is slightly higher than the percentage for the income group.
Estimate the number and type of families in need of housing assistance who are
disabled or victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and
stalking.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Bureau Chief Tim Moore stated, “While Douglas County is
among the safest places in America, we do have one big “secret” problem - family violence.
Kept secret by most of its victims, and largely unreported in the media, family violence in
Douglas County touches more than 1,000 families a year. Most have no idea that family
violence is solely responsible for almost every homicide death in Douglas County during the last
decade. If you are going to be killed in Douglas County, Colorado, it’s likely to be at the hands
of a member of your own family.”
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) investigates crimes involving sexual
assaults, crimes against children, Internet crimes against children and crimes against the
elderly. In 2012, SVU received 431 cases and made 45 arrests. The SVU’s Internet Crimes
Against Children (ICAC) is one of the leading affiliates in the State ICAC Task Force.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), statistics show that on
average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate
partner in the U.S. The CDC’s most recent national survey stated that one in four women has
been a victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner and nearly one in five women
has been raped at some time in her life. It also stated that one in six women has experienced
stalking victimization during her lifetime in which she felt very fearful or believed she or
someone close to her would be harmed or killed.
In 2012, the Crisis Center served approximately 9,000 Douglas County residents by providing
information, referrals and services. This included housing adults and children in the emergency
shelter. Counseling and advocacy contacts are provided to clients in need. The Crisis Center
also educates individuals through community outreach presentations and activities.
Victims of domestic violence can access resources through the Crisis Center and stay in their
28-bed shelter, for a maximum of 45 days. Once victims leave the shelter, they can access rent
assistance through various agencies. Having permanent supportive housing would greatly
benefit these clients by providing stable housing while they focus on improving their situation.
Page 36 of 211
In terms of the disabled population, the community survey identified the lack of affordable
housing to be the biggest issue. The location of housing, the long waiting list for housing that
meets their needs, and not having housing available that accommodates their disability were
also issues.
According to the 2012 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, approximately 19,128
people, or 6 percent of the population, have a disability. Seniors currently make up about 7
percent of the disabled population, compared to a little more than 4 percent in 2000. By the
year 2030, seniors are expected to make up 20 percent of the total county population. This is
relevant because with the increase in the senior population, there will likely be an increase in
the disabled population. Seniors may develop hearing problems, need the use of a cane,
walker or wheelchair, or other means to assist with their disability. Many seniors are on fixed
incomes with little more than social security to help them make ends meet. It is likely that these
residents may need additional supportive services including housing assistance. This increase
in senior residents will also require more affordable housing options to accommodate their
needs.
The 2011 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice mentions that one in five
respondents have someone with a disability living in their house or apartment that does not
meet their accessibility needs.
What are the most common housing problems?
The most common housing problem in Douglas County is the lack of available affordable
housing. As mentioned in the Overview, 56 percent of community survey respondents felt that
the availability of affordable housing in Douglas County is below average. There is only one
apartment complex at fair market rent (FMR) in Douglas County and it is owned by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Other apartments designed for low-income residents are still above
FMR if they offer units at 60 or 80 percent of AMI. Even newer developments designed to be
affordable are not at a FMR level. This is a concern as HUD does not allow vouchers to be
used for rent that is above FMR limiting the options available to low-income residents. Many
households are cost burdened, meaning they spend too much on housing and are unable to
afford other expenses such as utilities and food.
The lack of affordable housing causes many households to be cost burdened. Ninety-nine
percent of all households with one or more housing problems has the housing problem of cost
burden greater than or equal to 30 percent. The other three housing problems (incomplete
kitchen facilities, incomplete plumbing facilities, and more than one person per room) are very
rare in Douglas County.
For some residents, living in a motel is the only option as those who have bad credit or felonies
on their record may not be approved when they apply to rent an apartment. Currently,
apartment vacancy rates are low; therefore, property managers accept applicants who have the
best credit and those who don’t are left with few options. The lack of affordable housing makes
it difficult for low-income individuals and families to live in Douglas County.
Douglas County also lacks transitional housing. For example, those who are victims of
domestic violence might stay at the Crisis Center for a few months, but then would benefit from
transitional housing as they work to become financially and emotionally stable. Transitional
housing would also be helpful to those who may have recently been discharged from jail and
need to find work, as well as for other residents trying to overcome hardships.
Page 37 of 211
Are any populations/household types more affected than others by these
problems?
The data does indicate that there are some populations and household types that are more
affected than others by housing problems, but there is not a significant disparity. Cost burden of
30 percent or greater affects 76 percent, or 12,995, of all households with incomes at or below
80 percent of AMI. This affects owner-occupied and renter-occupied households equally.
Cost burden of 50 percent or greater affects 43 percent, or 7,298, of all households with
incomes at or below 80 percent of AMI. Owner-occupied households are disproportionately
more affected than renter-occupied households.
Elderly households are less affected by cost burden than small related, large related, or other
types of households. For cost burden of 30 percent or greater, large related households are
more affected than the rest. For cost burden of 50 percent or greater, small related and other
types of households are the most affected.
Crowding affects only 0.5 percent of households in Douglas County. The vast majority of those
households are single-family households.
Describe the characteristics and needs of Low-income individuals and families
with children (especially extremely low-income) who are currently housed but are
at imminent risk of either residing in shelters or becoming unsheltered
91.205(c)/91.305(c)). Also discuss the needs of formerly homeless families and
individuals who are receiving rapid re-housing assistance and are nearing the
termination of that assistance
According to the 2012 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, approximately 13,900
residents, or 5 percent of the population, have incomes below the poverty level.
Douglas County collected 388 community surveys, which were completed by low-income,
disabled, or presumed eligible residents. Data collected from these surveys has been split into
the categories listed below to provide some characteristics of this population. The majority of
these residents could easily be considered at risk of homelessness in the future.
Housing
Approximately 196 residents out of 384 had trouble paying for housing. Approximately 51
residents out of 376 indicated they received rent assistance in the last year; 53 received
housing assistance for rent or mortgage; and 11 were in temporary or transitional housing. The
greatest need identified was affordable housing.
More than half of survey respondents rented an apartment, condo, townhouse, house or other.
The top factors in losing or not securing stable housing were: lost their job, unable to pay rent,
bad credit, experiencing a family breakup or divorce, medical expenses, disability, and
foreclosure. Sixty-one percent of persons with disabilities stated that the largest barrier they
faced was not being able to find affordable housing.
Page 38 of 211
Employment and Education
About 20 percent of respondents were unemployed and 28 percent of those had been
unemployed for more than two years. Fifty-seven percent had some college, an associate’s
degree, a college degree, or a post graduate degree.
General Characteristics
Douglas County tried to have residents with varying characteristics complete the community
survey. Eighty percent of survey respondents were female. Of those who identified
themselves, 293 were white and 52 were of Latino or Hispanic origin. The majority, 94 percent,
expressed themselves best in English. Survey respondents represented a full spectrum of
ages, 65 percent were ages 26-60 and 23 percent were age 65+. Twenty-nine percent of
respondents were single, 21 percent were single adults with children under the age of 18, and
23 percent were couples with children under the age of 18. Approximately 56 percent had one
or more children. Most respondents (80 percent) had an annual household income of $0 to
$43,600. The top type of financial support was Medicaid or Medicare with 152 residents.
Approximately 127 residents received Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP),
Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) or Women, Infants and Children (WIC) assistance.
Social security retirement benefits provided support to 86 residents.
Rent and Utility Assistance
Those who have received rent and utility assistance in the past were able to remain in their
homes for another 30 days. Hopefully these households were able to make some adjustments
or arrangements to improve their financial situations or other circumstances; however, some of
them may need assistance again. With limited assistance available, this puts them at risk of
becoming homeless.
During the 2013 fiscal year, the following organizations provided rent or utility assistance:
Douglas/Elbert Task Force assisted 214 households, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Castle Rock
assisted 190 households, the Douglas County Department of Community Development assisted
76 households. Any of these clients are at risk of becoming homeless.
Douglas County recently was able to offer rapid rehousing to about eight households with
assistance from Family Tree.
If a jurisdiction provides estimates of the at-risk population(s), it should also
include a description of the operational definition of the at-risk group and the
methodology used to generate the estimates:
The 13,900 residents identified in the question above were identified from the 2012 American
Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. The information collected from the community surveys
was provided to explain the characteristics of the at-risk population. The number of households
served with 2013 rent and utility assistance were provided to identify how many households
were able to remain in their homes for another 30 days due to assistance, but could be at risk of
homelessness. The 13,900 residents is the most accurate data source available as many who
completed the survey or that received rent or utility assistance may very well be included in the
13,900 residents identified.
Douglas County’s Community of Care Navigator often works with single moms with children.
The 2013 Point-in-Time Study stated that 57 percent of survey respondents were single adults
with children. This seems to be a growing trend. The Community of Care Navigator works with
Page 39 of 211
clients who are unable to access housing they can afford and are not receiving child support
from the other parent. It is difficult for clients to find jobs as they can only work limited hours
when the kids are in school. Finding transportation to get to work and complete other errands is
challenging. The cost of living in Douglas County is high, making it hard for these families to
survive here. In order to make ends meet, a parent may have utilized credit and now needs to
work to rebuild that credit.
Specify particular housing characteristics that have been linked with instability
and an increased risk of homelessness
Many of the factors resulting in housing instability are often circumstantial and don’t have
anything to do with the housing characteristics, but instead are characteristics of the renter or
owner. According to the 2013 Point-in-Time Study, the top five reasons for homelessness were:
housing costs, relationship or family break-up, loss of a job, eviction or foreclosure and medical
issues. Any one of these five factors could put an individual or family at risk of becoming
homeless. These reasons for homelessness closely resemble those received from the
community survey results in regards to factors that applied to their inability to secure stable
housing.
The only link to housing characteristics seems to be the lack of affordable housing and rent
increases. A renter might be able to afford their unit when they first move in, but rates increase
when it’s time to renew their lease and then the unit becomes unaffordable for them. Some
families and individuals are able to pay rent, but are cost-burdened households leaving them
struggling to pay for other basic needs.
Discussion
N/A
Page 40 of 211
NA-15 Disproportionately Greater Need: Housing Problems – 91.205
(b)(2)
Assess the need of any racial or ethnic group that has disproportionately greater need in
comparison to the needs of that category of need as a whole.
Introduction
The four housing problems are: 1) Lacks complete kitchen facilities; 2) Lacks complete
plumbing facilities; 3) More than one person per room; and 4) Cost burden greater than 30
percent. Thirty percent, or 29,160, of Douglas County households of all income levels have one
of four housing problems. Among owner-occupied households, 28 percent have one of four
housing problems. Among renter-occupied households, 37 percent have one of four housing
problems. The majority of housing in Douglas County is newer and built after 1990; therefore,
Douglas County residents are more likely to experience the third or fourth housing problem.
0%-30% of Area Median Income
Housing Problems
Jurisdiction as a whole
White
Black / African American
Asian
American Indian, Alaska Native
Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Has one or more
of four housing
problems
Has none of the
four housing
problems
2,650
2,305
30
70
4
4
205
290
160
115
0
0
0
10
Household has
no/negative
income, but none
of the other
housing problems
265
255
0
10
0
0
0
Table 13 - Disproportionally Greater Need 0 - 30% AMI
Data Source:
2006-2010 CHAS
*The four housing problems are: 1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3. More than
one person per room, 4.Cost Burden greater than 30%
Housing Problems
White
Asian
Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Has one or more
of four housing
problems
Has none of the
four housing
problems
3,360
2,850
105
95
4
0
260
590
550
0
4
0
0
34
Household has
no/negative
income, but none
of the other
housing problems
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Data Source:
2006-2010 CHAS
Page 41 of 211
Housing Problems
Has one or more
of four housing
problems
White
Asian
Pacific Islander
Hispanic
5,850
4,890
185
280
14
0
445
Has none of the
four housing
problems
2,865
2,450
0
135
14
0
210
Household has
no/negative
income, but none
of the other
housing problems
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Data Source:
2006-2010 CHAS
Housing Problems
Has one or more
of four housing
problems
White
Asian
Pacific Islander
Hispanic
3,945
3,385
65
125
30
0
305
Has none of the
four housing
problems
4,380
3,855
145
40
0
0
285
Household has
no/negative
income, but none
of the other
housing problems
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Data Source:
2006-2010 CHAS
Discussion
The data in the tables above indicate the following:
·
·
About 83 percent of households at less than or equal to 30 percent of HUD Area Median
Family Income (HAMFI) have one or more of four housing problems. Asian and
Hispanic households in this income group are more likely to have a housing problem
than other racial or ethnic groups.
Eighty-seven percent of households at greater than 30 percent but less than or equal to
50 percent of HAMFI have one or more of four housing problems. Black or AfricanAmerican, Asian, and Hispanic households in this income group are more likely to have
a housing problem than other racial or ethnic groups.
Page 42 of 211
·
·
Approximately 69 percent of households at greater than 50 percent but less than or
equal to 80 percent of HAMFI have one or more of four housing problems. Black or
African-American, and American Indian or Alaska Native households in this income
group are more likely to have a housing problem than other racial or ethnic groups.
Forty-nine percent of households at greater than 80 percent but less than or equal to
100 percent of HAMFI have one or more of four housing problems. Asian households in
this income group are more likely to have a housing problem than other racial or ethnic
groups.
Page 43 of 211
NA-20 Disproportionately Greater Need: Severe Housing Problems –
91.205 (b)(2)
Introduction
The County’s total housing stock as of January 1, 2014, is 112,354 units. Single-family
detached houses account for 78 percent of that total. Most of the housing in Douglas County is
less than 24 years old, as 80 percent of the housing units were built after 1990. Since the
housing stock is newer, lack of complete kitchen facilities and plumbing facilities are not a
problem for Douglas County residents.
The first two housing problems include housing that lacks complete kitchen and plumbing
facilities. The third severe housing problem is more than 1.5 persons per room and the fourth
problem is cost burden over 50 percent. Ten percent, or 10,335, of Douglas County households
of all income levels have one of four severe housing problems. Among owner-occupied
households, 9 percent have one of four severe housing problems. Among renter-occupied
households, 17 percent have one of four severe housing problems.
Severe Housing Problems*
White
Asian
Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Has one or more
of four housing
problems
Has none of the
four housing
problems
2,405
2,080
30
70
4
4
190
535
385
115
0
0
0
30
Household has
no/negative
income, but none
of the other
housing problems
265
255
0
10
0
0
0
Table 17 – Severe Housing Problems 0 - 30% AMI
Data Source:
2006-2010 CHAS
*The four severe housing problems are: 1. Lacks complete kitchen facilities, 2. Lacks complete plumbing facilities, 3.
More than 1.5 persons per room, 4.Cost Burden over 50%
White
Asian
Page 44 of 211
Has one or more
of four housing
problems
2,295
1,925
75
74
4
Has none of the
four housing
problems
1,660
1,475
35
19
0
Household has
no/negative
income, but none
of the other
housing problems
0
0
0
0
0
Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Has one or more
of four housing
problems
Has none of the
four housing
problems
0
205
0
95
Household has
no/negative
income, but none
of the other
housing problems
0
0
Data Source:
2006-2010 CHAS
White
Asian
Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Has one or more
of four housing
problems
Has none of the
four housing
problems
2,370
1,910
0
220
10
0
230
6,345
5,425
185
195
19
0
430
Household has
no/negative
income, but none
of the other
housing problems
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Data Source:
2006-2010 CHAS
White
Asian
Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Has one or more
of four housing
problems
Has none of the
four housing
problems
890
750
0
35
0
0
85
7,430
6,495
215
135
30
0
500
Household has
no/negative
income, but none
of the other
housing problems
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Data Source:
2006-2010 CHAS
Page 45 of 211
Discussion
The tables above indicate that:
·
·
·
·
In Douglas County, 73 percent of households at less than or equal to 30 percent of
HAMFI have one or more of four severe housing problems. Asian and Hispanic
households in this income group are more likely to have a severe housing problem than
other racial or ethnic groups.
About 60 percent of households at greater than 30 percent but less than or equal to 50
percent of HAMFI have one or more of four severe housing problems. Black or AfricanAmerican, and White non-Hispanic households in this income group are more likely to
have a severe housing problem than other racial or ethnic groups.
Approximately 27 percent of households at greater than 50 percent but less than or
equal to 80 percent of HAMFI have one or more of four severe housing problems.
American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Black or African-American households in
this income group are more likely to have a severe housing problem than other racial or
ethnic groups.
About 13 percent of households at greater than 80 percent but less than or equal to 100
percent of HAMFI have one or more of four severe housing problems. Asian households
in this income group are more likely to have a severe housing problem than other racial
or ethnic groups.
Page 46 of 211
NA-25 Disproportionately Greater Need: Housing Cost Burdens –
91.205 (b)(2)
Introduction
Due to the lack of affordable housing in Douglas County, residents who struggle to pay their rent
are often struggling to pay for food, utilities and other basic needs. This section indicates that
29 percent, or 28,770, of Douglas County households of all income levels have a cost burden
greater than 30 percent. Among owner-occupied households, 28 percent are cost burdened
and among renter-occupied households, 36 percent are cost burdened.
Housing Cost Burden
Housing Cost Burden
<=30%
White
Asian
American Indian, Alaska
Native
Pacific Islander
Hispanic
30-50%
>50%
67,080
59,885
810
2,005
17,355
15,250
430
535
9,040
7,545
165
410
No / negative
income (not
computed)
275
265
0
10
185
4
3,430
54
0
970
20
4
825
0
0
0
Table 21 – Greater Need: Housing Cost Burdens AMI
Data Source:
2006-2010 CHAS
Discussion
In the jurisdiction as a whole, 19 percent of households have a cost burden greater than 30
percent but less than or equal to 50 percent. Black or African-American, and American Indian
or Alaska Native households are more likely to have a cost burden at this level than other racial
or ethnic groups.
In the jurisdiction as a whole, 10 percent of households have a cost burden greater than 50
percent. Hispanic, Asian, and Black or African-American households are more likely to have a
cost burden at this level than other racial or ethnic groups.
Although these households are cost burdened, the number of foreclosure filings within Douglas
County has declined each year since 2009, according to the Douglas County Public Trustee.
There were about 2,680 foreclosure filings in 2009 and there were 769 in 2013. The Douglas
County Housing Partnership has a Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling program that assists
families who are delinquent on their mortgages to the point that their lender has filed for
foreclosure. Counselors help residents determine their options, including working with their
bank for a loan modification. This program has achieved successful results as the number of
foreclosed homes in the county has decreased. Homeowners and lenders who are able to
establish a plan to resolve loan issues are no longer at risk of homelessness because they can
remain in their homes.
Page 47 of 211
Unfortunately, the American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates indicated that the poverty
level has been increasing from 2006 through 2012. The Douglas County Human Services
Department has indicated that the number of Medicaid clients and food assistance clients has
increased each year since 2009. The number of households receiving funds through the Low
Income Energy Assistance Program was steadily increasing as well; however, State eligibility
requirements changed in the 2010-11 program year from 175 percent of poverty to 150 percent
of poverty, reducing the number of eligible households.
Page 48 of 211
NA-30 Disproportionately Greater Need: Discussion – 91.205(b)(2)
Are there any Income categories in which a racial or ethnic group has
disproportionately greater need than the needs of that income category as a
whole?
In the 0-30 percent of AMI group, Asian and Hispanic households are more likely to have a
housing problem. In the 30-50 percent of AMI group, Black or African-American, Asian, and
Hispanic households are more likely to have a housing problem. In the 50-80 percent of AMI
group, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Black or African–American households are
more likely to have a housing problem. In the 80-100 percent of AMI group, Asian households
are more likely to have a housing problem.
If they have needs not identified above, what are those needs?
N/A
Are any of those racial or ethnic groups located in specific areas or
neighborhoods in your community?
No, there does not appear to be any racial or ethnic groups located in specific areas or
neighborhoods in Douglas County.
Page 49 of 211
NA-35 Public Housing – 91.205(b)
Introduction
Douglas County does not currently have any public housing.
Totals in Use
Certificate
# of units vouchers in use
ModRehab
0
Public
Housing
0
Program Type
Vouchers
Total
Project based
110
376
Tenant based
0
370
Special Purpose Voucher
Veterans
Family
Disabled
Affairs
Unification
*
Supportive
Program
Housing
0
0
0
Table 22 - Public Housing by Program Type
*includes Non-Elderly Disabled, Mainstream One-Year, Mainstream Five-year, and Nursing Home Transition
Data Source:
PIC (PIH Information Center)
Characteristics of Residents
Certificate
Average Annual Income
Average length of stay
Average Household size
# Homeless at admission
# of Elderly Program Participants
(>62)
# of Disabled Families
# of Families requesting
accessibility features
Page 50 of 211
ModRehab
Program Type
Public
Vouchers
Housing
Total
Project based
Tenant based
Veterans
Family
Affairs
Unification
Supportive
Program
Housing
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
12,519
6
1
0
11,863
5
2
0
0
0
0
0
11,575
5
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
74
26
58
86
0
0
58
85
0
0
0
0
0
0
110
376
0
370
0
0
Certificate
# of HIV/AIDS program
participants
# of DV victims
0
0
ModRehab
Program Type
Public
Vouchers
Housing
Total
0
0
0
0
Project based
0
0
Tenant based
0
0
Veterans
Family
Affairs
Unification
Supportive
Program
Housing
0
0
0
0
0
0
Table 23 – Characteristics of Public Housing Residents by Program Type
Data Source:
Race of Residents
Race
Certificate
ModRehab
Public
Housing
Program Type
Vouchers
Total
Project based
Tenant based
Veterans
Family
Disabled
Affairs
Unification
*
Supportive
Program
Housing
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
White
0
0
101
273
0
269
Black/African American
0
0
6
93
0
92
Asian
0
0
3
4
0
4
American Indian/Alaska
Native
0
0
0
5
0
4
Pacific Islander
0
0
0
1
0
1
Other
0
0
0
0
0
0
Data Source:
Page 51 of 211
Table 24 – Race of Public Housing Residents by Program Type
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ethnicity of Residents
Ethnicity
Certificate
ModRehab
Public
Housing
Program Type
Vouchers
Total
Project based
Tenant based
Veterans
Family
Disabled
Affairs
Unification
*
Supportive
Program
Housing
Hispanic
0
0
17
117
0
115
0
0
0
Not Hispanic
0
0
93
259
0
255
0
0
0
Table 25 – Ethnicity of Public Housing Residents by Program Type
Data Source:
Page 52 of 211
Section 504 Needs Assessment: Describe the needs of public housing tenants
and applicants on the waiting list for accessible units
Douglas County does not currently have any public housing.
The Housing Choice Voucher program provides rental subsidies in privately owned rental units
throughout Douglas County; however, no new Housing Choice Vouchers have been issued in
several years and the waiting list was shut down. Douglas County’s Housing Choice Vouchers
are administered by the Englewood Housing Authority. According to them 104 vouchers were
administered throughout the county and there were 459 families on the waiting list before it was
shut down. The data provided by the Englewood Housing Authority differs slightly from the
numbers provided in the tables. The DCHP will apply for Housing Choice Vouchers should they
become available.
Obviously there is a need for housing vouchers and public housing with so many families on the
waiting list; although an increase in affordable housing options could mitigate the need for
housing vouchers.
There appears to be a higher number of residents in need of public housing who are elderly
(age 62 or older), have a family member with a disability, and are in need of housing with
accessibility features, according to Table 19. The need for housing units that provide increased
mobility and accessibility features will be needed in the future as Douglas County’s population
continues to grow, particularly the senior population.
Most immediate needs of residents of Public Housing and Housing Choice
voucher holders
Douglas County does not have any public housing. Residents utilizing Housing Choice
vouchers would benefit from affordable housing that meets their accessibility needs and
increased access to additional vouchers for those on the waitlist.
How do these needs compare to the housing needs of the population at large
Community survey respondents addressed affordable housing as their highest need, which
appears to be consistent with those in need of housing vouchers. During the focus groups, both
providers and residents agreed that there was a need for housing that was accessible
particularly for the disabled and senior populations. Table 19 illustrates the need for
accessibility as well.
Discussion
N/A
Page 53 of 211
NA-40 Homeless Needs Assessment – 91.205(c)
Introduction
Although Douglas County has one of the highest median household incomes in the nation, and one
of the lowest rates of poverty, not all residents are financially secure. Poverty, homelessness,
hunger, and joblessness do exist in Douglas County, although they may not be as visible as in other
counties. Residents who are vulnerable to these conditions face even more hurdles due to the high
cost of housing and the lack of an emergency shelter or transitional housing in the county. As
Douglas County continues to grow, the number of low- and moderate-income residents and
homeless individuals is also expected to increase.
Quantifying Douglas County’s homeless population proves to be difficult as the 2013 Point-in-Time
survey was completed by 72 individuals listing 172 people as homeless. This is a small number
compared to the 902 Douglas County students participating in the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Education Program during the 2012-2013 school year. The 902 number only accounts for the
students, not their other family members; therefore, the actual number of people who are homeless
most likely exceeds 902. Homeless persons receiving services from not-for-profit organizations,
County Human Services, and churches were also not included. This suggests that the homeless
population is much larger than the Point-in-Time Study indicates.
Of those who responded to the 2013 Point-in-Time survey, 78 percent reported having children in
their household. Respondents provided the following as the top five causes for homelessness:
housing costs, relationship or family break-up, lost jobs, eviction or foreclosure, and medical issues.
These line up with the top factors identified through the community survey regarding factors that
lead to losing or not securing stable housing.
The homeless and at-risk population would benefit from several of the service needs identified
through the community survey. The top services that residents felt would help them obtain and
maintain self-sufficiency included: 1) food assistance; 2) housing assistance; 3) transportation; 4)
healthcare; 5) job placement; and 6) childcare. When asked which services were utilized within the
past year from non-profits or government entities, the following were selected: 59 percent - food
assistance, 33 percent – clothing assistance, 22 percent – utility assistance, 18 percent –
healthcare, 14 percent – housing assistance (rent or mortgage), and 14 percent – rent assistance.
Approximately 30 percent of the 385 respondents that answered the question, “How many times
have you received assistance in the last year?”, received various types of assistance more than
seven times.
Affordable housing and public services have been identified as high priorities for CDBG funding. All
of these forms of assistance fall under one of these two priorities. Residents can access food
assistance through multiple organizations located throughout Douglas County such as the
Douglas/Elbert Task Force, St. Vincent de Paul of Castle Rock, Fresh Harvest Food Bank, Parker
Task Force, as well as churches and others.
Douglas County’s Family Collective program is a partnership among Douglas County, the DCHP,
the WrapAround program, and the Crisis Center. These agencies identify individuals and families
who may want to participate in their six to nine month program to improve their lives and avoid
homelessness. The goal of the program is to work with clients to overcome barriers, stabilize
families, and become self-sufficient.
Page 54 of 211
Douglas County School District (DCSD) assists homeless students to ensure they receive the basic
essentials for succeeding in school. DCSD staff makes sure students who are experiencing
homelessness are provided the same opportunities and rights as other children. This includes the
right to enroll in school without all of the necessary documentation, testing for gifted and talented
programs, and the ability to participate in sports or other extracurricular activities. DCSD staff
members are educated on how to identify homeless students and connect them to the services
available for them and their families.
The CDBG program supports the efforts of organizations offering support to the homeless
population and those who are at risk of becoming homeless. In some cases, the County was able
to provide some funding for programs supporting these services. When not-for-profit organizations
apply for funding to provide needed services to homeless and special needs persons, they must
document that the proposed services are consistent with the approved Consolidated Plan. Staff
wrote five Certificates of Consistency with the Consolidated Plan to accompany grant applications
from Douglas County not-for-profits.
Homeless Needs Assessment
Population
Estimate the # of
persons experiencing
homelessness on a
given night
Estimate the #
experiencing
homelessness
each year
Estimate
the #
becoming
homeless
each year
Estimate the #
exiting
homelessness
each year
Estimate the #
of days
persons
experience
homelessness
Unsheltered
Sheltered
16
118
1,055
316
N/A*
N/A*
Persons in
households
with only
children
0
0
0
0
N/A*
N/A*
Persons in
households
with only adults
5
33
298
89
N/A*
N/A*
Chronically
homeless
individuals
2
0
16
5
N/A*
N/A*
Chronically
homeless
families
0
0
0
0
N/A*
N/A*
Veterans
Unaccompanied
Youth
1
5
47
14
N/A*
N/A*
0
0
0
0
N/A*
N/A*
Persons with
HIV
0
0
0
0
N/A*
N/A*
Persons in
house-holds
with adult(s)
and child(ren)
N/A* - Douglas County does not have data available for these areas.
The data available above is from the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative’s 2013 Point-in-Time Study and the Douglas
County School District’s 2012-2013 McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program. The numbers were based on the
172 people identified in the 2013 Point-in-Time Study, the 902 students in the Douglas County School District, and
added 451 assuming the students have an average of two kids and one adult in the household.
Page 55 of 211
Rural Homeless Needs Assessment
Population
Estimate the # of
persons experiencing
the homelessness on a
given night
Estimate the #
experiencing
homelessness
each year
Estimate
the #
becoming
homeless
each year
Estimate the #
exiting
homelessness
each year
Estimate the #
of days
persons
experience
homelessness
Unsheltered Sheltered
Persons in
households
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
with adult(s)
and child(ren)
Persons in
households
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
with only
children
Persons in
households
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
with only adults
Chronically
homeless
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
individuals
Chronically
homeless
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
families
Veterans
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
Unaccompanied
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
Youth
Persons with
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
HIV
N/A* - Douglas County does not have specific data available at this level on the rural areas of Douglas County.
For persons in rural areas who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, describe
the nature and extent of unsheltered and sheltered homelessness with the
jurisdiction.
Douglas County has data on the number of people who are homeless in three rural areas, but
does not have specific data available at the level requested in the table above. The 2013 Pointin-Time Study identified the following homeless persons in the following areas: three in Sedalia,
seven in Larkspur, and three in Franktown. Approximately 10 of those are sheltered and three
unsheltered. As mentioned previously, this number may be higher based on the data from the
Douglas County School District.
During the 2012 program year, CDBG-funded rent assistance was provided to nine households
in Sedalia, one in Larkspur, and two in Franktown. These residents were able to remain in their
homes for another 30 days, but were at risk of homelessness if they were not able to come up
with a solution to their financial situation.
Page 56 of 211
If data is not available for the categories “number of persons becoming and
exiting homelessness each year,” and “number of days that persons experience
homelessness,” describe these categories for each homeless population type
(including chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children,
veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth)
Douglas County does not have any data related to the number of persons exiting homelessness
each year. The homeless population needs a shelter, and transitional and permanent
supportive housing. If these housing options were available, it would be easier to track
homeless residents and those who progress themselves out of homelessness.
The 2013 Point-in-Time Study does offer information regarding the duration that persons
experienced homelessness, but does not break it down into the categories listed in the table
above. At the time the survey was taken, 62 percent of respondents stated they had been
homeless for less than one year, 29 percent for one to three years, and 9 percent for three
years or more.
The survey also asked respondents to indicate the number of episodes (or times) they had
experienced homelessness in the last three years. Results revealed that the majority of
respondents, 57 percent, experienced homelessness once in the last three years. Out of the
remaining respondents, 17 percent indicated being homeless twice; 7 percent three times; 1
percent four times; and 7 percent five or more times. Ten percent stated they had not been
homeless at any time in the last three years.
Other survey results revealed that almost 30 percent of respondents were newly homeless and
only 1 percent identified themselves as chronically homeless individuals. Approximately 15
percent reported abuse or violence in the home (42 individuals). Eight percent were veterans
and there were no unaccompanied youth. The population that seems to be increasing the most
in terms of becoming homeless is single adults with children, which represented 57 percent of
survey respondents.
Nature and Extent of Homelessness (Optional)
Race
White
Black or African American
Asian
American Indian or Alaska Native
Pacific Islander
Ethnicity
Hispanic
Not Hispanic
Sheltered
51
4
2
1
0
Unsheltered
4
0
0
0
0
4
54
0
4
The data in the table above is from the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative’s 2013
Point-in-Time Study and is a count based on families not individuals.
Page 57 of 211
Estimate the number and type of families in need of housing assistance for
families with children and the families with veterans
The 2013 Point-in-Time Study was completed by 72 individuals, six of which were veterans.
The study revealed that approximately 57 percent of survey respondents were single adults with
children and 21 percent were couples with children. Only 22 percent of respondents did not
have children.
During the 2012-2013 school year, 902 Douglas County students were served by the McKinneyVento Homeless Education Program. This indicates that there are many more families in need
of housing assistance that did not complete the Point-in-Time survey. The “Homeless Needs
Assessment” table above included an estimate of the total homeless population based on the
number of students. The numbers were based on the 172 people identified in the 2013 Point-inTime Study, the 902 students in the Douglas County School District, and added 451 assuming
the students have an average of two kids and one adult in the household.
Describe the nature and extent of homelessness by racial and ethnic group
Douglas County’s population is predominantly Caucasian, but as the population grows, the
county is becoming more diverse. That being said, there does not appear to be any link to
homelessness among a specific racial or ethnic group. Of the 72 respondents who completed
the 2013 Point-in-Time Survey, 55 were Caucasian, one was Native American, four were
Hispanic, four were African American, two were Asian, and six were of mixed races. These
numbers are consistent with Douglas County’s total racial and ethnic population.
Describe the nature and extent of unsheltered and sheltered homelessness
Based on HUD’s homeless definition of literally homeless (category 1), imminent risk of
homelessness (category 2), homeless under other Federal statutes (category 3), and fleeing or
attempting to flee domestic violence (category 4), the majority of Douglas County’s homeless
population fits into category 3 as sheltered homeless. This population often stays on a couch or
in a spare bedroom with family or friends, sometimes moving from place to place. They do not
have a lease, ownership interest, or occupancy agreement of any kind, and have special needs
or barriers for an extended period of time.
The remaining homeless population fits into categories 1, 2 or 4. Those who meet the definition
of category 1 are typically unsheltered homeless living in their cars or outdoors near creeks and
in parks. They may also find temporary shelter by using motel vouchers from a local
organization. Families and individuals in category 2 are those who have received rent or utility
assistance. They are at risk of becoming homeless if they are unable to make adjustments to
their financial situation or make other housing arrangements that would meet their budget.
Domestic violence victims and their families in category 4 can contact the Crisis Center, which
has a 28-bed shelter and various support services available.
Discussion
N/A
Page 58 of 211
NA-45 Non-Homeless Special Needs Assessment - 91.205 (b,d)
Introduction
Some Douglas County residents fall into the category of having special needs, which may
include having developmental, mental, or physical disabilities. Accessing services and care to
address these disabilities can increase the typical medical costs for a family.
Describe the characteristics of special needs populations in your community
Douglas County’s population estimate as of January 1, 2014 was 302,464 residents. The 2012
American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates identified 19,128 residents as having a
disability.
Age Groups
Population
under 5 years
Population
5-17 years
Population 1864 years
Population 65
years and over
Total*
Hearing
Difficulty
Vision
Difficulty
234
Cognitive
Difficulty
Ambulatory
Difficulty
Self-Care
Difficulty
Independent
Living Difficulty
N/A
225
70
1,949
276
358
N/A
3,306
1,431
2,773
3,362
1,126
2,781
4,196
527
1,733
3,621
1,117
2,054
7,727
2,262
6,455
7,259
2,601
4,835
* When added up, the total under each of these categories exceeds the 19,128 residents identified with a disability.
Some residents may have more than one disability and therefore are being counted under each type of disability.
What are the housing and supportive service needs of these populations and how
are these needs determined?
Special needs populations, especially those with developmental or physical disabilities are
considered a presumed eligible group; therefore, they automatically qualify for CDBG-funded
programs.
Developmental Pathways is an organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of individuals
with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities to lead a meaningful life. One way to do
that is to provide housing that creates a safe, comfortable environment for adults with special
needs to thrive. Developmental Pathways has two group homes for adults with intellectual
disabilities, housing 12 residents, in Douglas County. There are currently 50 clients on their
waiting list with a status of “as soon as available”. This means that the client or family would
accept a resource if they were offered one today.
No other agency is currently focused on providing housing for special needs; however, efforts
are being made to begin addressing this need in the future. A group of parents of young adults
with special needs established Wellspring Community in early 2008. As their children aged out
of the school system, they recognized the need for employment opportunities, recreational
services, and housing for their children. Currently this organization does not offer housing
options, but is exploring the possibility of purchasing a house to be used as a group home for
their special needs clients.
Page 59 of 211
Housing and supportive services are critical needs for residents with disabilities. In 1996, the
Developmental Disability Advisory Council of Douglas County was established to address the
concerns of the Douglas County community regarding support and services for individuals with
developmental disabilities. The Council oversaw the development of the Long Range Plan to
Include Adults with Developmental Disabilities. The Long Range Plan calls for the development
of services and support that focus on the varied needs of adults with developmental disabilities.
Major areas of focus include: life in common, housing, transportation, employment, recreation
and leisure, and health. The following two housing goals were identified in the Long Range
Plan:
·
·
Goal 1. Increase the choice of housing available as well as attainable housing
opportunities for people who live with developmental disabilities.
Goal 2. Ensure that the process to develop housing for persons with developmental
disabilities is equitable and occurs at a reasonably fast pace.
In 2001, Douglas County voters approved the Developmental Disabilities Mill Levy and the
commissioners determined that approximately 95 percent of the funds would go toward our
County’s Community Centered Board (CCB), Developmental Pathways. The remaining 5
percent would be retained to fund innovative and collaborative projects that assist County
residents with developmental disabilities.
The distribution of the 5 percent Mill Levy funding takes place through a grant program that is
overseen by County staff with the help of a citizen committee. The committee makes
recommendations to the Douglas County Commissioners for final approval. The amount
available for grant funding varies from year to year, but grants typically fall within the $1,000 to
$25,000 range. Since 2002, more than $2 million has been awarded for local programs.
Housing and transportation are the greatest needs among the special needs population, as well
as the low- and moderate-income residents. Persons with physical and developmental
disabilities have trouble finding affordable housing that meets their needs and lack of
transportation often leaves this population feeling isolated.
Currently there is no affordable service to transport residents between municipalities. The
Regional Transportation District provides limited services for the disabled. The Castle Rock
Senior Center receives CDBG funds for their transportation program which offers rides to
persons with disabilities; however, they do not serve Highlands Ranch residents.
Community survey responses revealed affordable housing, transportation, employment
assistance, and housing modified to accommodate persons with disabilities as the top
improvements most needed for persons with disabilities.
Discuss the size and characteristics of the population with HIV/AIDS and their
families within the Eligible Metropolitan Statistical Area
N/A
Discussion
N/A
Page 60 of 211
NA-50 Non-Housing Community Development Needs – 91.215 (f)
Describe the jurisdiction’s need for Public Facilities
The results of the provider survey indicated that the following facilities are needed to address
the needs of low- and moderate-income residents: 1) Mental health facilities; 2) Childcare
centers; 3) Job training facilities; 4) Healthcare facilities; and 5) Homeless shelters. It was
evident from the community survey results that residents would benefit from facilities that
offered job training and placement, affordable childcare, and affordable healthcare.
Previous discussions with the Castle Rock and Parker Senior Centers have indicated a need for
additional space to meet the demand of its growing membership. Currently, Senior Center
activities are limited due to lack of space. With substantial senior growth expected in the
coming years, an increase in senior services is likely; therefore, seniors would benefit from
expanded or larger facilities.
How were these needs determined?
These needs were determined by examining survey results. The provider survey asked
respondents to rank the three most important service facilities that would best address the
needs of low- and moderate-income residents in Douglas County. In addition, the community
survey asked questions about services which provided insight into what facilities are needed.
Also, CDBG staff has spoken with organizations regarding their need for additional space due to
increased demand for services.
Describe the jurisdiction’s need for Public Improvements
The public facilities goal was expanded to include “Public Facilities and Improvements” based
on the results from the surveys and staff discussion with local organizations. The provider and
community surveys both asked what infrastructure improvements would address the greatest
need in Douglas County. Providers identified ADA accessibility, sidewalks, streetscape
improvements (trees, furniture, lighting), street improvements, and water facilities as needs
within the community. Residents requested improvements to streets, sidewalks, and parking
facilities in the community survey.
Needs were determined based on the provider and community surveys, outreach to current and
former grant recipients, and Douglas County residents.
Describe the jurisdiction’s need for Public Services
Public services represent the greatest need in Douglas County. This need is reinforced
annually as the majority of applications requesting CDBG funds are for public services.
Provider and community surveys identified housing and public services as high priorities. Both
surveys asked respondents to rank the top three services that would help residents in Douglas
County obtain and maintain self-sufficiency. Providers identified: housing assistance, childcare,
job placement and transportation. Residents indicated the need for food assistance, housing
Page 61 of 211
assistance, transportation, healthcare, job placement and childcare. All of these needs would
qualify for CDBG funds under the Public Services category.
Since the inception of Douglas County’s CDBG program, the Douglas/Elbert Task Force has
regularly applied for rent, utility, and overnight lodging assistance. Over the years, additional
organizations have also requested rent assistance because of the many residents in need.
Another critical community need is transportation, particularly for seniors who can no longer
drive, and persons with disabilities. The Castle Rock and Parker Senior Centers often apply for
transportation related services such as funding a transportation coordinator or purchasing a new
vehicle. A few years ago, the Crisis Center purchased a vehicle to help domestic violence
victims access services off-site such as finding clothing for them and their children at the Task
Force, interviewing for a job, or securing future housing.
Examples of public services applications have included audio information services for blind and
print-disabled residents. Firehouse Quilts purchased quilt supplies to make blankets for victims
of crisis. The Crisis Center was able to hire a shelter advocate to assist domestic violence
victims. A family facilitator was added to the Douglas County Youth Initiative team to help
families overcome barriers.
Residents who received services funded with CDBG dollars provided testimonials which
demonstrated the need and appreciation for these services.
Douglas County CDBG staff stays in close contact with subgrantees and other non-profits who
often describe the increasing need for public services such as emergency assistance and
transportation. County staff participates in the Community of Care Network and Douglas
County Transit Solutions. These organizations comprised primarily of service providers allow
County staff to learn more about their organization’s needs and struggles. Through these
meetings, County staff is well informed of the existing and increasing needs for public services.
All participants in these organizations report an increase in requests for services, and many
report funding opportunities are shrinking. For example, the Castle Rock Senior Center relies
heavily on grants to provide transportation and programs for local seniors. Over the last three
years, the director has noted foundations that previously supported the Center have shifted their
funding focus to families with children and no longer fund senior activities.
Public services are Douglas County’s greatest need and the majority of organizations
requesting CDBG funds annually are for public services. Both the provider and community
surveys identified public services as a high priority. It came in second after housing. Both
surveys also asked respondents to rank the top three services that would help residents in
Douglas County obtain and maintain self-sufficiency. Providers identified: housing assistance,
childcare, job placement, and transportation. The last three were scored very closely together.
Residents identified: food assistance, housing assistance, transportation, healthcare, job
placement and childcare. Food and housing assistance scored close together; transportation,
healthcare and job placement scored close together; and childcare last. All of these needs
would qualify for CDBG funds under the Public Services category.
Page 62 of 211
Housing Market Analysis
MA-05 Overview
Housing Market Analysis Overview
Douglas County’s population increased between 2000 and 2010 by 62 percent resulting in
Douglas County being the fastest growing county in Colorado, and the 16th fastest growing
county in the nation. Additional housing was needed to meet the needs of this growing
community. The Department of Community Development estimated that the County’s total
number of housing units as of January 1, 2014 was 112,354 units. Single-family detached
houses account for 78 percent of that total. The incorporated cities and towns in Douglas
County contain 41 percent of the total housing stock. Ninety percent of all housing units are
located in the urban-designated areas of the county, which is 18 percent of the total land area.
Housing costs are high for several reasons, some of which include land prices and high water
tap fees. The median price of all homes sold in Douglas County in the third quarter of 2013 was
$339,900. The 2012 average annual residential wage was $60,989 and median household
income was $95,324, according to the 2012 American Community Survey.
According to the 2006-2010 Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data, there
is not sufficient housing for households at all income levels. The county needs an additional
6,816 affordable units to meet the housing needs of all residents with incomes of 80% or less of
the HAMFI.
The county would benefit from an improved range of housing options that meets the needs of
the community. The 2012 American Community Survey identified that 5 percent of the
population has incomes below the poverty level. Approximately 1,357 affordable housing units
will be available by the end of 2014 when two new affordable housing structures reach
completion. Although the county has expanded its affordable housing options, the increased
number of affordable units has not kept pace with the growing number of residents in need.
Public housing is not available and the only homeless shelter is for victims of domestic abuse.
The majority of the housing stock is new and in standard condition. Only 9 percent of housing in
Douglas County, including the municipalities, was built prior to 1980. There is a minimal need
for housing rehabilitation due to the age of the units. Relatively new housing lessens the
concern for lead based paint exposure as only 6,100 housing units were built before 1978.
Page 63 of 211
MA-10 Number of Housing Units – 91.210(a)&(b)(2)
Introduction
Douglas County is currently not built out. Between 2010 and 2013, more than 6,000 new
housing units were built in Douglas County. Of those, 20 percent were rental apartment units.
As of January 1, 2014, housing units totaled 112,354. Single-family detached houses account
for 78 percent and apartments represent 12 percent of that total.
County projections anticipate an increase of nearly 24,000 new housing units between 2010 and
2020 for both renters and owners. Residential growth will continue in the incorporated areas of
the county (Castle Rock, Parker, and Lone Tree) and in the Primary Urban Area of
unincorporated Douglas County. In addition, residential growth is expected to begin in the
Chatfield Urban Area in northwestern Douglas County.
All residential properties by number of units
Property Type
1-unit detached structure
1-unit, attached structure
2-4 units
5-19 units
20 or more units
Mobile Home, boat, RV, van, etc.
Total
Data Source:
2006-2010 ACS
Number
%
81,925
5,537
2,030
8,006
5,338
302
103,138
79%
5%
2%
8%
5%
0%
100%
Table 26 – Residential Properties by Unit Number
Unit Size by Tenure
Owners
Number
No bedroom
1 bedroom
2 bedrooms
3 or more bedrooms
Total
Data Source:
2006-2010 ACS
9
662
7,453
73,302
81,426
Renters
%
Number
0%
1%
9%
90%
100%
10
4,481
6,503
6,225
17,219
%
0%
26%
38%
36%
100%
Table 27 – Unit Size by Tenure
Describe the number and targeting (income level/type of family served) of units
assisted with federal, state, and local programs
Many of the county’s housing units for low- and moderate-income residents were made possible
with the assistance of federal, state and local funds. Two new facilities are expected to open
later this year, one for seniors and one for families. Once those facilities are completed,
approximately 1,377 affordable units will be available to Douglas County residents. The
following summary outlines these affordable units
Page 64 of 211
Apex Meridian – 156 affordable units
A new multi-family housing project located in the northern portion of unincorporated Douglas
County was able to break ground in 2013. The complex consists of 156 units including one, two
and three bedroom units averaging 834 square feet. All units will be 100 percent affordable and
available to tenants whose annual incomes are equal to or less than 60 percent of AMI. This
translates into a substantial discount to the current market rents available with an estimated rent
differential of $166 or 20 percent for one bedroom units. Two and three bedroom unit renters
benefit from a rent differential of $328 or 34 percent, and $531 or 47 percent, respectively.
This project was made possible with Douglas County’s issuance of $17,750,000 tax-exempt
Private Activity Bonds (PABs). Construction is estimated to be completed in June 2014 and full
lease up of the property is projected by the end of this year. Apex Meridian is located within a
half mile of the County Line light rail station, the Lincoln Avenue bus line and Park Meadows. It
is also situated at the confluence of I-25, C-470 and E-470. The location of the project provides
access to employment, retail and recreational opportunities.
Auburn Ridge Senior Living Apartments – 80 affordable units (10 market rate units)
The DCHP partnered with Atlantic Development to build a new 90-unit apartment complex in
Castle Rock. The new housing facility for seniors consists of 80 affordable units at 30 to 60
percent of AMI and 10 market rate units. Funds were leveraged from CDBG, HOME, State
Division of Housing and the Town of Castle Rock to bring this project to fruition. The facility is
expected to open in Fall 2014.
Castle Rock 1 and 2 Apartments – 19 affordable units (61 market rate units)
Castle Rock 1 and 2 Apartments have a total of 80 units. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
Rural Development provides rental assistance to 19 units.
Developmental Pathways – 12 units
Developmental Pathways offers housing to Douglas County residents with developmental
disabilities. Douglas County’s Developmental Disability Mill Levy and Medicaid funds helped
Developmental Pathways purchase two residential group homes with a total of 12 beds in
Parker.
Lincoln Pointe Lofts and Reserve at Castle Highlands - 221 and 200 affordable units,
respectively
The DCHP is a limited partner in the Lincoln Pointe Lofts and Reserve at Castle Highlands
rental properties. The DCHP was allocated a total of $100,000 in CDBG funds over the 2004
and 2005 program years that were used toward land acquisition for the development of Phase I
and II of Lincoln Pointe Lofts. Lincoln Pointe Lofts is a 221-unit family property in Lone Tree.
The Reserve at Castle Highlands is a 200-unit family property in Castle Rock. Both complexes
offer rents at 50 and 60 percent of AMI.
Oakwood Senior Apartments – 64 affordable units
In 2006, the DCHP was awarded CDBG funds to purchase the Oakwood Senior Apartments in
Castle Rock and maintain them as affordable units. A combination of federal, state and local
funds allowed the DCHP to acquire this property, allowing the 64 units to remain available to
income-eligible seniors, many of which rely solely on social security benefits.
Page 65 of 211
Parker Hilltop Apartments – 125 affordable units (331 market rate units)
Parker Hilltop Apartments consist of 456 units. Of those units, 125 are available at 40 percent
of AMI, while the remaining 331 are market rate apartments.
Reyn Rock – 33 affordable units
Reyn Rock in downtown Castle Rock has 33 units for seniors age 62 and older. Residents with
disabilities who are age 55 and older are also eligible to live there. Rent is determined by
subtracting any monthly medical costs from the renter’s monthly income and then taking 30
percent of that amount. The rental rate is reviewed annually.
The Pines at Castle Rock – 351 affordable units (279 market rate units)
The Pines at Castle Rock is a 630-unit apartment complex located just north of The Outlets at
Castle Rock. Approximately 332 units are available to renters at 60 percent of AMI and 19 units
at 100 percent of AMI. The remaining 279 units are market rate apartments.
Traditions Denver – 96 affordable units
Traditions Denver consists of eight 12-unit residential buildings and one community building for
a total of 96 units. One, two and three bedroom units average 865 square feet. In 2013, the
County issued $12,148,000 in Private Activity Bonds (PABs) for tax-exempt financing of the
Traditions Denver apartments. The proceeds of the PABs, along with other funds including Low
Income Housing Tax Credits, were used to acquire and renovate the apartments. Eleven units
remain available to tenants whose annual incomes are no more than 50 percent of AMI, and the
remaining 85 units remain available to tenants whose annual incomes are no more than 60
percent of AMI. This significant property investment provides safe, healthy, affordable housing
for all races, ethnicities, ages and disabilities for another 30 years.
Provide an assessment of units expected to be lost from the affordable housing
inventory for any reason, such as expiration of Section 8 contracts.
Douglas County does not expect to lose any of the affordable housing options listed above.
Does the availability of housing units meet the needs of the population
No, the availability of housing units does not meet the needs of the population.
The following is provided in the question “Is there sufficient housing for households at all income
levels?” This is where Nancy directed me. I just changed it slightly for this question.
I added this as you requested, but Nancy said that this information is not relevant to this
question.
In May of 2009, BBC Research and Consulting created Douglas County’s Housing Needs
Assessment (HNA) as part of the previous Consolidated Plan. The HNA indicated that in 2006,
2 percent or 4,867 county residents lived below the poverty threshold. According to the 2012
American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, the number of Douglas County residents living
in poverty in 2012 had increased to 13,900. This data demonstrates the number of low- and
moderate-income residents continue to increase
The 2009 HNA documented the need for 1.670 rental units for low-income residents. According
to the most current data in the 2006-2010 Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy
Page 66 of 211
(CHAS) data, there is not sufficient housing for households at all income levels. Douglas
County needs 3,175 rental units for households with incomes at or below 30 percent of the HUD
Area Median Family Income (HAMFI). About 2,963 additional affordable housing units are
needed for households with incomes at or below 50 percent and greater than 30 percent of the
HAMFI. Households with incomes at or below 80 percent and greater than 50 percent of the
HAMFI need another 678 affordable housing units. The county needs an additional 6,816
affordable units to meet the housing needs of all residents with incomes of 80% or less of the
HAMFI. Comparing the data in the HNA with more current CHAS data offers insights into the
trend of the growing need for housing residents with lower incomes and special needs.
Affordable housing was identified as the greatest need through both provider and community
surveys as well as through the focus groups. Senior rental housing and rental assistance
options would benefit low- and moderate-income residents. An emergency shelter and
transitional housing were also recommended for the homeless population.
Community survey respondents identified affordable housing as most likely to help them
improve their current situation. Residents felt that the availability of affordable housing in
Douglas County was below average (56 percent). Affordable housing was also considered to
be the top issue in providing safe and secure housing for low- and moderate-income residents.
Persons with disabilities identified affordable housing as the most needed improvement.
I asked Nancy about updating something in the HNA but she said that she couldn’t because she
didn’t know where they got those numbers from and therefore what she found might not be
comparable.
Describe the need for specific types of housing: work on the sentence structure and
flow of this section
Although Douglas County has been making strides in providing affordable housing, additional
units are required to meet the needs of various residents.
According to the Douglas County Department of Community Development, in 2012 Douglas
County’s housing stock consisted predominantly of single-family residential homes (78 percent).
Apartments represented 12 percent of the remaining housing units, while condos made up 10
percent. Having a wider range of housing options would help to meet the needs of a diverse
population.
An emergency shelter would provide a safe place for the homeless population and victims of
crime to spend the night. Transitional and permanent supportive housing are also needed as
homeless residents find jobs and work to improve their financial stability.
Douglas County’s population age 65 and over increased 178 percent between 2000 and 2010.
Seniors currently make up 7 percent of the population and are expected to increase to 20
percent by the year 2030. A variety of housing types will be needed to meet the needs of this
growing population, including independent and assisted living.
Due to the limited number of units available specifically for the disabled community, group
homes and host homes for people with a range of developmental disabilities are needed.
Page 67 of 211
Discussion
The majority of affordable housing units in the county are for residents making 50 percent and
above of AMI. Focus group participants identified a need for an increased number of lowincome rental units for residents making below 50 percent of AMI. If some of these units were
available at a fair market rate, it would benefit very low-income individuals and families. The
only fair market rental units available in Douglas County are owned by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. Participants specifically mentioned needing additional affordable housing for singleparent families, seniors and people with disabilities.
Most of the affordable housing units in the county are available in apartment complexes. Focus
group participants shared that scattered site housing would make it easier to increase affordable
units in a variety of areas across the county. Instead of renting, some residents may wish to
own their home. A home ownership lease-purchase program would be a valuable resource in
making purchasing a home easier and more affordable.
Survey results also provided valuable data in terms of housing needs. Residents who
completed the community survey were asked what type of housing they felt was most important
for people with low- and moderate-incomes? The most frequent responses were apartments
and single-family housing.
Community survey respondents with physical or developmental disabilities also identified the
need for additional affordable housing. Developmental Pathways has two group homes in
Parker housing 12 residents with developmental disabilities. The organization has 267 adult
clients with developmental disabilities waiting for Home and Community-Based Services
(HCBS) in Douglas County. Of the 267 clients, only 50 are waiting with a status of “as soon as
available”, which means that the client or family would accept a resource if they were offered
one today. These numbers demonstrate the need for additional housing for developmentally
disabled residents.
Page 68 of 211
MA-15 Housing Market Analysis: Cost of Housing - 91.210(a)
Introduction
Housing costs in Douglas County are among the highest in the seven-county Denver metro
area. According to the 2006-2010 American Community Survey, the median home value in
Douglas County was $338,700, which was the second highest in the metro area. Douglas
County had the highest median contract rent in the metro area at $1,034. From 2000 to the
2006-2010 American Community Survey, the median home value in Douglas County increased
43 percent and the median contract rent increased 8 percent.
The housing stock in Douglas County is predominantly composed of newer, single-family
detached houses. The 2006-2010 American Community Survey shows that 80 percent of
housing units are one-unit detached houses, and 77 percent of all units were built in 1990 or
later. These housing stock characteristics may account for the high housing costs, which may
prevent lower-income families from locating here. Many workers commute into the county
because they cannot afford housing in the county.
Cost of Housing
Median Home Value
Median Contract Rent
Base Year: 2000
237,600
958
Most Recent Year: 2010
338,700
1,034
% Change
42.6%
7.9%
Table 28 – Cost of Housing
Data Source:
2000 Census (Base Year), 2006-2010 ACS (Most Recent Year)
Rent Paid
Less than $500
$500-999
$1,000-1,499
$1,500-1,999
$2,000 or more
Total
Data Source:
2006-2010 ACS
Number
%
824
7,539
6,150
2,041
665
17,219
4.8%
43.8%
35.7%
11.9%
3.9%
100.0%
Table 29 - Rent Paid
Housing Affordability
% Units affordable to
Households earning
30% HAMFI
50% HAMFI
80% HAMFI
100% HAMFI
Total
Data Source:
2006-2010 CHAS
Page 69 of 211
Renter
Owner
300
932
6,336
No Data
7,568
Table 30 – Housing Affordability
No Data
200
2,536
7,057
9,793
Monthly Rent
Monthly Rent ($)
Fair Market Rent
High HOME Rent
Low HOME Rent
Data Source:
Efficiency
(no bedroom)
638
638
638
HUD FMR and HOME Rents
1 Bedroom
2 Bedroom
3 Bedroom
4 Bedroom
728
728
712
921
921
855
1,308
1,250
988
1,524
1,375
1,102
Table 31 – Monthly Rent
To bridge the gap, the DCHP offers financial support to eligible first-time homebuyers through
its Home Ownership Program. Down payment assistance is provided at a $15,000 through a
second mortgage. A second option is a shared equity investment of up to 20 percent of the
purchase price ($50,000 max), which is repaid when the home is sold or refinanced. In 2013,
the DCHP closed a total of 35 loans. This program makes it possible to purchase an affordable
home for residents who typically earn 80 percent AMI.
Is there sufficient housing for households at all income levels?
According to the 2006-2010 Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data, there
is not sufficient housing for households at all income levels. Douglas County has 3,475
households with incomes at or below 30 percent of the HUD Area Median Family Income
(HAMFI), but only 300 rental housing units affordable at that level. For the 4,095 households
with incomes at or below 50 percent and greater than 30 percent of the HAMFI, only 1,132
housing units are affordable. The gap between affordable housing units and households
decreases as the income levels increase. The county has 9,550 households with incomes at or
below 80 percent and greater than 50 percent of the HAMFI, and 8,872 affordable housing
units. This data demonstrates that at all HAMFI levels there is not enough affordable housing
units available to support the need in Douglas County.
How is affordability of housing likely to change considering changes to home
values and/or rents?
Home values and rents are likely to continue rising over the next five years. The median home
sales price increased from $308,000 in the third quarter of 2010 to $339,900 in the third quarter
of 2013. Median rent increased 16 percent between the beginning of 2010 to the end of 2013.
Although two new affordable apartment complexes will be completed in 2014 (Auburn Ridge
and Apex Meridian), that will not be enough units to house those in need, especially as rental
rates continue to rise.
How do HOME rents / Fair Market Rent compare to Area Median Rent? How might
this impact your strategy to produce or preserve affordable housing?
According to the 2006-2010 American Community Survey, the median contract rent in Douglas
County was $1,034. The Fair Market Rent in 2010 for a two bedroom unit was $921.
An increase in fair market rental options would greatly benefit those struggling to pay rent.
There are several housing apartment complexes in Douglas County offering rent at 50 or 60
percent of AMI, but even at this subsidized amount the units are still above fair market rent.
Affordable housing at any level is needed in Douglas County, but units at fair market rent
represent the greatest need at this point in time. It is challenging to create affordable housing in
Page 70 of 211
Douglas County, especially for units at fair market rent. Before construction begins the high
cost of land, water tap fees, and permits add significantly to the overall cost of development. As
the housing market grows stronger, costs will continue to rise.
The main source of water in Douglas County comes from ground water pumped from the
Denver Basin. Local water providers have been working to develop a renewable water source;
however, this takes a great deal of time and money to make possible, which contributes to
increased water tap fees and drives up the cost of new development.
Discussion
Leveraging funding sources is a critical component of building affordable housing at a 50 or 60
percent of AMI level. Even with leveraged funds, it is still difficult for developers to offer rents
below 50 percent of AMI. The County’s strategy is to work with developers and encourage them
to maximize funding sources in order to build affordable units with lower rental rates. This may
mean utilizing CDBG and HOME funds, PABs, low-income housing tax credits, as well as
seeking out other funding sources from local, state and federal entities. Collaboration will be
key to adding new affordable housing units in Douglas County.
Page 71 of 211
MA-20 Housing Market Analysis: Condition of Housing – 91.210(a)
Introduction
The HUD publication, Evidence Matters, Winter 2014, states that vacant and abandoned
housing units are linked to “reduced property values, increased crime, increased risk to public
health and welfare and increased cost for municipal governments”. Douglas County does not
have areas of vacant, abandoned, or uninhabitable housing units. In fact, Douglas County has
a very low housing vacancy rate. According to the 2010 Census, only 4.5 percent, or 4,841
units, of the Douglas County housing stock was vacant. Most of these vacant units were either
for rent, for sale, or seasonal homes. Less than 1 percent of the total housing stock was vacant
for other reasons, and there is no evidence to suggest that these units are not being maintained.
Definitions
Abandoned Units: A home or residential property is abandoned if either: 1) Mortgage, tribal
leasehold, or tax payments are at least 90 days delinquent; 2) A code enforcement inspection
has determined that the property is not habitable and the owner has taken no corrective actions
within 90 days of notification of the deficiencies; and 3) The property is subject to a courtordered receivership or nuisance abatement related to abandonment.
Abandoned REO Properties: Lender-owned properties that meet the definition of “Abandoned
Units”.
Conditions: A “condition” is a house or household that has one or more of the following: 1)
Lacks complete plumbing facilities; 2) Lacks complete kitchen facilities; 3) More than one
person per room; and 4) Cost burden greater than 30 percent.
REO Properties: Properties owned by lenders as a result of foreclosure.
Standard Condition: A dwelling unit that is structurally and systematically sound and meets
HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS) as well as all state and local codes.
Substandard Condition, but Suitable for Rehabilitation: A dwelling unit that does not meet
Section 8 HQS and requires substantial corrective rehabilitation of structural components and
building systems, such as electrical, plumbing, and heating or cooling. Rehabilitation is
considered financially unfeasible when improvement costs exceed 60 percent or more of the
property value after rehabilitation.
Vacant Units: Units for lease or for sale without occupants.
Page 72 of 211
Condition of Units
Condition of Units
Owner-Occupied
Number
%
22,540
28%
160
0%
28
0%
0
0%
58,698
72%
81,426
100%
With one selected Condition
With two selected Conditions
With three selected Conditions
With four selected Conditions
No selected Conditions
Total
Data Source:
Renter-Occupied
Number
%
6,228
36%
169
1%
0
0%
0
0%
10,822
63%
17,219
100%
Table 32 - Condition of Units
2006-2010 ACS
Year Unit Built
Year Unit Built
Owner-Occupied
Number
%
30,292
37%
43,970
54%
6,518
8%
646
1%
81,426
100%
2000 or later
1980-1999
1950-1979
Before 1950
Total
Data Source:
Renter-Occupied
Number
%
7,519
44%
8,341
48%
1,080
6%
279
2%
17,219
100%
Table 33 – Year Unit Built
2006-2010 CHAS
Risk of Lead-Based Paint Hazard
Risk of Lead-Based Paint Hazard
Total Number of Units Built Before 1980
Housing Units built before 1980 with children present
Owner-Occupied
Number
%
7,164
9%
798
1.0%
Renter-Occupied
Number
%
1,359
8%
225
1.3%
Table 34 – Risk of Lead-Based Paint
Data Source:
2006-2010 ACS (Total Units) 2006-2010 CHAS (Units with Children present)
Vacant Units
Vacant Units
Abandoned Vacant Units
REO Properties
Abandoned REO Properties
Data Source: 2010 Census
Suitable for
Rehabilitation
4,841
0
0
0
Not Suitable for
Rehabilitation
Total
0
0
0
0
4,841
0
0
0
Table 35 - Vacant Units
Need for Owner and Rental Rehabilitation
Approximately 23 percent of Douglas County’s housing stock was built prior to 1990 meaning
that Douglas County’s housing is fairly new and not in need of substantial rehabilitation. There
are pockets of homes in neighborhoods that may need rehabilitation, and there are owners and
renters that would benefit from rehabilitation in terms of accessible modifications to meet their
needs. About 4,841 vacant units were identified as being suitable for rehabilitation.
Page 73 of 211
Estimated Number of Housing Units Occupied by Low or Moderate Income
Families with LBP Hazards
The number of housing units containing lead-based paint hazards is very low. Less than 10
percent of the county’s housing stock was built before 1980. Of these 8,523 units, only 1,023
are occupied by households with one or more children age six or younger. The number of lowor moderate-income families with one or more children age six or younger and living in a home
built before 1980 is 298, which is 1.2 percent of all low- or moderate-income families.
There is a potential for lead-based paint exposure in these homes. While 8,523 homes is a
relatively small number compared to the total number of homes in Douglas County, it presents a
potential health hazard to those who may be at risk of lead poisoning.
Discussion
Lead-based paint was banned nationwide for consumer use in 1978. The populations most at
risk for lead poisoning are children between the ages of six months to six years living in a pre1978 home. Exposure to lead hazards can lead to lower intelligence, learning disabilities, and
behavioral issues. Adults exposed to lead hazards can suffer from high blood pressure,
headaches and memory loss. In addition, populations living below the poverty level are more
likely to have other risk factors, which increase their risk of lead poisoning, including poor
nutrition and sub-standard housing. The 2012 American Community Survey shows that more
than 5 percent of the Douglas County population falls within this risk category as they have
incomes below the poverty level. This represents an increase in poverty from the Census 2000,
which indicated that 2 percent of the Douglas County population, had incomes below the
poverty level.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Disease Control and
Environmental Epidemiology Section, reported 380 Douglas County children under six years of
age were tested for elevated blood lead levels in 2012. One case of an elevated blood lead
level greater than or equal to 10 ug/dL (micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood) was found
among the children tested in Douglas County. In addition, five children were found to be above
the recommended reference level of 5 ug/dL, but below 10 ug/dL.
The County will ensure that HUD and Environmental Protection Agency requirements for safe
work practices around lead-based paint are met for any residential units that receive funding
through the CDBG program. This includes screening all residential units built prior to 1978 for
lead-based paint hazards when those homes receive repair services through a CDBG funded
program.
Page 74 of 211
MA-25 Public and Assisted Housing – 91.210(b)
Introduction
Douglas County currently does not have any public housing. The total number of units reflected in the table below is from Arapahoe
County, not Douglas.
Totals Number of Units
Program Type
Certificate
ModRehab
Public
Housing
Total
Project based
Vouchers
Tenant Special Purpose Voucher
based
Veterans
Family
Disabled
Affairs
Unification
*
Supportive
Program
Housing
# of units vouchers
available
110
393
# of accessible units
Data Source:
0
0
Table 36 – Total Number of Units by Program Type
Describe the supply of public housing developments
Douglas County currently does not have any public housing developments.
Describe the number and physical condition of public housing units in the jurisdiction, including those that are
participating in an approved Public Housing Agency Plan
N/A
Page 75 of 211
0
Public Housing Condition
Public Housing Development
N/A
Average Inspection Score
N/A
Table 37 - Public Housing Condition
Describe the restoration and revitalization needs of public housing units in the
jurisdiction
N/A
Describe the public housing agency's strategy for improving the living
environment of low- and moderate-income families residing in public housing
N/A
Discussion
N/A
Page 76 of 211
MA-30 Homeless Facilities and Services – 91.210(c)
Introduction
Douglas County currently does not have any homeless shelters or transitional housing. There are only eight permanent supportive
housing units. Douglas County’s homeless needs are steadily increasing. Growth of the homeless population requires creativity and
collaboration to expand current services and offer new services. New facilities are needed to meet this growing need.
Facilities and Housing Targeted to Homeless Households
Emergency Shelter Beds
Year Round Beds
(Current & New)
Households with Adult(s) and
Child(ren)
Households with Only Adults
Chronically Homeless Households
Veterans
Unaccompanied Youth
Transitional
Housing Beds
Current & New
Voucher /
Seasonal /
Overflow Beds
28
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Table 38 - Facilities and Housing Targeted to Homeless Households
Page 77 of 211
Permanent Supportive Housing
Beds
Current & New
Under
Development
Describe mainstream services, such as health, mental health, and employment
services to the extent those services are used to complement services targeted to
homeless persons
Homeless persons may access healthcare by contacting Douglas County Human Services,
Doctors Care, the Metro Community Provider Network and Tri-County Health Department. The
D/ETF collaborates with Castle Oaks Church and ACS Community Life Interventions to ensure
a Mobile Medical Van is available on site for clients. This service includes free medical and
prescription assistance two evenings per month. For mental health assistance, residents may
call the Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health or Arapahoe House.
Employment services are available through Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Their main office is just
north of Douglas County and a satellite office with limited services is located at the Castle Rock
Philip S. Miller Library. This location serves those living in the southern portion of the county.
List and describe services and facilities that meet the needs of homeless
persons, particularly chronically homeless individuals and families, families with
children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth. If the services
and facilities are listed on screen SP-40 Institutional Delivery Structure or screen
MA-35 Special Needs Facilities and Services, describe how these facilities and
services specifically address the needs of these populations.
Services and Facilities for All Homeless and Vulnerable Residents
The most valuable facility for the homeless population would be an emergency shelter. The
only shelter available in the county is the Crisis Center, which serves individuals and families
with children who are victims of domestic violence. A soup kitchen would also provide a healthy
meal to those without adequate nutrition.
Numerous agencies provide services to assist homeless persons such as the Douglas/Elbert
and Parker Task Forces. Both offer assistance with food, clothing, rent, utilities, and motel
vouchers. The local police and sheriff’s departments can issue motel vouchers for the
homeless, transients, and others when the Task Forces are closed. A number of other
organizations provide similar critical services to homeless and vulnerable residents. These
include: the Fresh Harvest Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul Societies, Southeast Community
Outreach, Catholic Charities, and New Hope Presbyterian Church.
Douglas County’s Family Development Program works with vulnerable residents facing multiple
barriers including homelessness. The Family Development Program is implemented by the
Community of Care Navigator, DCHP, Crisis Center and WrapAround program. The Navigator
acts as a case manager for clients involved in the Family Development Program. Clients are
assisted in obtaining and maintaining self-sufficiency for a period of six to nine months. The
Navigator is one of the few case managers available that works intensively with clients to
overcome barriers. Organizations need additional case managers available to assist clients for
longer periods of time.
Many of the clients seeking public assistance, including those participating in the Family
Development Program, are in need of employment related services. Survey responses
indicated the need for job training and job placement services. Public Services Goal 1.2 was
Page 78 of 211
created to address this need.
employment”.
It states, “Provide services to prepare eligible residents for
Interviewing for a job and maintaining employment can be challenging with limited transportation
options. Increasing transportation services would allow homeless and vulnerable residents to
more easily access services and increase employment opportunities.
Many of the organizations that serve homeless and vulnerable residents participate in the
CCN. Through this partnership, agencies are able to efficiently connect Douglas County
residents with resources in their community. Additional resources are available through
partnerships formed with agencies in the greater metro Denver area. These include the Denver
Metro Homeless Initiative, Mile High United Way, Family Tree, Colorado Coalition for the
Homeless, Volunteers of America, Comitis, and Urban Peak.
Services and Facilities for Veterans and Youth
Veterans can contact the Douglas County Office of Veterans Affairs (VA) for information and
resources regarding services they are eligible to receive. The Office of Veterans Affairs will also
assist homeless veterans and connect them to the necessary resources through the VA.
Douglas County School District staff is trained to identify homeless students in need, and help
connect them with proper resources. Families in the district can contact the homeless staff
liaison, who oversees a program to ensure all children in the district have the same
opportunities at school. The liaison organizes school supplies, free meals, and other services
for these students. During the 2012-2013 school year, 902 students were served by the liaison
through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program. Of the 902 students, 122 were
listed as unaccompanied youth.
The Douglas County Youth Initiative works to unite families in the Douglas County community.
Agencies, governments, schools and non-profits collaborate to improve and expand services for
youth. According to Youth Initiative staff, youth and their families would benefit from many of
the services that other residents need. Affordable and transitional housing would provide a safe
and stable environment. Housing may need to be located near transportation. Increased
transportation options would allow teenagers to work part-time while attending school or visit the
local library to complete homework. Sports and other social events might not be possible with
limited transportation.
Some families are in need of life skills. This includes financial education related to saving
money, balancing a checkbook, or plans to resolve debt. Affordable GED tests and job training
are critical components to assist families toward self-sufficiency. Grocery shopping and healthy
cooking classes are needed to teach families about nutrition. Education and counseling related
to substance abuse is needed as well as suicide prevention.
Services and Facilities for the Special Needs Population
Douglas County residents approved a mill levy for developmental disabilities. The bulk of the
mill levy (95 percent) is directed toward Developmental Pathways, as the County’s Community
Centered Board. The remaining mill levy funds (5 percent) are distributed to innovative and
collaborative projects that assist County residents. During the 2013-2014 grant cycle, a total of
$303,183 was awarded to:
Page 79 of 211
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Broken Tree Community Church for weekly recreational and social activities for people
with disabilities.
Cresthill Middle School for student’s admission to various recreational venues such as
bowling, recreation centers, museums, etc.
Easter Seals to offer recreation, socialization, and skill development for children.
Highlands Ranch Community Association for their Therapeutic Recreation Program.
Highpointe Services to subsidize their year-round Adult Day Enrichment Program and
the Summer Teen Enrichment Program.
Mountain Vista Middle School for student’s admission to various recreational venues and
athletic supplies.
New Day in Home Support and Respite Services for scholarships to their Explorer and
Sunlight Programs.
Town of Parker’s Recreation Program scholarships.
Promise Ranch for scholarships for their therapeutic riding lessons.
South Suburban Parks and Recreation for an eight-week summer recreation program.
Project UNIFY to expand their Special Olympics program in the four schools currently
participating.
To the Rescue for transportation and scholarships for their day program.
Wellspring Community to subsidize its Work and Enrichment Program.
Young Life Capernaum for a coordinator at their integrated summer and winter camps.
Developmental Pathways for respite services.
Neighbor Network to provide transportation to eligible clients.
The Arc Arapahoe and Douglas Counties provides individual and systems advocacy, and
educational workshops and trainings for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
and their families. In 2012, CDBG funds from Douglas and Arapahoe Counties helped The Arc
purchase a building to establish a permanent location for clients and expand their services and
programs.
Douglas County’s School District’s Bridge Program is available for young adults, ages 18 to 21,
with special needs. This program allows students to gain life skills, make friends and engage in
their community.
Audio Information Network of Colorado (AINC) provides free audio broadcasts of local news and
a variety of other topics for blind, visually impaired and print disabled residents. There are a
variety of options available to listen to the broadcasts such as online, podcasts, or through free
equipment provided by AINC. Limited audio broadcasts are also available in Spanish.
Residents with disabilities have many of the same needs as the low- and moderate-income
population. Forty-four percent of survey respondents with disabilities stated that affordable
housing was a barrier in accessing adequate housing that meets their needs. Affordable
housing, transportation and employment assistance were identified as the most important
improvements needed for persons with disabilities. One component of transportation services
for this population is the need for services tailored for specific disabilities.
Page 80 of 211
MA-35 Special Needs Facilities and Services – 91.210(d)
Introduction
Several providers in Douglas County offer services to residents with special needs and their
families. Affordable housing is a critical need for this population.
Including the elderly, frail elderly, persons with disabilities (mental, physical,
developmental), persons with alcohol or other drug addictions, persons with
HIV/AIDS and their families, public housing residents and any other categories
the jurisdiction may specify, and describe their supportive housing needs
Elderly and Frail Elderly
Douglas County experienced a 178 percent increase in the population age 65 and over from
2000 to 2010, from 7,322 to 20,343 people. The total population only increased 62 percent
during the same time period. People age 65 and over now make up 7 percent of the population,
compared to 4 percent in 2000. By the year 2030, seniors are projected to be 20 percent of the
total county population. Over the past two decades, Douglas County has been a “young”
county, with a high percentage of children and working-age adults. Now, the aging population
will require significant changes to the priorities of the County, in terms of resources, facilities,
and services provided.
As a result of this growing population, the Partnership of Douglas County Governments
(PDCG), created the Senior Initiative to help plan for future growth. The Senior Initiative hosted
Listening Tours throughout the county to receive input from Douglas County residents age 60
and older. Compiling survey results and feedback resulted in four recommendations. The first
is to share the results with the PDCG so that members can consider incorporating findings into
public policy decisions. The second recommendation is to develop and launch a senior
interactive website with relevant information for seniors. The third recommendation is organize
a consortium of providers to create networking, information sharing and partnership
opportunities. The fourth recommendation is to work with established collaborative groups such
as DCTS and the DCHP to address the transportation and housing needs identified through the
public outreach process.
Douglas County Human Services (DCHS) assists older adults in becoming self-sufficient. This
includes information about Medicare Savings Programs (State Medicaid pays the Medicare Part
B Premium), in-home and assisted living programs, and long-term nursing home care. Seniors
may also need assistance in determining eligibility for programs like the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program or SNAP (previously called Food Stamps) or the Low-Income Energy
Assistance Program (LEAP). Additionally, DCHS is responsible for adult protection, including
investigating reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults age 18 and older.
The Douglas County Seniors’ Council meets monthly to discuss needs of the senior population.
The Council is comprised of regular and associate members who represent community groups,
provider agencies, County staff and senior adults. The Seniors’ Council acts as the County
Council on Aging and provides input to the Area Agency on Aging on service needs and funding
priorities.
Page 81 of 211
In order to manage the needs of the growing senior population and especially for the frail
elderly, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has made efforts to assist this population by
implementing the Colorado Life Trak program. This high-tech tracking system is used by law
enforcement departments nationwide to locate adults suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and
children with Downs Syndrome, Autism, and other related special needs if they become lost.
Those at risk wear a tamperproof wristband transmitter that emits a silent radio signal. If they
are reported missing, trained personnel use tracking receivers to locate the signal and return the
person to their home. Douglas County currently has about 35 clients signed up for the Colorado
Life Trak program.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies meet with prospective families to set up the program,
and follow-up each month to change the wristband and check the battery. Deputies also
maintain the database of all participants.
Persons with Mental Health Issues
The ADMHN serves both Arapahoe and Douglas County residents. They offer housing support
and administer Section 8 housing vouchers. Clients with mental illness are able to use these
vouchers to rent homes. Subsidized rental apartments are available to homeless, low-income
individuals who are receiving mental health services through ADMHN’s Shelter Plus Care
Program. The ADMHN provides several types of supported housing arrangements:
· Housing Support – Case management and housing resource assistance.
· Transitional Housing – Temporary housing for those with serious mental illness.
· Bridge Acute Treatment Unit – Crisis and emergency short-term residential care as well
as a psychiatric hospital alternative.
ADMHN provides housing in two group homes, assisting a total of 12 clients. Individuals may
live in the group home for up to one year while receiving case management services and
treatment to prepare them for living on their own.
Recent upgrades to double the number of adults in these units from six individuals to 12 were
made possible by a CDBG grant from Arapahoe County. Additional support came from the
Arapahoe County Weatherization Division.
Aspen Leaf Apartments in Aurora provides 11 safe, clean affordable apartments for clients,
particularly those in the Mental Health Court program. This project was made possible through
HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).
Another NSP project, Fox Street
Apartments, included the acquisition of two adjacent apartment buildings in Littleton. These
blighted buildings were completely renovated in 2011 to help revitalize the neighborhood while
providing affordable housing for ADMHN clients in accordance with NSP guidelines.
Persons with Physical Disabilities
Douglas County does not have housing dedicated entirely to persons with physical disabilities;
however, the Fair Housing Act ensures that citizens with physical disabilities have access to
housing that meets their needs. Landlords and other housing providers may not discriminate
against persons who are in a wheelchair, blind, deaf, or who have other disabilities. Property
managers may not refuse to communicate because TTY, video relay or other relay system is
needed. Landlords must make reasonable accommodations or allow reasonable modifications
for persons with disabilities, such as allowing a seeing-eye dog in a no pets building or
approving the installation of strobes in an apartment.
Page 82 of 211
Persons with Developmental Disabilities
Several organizations are dedicated to assisting Douglas County residents with developmental
disabilities.
Developmental Pathways owns two group homes in Parker that houses 12 developmentally
disabled residents.
As Douglas County’s Community Centered Board, Developmental
Pathways administers Medicaid and state funds to eligible adults and children.
Adult Day Programs provide health and social services to persons with developmental
disabilities. These programs offer individual therapeutic and psychological care on a daily
basis. The Colorado Department of Human Services operates the Supportive Housing and
Homeless Program, which offers a rental assistance program and administers Section 8
vouchers for special needs populations.
With help from the Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation and participating lenders across
Colorado, individuals with developmental disabilities may be eligible for low interest rate loans
or financial assistance. Participating lenders are Citywide Bank, Commercial Federal, U.S.
Bank and Wells Fargo. Each program is specifically designed for individuals with disabilities. If
an individual is interested in these programs, he or she must first attend a Homeownership
Education class. This class is available through the Homeowners Education and Resource
Opportunities Alliance, which is a collaborative effort of non-profit organizations, state and
federal agencies, and lenders that provide education and resources regarding homeownership
to Colorado residents with disabilities. The Rental Housing Access Modification Program
provides funding to retrofit rental units in order to make them suitable for disabled residents.
Substance Abuse
There are several nearby rehabilitation facilities to combat alcohol or drug addiction that serve
Douglas County residents. ADMHN staff can provide recommendations on facilities that would
best serve the client’s needs.
The ADMHN serves adults and adolescents struggling with substance abuse. Residents are
offered choices regarding how they wish to address their struggles with addiction. An
individualized treatment plan can be created or they may participate in group therapy. Others
might prefer case management, medication, or one of the other ADMHN services available to
lead them to recovery.
Persons with HIV or AIDS and their Families
Douglas County currently does not have housing specifically for residents with HIV or AIDS.
This population may utilize services offered by any of the local providers as they do not exclude
persons with HIV or AIDS. Specific services tailored to this population are not currently
available in Douglas County.
Public Housing
Douglas County currently does not have any public housing.
Page 83 of 211
Describe programs for ensuring that persons returning from mental and physical
health institutions receive appropriate supportive housing
The ADMHN provides a wide range of mental health and substance abuse services through a
variety of treatment programs. The Bridge Acute Treatment Unit (ATU) provides crisis and
emergency short-term residential care with mental health holds and short-term observation.
ATU offers an alternative to a psychiatric hospital stay with a 16-bed facility that serves patients
transferring from inpatient facilities.
The treatment goal is to help stabilize clients before they transition back into the community.
Clients learn how to manage their medication and have the opportunity to visit a psychiatrist or
prescribing nurse daily. Around-the-clock nursing and a dedicated weekend social worker
ensures that clients’ needs are being met. Individuals spend an average of seven days in the
ATU.
Specify the activities that the jurisdiction plans to undertake during the next year
to address the housing and supportive services needs identified in accordance
with 91.215(e) with respect to persons who are not homeless but have other
special needs. Link to one-year goals. 91.315(e)
The following activities will occur throughout the next year to address housing and supportive
services to vulnerable and special needs residents:
·
·
·
·
Douglas County will continue to accept applications on an annual basis and distribute
funds through the Developmental Disability Mill Levy.
Transportation grants received through federal and state agencies will continue to
provide transit services to the senior and disabled populations.
The Douglas County CCN will offer two “Strive to Thrive” events with access to
resources for vulnerable residents to help them improve their circumstances. These
winter and summer events allow residents to enjoy a hot meal, learn about housing
options and access services available to them.
Housing and public services have been identified as high priority needs for the next fiveyear CDBG period (2014-2018). Projects addressing a high priority need receive
additional points when being evaluated during the annual application review process.
CDBG’s housing goal to “expand available housing options to eligible residents” includes
housing for vulnerable and special needs populations. The three housing objectives identified
below will encourage future applications to increase and develop housing options for persons
who are not homeless, but have other special needs:
·
·
·
populations.
Page 84 of 211
For entitlement/consortia grantees: Specify the activities that the jurisdiction
plans to undertake during the next year to address the housing and supportive
services needs identified in accordance with 91.215(e) with respect to persons
who are not homeless but have other special needs. Link to one-year goals.
(91.220(2))
The following activities will occur throughout the next year to address the housing and
supportive services needs for persons who are not homeless, but have other special needs:
· Completion of Auburn Ridge and Apex Meridian apartments will increase the number of
housing units available to eligible residents.
· Transportation for Auburn Ridge through DCHP.
· Housing projects to be completed with 2014 CDBG funds for eligible residents include:
o The DCHP will offer down payment assistance through its Home Ownership
Program.
o Homeowners will receive housing rehabilitation services from BRI.
These activities meet the goal of “expanding available housing options to eligible residents”, and
address the objectives below:
· H1: Develop and maintain quality affordable housing for owners and renters. Auburn
Ridge and Apex Meridian Apartments are in the development stages, but will be
completed by the end of 2014. These two projects will provide additional affordable
housing to seniors and families. The DCHP’s Home Ownership Program makes
purchasing a home more affordable for first-time homebuyers.
· H2: Increase and maintain accessible housing options for the disabled and aging
populations. BRI housing rehabilitation will improve accessibility for residents.
The following activity meets the Public Services goal (PS1) to “expand services that create
conditions for eligible residents to obtain and maintain self-sufficiency”.
·
PS1.1: Transportation for Auburn Ridge will “increase affordable transportation options”.
Seniors residing at Auburn Ridge can take advantage of transportation services for
medical appointments, errands and visits to the Castle Rock Senior Center.
Douglas County will continue to work closely with organizations that provide services to people
with special needs. Organizations serving the special needs population will be encouraged to
apply for CDBG funds in accordance with local and national objectives.
Page 85 of 211
MA-40 Barriers to Affordable Housing – 91.210(e)
Negative Effects of Public Policies on Affordable Housing and Residential
Investment
Although progress is continually being made to increase affordable housing in Douglas County,
barriers do exist. Development costs continue to be a barrier. The cost of land being at a
premium and water being a scarce resource are factors that contribute to increasing the costs of
development. For these reasons, it is extremely challenging to develop affordable housing in
this county without having multiple funding sources in place. It is difficult to build multi-family
residential developments that serve persons and households in the 40 to 80 percent of AMI due
to these high costs. The majority of affordable apartments in the county do not offer units below
50 percent of AMI or at fair market rent. Even the 60 to 80 percent AMI developments have to
include market rate units within their development in order to be financially feasible.
The Douglas County Department of Community Development continues to improve its planning
process. The development review process in is not considered to be a hindrance or barrier to
development in the county. Development fees charged by the County for planning, engineering,
and building services are considered to be low or comparable to the fees charged by other
jurisdictions. The County has greatly reduced the processing time for development review
through a combination of regulatory streamlining, shortened process timelines, and
departmental coordination. Faster development review saves developers and businesses time
and money.
Through the Zoning and Subdivision Resolutions, the county established a public participation
process, giving residents a voice in land use changes. Residents often resist rezoning or
subdividing land that will accommodate an increase in density, which is linked to affordable
housing. Residents are concerned that their property values will drop or they will experience an
increase in traffic volume. In recent years, affordable units are integrated into developments,
instead of clustering units together. This technique has helped to offset the stigma of affordable
units. This approach to affordable housing allows low-income residents dignity and privacy
because the units are not labeled as low-income.
Some of the more affordable housing in Douglas County is located in very stable areas of the
county. In 2010, 23 percent of single-family houses and townhouses were valued below
$250,000, according to Douglas County Assessor records. In some areas, such as Sedalia,
Louviers, the Town of Larkspur, downtown Castle Rock, and areas within the Pike National
Forest, housing is more than 60 years old. In areas like Acres Green, Cottonwood, Roxborough
Village, Silver Heights, Founders Village, and some subdivisions in central Parker, housing was
built in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Most of these houses are on smaller lots in urban areas.
Housing demolitions are uncommon in Douglas County. Since 2006, only 78 houses have been
demolished. The major reason for tearing down a house is to build something new. House fires
account for some of the demolitions. A few houses in formerly rural areas of the county are
demolished when the area is rezoned to urban densities. Older and smaller houses on larger
lots are sometimes torn down in order to build larger, new houses. Since much of the housing
valued under $250,000 is on small lots in urban areas, demolition is not a major threat to the
current supply of lower-cost homes.
Page 86 of 211
The County has been working to reduce barriers to affordable housing, and thereby affirmatively
furthering fair housing, by encouraging new housing construction that is affordable to a wide
variety of people and household types, as well as supporting the retention of existing affordable
housing stock.
Housing discrimination is reported infrequently in Douglas County. Occasionally there are
sporadic examples from residents who report being treated unfairly when they are looking for an
apartment to rent. Large families with children occasionally encounter “steering” to other
apartment complexes or are told there are no units available. To the extent which housing
discrimination exists, it could be a barrier for those individuals wishing to access affordable
housing. These issues make accessing affordable housing more challenging.
Douglas County has hired a consultant to review the Zoning and Subdivision Resolutions and all
codes to ensure the County is in compliance with new case law, and changes to federal and
state laws. A small component of this review relates to fair housing. Douglas County will
determine if changes are needed based on the consultant’s report.
Page 87 of 211
MA-45 Non-Housing Community Development Assets – 91.215 (f)
Introduction
The economic conditions in Douglas County are healthy. Even during the recession, the
unemployment rate of county residents was lower than that of the Denver metro area, the state
of Colorado, and the nation. The number of jobs located in the county decreased during the
recession, but the county gained back those jobs and added new jobs by 2012.
The workforce that lives in the county is larger than the number of jobs located in the county.
According to the 2010 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics data from the U.S. Census
Bureau, 95,722 jobs are located in Douglas County, but 135,691 workers live in the county.
Almost 35 percent, or 32,899, of the jobs located in the county are filled by residents. People
living outside of Douglas County commute in to fill the remaining 65 percent, or nearly 63,000
jobs. Of the 135,691 workers living in the county, 76 percent of them commute outside of the
county for employment. This large in-flow and out-flow indicates a mismatch of jobs and labor.
Economic Development Market Analysis
As the county grows, this mismatch, or gap between the number of jobs and the size of the
workforce, will shrink as more employers locate in the county. The industry sectors of the jobs
and of the labor force will diversify as well. For example, although the retail sector is still the
largest job sector in the county, the percentage of total jobs in that sector has been decreasing
as jobs in other sectors, like healthcare, have been increasing. As more skilled jobs come into
the county, members of the highly-educated workforce are more likely to find employment in the
county. Conversely, more affordable housing in the county may make it possible for employees
in lower-paying employment sectors, like retail and accommodation and food services, to live in
Douglas County.
Page 88 of 211
Business Activity
Business by Sector
Number
of
Workers
Agriculture, Mining, Oil & Gas Extraction
Arts, Entertainment, Accommodations
Construction
Education and Health Care Services
Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate
Information
Manufacturing
Other Services
Professional, Scientific, Management
Services
Public Administration
Retail Trade
Transportation and Warehousing
Wholesale Trade
Total
Number
of Jobs
Share of
Workers
%
Share of
Jobs
%
1,341
12,202
5,400
15,320
13,616
7,825
6,957
3,789
471
12,390
5,322
9,819
7,444
5,111
2,392
2,920
1
10
5
13
12
7
6
3
1
15
6
12
9
6
3
3
Jobs
less
workers
%
-1
4
2
-1
-3
-1
-3
0
19,206
205
13,628
3,227
7,613
110,329
12,564
125
16,715
794
4,006
80,073
16
0
12
3
6
--
15
0
20
1
5
--
-1
0
8
-2
-2
--
Table 39 - Business Activity
Data
Source:
2006-2010 ACS (Workers), 2010 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (Jobs)
Labor Force
Total Population in the Civilian Labor Force
Civilian Employed Population 16 years and over
Unemployment Rate
Unemployment Rate for Ages 16-24
Unemployment Rate for Ages 25-65
Data Source:
2006-2010 ACS
Table 40 - Labor Force
Occupations by Sector
Management, business and financial
Farming, fisheries and forestry occupations
Service
Sales and office
Construction, extraction, maintenance and repair
Production, transportation and material moving
Data Source:
2006-2010 ACS
Page 89 of 211
150,465
143,345
4.73
13.52
3.27
Table 41 – Occupations by Sector
Number of People
56,698
4,524
8,284
23,284
7,017
4,598
Travel Time
Travel Time
< 30 Minutes
30-59 Minutes
60 or More Minutes
Total
Data Source:
Number
Percentage
74,053
44,444
8,120
126,617
58%
35%
6%
100%
Table 42 - Travel Time
2006-2010 ACS
Education:
Educational Attainment by Employment Status (Population 16 and Older)
Educational Attainment
In Labor Force
Civilian Employed
Unemployed
Less than high school graduate
High school graduate (includes
equivalency)
Some college or Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree or higher
1,944
134
Not in Labor
Force
969
15,444
36,345
73,035
935
1,717
2,364
3,690
8,054
12,337
Table 43 - Educational Attainment by Employment Status
Data Source:
2006-2010 ACS
Educational Attainment by Age
Less than 9th grade
9th to 12th grade, no diploma
High school graduate, GED, or
alternative
Some college, no degree
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Graduate or professional degree
Data Source:
2006-2010 ACS
18–24 yrs
60
2,025
25–34 yrs
252
580
Age
35–44 yrs
120
754
45–65 yrs
326
1,015
65+ yrs
373
758
4,549
4,980
740
2,326
74
4,083
7,204
2,631
14,257
5,216
5,442
9,734
4,408
22,119
9,100
10,572
15,974
6,267
24,181
13,064
4,285
3,996
861
4,338
2,656
Table 44 - Educational Attainment by Age
Educational Attainment – Median Earnings in the Past 12 Months
Educational Attainment
Less than high school graduate
High school graduate (includes equivalency)
Some college or Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Graduate or professional degree
Data Source:
2006-2010 ACS
Median Earnings in the Past 12 Months
29,418
38,824
45,525
65,140
77,397
Table 45 – Median Earnings in the Past 12 Months
Page 90 of 211
Based on the Business Activity table above, what are the major employment
sectors within your jurisdiction?
Based on the Business Activity table above, the major private employment sectors in Douglas
County are Retail Trade; Professional, Scientific, Management Services; and Arts,
Entertainment, Accommodations; with 21 percent, 16 percent, and 15 percent of the private
employment, respectively. The public sector has an additional 10,700 jobs in Douglas County.
The public sector accounts for 11 percent of jobs in Douglas County while the private sector
accounts for 89 percent.
The major private sectors of employment for the residents of Douglas County are Professional,
Scientific, Management Services at 17 percent; Education and Health Care Services at 14
percent; Retail Trade at 12 percent; and Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate also at 12
percent. In addition, nearly 18,000 county residents work in public or governmental jobs.
Thirteen percent of the county’s labor force currently works in the public sector, while 87 percent
work in the private sector.
Describe the workforce and infrastructure needs of the business community
Since 36 percent of private sector jobs located in Douglas County are in the typically lowerwage sectors of Arts, Entertainment, Accommodations and Retail Trade, providing more
affordable housing options in the county would benefit these workers. More than 40 percent of
jobs located in the county are currently filled by people living outside of Douglas County.
The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages from the Colorado Department of Labor and
Employment indicated that the number of jobs located in Douglas County increased 4 percent
from 2011 to 2012, bringing the average annual total to 95,223 jobs. The retail trade industry
continues to be the County’s largest employer in 2012 with 17 percent of jobs, followed by
government (12 percent), accommodation and food services (11 percent), and professional and
technical services (10 percent).
According to the American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates, the population with incomes
below the poverty level increased 53 percent from the 2007-2009 estimates to the 2010-2012
estimates, from 8,408 to 12,878 people. The percentage of people in poverty in the 2007-2009
estimates was 3 percent; in 2010-2012, it was 4 percent.
According to Arapahoe/Douglas Works! the following are the hardest jobs to fill in the U.S.:
skilled trades, sales representatives, drivers, IT staff, accounting and finance, engineers,
technicians, management and executives, mechanics and teachers.
Out of the Denver metro region, Douglas County is expected to have the highest job rate growth
in 2014 with a 5 percent estimated increase. Occupations with the largest employment growth
through 2017 include: personal financial advisors; combined food preparation and serving
works, including fast food; real estate sales agents; personal care aides; registered nurses;
janitors and cleaners (except maids and housekeepers); securities, commodities, and financial
services sales agents; waiters and waitresses; home health aides; and customer service
representatives. This data was provided from QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, SelfEmployed and Extended Proprietors.
Page 91 of 211
The infrastructure needs of the business community in Douglas County include providing central
water and wastewater to the Highway 85 Corridor between Highlands Ranch and Sedalia. The
corridor has many parcels with industrial zoning, but without central water and sewer, the
owners cannot develop the parcels to their highest and best use. Development in the corridor is
currently limited to very low-intensity uses such as outdoor storage. The County has studied
this situation in an effort to find a solution. In addition to providing economic development to the
corridor, new water and sewer infrastructure will be an environmental benefit to the riparian
corridor parallel to Highway 85.
Describe any major changes that may have an economic impact, such as planned
local or regional public or private sector investments or initiatives that have
affected or may affect job and business growth opportunities during the planning
period. Describe any needs for workforce development, business support or
infrastructure these changes may create.
Douglas County’s business-friendly approach includes incentives for businesses moving into the
county and increasing the number of primary jobs available to residents.
The City of Lone Tree is experiencing major changes that will have an economic impact over
the next several years. In the RidgeGate development at I-25 and Lincoln Avenue, the Sky
Ridge Medical Center is expanding and Charles Schwab is building a regional office campus.
Sky Ridge is adding 138,000 square feet to the existing hospital and is expected to add many
new jobs. Charles Schwab is constructing a campus with three office buildings, a retail building,
and a parking garage. Approximately 2,000 employees will work at this campus. In addition,
the Regional Transportation District (RTD) FasTracks project is planning an extension of the
light rail line from Lincoln Station to an area in RidgeGate. The economic impact to Douglas
County will be significant.
Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Center is a member of the Colorado Department of Labor
and Employment’s statewide network of workforce centers, which provide a variety of no-cost
services to job seekers and businesses. The organization connects people and businesses in
Arapahoe and Douglas Counties, and throughout the Denver and Aurora metropolitan region.
Its mission is to “strategically invest in Human Capital which contributes to regional economic
vitality”.
The Workforce Center offers an array of tools to support local job seekers, including resources
and workshops for a self-directed job search, one-on-one employment counseling, and training
assistance. Arapahoe/Douglas Works! utilizes Connecting Colorado, which is an online
database of statewide job openings and registered job seekers, to facilitate a match between
skilled workers and businesses.
Free workforce development services are available to businesses in the Denver metro area to
ensure that the region remains economically competitive and boasts an adequately skilled
workforce for the future. Residents may access resources through Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
from their website or by visiting their offices in Centennial or Castle Rock.
Douglas County commissioners and staff are involved in the local chambers of commerce, as
well as the local economic development councils, to remain apprised of development
opportunities and be well-informed about the business community. These agencies offer
Page 92 of 211
various programs to benefit businesses and workers, such as Leads groups, economic
gardening, networking opportunities, training, and job recruitment and retention efforts.
How do the skills and education of the current workforce correspond to
employment opportunities in the jurisdiction?
The Douglas County workforce is very well educated with 57 percent having a bachelor’s
degree or higher. Residents have been successful in seeking higher paid jobs that require a
college or post-graduate degree. Less than 2 percent of the residents in the workforce are not
high school graduates. Overall, the skills and education of the current workforce correspond
well to the employment opportunities in the jurisdiction. Because Douglas County has more
workers than jobs, 60 percent of residents commute outside of the County for employment. The
unemployment rate for residents is typically lower than in the surrounding counties in the metro
area.
Describe any current workforce training initiatives, including those supported by
Workforce Investment Boards, community colleges and other organizations.
Describe how these efforts will support the jurisdiction's Consolidated Plan.
Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Center is guided by a Workforce Investment Board
comprised of local community members. From 2013 to 2015, the Board will be focused on the
following strategic priorities:
1. Local, regional, state and national workforce development advocacy.
2. Increase business and industry sector awareness and utilization.
3. Collaborate with in-demand businesses and high growth industries on local and regional
education, economic and employment and training efforts for the best return on
investment.
4. Strategically focused, demand driven training and talent development.
5. Driving creative and innovative approaches to meet job seeker and business needs.
Arapahoe Community College offers a Workforce Training Program through its Parker campus.
This program involves assessing an organization’s training needs and proposing customized
programs to help employees meet their goals. Training is targeted with practical, real-world
scenarios. Services can be specialized to meet a variety of workforce needs from professional
to technical. Flexible training provided in the classroom or online is designed to meet a variety
of schedules.
The South Metro Small Business Development Center offers resources and workshops to help
small businesses prosper. The local chambers of commerce offer a variety of training
opportunities mostly for members, although non-members can typically pay to participate.
Training may be anything from how to use social media for your business, IT security, or
branding.
Most economic development councils also have supportive services available, such as business
retention and expansion programs, small business assistance, partnership opportunities, and
tax information.
These efforts will support the Consolidated Plan because they offer training and placement
opportunities for residents meeting Public Services Goal 1, Objective 2 (PS1.2). Supportive
Page 93 of 211
services provided by economic development councils help businesses succeed and may result
in the need to hire additional staff. This may increase positions available to Douglas County
residents, some of which may qualify as low- and moderate-income.
Does your jurisdiction participate in a Comprehensive Economic Development
Strategy (CEDS)?
The County does not participate in a regional CEDS, as defined by the U.S. Department of
Commerce and the Economic Development Administration. The County collaborates with
regional economic development partners to achieve regional economic goals and objectives.
There are three regional entities that Douglas County partners with for economic growth:
1. The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
2. The Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, which acts as the regional
economic development entity in the seven-county Denver metro region. This
organization works to create an environment that attracts companies and jobs with
support of the region’s business community. Strategic initiatives are identified by the
organization’s partners, cities, counties and the business community.
3. Denver South Economic Development Partnership, which focuses on business
attraction and retention, workforce development, and local business support in
Arapahoe and Douglas Counties.
These agencies work to create a positive business climate that encourages job growth through
small business support, and business attraction and retention efforts. Specific objectives these
agencies focus on include key industry initiatives, transportation infrastructure, and a balanced
tax structure for businesses. At the local level, the county partners with municipalities,
economic development councils, and others to support business development.
If so, what economic development initiatives are you undertaking that may be
coordinated with the Consolidated Plan? If not, describe other local/regional
plans or initiatives that impact economic growth.
The Board of County Commissioners’ Economic Foundations Goal works to encourage and
plan for growth, stating: “Conditions exist that enable citizens, taxpayers and businesses the
opportunity to prosper”.
· 1.3.1 The tax and fee structure are balanced and fair – fostering a strong economy.
· 1.3.2 The County regulatory process is timely, efficient, effective and responsive.
· 1.3.3 Business and community organizations, taxpayers and citizens see Douglas
County Government as an effective partner in creating a strong economy.
Douglas County’s business-friendly approach includes incentives for businesses moving into the
county and increasing the number of primary jobs available to residents. The commissioners’
goals were established in 2009, and economic development continues to be a priority.
To be competitive and support the retention and expansion of primary jobs, the County
developed a program of economic development incentives to facilitate and attract new
employment opportunities. The program provides the opportunity for expanding or relocating
companies to request construction fee waivers, expedited land use application processing,
business personal property tax rebates, and cost sharing for certain public improvements.
Page 94 of 211
The Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP) has been developed as the foundation for the County’s
future growth and development, and as such, is intended to provide decision makers with
guidance on how to maintain and improve identified community values. The CMP is the
instrument that establishes long-range general policies in a coordinated and unified
manner. Decision makers can use the Plan for guidance on resource allocation, zoning and
subdivision of land, capital improvements plans, budgeting, and county work programs. All of
which guide and shape new growth to ensure development is well-served and that resources
and amenities are preserved. The Transportation Master Plan and Parks, Trails and Open
Space Master Plan also take into account the impact economic growth has on outdoor
amenities.
Discussion
In recent years, the Board of County Commissioners reviewed the county’s procedures to
streamline processes and change public perceptions of the operating culture by:
·
·
·
·
·
·
Establishing a Policy Governance Model that identifies shared Board goals.
Guiding departments to align policies, procedures, and regulations with Board goals.
Facilitating a “business friendly” environment.
Adopting regulatory changes to streamline permit processes.
Supporting legislation to foster economic development and job growth.
Developing a competitive advantage with incentives: fee waivers, business personal
property tax rebates, expedited processing, and shared infrastructure costs.
The Board of County Commissioners has made economic development one of their priorities.
Community and provider survey respondents indicated a need for employment related services
such as job training and job placement. Taking those into consideration, a CDBG goal and
objective focusing on economic development was established. The goal is to “Create conditions
that strengthen businesses and provide for a robust economy”. The objective supporting this
goal is:
· ED1: Help local businesses grow and prosper by increasing or retaining the number of
jobs available.
Also based on this feedback, Public Services Goal 1 was developed to “Expand services that
create conditions for eligible residents to obtain and maintain self-sufficiency. The objective
supporting this goal is:
· PS1.2: Provide services to prepare eligible residents for employment.
Transportation was identified as a high priority by respondents. Basic transportation options
can impact the economy, including access to jobs, services and overall quality of life. A viable
transportation system would have a positive effect on the County’s economic development
efforts. The objective supporting this priority need is listed under Public Services Goal 1:
· PS1.1: Increase affordable transportation options.
Organizations applying for CDBG funds can create economic development projects that meet
this goal and objective. Local businesses would also benefit from this Economic Development
goal and objective. For example, facade improvements would be eligible under this objective.
Exterior improvements enhance the building and the surrounding area, making it more inviting
to customers. As the business thrives, the need for additional jobs is created.
Page 95 of 211
MA-50 Needs and Market Analysis Discussion
Are there areas where households with multiple housing problems are
concentrated? (include a definition of "concentration")
There are no populations or households in concentrated areas or neighborhoods that are more
affected by multiple housing problems.
Are there any areas in the jurisdiction where racial or ethnic minorities or lowincome families are concentrated? (include a definition of "concentration")
Douglas County has a few areas of minority concentration. For the purpose of this plan, an
area of minority concentration is defined as a census block group in which the percentage of
minorities is 10 percentage points higher than the county’s total percentage of minorities.
Minority refers to people who identify themselves in the 2010 Census as either Hispanic or
Latino, or any race other than “White alone”.
According to the 2010 Census, the percentage of minorities in Douglas County is 15 percent.
Eight census block groups have percentages of minorities greater than 25 percent, which is
defined as a concentration. These block groups are located in urban areas like Castle Rock,
Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and Parker. Also, many of these block groups have high
percentages of rented housing units. Examples of these are the three block groups with the
highest percentages of minorities in the county. Those block groups are: northwest Castle Rock
by Highway 85, adjacent to the Lincoln Light Rail Station stop in Lone Tree, and in the Meridian
Office Park north of Lincoln Avenue. Housing in each of these block groups is dominated by
apartment and condo complexes.
Not all areas of minority concentration have rental housing. The fourth and fifth ranked block
groups for highest percentages of minorities have very little rented housing and are dominated
by single-family residences. One of these is the northeast section of the Acres Green
neighborhood, and the other is an area in southeast Highlands Ranch.
Block groups with the highest percentages of Hispanic or Latino residents are located in Castle
Rock and Acres Green. Overall, Hispanic or Latino residents are 8 percent of the county’s
population. The next largest minority group is Asian residents, who make up 4 percent of the
population. Block groups with the highest percentages of Asians are located in the northern tier
of the county, including the areas of Highlands Ranch, Meridian, and Lone Tree.
An area of the county where low-income families are concentrated is the Cottonwood area near
Parker Road and E-470. This area is a CDBG Target Area. CDBG Target Areas in Douglas
County were determined by the upper quartile exception. This allows block groups with
concentrations of 29 percent of low- and moderate-income households to be designated as
Target Areas.
Douglas County’s CDBG program typically funds projects that are available to all residents, not
just those living in a concentrated area. For example, rent and utility assistance are available to
any eligible resident. The DCHP’s Home Ownership Program provides down payment or
shared equity assistance to eligible residents interested in purchasing their first home. Any
eligible resident is assisted regardless of race or ethnicity.
Page 96 of 211
Jurisdictions receiving CDBG funds for a project are generally only available to eligible residents
within that jurisdiction. In 2013, the Town of Parker was awarded funds for an Urgent Home
Repair Program. Homeowners in the Cottonwood area could submit an application for this
program. If they are determined to be eligible and establish the need for repairs, they might be
selected to receive services.
What are the characteristics of the market in these areas/neighborhoods?
According to HUD, a disproportionately greater need exists when the percentage of persons in a
category of need who are members of a particular racial or ethnic group is at least 10
percentage points higher than the percentage of persons in the category as a whole. Using this
definition as it related to the Hispanic population, an area with more than 18 percent Hispanic or
Latino residents is considered an area of ethnic concentration in Douglas County.
The number of minorities in Douglas County is increasing. Between 2000 and 2010, the
number of minorities in the County increased 133 percent, while the total population increased
only 62 percent. The population in 2010 was 15 percent minority, compared to 10 percent
minority in 2000. Minority refers to people who identify themselves in the Census as either
Hispanic or Latino, or any race other than white alone. Douglas County is gradually moving
towards the State of Colorado’s percentage of minorities, which was 30 percent in 2010.
The block groups in Douglas County that have the highest percentages of minorities are located
in urban areas like Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and Parker. Also, many of the
block groups with minority concentrations have high percentages of rented housing units.
Examples of these are the three block groups with the highest percentages of minorities in the
County: a block group in northwest Castle Rock by Highway 85, a block group in Lone Tree
adjacent to the Lincoln Light Rail Station, and the block group in Meridian Office Park north of
Lincoln Avenue. Housing in each of these block groups is dominated by apartment and condo
complexes.
Not all areas of minority concentration have rental housing. The fourth and fifth ranked block
groups for highest percentages of minorities have very little rental housing and are dominated
by single-family residences. One of these is the northeast section of the Acres Green
neighborhood, and the other is an area in southeast Highlands Ranch. Areas with the top five
highest percentages of minorities range from 33 to 26 percent.
Block groups with the highest percentages of Hispanic and Latino residents are located in
Castle Rock and Acres Green. Overall, Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8 percent of
the county’s population. The next largest minority group is Asian residents, who make up 4
percent of the population. Block groups with the highest percentages of Asians are located in
the northern tier of the county, including the areas of Highlands Ranch, Meridian, and Lone
Tree.
Douglas County typically funds projects that are clientele-based, as opposed to location based.
This is due to the fact that there are few areas in Douglas County that meet the CDBG
requirements of having a concentration of low- and moderate-income qualified residents. HUD
allows Douglas County to use the upper quartile exception when determining target areas;
without this exception only eight block groups qualify as target areas with concentrations of 51
Page 97 of 211
percent or more of low- and moderate-income households. Using the upper quartile allows the
County to add an additional 28 block groups as target areas.
Are there any community assets in these areas/neighborhoods?
There are many community assets in the Acres Green area. Residents are in close proximity to
transportation options via I-25 and the Lincoln Light Rail Station. A variety of shopping and
sports activities are available at Park Meadows Mall, surrounding shops, several neighborhood
parks, and a golf course. Guests can visit family or come for business and have a choice of
hotels. Books and other resources are available at the Lone Tree Library and various medical
care options at Sky Ridge Medical Center.
Castle Rock is easily accessible along the I-25 corridor. Multiple government services are
available in Castle Rock as the county seat of Douglas County, including Douglas County
Human Services. Residents in need can visit the D/ETF for food, clothing, rent and utility
assistance. Numerous shops for different styles and tastes can be found at the Outlet Mall.
Residents can get out and enjoy Colorado’s weather at one of many neighborhood parks, trails
and open space areas, and two golf courses. The Philip S. Miller Library is available to check
out books or DVDs, and use a computer. The Arapahoe/Douglas Works! satellite office is
located in the Philip S. Miller Library where residents can access employment resources.
Castle Rock’s newest addition is the Castle Rock Adventist Hospital with an emergency room
and medical offices.
Are there other strategic opportunities in any of these areas?
Both Acres Green and Castle Rock are located in areas with a high concentration of retail jobs.
Businesses in these areas offer opportunities that may not require a higher level of education
such as jobs available through hotels or hospitals.
There may be a strategic opportunity in the Cottonwood area. Within this Target Area is a
partially vacant shopping center. The shopping center previously had a supermarket but now is
home to vacant storefronts and smaller businesses. According to the Town of Parker, the
shopping center is going to be redeveloped and a new 124,000 square foot King Soopers will be
built. The development will bring more economic activity back to the Cottonwood area. It will
provide jobs within walking distance for the residents as well as expanded shopping options.
Page 98 of 211
Strategic Plan
SP-05 Overview
Strategic Plan Overview
The goals and objectives identified in this section were established based on the 388
community surveys and 40 provider surveys received, as well as input provided through focus
groups and stakeholders. During the next five years, CDBG funds will be directed toward
projects that meet the local goals and objectives identified through this strategic planning effort.
The high priorities for the 2014-2018 CDBG program years are housing, public services, public
facilities and improvements, and economic development. Infrastructure ranked as a low priority,
even though it is a critical need for some residents. Projects meeting these priorities will be
selected through a competitive application process. Funding for these projects will be
recommended by the CDBG Advisory Board and reviewed and approved by the Douglas
County Board of County Commissioners.
Service providers, local governments, the Douglas County Housing Partnership (DCHP) and
organizations such as Douglas County Transit Solutions (DCTS) and the Community of Care
Network (CCN) are aware of the gaps in services that exist within our community. They
collaborate daily to address unmet needs. The priorities established are linked to goals and
objectives, and funding for future projects is expected to meet federal requirements and local
needs in order to receive funding.
Key elements of the Strategic Plan are to reduce barriers to affordable housing, and reduce
homelessness and poverty while helping clients become self-sufficient. The CDBG program will
encourage the expansion and retention of affordable units scattered throughout the county as
well as new housing developments. The CCN navigator works with a range of organizations to
serve the homeless population and help families out of poverty and into self-sufficiency.
Collaboration between these organizations is ongoing and essential to addressing the core
issues that contribute to an increase in poverty and the destabilization of families.
Page 99 of 211
SP-10 Geographic Priorities – 91.215 (a)(1)
Geographic Area
All CDBG funding will be used in unincorporated Douglas County and within the boundaries of
the Towns of Castle Rock and Parker, and the Cities of Lone Tree and Castle Pines. The
geographic location of the programs is dependent upon the request for funds, as the County’s
program is driven by an annual competitive application process.
Most programs and projects funded by the Douglas County CDBG program are clientele based,
as opposed to being located in a target area or chosen related to geography. This is due to the
fact that there are few target areas in Douglas County that meet the CDBG requirements of
having a concentration of low- and moderate-income qualified residents. HUD allows Douglas
County to use the upper quartile exception when determining target areas; without this
exception only eight block groups qualify as target areas with concentrations of 51 percent or
more of low- and moderate- income households. Using the upper quartile figure of 29 percent
allows the County to add an additional 28 block groups as target areas, for a total of 36 target
areas. The CDBG Target Area Map on the following page illustrates this information.
None of the target areas are identified as Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas,
redevelopment areas, or Community Development Financial Institution areas. The distribution
of CDBG funds toward a target area is based on the annual applications received.
General Allocation Priorities
Describe the basis for allocating investments geographically within the jurisdiction (or within the
EMSA for HOPWA)
The County’s CDBG program has not designated allocation priorities based on the geography.
Douglas County occasionally funds projects that are located within a designated target area
when the project will provide an area benefit. Examples of area benefit projects include
improvements to Sedalia’s water system and ADA improvement projects in the Town of Castle
Rock’s downtown area.
The CDBG Advisory Board reviews each application based on an evaluation and scoring
methodology based on the national objectives and local priorities, goals and objectives. Scoring
of the applications takes into account HUDs requirements and the community’s priorities. The
evaluation includes weighted scores for organizational capacity, impact on the community,
leveraging and project readiness. The Advisory Board makes recommendations to the Board of
County Commissioners, and the applications approved for funding are forwarded to HUD in the
Annual Application Plan.
Page 100 of 211
SP-25 Priority Needs - 91.215(a)(2)
Priority Needs
Priority Need Level
High
High
High
High
Low
Priority Category
Housing
Public Services
Public Facilities and Improvements
Infrastructure
Table 46 – Priority Needs Summary
Narrative (Optional)
Funding will be distributed to projects that address a priority, goal and accompanying objective
identified in this Strategic Plan. The priorities were established based on the needs identified
through public and stakeholder input, including the results of the community and provider
surveys, and client and service provider focus groups.
All the proposed activities and projects are intended to benefit citizens of Douglas County who
are income-eligible for CDBG programs. HUD includes those who are presumed eligible, such
as seniors, victims of domestic abuse, and residents who are homeless or disabled, as qualified
individuals. High priority activities will be given a priority weighting during the application
evaluation. Scores for low priority activities will not be adjusted during the evaluation process.
Both the provider and community surveys asked respondents to “rank the top three categories
that you feel should be the highest priority for the use of CDBG funds for the next five years.”
Their responses were used to determine the priority levels.
During both focus groups, attendees were provided the results from the surveys and the priority
need levels were discussed. The attendees were in agreement with the priority needs identified
through the surveys. The responses from public and stakeholder input are reflected through the
priorities listed in the table above.
Page 101 of 211
SP-30 Influence of Market Conditions – 91.215 (b)
Influence of Market Conditions
Affordable Housing Type
Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
TBRA for Non-Homeless Special Needs
New Unit Production
Rehabilitation
Acquisition, including preservation
Market Characteristics that will influence
the use of funds available for housing type
See below
See below
See below
See below
See below
Table 47 – Influence of Market Conditions
Douglas County’s housing is more expensive than in surrounding areas making it unaffordable
for some people to live here. Housing types, like those listed in the chart above, are needed
throughout Douglas County regardless of market conditions.
The community and provider surveys identified affordable housing as the greatest need and
highest priority for the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan. County and DCHP staff are aware that
additional affordable housing units are needed. Rehabilitation of existing units, acquisition of
land or an existing building, or new unit production may be necessary to increase the number of
available units.
Page 102 of 211
SP-35 Anticipated Resources - 91.215(a)(4), 91.220(c)(1,2)
Introduction
Douglas County expects to receive annual CDBG funding during the next five years. The anticipated amount of funding available
throughout the Consolidated Plan period was determined by averaging the previous HUD allocations received by the County for the
CDBG program since 2004.
Anticipated Resources
Program
Source
of
Funds
Uses of Funds
2014 CDBG
Funding
Federal
Grant
Housing, public
services, public
facilities and
improvements, and
infrastructure
Expected Amount Available Year 1
Annual
Program
Prior Year
Total:
Allocation: Income: $ Resources:
$
$
$
$853,273
$22,522
$97,472
$973,267
Expected
Amount
Available
Remainder
of Con
Plan
$
$3,127,000
Narrative Description
2014 CDBG program
year funds will be spent
on 13 different projects
Table 48 - Anticipated Resources
Explain how federal funds will leverage those additional resources (private, state and local funds), including a
description of how matching requirements will be satisfied
In addition to CDBG funding, the Department of Community Development also receives an annual allocation of around $45,000 in
federal CSBG funds. Douglas County does not receive HOME, ESG, HOPWA or other typical HUD grants that serve the low income
population. The County regularly applies for FTA grants to staff the transportation program. DRCOG also provide state funding
through a grant that supports rides for seniors which requires a 10 percent local match. Low-income housing tax credits are
available when developers apply through the state for assistance with housing projects and the tax credits can act as leveraging for
additional funding. Douglas County receives an annual allocation of over $10 million in Private Activity Bonds from the state of
Colorado for housing or economic development projects. The PABs were combined with other funding sources to successfully
leverage Apex Meridian and Traditions Denver in 2014.
Page 103 of 211
The County’s Section 8 housing vouchers, administered by the Englewood Housing Authority, provide rental subsidies to 104
residents. When the waiting list for Section 8 vouchers was closed to new applicants, approximately 459 families remained on the
waiting list. The DCHP will apply for additional vouchers if they become available.
Douglas County organizations receive funding from other sources. For example, the DCHP receives HOME funds, which typically
match the allocation DCHP is awarded from the county in CDBG funds. The Douglas County School District receives McKinney
Vento Homeless Assistance Act funds, which is a critical resource to homeless students and their families. The D/ETF typically
receives EFSP funds to provide additional food and prevent homelessness.
Two local grant sources are available to provide support to organizations that serve the at-risk and disabled populations. The Philip
S. Miller grant can be allocated to groups that serve the at-risk and underserved populations in the human services, health and
education arenas. The Developmental Disabilities Mill Levy Grant provides support and services to agencies supporting adults with
developmental disabilities. These local grants are often leveraged with federal, state or private funds.
Subgrantees awarded funds through the CDBG program are not required to provide matching dollars. However, they are
encouraged to leverage these grant funds whenever possible. The CDBG Advisory Board looks very closely at each organization’s
financial situation to determine financial stability, as well as the amount of leveraged funds the organization reports in their
application. During the application review period, the organization receives more points for a highly leveraged proposal. The
majority of subgrantees use CDBG funds to increase or improve services for their regular programs. Funds are often leveraged at a
higher rate than if it were a typical match requirement. Federal, private, state and local funding sources are used by organizations to
leverage funds.
If appropriate, describe publically owned land or property located within the jurisdiction that may be used to
address the needs identified in the plan
N/A
Discussion
N/A
Page 104 of 211
SP-40 Institutional Delivery Structure – 91.215(k)
Explain the institutional structure through which the jurisdiction will carry out its
consolidated plan including private industry, non-profit organizations, and public
institutions
The Department of Community Development is responsible for implementing the 2014-2018
Consolidated Plan and the subsequent Annual Action Plans. The Department works in
partnership with the County Attorney’s Office, Finance Department, and Treasurer’s Office to
implement the internal policies and procedures of the CDBG program. This collaboration
ensures compliance with program regulations while effectively managing the CDBG process.
Many County departments contribute to the development and implementation of the
Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plans, such as Public Works Engineering, Community
Development, Finance, the Treasurer’s Office, and the County Administration Office.
In January of 2006, the CDBG Advisory Board was created in order to encourage a more unified
and comprehensive approach of implementing the County’s CDBG program by:
· Making recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) regarding matters
related to the development, implementation, and evaluation of the CDBG program.
· Making recommendations to the BCC about recipients of the Douglas County CDBG funds
during each program year.
· Assisting in the development of strategic plans to address identified needs within the County
in relation to community development, housing, and economic development.
· Serving as the liaison for the BCC to the Douglas County community on issues related to
community development, housing and economic development.
The Advisory Board is made up of eleven Douglas County residents, including one member
appointed from each participating jurisdiction (including the Towns of Castle Rock, and Parker,
and the Cities of Lone Tree and Castle Pines), and two representatives from each of the three
County Commissioner Districts.
The Towns of Castle Rock and Parker, and the Cities of Lone Tree and Castle Pines make up
the participating jurisdictions within the Urban County designation. A Town or City Council
governs each of the participating jurisdictions.
Douglas County works with a variety of providers and residents for public participation and to
strengthen cooperation among entities to provide services and resources.
Program funds are distributed to subgrantees identified in the Annual Action Plan, who are then
responsible for implementing the projects. The County provides ongoing technical assistance to
ensure projects are successfully completed.
Both Community and Resource Services staff and the CDBG Advisory Board have regular
contact with citizens, business persons, service providers and clients. Involvement with the
public increases our awareness of community needs and facilitates input into the County’s
goals. This assists staff in program development and implementation.
Page 105 of 211
Responsible Entity
Douglas County
Douglas County
Housing Partnership
Douglas/Elbert Task
Force
Responsible Entity
Type
Government agency
Public housing
authority
Nonprofit organization
Audio Information
Network of Colorado
Castle Rock Senior
Center
Brother’s
Redevelopment, Inc.
Town of Castle Rock
Government agency
Crisis Center
Saint Vincent de PaulCastle Rock
Inter Faith Community
Services
Role
All subrecipients
Affordable housing –
ownership/rental
Homelessness and
Non-homeless special
needs; Community
development: public
services/facilities
needs; Community
development: public
services/facilities;
public services
needs; Community
development: public
services
Affordable housing –
ownership/rental: Nonhomeless special
needs
needs; Community
development:
neighborhood
improvements
Homelessness;
Community
development: public
services
Homelessness;
Community
development: public
services
Homelessness;
Community
development: public
services
Geographic Area
Served
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
State
Neighborhood; Otherspecific area
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Neighborhood; Otherspecific area
Table 49 - Institutional Delivery Structure
Assess the Strengths and Gaps in the Institutional Delivery System
One of the County’s key strong points lies in its close coordination among non-profit organizations.
The Douglas County CCN is a prime example of this coordination. This group consists of
representatives from local non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, County staff, the
school district, health department and members of the business community. This group has met
monthly since February 2005 to discuss and work on collaborative solutions regarding the issue of
homelessness in the county.
In 2010, the group developed a strategic plan to address issues pertaining to homelessness within
the county, and steps to prevent lower-income individuals and families from becoming homeless.
Page 106 of 211
During the 2011 program year, the group implemented the plan and continued to raise awareness
around the issue of homeless prevention in Douglas County through the Point-in-Time survey. The
group, in partnership with the Community Services Block Group (CSBG) Tripartite Board,
recommended the hiring of a community of care navigator to build a more efficient system of care,
educate the community on the need for care, and build a Family Development Program based on
the “hand up” model. The navigator was hired by the Douglas County Department of Community
Development in July 2012.
The navigator has allowed the CCN to take a more proactive approach in addressing homelessness
and service gaps. The group has established a new mission, held several successful events to
benefit vulnerable residents, made themselves more visible through opportunities like the “Strive to
Thrive” events, booths at the 9Health Fairs, and has been looking more strategically at tracking
data and creating outcomes that lead toward self-sufficiency.
The DCTS is another example of a coordinated effort to address a gap in services. The focus of
DCTS is to implement cohesive transit services for the vulnerable population, including elderly,
handicapped and low-income residents of the county. Currently, there are a limited number of
transportation service providers, and there is a need to strengthen these services in order to
provide reliable transit that can meet the needs of our growing community. A business plan has
been completed that helps to quantify gaps in transit services, and outlines steps to address those
gaps within Douglas County. A grant was awarded to Douglas County in March 2011 to hire a
mobility manager to begin implementing the steps outlined in the business plan. Before providing
transit services to the vulnerable population, the first step was to create a framework. A Local
Coordinating Council was established in February 2012 as the first critical step in developing the
transit service framework. DCTS has also updated its website, which provides information on
available transit services, scheduling information and phone numbers of transit agencies that serve
Douglas County residents.
While DCTS has been making progress, economic conditions forced local governments to make
difficult decisions about transit options in the county including cuts to services. DCTS held a transit
event in February 2012 to discuss the state of transit and release the results of a transit needs
assessment, which coincided with the 2011 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, or AI.
Many of Douglas County’s subgrantees apply for CDBG funds on an annual basis and have
successfully expanded their projects in the past. Even though these projects have served the
needs of the community well, all gaps in services, have yet to be filled.
Applicants for CDBG funding generally include non-profit agencies, governmental and quasigovernmental agencies and housing authorities. The County has increased its efforts in assisting
the vulnerable population by ensuring staff is in place to coordinate with organizations providing
direct assistance to our most vulnerable residents. These organizations solicit FTA, CSBG and
DRCOG grants to expand existing services. One significant gap is in matching resources to
community needs. Partnering organizations are in the process of coordinating services to address
gaps in the delivery system by combining funds and resources to address unmet needs.
Only a few organizations serve and support persons with developmental disabilities. Douglas
County currently does not have any organizations that represent a specific racial, ethnic or minority
group. Organizations that offer services offer them to all regardless of race, ethnicity, or minority
status. There are organizations outside of the county such as the Colorado Women’s Chamber of
Commerce, Asian Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce. These groups
Page 107 of 211
are sent requests for proposals for construction projects as a way to reach out to these population
groups and begin to build partnerships with these organizations in the future.
Availability of services targeted to homeless persons and persons with HIV and
mainstream services
Homelessness Prevention
Services
Counseling/Advocacy
Legal Assistance
Mortgage Assistance
Rental Assistance
Utilities Assistance
Available in the
Targeted to
Community
Homeless
Homelessness Prevention Services
P
P
Law Enforcement
Mobile Clinics
Other Street Outreach Services
Alcohol & Drug Abuse
Child Care
Education
Employment and Employment
Training
Healthcare
HIV/AIDS
Life Skills
Mental Health Counseling
Transportation
P
P
Street Outreach Services
P
P
P
Supportive Services
P
P
P
P
Targeted to People
with HIV
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Other
Other
Table 50 - Homeless Prevention Services Summary
Describe how the service delivery system including, but not limited to, the
services listed above meet the needs of homeless persons (particularly
chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans
and their families, and unaccompanied youth)
The majority of organizations that provide the services listed in the table above, do so by
collaborating to ensure that all types of homeless persons, regardless of age, race, or ethnicity,
have access to the services available. Most of the organizations participate in the CCN or
DCTS to gain knowledge about other services available for client referrals, and opportunities for
partnerships. The two “Strive to Thrive” events held in winter and summer are a collaboration of
those involved in the CCN as well as some outside of the network that are brought in for the
event to address the needs of homeless and vulnerable residents. Details regarding services
mentioned above are included in the Needs Assessment and Marketing Analysis sections.
Page 108 of 211
Describe the strengths and gaps of the service delivery system for special needs
population and persons experiencing homelessness, including, but not limited to,
the services listed above
Strengths and Gaps of the Service Delivery System for Special Needs Populations
Clients who may have a disability are able to access general services from a not-for-profit will
also be referred to other organizations that can provide services specific to their needs. For
example the D/ETF will assist disabled residents with food and utilities, and refer the clients to
Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network for counseling and more in depth services related to
their disability.
Douglas County has identified a funding source through the Developmental Disability Mill Levy
for persons with developmental disabilities. The majority of the local recreation centers offer
therapeutic recreation and Special Olympics programs. Additional funds are sometimes
distributed through the County’s Philip S. Miller Grant. In the past, CDBG funds have been
used toward transportation programs that offer services to developmentally or physically
disabled residents and ADA ramps in the Town of Castle Rock’s downtown area. Applicants
are encouraged to continue to apply for services that benefit this population.
Although there are strengths in terms of service delivery for the special needs populations, there
are several gaps too. Major gaps include the need for additional funding to increase services
available to this population, particularly for housing and transportation. Developmental
Pathways has a long waiting list for housing, which can be challenging for parents who want to
ensure their disabled child will be in a safe environment.
Public transportation is a necessity that improves the quality of life for those who utilize its
services. People with disabilities often feel isolated due to the lack of transportation available.
There have been cases where a person has a job, but has had to quit the job due to no
transportation. This can contribute to the feeling of being isolated as well as cause depression.
Strengths and Gaps of the Service Delivery System for the Homeless
According to the 2012 American Community Survey, the median household income in Douglas
County was $95,324. Douglas County ranks 9th in the nation for highest median household
income and 9th in nation for the highest percentage of residents with an Associate’s, Bachelor’s,
Graduate or Professional degree among counties with populations of 65,000 or more. Given
these statistics, the homeless population in Douglas County is fairly new and growing.
Historically, few resources have been available to address the needs of homeless, except for
emergency assistance. Jurisdictions and non-profit organizations are becoming more aware of
this issue, which has resulted in increased collaboration to meet the needs of clients and to fill
gaps.
Strengths in the service delivery system for the homeless population include current services
being offered through collaboration among organizations in providing services, opportunities to
pool resources, referrals, and hosting events. Since Douglas County’s homeless population is
newer, there are many gaps in services that need to be addressed. Limited services are
available especially those that would provide longer term case management and follow-up to
assist clients in reaching self-sufficiency. In terms of housing, Douglas County residents would
benefit from an emergency shelter, short-term transitional and long-term permanent supportive
housing. Currently, a winter weather plan is under discussion. During inclement weather,
Page 109 of 211
homeless persons can visit the D/ETF, Parker Task Force, local police, and a few other
locations to receive motel vouchers. A winter weather plan would provide an organizational
framework for churches and organizations that want to help, as well as guidance to the
homeless population in need shelter during inclement weather. Another struggle for this
population is finding a job without a good work history, good credit, or having a criminal record.
Skill building services, training and job placement programs would be beneficial in creating a
stronger resume for clients applying for future jobs. Financial education programs are needed
to provide residents with a solid foundation of budgeting skills and help improve their credit
score.
Provide a summary of the strategy for overcoming gaps in the institutional
structure and service delivery system for carrying out a strategy to address
priority needs
The overall purpose of this strategy is to help fill the gaps in services and expand or build new
facilities and infrastructure. Unfortunately, CDBG funds cannot accomplish this alone.
Technical assistance to local organizations will be provided to assist them in increasing their
capacity and their ability to serve unmet needs.
Douglas County will continue to provide opportunities for collaboration among organizations.
Collaboration is necessary for the institutional structure and service delivery system to work
effectively and efficiently in meeting the community’s needs. The County will continue to build
relationships with new organizations in order to expand the service delivery system and address
gaps.
Page 110 of 211
SP-45 Goals Summary – 91.215(a)(4)
Page 111 of 211
Goals Summary Information
Goal Name
Affordable
Housing
Years
20142018
Category
Affordable
housing
Geographic
Area
N/A
Outcome
Affordability
Objective
Decent
affordable
housing
Funding
$1,200,000
-
Accessible
Housing
Permanent
Supportive
Housing
20142018
20142018
Affordable
housing,
NonHomeless
Special
Needs
N/A
Affordable
housing,
Homeless
N/A
Availability/
Accessibility
Create
suitable living
environments
$250,000
-
Availability/Accessibility
Decent
affordable
housing
$250,000
-
-
Page 112 of 211
Goal Outcome
Indicator
200 rental units
constructed
5 rental units
rehabilitated
Homeowner
housing
rehabilitation for
25 households
Direct financial
assistance to
150 households
10 rental units
constructed
5 rental units
rehabilitated
Homeowner
housing
rehabilitation for
25 households
40 households
assisted with
tenant-based
rental
assistance/rapid
rehousing
5 housing units
for the homeless
added
Goal Name
Affordable
Housing
Accessible
Housing
Permanent
Supportive
Housing
Transportation
Services
20142018
Employment
Services
20142018
Supportive
Services
20142018
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Homeless,
NonHomeless
Special
needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Homeless,
NonHomeless
Special
Needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Homeless,
NonHomeless
Special
Needs
N/A
Availability/
Accessibility
Create
suitable living
environments
$175,000
-
Public service
activities other
than
low/moderate
income housing
benefit for
50,000 people
Transportation
Services
N/A
Availability/
Accessibility
Create
suitable living
environments
$50,000
-
Public service
activities other
than
low/moderate
income housing
benefit for 625
people
Employment
Services
N/A
Availability/
Accessibility
Create
economic
opportunities
$225,000
-
Public service
activities other
than
low/moderate
income housing
benefit for 500
people
Homeless
prevention for
100 people
25 households
assisted with
tenant-based
rental
assistance/rapid
rehousing
Supportive
Services
-
Page 113 of 211
Emergency
Services
20142018
Public
Facilities and
Improvements
20142018
Economic
Development
20142018
Infrastructure
20142018
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Homeless,
NonHomeless
Special
Needs
N/A
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Homeless,
NonHomeless
Special
Needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Homeless,
NonHomeless
Special
Needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Homeless,
NonHomeless
Special
Needs
N/A
N/A
Availability/
Accessibility
Create
suitable living
environments
$225,000
Availability/
Accessibility
Create
suitable living
environments
$1,200,000
-
Availability/
Accessibility
Create
economic
opportunities
$157,000
-
-
-
CDBG
Target
Areas
Sustainability
Create
suitable living
environments
Table 51 – Goals Summary
Page 114 of 211
-
$500,000
-
Homeless
prevention for
1,600 people
Public service
activities other
than
low/moderate
income housing
benefit for 3,500
people
Public Facility or
Infrastructure
Activities other
than
low/moderate
income housing
benefit for
25,000 people
5 jobs
created/retained
5 businesses
assisted
5 façade
treatment/busine
ss building
rehabilitation
Public Facility or
Infrastructure
Activities other
than
Low/Moderate
Income Housing
Benefit for 2,250
people
Emergency
Services
Public Facilities
and
Improvements
Economic
Development
Infrastructure
Goal Descriptions: Priorities, Goals and Objectives
High Priorities
Housing Goal: Expand available housing options to eligible residents.
H2: Increase and maintain accessible housing options for the disabled and aging populations.
Public Services Goal 1 (PS1): Expand services that create conditions for eligible residents to obtain and maintain selfsufficiency.
Public Facilities and Improvements Goal: Improve, expand or build facilities for eligible residents.
PF1: Increase the organization’s capacity to deliver quality services.
Economic Development Goal: Create conditions that strengthen businesses and provide for a robust economy.
ED1: Help local businesses grow and prosper by increasing or retaining the number of jobs available.
Low Priority
Infrastructure Goal: Improve existing and provide for new infrastructure where appropriate to enhance the quality of life for
eligible residents.
I1: Provide public infrastructure improvements such as water and sewer, drainage, accessibility modifications, sidewalks and
road paving in CDBG target areas by leveraging funds.
Estimate the number of extremely low-income, low-income, and moderate-income families to whom the
jurisdiction will provide affordable housing as defined by HOME 91.315(b)(2)
Based on previous year’s data, Douglas County estimates that CDBG funds, along with other leveraged funds, will provide 2,815
residents with affordable housing. This number was determined based on the following:
Page 115 of 211
·
·
·
·
DCHP will provide down payment assistance for approximately 30 households so that they can afford to purchase their first
home. That will be about 150 households over five years.
An estimated eight residents will be provided permanent supported housing resulting in 40 residents throughout five years.
Completion of Auburn Ridge Senior Living Apartments will provide 80 affordable housing units. If 1/3 of these units (26) have
married couples that is about 52 persons multiplied by five years equals 260. The remaining units (54) have singles, which
multiplied by five years equals 270 people. Adding those two numbers together equates to about 530 residents.
Completion of Apex Meridian Apartments will result in 156 new units. An estimated 39 of those units will be singles; another
39 will be couples (78 people) with children based on an average of 2.5 per household (98 children) equaling 176 multiplied
by five years equals 880 residents; and the remaining units (78) will be single-parent households. If ¼ of the 78 single-parent
units (20) have one child that is about 20 children plus one adult equaling 40 multiplied by five years is 200. If the remaining
units (58) have an average of 2.5 children, that is 145 children plus 58 adults equaling 203 residents multiplied by five years is
1,015. If all of these totals are added together that is approximately 2,815 residents.
Page 116 of 211
SP-50 Public Housing Accessibility and Involvement – 91.215(c)
Need to Increase the Number of Accessible Units (if Required by a Section 504
Voluntary Compliance Agreement)
Douglas County does not have public housing.
Activities to Increase Resident Involvements
N/A
Is the public housing agency designated as troubled under 24 CFR part 902?
N/A
Plan to remove the ‘troubled’ designation
N/A
Page 117 of 211
SP-55 Barriers to affordable housing – 91.215(h)
Barriers to Affordable Housing
Although progress is continually being made to increase affordable housing in Douglas County,
barriers do exist. Development costs continue to be a barrier. The cost of land being at a
premium and water being a scarce resource are factors that contribute to increasing the costs of
development. For these reasons, it is extremely challenging to develop affordable housing in
this county without having multiple funding sources in place. It is difficult to build multi-family
residential developments that serve persons and households in the 40 to 80 percent of AMI due
to these high costs. The majority of affordable apartments in the county do not offer units below
50 percent of AMI or at fair market rent. Even the 60 to 80 percent AMI developments have to
include market rate units within their development in order to be financially feasible.
The Douglas County Department of Community Development continues to improve its planning
process. The development review process in is not considered to be a hindrance or barrier to
development in the county. Development fees charged by the County for planning, engineering,
and building services are considered to be low or comparable to the fees charged by other
jurisdictions. The County has greatly reduced the processing time for development review
through a combination of regulatory streamlining, shortened process timelines, and
departmental coordination. Faster development review saves developers and businesses time
and money.
Through the Zoning and Subdivision Resolutions, the County established a public participation
process, giving residents a voice in land use changes. Residents often resist rezoning or
subdividing land that will accommodate an increase in density, which is linked to affordable
housing. Residents are concerned that their property values will drop or they will experience an
increase in traffic volume. In recent years, affordable units are integrated into developments,
instead of clustering units together. This technique has helped to offset the stigma of affordable
units. This approach to affordable housing allows low-income residents dignity and privacy
because the units are not labeled as low-income.
Some of the more affordable housing in Douglas County is located in very stable areas of the
county. In 2010, 23 percent of single-family houses and townhouses were valued below
$250,000, according to Douglas County Assessor records. In some areas, such as Sedalia,
Louviers, the Town of Larkspur, downtown Castle Rock, and areas within the Pike National
Forest, housing is more than 60 years old. In areas like Acres Green, Cottonwood, Roxborough
Village, Silver Heights, Founders Village, and some subdivisions in central Parker, housing was
built in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Most of these houses are on smaller lots in urban areas.
Housing demolitions are uncommon in Douglas County. Since 2006, only 78 houses have been
demolished. The major reason for tearing down a house is to build something new. House fires
account for some of the demolitions. A few houses in formerly rural areas of the county are
demolished when the area is rezoned to urban densities. Older and smaller houses on larger
lots are sometimes torn down in order to build larger, new houses. Since much of the housing
valued under $250,000 is on small lots in urban areas, demolition is not a major threat to the
current supply of lower-cost homes.
Page 118 of 211
The County has been working to reduce barriers to affordable housing, and thereby affirmatively
furthering fair housing, by encouraging new housing construction that is affordable to a wide
variety of people and household types, as well as supporting the retention of existing affordable
housing stock.
Housing discrimination is reported infrequently in Douglas County. Occasionally there are
sporadic examples from residents who report being treated unfairly when they are looking for an
apartment to rent. Large families with children occasionally encounter “steering” to other
apartment complexes or are told there are no units available. To the extent which housing
discrimination exists, it could be a barrier for those individuals wishing to access affordable
housing. These issues make accessing affordable housing more challenging.
Douglas County has hired a consultant to review the Zoning and Subdivision Resolutions and all
codes to ensure the County is in compliance with new case law, and changes to federal and
state laws. A small component of this review relates to fair housing. Douglas County will
determine if changes are needed based on the consultant’s report.
Strategy to Remove or Ameliorate the Barriers to Affordable Housing
Three income-eligible groups are expected to need affordable housing: 1) Homeowners
earning less than 80 percent of AMI; 2) Renters earning less than 50 percent of AMI; and 3)
Low-income seniors. For these groups in particular, the strategy for affordable housing includes
encouraging affordable units scattered throughout housing developments, permanent
supportive housing, leveraging funding sources to complete successful projects, and
affirmatively further fair housing. It is equally important to encourage new housing construction
that is affordable to a wide variety of people and household types, as well as supporting the
retention of existing affordable housing stock.
In recent years, Douglas County has integrated affordable units into an entire development,
instead of clustering all the units together. This scattered site technique has helped to offset the
stigma of affordable units, and does not appear to detract from the ability to draw in buyers for a
variety of price ranges. The County has also developed flexible standards through the Planned
Development and rezoning process to simplify and streamline new housing developments. This
flexibility is meant to hold down costs and enable the rezoning process to proceed quickly.
The DCHP and Douglas County agree that many benefits exist for scattered site units. Eligible
residents living in scattered site units pay lower rents than their neighbors, but their income
status is not known to others in the neighborhood. This provides an advantage to those renting
these units as they don’t feel like everyone is aware of their situation. Scattered site units are
enveloped within market rate apartments, condos, and townhomes.
It is also important to offer permanent supportive housing in scattered site units. This type of
housing will allow residents to remain for a specified time frame until they reach self-sufficiency.
Other permanent supportive units may be based on the individual; therefore, once the length of
time for financial assistance has completed, the individual and their family may be able to
remain in that unit. This provides a more stable environment so relocation is not necessary.
Page 119 of 211
Douglas County plans to work closely with the DCHP, other jurisdictions, and developers to
leverage funding sources such as CDBG dollars, tax credits, PABs, and other grant
opportunities, to increase the number of affordable housing in the county.
The County has been affirmatively furthering fair housing by providing fair housing education,
hosting special events and creating a fair housing web page. CDBG staff members are
designated by HUD to receive calls regarding housing discrimination, and take every
opportunity to educate callers about fair housing. The County intends to continue to provide
education by preparing materials for special events and expanding the web page.
CDBG staff promotes fair housing in a variety of ways to ensure residents have information
available if they feel they have been discriminated against. Douglas County has a web page
devoted entirely to fair housing including information about fair housing laws, types of
discrimination, resources, and contacts. Douglas County has been in contact with the Denver
Metro Fair Housing Center (DMFHC) that works to eliminate housing discrimination and to
promote housing choice for all people through education, advocacy and enforcement of fair
housing law. Douglas County’s fair housing web page includes a link to DMFHC’s website for
additional resources or as a contact regarding a fair housing complaint. CDBG staff hopes to be
able to partner with DMFHC in the future when providing fair housing training or activities for
Douglas County staff, subgrantees, property managers, and residents.
CDBG staff has also made an effort to work with other housing agencies to promote fair
housing. The Douglas Elbert REALTOR® Association has included a link on their website at
https://derarealtors.com/community-links-2/ under Resources, Community Links. Additional
efforts will be made to add links to other agency websites in the future.
Page 120 of 211
SP-60 Homelessness Strategy – 91.215(d)
Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and
assessing their individual needs
Douglas County’s community of care navigator reaches out to homeless people throughout the
county about six times per year. Outreach to the homeless allows the navigator to provide
people with food and resources. Douglas County’s homeless population looks very different
from other areas in the Denver metro region where shelters are available. Many people do not
consider themselves to be homeless because they are living with family or friends. It is often
difficult to find and identify them.
Twice a year the CCN holds “Strive to Thrive” events for homeless persons and vulnerable
residents. Collaboration among agencies makes this event possible. The homeless population,
is encouraged to attend, enjoy a hot meal, receive services and access a variety of resources.
Previous events offered haircuts, bicycles, winter coats, bags of food, and back to school
supplies. Participants could also obtain forms for various human services programs and enroll
in the school district’s lunch program. Booths with staff members from the various organizations
were able to answer questions and direct attendees to the appropriate resources.
DCSD has a homeless staff liaison that works to identify homeless students and offers them
tools and resources so homeless students can have the same opportunities as students who
are not homeless.
Homeless persons who request services through a local agency such as the D/ETF, can receive
services and referrals to other agencies. For example, a person that may need mental health
assistance would receive a referral to Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network. A person with
special needs might be referred to Developmental Pathways or The Arc Arapahoe and Douglas
Counties. A senior might be referred to Oakwood Senior Apartments for an affordable housing
unit.
Addressing the emergency and transitional housing needs of homeless persons
The D/ETF, Parker Task Force, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Castle Rock, and other local
organizations offer motel vouchers in cases of emergency for the homeless, transients or
victims of crime. The police and sheriff departments can also issue vouchers if the other
agencies are closed. Motel vouchers are especially useful when there is inclement weather and
being outside and unsheltered could be a potential health risk. Douglas County is working to
develop a winter weather plan so that additional resources are available during the cold, winter
months and during extreme heat.
The Crisis Center offers emergency shelter to victims of domestic violence and their children.
Families and individuals can stay for a short period of time while they receive counseling and
other services, and find future housing options that will keep them safe.
Douglas County’s strategy to address emergency and transitional housing for homeless persons
is identified in the Consolidated Plan housing goal and objectives to expand housing options for
eligible residents.
Page 121 of 211
Helping homeless persons (especially chronically homeless individuals and
families, families with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied
youth) make the transition to permanent housing and independent living,
including shortening the period of time that individuals and families experience
homelessness, facilitating access for homeless individuals and families to
affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and families who were
recently homeless from becoming homeless again.
The Family Collective includes Douglas County’s Family Development Program, WrapAround,
the DCHP and the Crisis Center, which work in partnership for the benefit of eligible clients.
This strength-based program involves case management as well as other components to
increase the client’s chances of obtaining and maintaining self-sufficiency. These four
organizations work together to select appropriate clients that meet the Family Collective
program criteria.
One of the first obstacles addressed through this program is housing, to assist their clients in
successfully achieving other program components. Housing may involve permanent supportive
housing, affordable housing apartments, or other means that fit the client’s specific needs.
During the course of six to nine months, clients learn how to find and secure housing that is
affordable, take steps to improve their financial situation, enhance job skills, and learn how to
access information on a variety of resources. The program focuses on improving the following
factors for clients: adult education, employment, family support, financial health, health care,
housing, mental health and mobility. If applicable, it could also include child education and
parenting.
Individuals or families that are homeless or vulnerable who become part of the Family Collective
program work with the four organizations listed above to prevent homelessness at the time of
service and into the future.
Page 122 of 211
Help low-income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless, especially
extremely low-income individuals and families who are likely to become
homeless after being discharged from a publicly funded institution or system of
care, or who are receiving assistance from public and private agencies that
address housing, health, social services, employment, education or youth needs
Housing options are based on availability, so persons in need may not always be able to access
housing after being discharged or receiving services. Occasionally clients may be referred to an
agency in the Denver metro region outside of Douglas County.
Individuals or families might be able to access rent assistance or motel vouchers, but those are
also limited. Douglas County lacks the services and resources necessary to assist in avoiding
homelessness. Housing, public services, and public facilities and improvements goals and
objectives are designed to expand housing options, improve and increase current services, and
address gaps in the system.
Page 123 of 211
SP-65 Lead based paint Hazards – 91.215(i)
Actions to address LBP hazards and increase access to housing without LBP
hazards
There is a low percentage of housing units in Douglas County with the potential for existing
lead-based paint. The majority of Douglas County’s housing is newer and was built after 1978
when lead-based paint was banned nationwide for consumer use. Approximately 6,100 housing
units were built before 1978, which could lead to exposure to lead-based paint if the homeowner
neglects to maintain painted surfaces or undertakes a home rehabilitation.
The following actions will reduce lead-based paint hazards:
·
·
·
When Subgrantees conduct housing rehabilitation on homes built prior to 1978, areas to
be renovated must be tested for lead-based paint. If evidence of lead is found, best
practices for lead remediation must be observed.
Provide handouts on lead-based paint at outreach events.
Educate attendees at fair housing training events on lead-based paint.
How are the actions listed above related to the extent of lead poisoning and
hazards?
The actions above are minimal due to the unlikelihood of encountering lead based paint during
a repair project or the purchase of a home. The County is committed to distributing educational
materials and ensuring safe work practices if lead based paint is found.
How are the actions listed above integrated into housing policies and
procedures?
All housing projects that involve repairs or renovation must meet the local building codes and
HUDs HQS. All public meetings and fair housing trainings conducted by Douglas County
include educational materials regarding lead-based paint. Language reinforcing these actions
will be written into all contracts when CDBG funds are used.
Page 124 of 211
SP-70 Anti-Poverty Strategy – 91.215(j)
Jurisdiction Goals, Programs and Policies for reducing the number of PovertyLevel Families
Poverty is a complex problem that must be addressed in a multi-faceted approach. Households
living in poverty are diverse, and the effective ways of responding to their needs will vary.
Strategies laid out in this plan are not intended to be implemented in isolation. Rather, they are
part of a comprehensive set of strategies that, when applied to individual circumstances, can
help alleviate poverty. It is important to note, there are those individuals who are capable of
being gainfully employed and those who are not. Persons with debilitating diseases, persons
with disabilities, and persons who are elderly with infirmities often cannot generate household
income through employment. Income assistance—in the form of Old Age Pension (OAP), Aid to
Needy Disabled (AND), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Income
(SSDI), Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, Medicare or Medicaid, food stamps, and a “preference”
for existing public housing and Section 8 vouchers—is the most realistic strategy for maximizing
household income for those families and limiting the effects of extreme poverty in these
situations.
The strategy for those who are capable of employment is more complex. Income assistance
alone is not a solution when it becomes a disincentive to work. On the other hand, full-time
employment does not necessarily provide sufficient income to lift a household out of poverty. A
single parent cannot realistically hold a full-time minimum wage job and pay for housing,
childcare, food, insurance and clothing. To expect such a household to go off all public
assistance is unrealistic.
Proactive strategies will be used to address specific types of circumstances. Several strategies
exist and are heavily used. Tax credits can provide income assistance along with an incentive to
work. Educational and training programs can help low-wage earners to secure higher-paying
employment. Youth education and remediation are long-term mechanisms for poverty reduction
in future generations.
The CDBG Program and other federal grants will continue to support programs and
organizations that provide assistance and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income
persons and for populations with special needs. The Anti-Poverty Strategy includes using
CDBG funds toward programs that promote self-sufficiency, provide emergency services,
expand public facilities and support infrastructure. Douglas County and other agencies will
continue to collaborate in pooling necessary resources to assist individuals and families with
obtaining the tools to overcome poverty.
In 2009, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners established a number of County
goals to create a high quality of life for the residents and businesses in the community. The
community services goals are:
· “Conditions exist so that County programs and public/private partnerships foster an
effective safety net for the basic needs of qualified residents”.
· “Basic and essential services exist that provide people the opportunity to be selfsufficient”.
Page 125 of 211
The CDBG program and the projects that receive funding from the grant support these Board
goals and their goals are a key component of the Anti-Poverty Strategy. In addition to CDBG,
the Department of Community Development administers numerous grants that fund programs
supporting self-sufficiency, homelessness prevention, transportation and other critical needs
that address poverty. This Consolidated Plan contains goals and objectives that encourage the
submittal of applications requesting CDBG funding to fill gaps in housing, services, public
facilities, economic development and infrastructure to benefit vulnerable residents. The
overarching goal is to reduce the number of individuals and families struggling at the poverty
level and below to obtain and maintain self-sufficiency.
Douglas County directs CDBG, CSBG, DRCOG and FTA funds to projects that also meets the
goals and objectives identified in the Consolidated Plan. Combining funding sources, partnering
with multiple organizations, expanding programs and services, and filling gaps in services will
help to reduce the number of families in poverty.
The different strategies presented in this plan reflect the multi-faceted nature of poverty.
Douglas County is committed to carrying out a comprehensive anti-poverty strategy in
collaboration with the many community and non-profit organizations that also serve the incomeeligible population. The CDBG strategy will include the goals, strategies, and actions included
as a part of this Strategic Plan, along with the following:
1. Promote workforce development. Education and training are important components of
achieving long-term success in the work world. It is important to encourage investment in
education and training, particularly those programs that motivate and assist income-eligible
individuals and families to pursue education and training opportunities while they are already
working in low wage jobs. Arapahoe/Douglas Works! offers job placement assistance, career
counseling and classes in job readiness, resume preparation computer literacy, etc.
Douglas County will continue to support Arapahoe/Douglas Works! in assisting low-income
residents in obtaining gainful employment by offering practical job training and career
development programs. County programs that support self-sufficiency will use job readiness as
a key strategy to assist clients.
2. Support small business development. Government support of small businesses can be used
to combat poverty by encouraging commercial growth in low-income areas and ensuring that
this growth benefits low-income individuals with employment opportunities.
Douglas County will support small businesses and encourage commercial development in
cooperation with local Chambers of Commerce and economic development organizations.
3. Continue to build collaborative partnerships with local non-profits and other agencies that
work to reduce poverty and provide clients with the tools they need to be successful and selfsufficient.
Douglas County will continue to support the CCN as they work to educate the community
regarding the need to support our residents facing homelessness, provide client-based
collaboration to more effectively help those in need, and work to initiate system-wide changes
that will better serve the vulnerable populations.
Page 126 of 211
4. Encourage development of new and maintain the existing affordable housing stock, which is
critical for income-qualified households to move out of poverty and achieve self-sufficiency.
Douglas County encourages the development and stabilization of mixed-income neighborhoods
by offering flexibility through the Planned Development zoning process, development review
process and other housing and community development programs through the Douglas County
Housing Partnership.
Douglas County will encourage the stabilization of mixed-income neighborhoods through the
development of a range of affordable housing opportunities such as permanent supportive
housing. This may be achieved in part through cooperation with the Douglas County Housing
Partnership.
How are the Jurisdiction’s poverty reducing goals, programs, and policies
coordinated with this affordable housing plan
The goals of the CDBG program support the BCC’s goals, and the programs funded over the
next five years will meet all national objectives and local preferences, priorities and objectives.
These goals are integral to reducing poverty in Douglas County. The grants managed by the
Department of Community Development address and ameliorate poverty on various levels, by
funding or supporting housing, emergency assistance, transportation, support services and
facility improvement programs. These programs go hand in hand with efforts to create
affordable housing. However, the support systems and programs must be in place to assist
those in need of short-term emergency assistance or longer-term case management to become
fully self-sufficient. The goals of reducing poverty and creating affordable housing are
indistinguishable in their importance toward creating stable thriving households.
Page 127 of 211
SP-80 Monitoring – 91.230
Describe the standards and procedures that the jurisdiction will use to monitor
activities carried out in furtherance of the plan and will use to ensure long-term
compliance with requirements of the programs involved, including minority
business outreach and the comprehensive planning requirements
The Department of Community Development is responsible for ensuring that all CDBG-funded
projects are in compliance with federal regulations. Monitoring begins before a Subgrantee is
allocated funds, and continues until the Subgrantee has met the full obligations of the CDBG
regulations. Staff conducts an application workshop each year to ensure potential applicants
understand the types of projects that comply with national objectives, local priorities and the
strategic plan. Douglas County’s proactive approach also includes information about federal
requirements, capacity building and grant writing training to create a solid foundation for the
successful completion of projects.
The majority of new subgrantees are inexperienced when it comes to complying with the
requirements associated with a federal grant. Informing subgrantees of the fundamentals of the
CDBG grant program early in the process, eliminates surprises at the end of the program year
when reporting their accomplishments.
The CDBG application, internal documents and subgrantee reports are revised periodically to
simplify the grant administration and monitoring process. Streamlining the process ultimately
benefits the clients these organizations serve. Being responsive to subgrantees’ requests and
inquiries allows them to more efficiently carry out the grant requirements.
A project manager training is held to inform subgrantees of their responsibilities related to
federal regulations and county policies. County staff provides additional technical assistance
throughout the program year to new subgrantees and their contractors to assist them in
understanding the federal regulations, requirements, and the reporting process.
For construction activities, staff meets with subgrantees before their contracts are finalized to
review the regulations related to their specific project. Staff is involved throughout the
procurement process as specific information is required to be included in the request for bids
and the actual contracts. Training is provided at pre-bid and pre-construction meetings so that
subgrantees and their contractors understand how to comply with federal regulations such as
Section 3 and Davis Bacon.
All subgrantees receiving federal funding will be monitored for regulatory and statutory
compliance by the County’s CDBG staff. Informal monitoring in the form of phone calls, emails,
reviewing draw down requests, progress reports, and site visits occur on an ongoing basis.
Through the annual risk assessment tool, staff conducts a desk audit and monitors all active
programs at the end of each program year.
The annual risk assessment tool is modeled after HUD’s annual assessment of CDBG
entitlement communities. CDBG staff designed this tool to expedite the annual monitoring of
active projects while ensuring that staff consistently assesses the strengths and weaknesses of
each subgrantee. This tool is reviewed and revised on an as-needed basis to ensure its
effectiveness.
Page 128 of 211
The risk assessment tool includes pre-determined criteria used to evaluate the subgrantee,
specific rating considerations, and point assignments. It also includes a scoring system
intended to help identify a subgrantee that may require additional technical assistance and the
type of assistance needed. It provides staff with an equitable tool to assess risk and determine
who should receive an on-site monitoring visit. Subgrantees are ranked as a high, medium or
low risk based on their assessment score. As a matter of practice, staff usually conducts an onsite monitoring visit of organizations having high risk scores, including those determined to need
additional technical assistance to reduce risk and ensure grants are completed successfully.
Exceptions to on-site monitorings are considered on a case-by-case basis.
CDBG staff schedules on-site monitoring visits in advance, at the subgrantees’ convenience, by
emailing a suggesting time and date, followed by a confirmation letter. During the site visit,
each subgrantee responds to a questionnaire designed to evaluate the agency’s practices
regarding eligibility, financial documentation, compliance with federal regulations and County
policies, and reporting accomplishments. Subgrantees are asked to provide access to project
files and financial information.
Not only are subgrantees monitored during these visits, but visits also provide an opportunity for
subgrantees to share their thoughts regarding the CDBG program, specifically regarding the
development and administration of the CDBG program. In the past, subgrantees that were
monitored indicated they were satisfied with the technical assistance provided.
CDBG staff completes a monitoring form summarizing the visit and sends it to the subgrantee to
document the monitoring and confirm any requests made by staff or the subgrantee. Under
some circumstances, Douglas County will ask the subgrantee to submit a workout plan to
ensure the subgrantees are on track to spend down funds and complete their projects within an
agreed upon timeframe.
Technical assistance and informal monitoring is provided on a regular basis to ensure
Subgrantees successfully complete their projects. The CDBG program is audited annually to
ensure compliance with federal regulations. Staff follows internal policies and procedures to
ensure local guidelines and preferences are consistently achieved.
Page 129 of 211
Expected Resources
AP-15 Expected Resources – 91.220(c)(1,2)
Introduction
The CDBG program is administered by HUD. The federal government provides annual grants
to communities to carry out a wide range of activities directed towards providing decent, safe,
and sanitary housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities. The
amount of funds Douglas County receives is based on population size and the number of lowand moderate-income residents. This is the 11th year Douglas County will receive CDBG funds.
Maximum priority is given to funding activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons.
The national goal of the CDBG program is to develop viable communities; this is achieved in the
CDBG program by addressing at least one of the national objectives listed below before an
project is considered eligible.
·
·
·
Benefit low- and moderate-income persons.
Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blight.
Address other community development needs that present a serious and immediate
threat to the health and welfare of the community.
CDBG activities must also meet eligibility requirements to address at least one priority need
identified in the County’s 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan. For each priority identified, goals and
objectives are outlined to provide a more specific framework. Applicants requesting Douglas
County CDBG funding are required to meet at least one of the goals in order to be eligible for
funding.
Applicants who request funding are required to participate in the application process by first
submitting a Letter of Interest to determine general eligibility and then a formal application. The
applications are competitively reviewed by the CDBG Advisory Board, and recommendations for
funding are developed and provided to the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners for
final review and approval. Those recommendations are then submitted to HUD for approval.
This document serves as the Annual Action Plan, which is required as Douglas County’s
application for use of HUD funds for 2014.
A complete description of the applications recommended for funding are provided later in this
section.
Page 130 of 211
Anticipated Resources
Program
Source
of
Funds
Uses of
Funds
Expected Amount Available Year 1
Annual
Program
Prior Year
Total:
Allocation: Income: Resources:
$
$
$
$
2014
CDBG
Funding
Federal
Grant
Housing,
public
services,
public facilities
and
improvements,
and
infrastructure
$853,273
$22,522
$97,472
Table 52 - Expected Resources – Priority Table
Page 131 of 211
$973,267
Expected
Amount
Available
Remainder
of
ConPlan
$
$3,127,000
Narrative
Description
2014 PY
funds will
be spent
on 13
projects
Explain how federal funds will leverage those additional resources (private, state
and local funds), including a description of how matching requirements will be
satisfied
The amount and types of leveraged funds varies by subgrantee and project funded, but includes
federal, state, local, private, and corporate funds as well as donations. The majority of the
projects funded are for existing programs that CDBG funds will supplement in order to assist
additional clients.
The only project that has a matching requirement is the Douglas County Housing Partnership.
Their Home Ownership Program received CDBG funding, and that amount is usually matched
with HOME funds and a minimum of $1,000 in private funds from the client assisted.
If appropriate, describe publically owned land or property located within the
jurisdiction that may be used to address the needs identified in the plan
Douglas County does not have any publicly owned land or property located within the
jurisdiction that will be used to address the needs identified in the plan.
Discussion
N/A
Page 132 of 211
Annual Goals and Objectives
AP-20 Annual Goals and Objectives
Page 133 of 211
Goals Summary Information
Goal Name
Years
Category
Affordable
Housing
20142018
Affordable housing
Accessible
Housing
20142018
Affordable
housing, NonHomeless Special
Needs
Permanent
Supportive
Housing
Transportatio
n Services
20142018
Employment
Services
20142018
Supportive
Services
20142018
Affordable
housing,
Homeless
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Homeless, NonHomeless Special
needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Needs
20142018
Page 134 of 211
Geograph
ic Area
N/A
Outcome
Objective
Funding
Affordabilit
y
Decent
affordable
housing
N/A
Availability/
Accessibilit
y
$250,000
N/A
Availability/
Accessibilit
y
Availability/
Accessibilit
y
Create
suitable
living
environment
s
Decent
affordable
housing
Create
suitable living
environments
N/A
$1,200,000
Goal Outcome Indicator
200 rental units constructed
5 rental units rehabilitated
Homeowner housing rehabilitation for 25
households
- Direct financial assistance to 150 households
- 10 rental units constructed
- 5 rental units rehabilitated
- Homeowner housing rehabilitation for 25
households
-
$250,000
-
$175,000
-
40 households assisted with tenant-based rental
assistance/rapid rehousing
5 housing units for the homeless added
Public service activities other than low/moderate
income housing benefit for 50,000 people
N/A
Availability/
Accessibilit
y
Create
suitable
living
environment
s
$50,000
-
income housing benefit for 625 people
N/A
Availability/
Accessibilit
y
Create
economic
opportunities
$225,000
-
income housing benefit for 500 people
Homeless prevention for 100 people
25 households assisted with tenant-based rental
assistance/rapid rehousing
-
Emergency
Services
20142018
Public
Facilities and
Improvement
s
20142018
Economic
Development
20142018
Infrastructure
20142018
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Needs
Non-Housing
Community
Development,
Needs
N/A
Availability/
Accessibilit
y
Create
suitable
living
environment
s
$225,000
-
Homeless prevention for 1,600 people
income housing benefit for 3,500 people
N/A
Availability/
Accessibilit
y
Create
suitable
living
environment
s
$1,200,000
-
Public Facility or Infrastructure Activities other
than low/moderate income housing benefit for
25,000 people
N/A
Availability/
Accessibilit
y
Create
economic
opportunities
$157,000
-
5 jobs created/retained
5 businesses assisted
5 façade treatment/business building
rehabilitation
CDBG
Target
Areas
Sustainabili
ty
Create
suitable
living
environment
s
$500,000
-
Public Facility or Infrastructure Activities other
than Low/Moderate Income Housing Benefit for
2,250 people
Table 53 – Goals Summary
Page 135 of 211
Goal Descriptions: Priorities, Goals and Objectives
High Priorities
Housing (H) Goal: Expand available housing options to eligible residents.
populations.
Public Services Goal 1 (PS1): Expand services that create conditions for eligible
residents to obtain and maintain self-sufficiency.
Public Facilities and Improvements (PFI) Goal: Improve, expand or build facilities for
eligible residents.
Economic Development (ED) Goal: Create conditions that strengthen businesses and
provide for a robust economy.
ED1: Help local businesses grow and prosper by increasing or retaining the number of
jobs available.
Low Priority
Infrastructure (I) Goal: Improve existing and provide for new infrastructure where
leveraging funds.
Page 136 of 211
Projects
AP-35 Projects – 91.220(d)
Introduction
Proposed projects for the 2014 program year are in compliance with the 2014-2018
Consolidated Plan. Priorities were determined as follows: housing and public services are high
priorities; public facilities and improvements and economic development are medium priorities;
and infrastructure is a low priority. All projects listed below fall into one of these priority levels.
Projects
#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Project Name
Douglas County Housing Partnership - Home Ownership Program
Brothers Redevelopment, Inc. - Housing Rehabilitation Services
Audio Information Network of Colorado - Audio Information Services
Douglas/Elbert Task Force - Rent Assistance
Inter-Faith Community Services – Rent Assistance
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Castle Rock – Rent Assistance
Douglas/Elbert Task Force - Utility Assistance
Douglas/Elbert Task Force - Emergency Overnight Lodging
Castle Rock Senior Center - Transportation Coordinator
Douglas County Department of Community Development - Community of Care Program
Crisis Center - VOIP Telephone Installation
Douglas/Elbert Task Force - Facility Improvements
Town of Castle Rock - ADA Surface Improvements
Table 54 – Project Information
Describe the reasons for allocation priorities and any obstacles to addressing
underserved needs
Nothing has changed from what was outlined in the Strategic Plan section. Each of the projects
listed above meet a priority, goal and objective outlined in the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan.
The Douglas County CDBG Advisory Board reviews, scores, and ranks the applications. The
Advisory Board determines funding recommendations based on project eligibility, priority, need,
and the cap for public services projects. During the evaluation process, one of the items
considered is the project’s priority level. Projects receive points based on their priority level;
high priorities receive a 30 percent score increase, medium priorities stay the same, and low
priorities receive a 30 percent decrease in score. The CDBG Advisory Board also takes into
consideration projects that are addressing underserved needs.
Obstacles to addressing underserved needs are that CDBG funds alone cannot meet the
underserved needs. Leveraging funds, pooling resources, and seeking additional grant
opportunities will also be needed to make a significant difference in meeting underserved
needs.
Page 137 of 211
AP-38 Project Summary
Project Summary Information
Housing Needs: High Priority
CDBG funding allocated toward the high priority need of housing in Douglas County is $338,900
or approximately 40 percent of the total grant award for 2014. The Consolidated Plan objectives
addressed by the housing programs for the 2014 program year are:
·
·
populations.
Organization: Douglas County Housing Partnership (DCHP)
Program Name: Home Ownership Program
Grant Allocation: $258,900
Percent of 2014 Funding: 30%
One component of the DCHP’s Home Ownership Program provides down payment assistance
to low- and moderate-income individuals and families giving them the opportunity to purchase
their first home in Douglas County. Borrowers who meet the qualifications receive $15,000 for
down payment assistance in the form of a 30-year amortizing second mortgage at a 3 percent
interest rate. This creates a low monthly payment allowing income-qualified families to achieve
the minimum requirement of a down payment on their first home, while making it affordable to
them. This program increases the client’s ability to make a purchase and helps bridge the gap
between low wages and high housing costs.
The DCHP serves approximately 1,500 residents annually. In 2012, the DCHP closed on 26
down payment assistance loans, which was 16 more than in 2012. The organization plans to
assist 14 Douglas County households with CDBG funded loans from this grant allocation.
The DCHP also utilizes HOME funds through the Colorado Division of Housing for direct down
payment assistance and administration costs consisting of program salaries and benefits. Other
leveraged funds come from corporations, fees, and HUD grants.
High land costs in Douglas County make it difficult to develop affordable housing units. With the
limited supply of housing available, many workers must commute from other areas. Providing
affordable homeownership opportunities for teachers, nurses, office workers, firefighters, law
enforcement and small business owners is a critical need. Home ownership is one of the major
indicators of economic health and having diverse incomes has been proven to create
sustainable communities. One of the most strategic ways to address the need for more
affordable housing is the DCHP’s down payment assistance program. Statistics gathered by
HUD indicate that more than 85 percent of homeowners that participate in down payment
assistance programs successfully stay in their homes with little or no default.
The Home Ownership Program will help affirmatively further fair housing choice by addressing
Impediment No. 2 of the 2011 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI), “The
County could be more diverse and balanced.” By offering down payment assistance and
Page 138 of 211
making housing more affordable, it increases the number of people who are able to purchase a
home, especially families with children and female-headed households (familial status is a
protected class). If a greater number of people are eligible to purchase a home, there is a better
chance of retaining the existing diversity and increasing diversity in Douglas County. The
DCHP has multiple opportunities to inform residents about fair housing issues, including
Homebuyer Education classes, Home Ownership Program, Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling,
Reverse Mortgage Counseling, rental housing and public speaking opportunities. Residents
can gain a better understanding of fair housing issues, how it may affect them, and ask
questions (Impediment No. 3).
Organization: Brothers Redevelopment, Inc.
Program Name: Housing Rehabilitation Services
Brothers Redevelopment Inc. (BRI) is a Denver-based non-profit organization that provides
housing and a variety of housing-related services for the region’s low-income, elderly, and
disabled residents.
CDBG grant funds will be used for Douglas County homeowner
rehabilitation projects including cost for materials, trash removal, permitting, management and
labor. A minimal amount of funds will be used for administrative costs like mileage and
advertising. BRI plans to assist 12 homeowners in the following project areas:
Home Loan Program (two households)
BRI would like to provide two loans through its Rehabilitation Loan Program to homeowners at
or above 60 percent AMI. The Rehabilitation Loan Program is designed to address higher cost
housing rehabilitation needs to reduce ongoing and future maintenance costs, promote energy
efficiency, and to preserve decent affordable owner-occupied housing. The total amount of
repairs to a dwelling is secured to the property in the form of a loan allowing homeowners to
make affordable payments over the next few years. The homeowner must qualify for the loan,
but terms are more advantageous than a local bank. Proceeds from each loan are rolled into
additional loans or grants for future participants.
Help for Home (four households)
Brothers Redevelopment primarily coordinates minor interior and exterior repairs that improve
in-home health and safety for clients through electrical and plumbing repairs. Four households
in Douglas County will receive repairs for items such as fascia, soffit, gutter repair, smoke
detectors, faulty switches, security and storm doors.
Ramps and Rails (four households)
This project plays a vital role in providing home modifications to assist seniors, and clients with
disabilities or physical limitations to prevent injury, remain in their homes longer and increase
mobility. BRI plans to assist four Douglas County households through its Ramps and Rails
program. Work might include: roll-in or step-in shower conversion, wheelchair ramp
construction, wide tread exterior stair installation for walker access, door widening for
wheelchair or walker access, grab bar installation, hand-held shower installation, roll-under sink
or counter installation, and carpet to solid surface upgrade for wheelchair or walker mobility.
Page 139 of 211
Paint-A-Thon (2 households)
BRI plans to collaborate with event sponsors and volunteers to paint two homes of incomequalified senior and disabled homeowners. The average cost to paint a home can surpass
$5,000, which is a huge expense for low-income residents.
These programs will benefit Douglas County residents as the senior population is expected to
grow drastically within the next few decades. A study conducted by the American Association of
Retired People (AARP) revealed that 90 percent of people prefer to stay at home as they age;
82 percent prefer to live at home even if they require constant care; only 9 percent desire to
move to an outside facility; and approximately 4 percent would prefer to move in with relatives.
These BRI projects will not only benefit the senior population, but homeowners with a disability
or physical limitations will benefit too. The 2011 AI stated that 23 percent of respondents who
are disabled or have a family member that is disabled believe that their current housing does
not meet their accessibility needs. Persons who require assistance in walking, standing or
using a wheelchair aren’t able to safely maneuver around their home. Home repairs will allow
accommodations for citizens to comfortably live in their homes.
The BRI Housing Rehabilitation Services program helps to affirmatively further fair housing
choice by addressing Impediment No. 2 of the Analysis of Impediments, “The County could be
more diverse and balanced.” Home repairs will allow seniors and disabled residents to remain
in their homes longer and more comfortably so that they won’t have to move or relocate. This
program also allows applicants to be informed about Impediment No. 3, “There is a lack of
understanding of fair housing issues among residents in Douglas County. Unfortunately, fair
housing issues often affect the senior and disabled populations because they need
accommodations to meet their physical needs. Homeowners will be able to better understand
any future fair housing issues. This can be especially helpful if their housing situation changes
for any reason, such as selling their home and renting a smaller unit, moving into senior
housing, or other type of facility.
Public Services Needs: High Priority
The total CDBG funding allocated toward the high priority need of public services is $130,554 or
approximately 15 percent of the total grant award for 2014. The public services objectives
addressed by the Consolidated Plan for programs in the 2014 program year are to:
·
·
·
Organization: Audio Information Network of Colorado (AINC)
Program Name: Audio Information Services
Percent of 2014 Funding: 0.6%
Blind, visually impaired, and print-disabled individuals lack access to most ink print information
that is readily available to sighted people. The AINC was established to meet this need. AINC
currently broadcasts nearly 100 newspapers from across Colorado including 208 hours of
Douglas County news from the Douglas County News Press, Castle Rock News Press, Lone
Page 140 of 211
Tree Voice, Highlands Ranch Herald and Parker Chronicle. CDBG funds will go toward the
production of Douglas County news programming. Print-disabled residents miss being able to
read their local newspaper for community level issues and events. Newspaper coverage
enables listeners to remain connected to their neighborhoods and reduces feelings of isolation.
They can be knowledgeable voters, consumers and participants in local activities.
Douglas County residents also have access to all of AINC’s programming including: daily
children’s programming; book reviews; travel; gardening; music; science; spirituality; fraud
alerts; parenting; consumer tips; grocery and discount ads; Colorado history; Jewish, Native
American and Hispanic community news; health, senior and disability news; health cooking; and
job and housing opportunities. A variety of programs are broadcast in Spanish. AINC is careful
not to duplicate materials distributed by the Colorado State Talking Book Library, Book
Recording for the Blind, Inc., or the Learning Ally. These agencies make referrals to each other
to best suit the needs of potential listeners.
Statistically, 1 percent of the total population is blind or visually impaired and under the age of
60. Of the population age 60 and older, 25 percent are blind or visually impaired. About 3
percent of the total population is considered print disabled (sighted persons who, for a variety of
reasons, are unable to access the printed word). Approximately 83 percent of AINC’s current
listeners in Douglas County are age 60 and older. Affordable access to information is important
to maintaining independence. About 45 percent of listeners who completed AINC’s 2012 survey
stated they benefited from increased self-sufficiency.
AINC staff continues to be a part of the local Seniors’ Council and participate in local activities.
Outreach includes raising awareness among potential listeners like senior living communities,
assisted living communities, skilled care communities, libraries, senior centers, and civic groups.
AINC has been serving Douglas County for 23 years.
AINC provides audio information services to any individual who will benefit from them and
chooses to be an AINC listener. Listeners are not charged for services or equipment. Some
facilities, such as Sky Cliff Adult Day Center, have a receiver that is used by three different
clients.
The organization primarily assists seniors and people who are disabled. As people with
disabilities are considered a protected class, the program addresses Impediment No. 2 in the AI
(the County could be more diverse and balanced). As mentioned above, AINC is the only
service in Colorado that provides audio access to local newspapers and publications at no
charge to clients. This unique and much needed service allows those who are blind and visually
impaired to be more involved in their community. Offering services that are not available
elsewhere invites seniors and residents with disabilities, including people who have impaired
eyesight, to thrive in our community.
Organization: Castle Rock Senior Center (CRSC)
Program Name: Transportation Coordinator
The CRSC provides transportation to seniors and the disabled population, which is a much
needed service in Castle Rock as transportation options are limited. At this time, the Castle
Rock Senior Center is the largest volunteer door-to-door transportation service in Douglas
Page 141 of 211
County. Services are unique because trips are provided for medical appointments or medical
treatments to facilities located outside of Douglas County. Local pick-up areas include Castle
Rock, Castle Pines, Sedalia, Louviers, Franktown, and Larkspur. Demand for services will
increase because Douglas County is expected to have one of the highest growing senior
populations in the nation.
The transportation coordinator works with clients to make transportation services available,
coordinate trips with volunteers and clients, provide training, and scheduling and maintenance
of vehicles. During the last year, the CRSC served 139 new clients in need of transportation
services resulting in an average of 200 additional rides per month. The increased demand for
services made it necessary to hire a part-time transportation reception clerk to assist the
transportation coordinator.
Services are available on a donation basis only as the majority of clients are low- and moderateincome residents who struggle to make ends meet. An average donation of 77 cents per ride
makes it difficult for the program to stay afloat without grants from various organizations.
The CRSC serves a total of 1,126 residents with approximately 350 of those being
transportation clients. All clients who participate in the transportation program will benefit from
having a full-time transportation coordinator to organize and schedule trips. CDBG funds will
pay the salary for this staff member to schedule an estimated total of 700 trips per month.
This project will further fair housing efforts by addressing the shortage of transportation
opportunities for seniors and persons with disabilities (Impediment No. 1 of the AI) by providing
funds for a transportation coordinator who will work to organize transit services for these specific
populations. Strides will be made towards implementing Action items 1.1 and 1.2 of the AI.
This position will help to meet the increased demand for transportation services for these
protected classes.
Organization: Crisis Center (formerly Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center)
Project Name: VOIP Telephone Installation
The Crisis Center serves more than 18,000 people each year. In 2012, they received
approximately 10,288 phone calls for information, referrals and services. Of the total phone
calls received, about 50 percent were from Douglas County residents and 58 percent were
individuals and families in crisis. The Crisis Center is the only shelter in Douglas County and
the only facility that serves victims of domestic violence.
Their current telephone system is 35 years old and doesn’t allow for external direct-line dial, nor
does it have the ability for facility-to-facility transfers. This is an issue as a caller in crisis may
call the administrative office and will have to hang up and dial a different number to access the
emergency shelter. An updated phone system will benefit both clients and staff by providing a
more efficient and effective phone system to enhance and improve access to services for
victims of domestic violence, particularly those in need of confidential housing or immediate
resources to safety. The Crisis Center strives to provide quality services to its clients and being
able to transfer between facilities will improve the quality of services for domestic violence
victims.
Page 142 of 211
The Crisis Center offers a variety of services, which creates a need for efficient phone
operations and the transfer of calls. Their residential program includes a 24-hour crisis line and
28-bed emergency shelter for adult and child victims of domestic violence. Out-client or nonresidential services include individual and group therapy programs, legal advocacy, court
support and referrals, and transitional support for clients leaving the shelter. The organization
also provides community outreach and educational opportunities to inform the public about
domestic violence.
The Crisis Center allows the county to be more diverse and balanced (Impediment No. 2 of the
AI) by providing a unique set of services not offered anywhere else in Douglas County. These
services help clients to address issues leading them toward self-sufficiency and help them to
remain in the county instead of moving elsewhere. Clients can also be educated about fair
housing issues (Impediment No. 3) to ensure they don’t experience housing discrimination as
they leave the shelter and look for housing to meet their needs.
Organization: Douglas County Department of Community Development
Program Name: Family Collective Program
The Community of Care Network serves Douglas County’s most vulnerable, low- and moderateincome residents, who are homeless or facing homelessness, by providing them the resources
and assistance needed to obtain and maintain self-sufficiency. The Community of Care
Navigator will implement the Family Collective Program by working in partnership with the
DCHP, Douglas County WrapAround program, and the Crisis Center to determine which clients
should become part of the program, leverage funds and increase resources available to clients.
An employment priority approach will be implemented where residents are encouraged to obtain
employment while being supported by services that will allow them to maintain that employment.
This process will be facilitated by the Community of Care Navigator and other partner agencies.
Through this program, housing costs will be supplemented while families receive this support.
Finding and maintaining a job is a critical first step in a family’s road to self-sufficiency.
CDBG funds will be utilized to help stabilize housing for the families selected into the program
by providing either rent assistance or for shelter at a hotel until other housing opportunities
become an option. An estimated 28 households (84 individuals) will be served.
Clients are assisted for a period of six to nine months in securing self-sufficiency in nine of the
following 10 categories: adult education, employment, family support, financial health, health
care, housing, mental health, mobility and child(ren) education and parenting, if applicable.
Impediment No. 3 is a lack of understanding of fair housing issues among residents in Douglas
County. The Community of Care Navigator will work closely with clients to determine what
issues are affecting their ability to maintain stable housing and if that is linked to any fair
housing issues. The navigator can act as an advocate for the family and help educate them
about discrimination. It is important that clients are aware of their rights related to fair housing,
whether it is related to familial status, a request for reasonable accommodations from a disabled
person, or discrimination against their national origin or religion.
Page 143 of 211
Organization: Douglas/Elbert Task Force (D/ETF)
Project Name: Overnight Lodging Assistance
The Overnight Lodging Assistance Program offered through the D/ETF provides emergency
overnight housing for the homeless, transients and victims of crime. It is also committed to
assisting those in need due to severe weather. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and local
police departments have come to rely on overnight assistance to help those they come in
contact with, and provide them with motel vouchers if the D/ETF is closed.
Douglas County does not have a homeless shelter; therefore, overnight lodging assistance is
crucial for homeless families and individuals in crisis, particularly during times of inclement
weather. Those in need of overnight assistance may also utilize other services available at the
D/ETF such as their food bank, clothing assistance or other services to meet their basic needs.
The D/ETF also refers clients to other organizations that may be able to assist them in finding
temporary or permanent shelter to reduce the possibility of homelessness.
Overnight lodging assistance is typically limited to two nights in a motel; however, exceptions
are made for clients who are employed and waiting for a first paycheck or for families with
children.
CDBG funds are an essential component of this program and are leveraged with EFSP funds to
serve additional clients. In 2013, the D/ETF, in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Office and local
police departments, provided a total of $18,839 in hotel vouchers to prevent homeless families
and individuals from being unsheltered. The organization plans to assist about 300 clients with
CDBG-funded overnight lodging assistance.
Unfortunately, some residents fall into hard times and may become homeless or victims of a
crime in which overnight assistance is important for their safety. Reaching out to help can make
a significant difference in a person’s life and shows that people in Douglas County care about
those in need regardless of their situation. This caring touch may encourage those in need to
stay in Douglas County (Impediment No. 2, Action item 2.1). Community support sends a
message that this is a caring community, and will help people feel welcome in Douglas County.
It is also important to get to the root of why homelessness occurred or what type of crime they
were victims of so that these issues can be addressed. If housing discrimination had anything
to do with their reason for being homeless, it is important that they know their rights and what
rights they have as they move forward (Impediment No. 3, Action item 3.1). The volunteers at
the D/ETF have an opportunity to listen for discriminatory behaviors as they interview clients
and assist them in their time of need.
Organization: D/ETF
Program Name: Rent Assistance
The D/ETF’s Emergency Rent Assistance Program provides a one-time housing assistance
payment on behalf of eligible clients. The goal of the program is to help families and individuals
in economic crisis remain in their homes and prevent homelessness. CDBG funds assist about
Page 144 of 211
half of the clients the D/ETF sees for emergency rent assistance on a yearly basis, and they
would not be able to meet the increasing needs of their clients if CDBG funds were not
available. The D/ETF leverages CDBG funds with other funding sources to assist more clients,
and collaborates with other agencies to offer clients additional resources. Clients are required
to be part of the solution to their financial crisis by initiating contact with other agencies, and
ensuring that appropriate documentation is provided.
Emergency rent assistance is vital to preventing homelessness by allowing clients to remain in
their homes for another 30 days, which gives them more time to improve their financial situation.
The D/ETF has noticed a consistently higher number of clients in need of rent assistance than in
previous years. Approximately 16 to 20 percent of clients served monthly are new to the
organization.
Clients who present eviction or foreclosure notices are assisted with up to $250 in financial
assistance in order to prevent homelessness and help clients with security deposits to obtain
new living arrangements. In 2013, combined funding sources provided $56,624 in housing
assistance to 214 households. The D/ETF estimates that 450 people will be served in 2014
with CDBG-funded rent assistance.
Emergency rent assistance is crucial to helping renters remain in Douglas County. The
program creates opportunities to maintain and generate a diverse, balanced population
(Impediment No. 2). It is important to help stabilize families so they can live and work in the
same community where their children attend school. By helping families stabilize their living
situation, they are better integrated into our community. When clients request assistance, case
managers have the opportunity to share information regarding fair housing and can ensure that
those receiving assistance are not experiencing any fair housing discrimination (Impediment No.
3: There is a lack of understanding of fair housing issues among residents in the County.).
Organization: D/ETF
Project Name: Utility Assistance
Utility assistance is the D/ETF’s second largest area of service after food assistance. The
Emergency Utility Assistance program helps families and individuals in economic crisis by
preventing shut-offs and evictions, or restoring services that have been disconnected. The
D/ETF offers eligible clients up to $750 (lifetime) in utility assistance for heat, electricity, and
water; however, the average amount paid per client is around $350. Families cannot live
without these necessities and could face eviction if they live in rental properties, which could
ultimately lead to homelessness. This program allows clients to have the necessary utilities to
maintain a suitable living environment. When receiving utility assistance, clients are able to pay
for other necessities such as food, rent and clothing.
The D/ETF estimates serving approximately 595 households with a total of $157,007 in utility
assistance from all funding sources in 2013. Due to the overwhelming number of requests for
utility assistance, CDBG funds will be leveraged with both Energy Outreach Colorado funds for
heat and electricity and Philip S. Miller funds. Without these various funding sources, the D/ETF
would have to cut services and turn clients away.
Page 145 of 211
CDBG funds play an essential role in helping members in need in the community. Clients
encompass all races, ethnicities, income levels and generations. This project invites diversity
(Impediment No. 2 of the AI) by helping diverse populations stay in their homes and have the
necessary utilities they need to survive and remain in Douglas County. Parents can focus on
maintaining their jobs, stabilizing the family and creating an environment for their children to
thrive. Children can focus on school and not have their education disrupted due to eviction or
lack of basic services. This leads to a more stable environment and helps create balanced
living patterns when residents of our community are from a variety of socioeconomic
backgrounds.
Organization: Inter-Faith Community Services (IFCS)
Project Name: Rent Assistance
IFCS is a community based, non-profit organization dedicated to serving low-income individuals,
families, and the elderly in Arapahoe (excluding Aurora) and northern Douglas Counties.
Programs offered vary and include: hunger prevention, homeless prevention, financial
assistance, enrichment programs, senior citizen programs, clothing bank, recreation passes,
eye glasses and hearing aid programs, as well as a career center.
IFCS implements a Homeless Prevention Program that provides rent assistance to low- and
moderate-income individuals and families to prevent homelessness and create a suitable living
environment. IFCS will use CDBG funds to provide rent assistance to clients in the northern
portion of the county, which will be advantageous for clients in Lone Tree and Highlands Ranch.
The D/ETF and St. Vincent de Paul of Castle Rock also offer rent assistance and will serve any
eligible client in the county, but are located in Castle Rock. This makes it difficult for clients
living in the northern portion of the county to access services if they do not have transportation.
IFCS offers rent assistance to eligible clients once in a 12-month period. Typically, Douglas
County clients receive an average of $811 per household; therefore, IFCS plans to assist
approximately nine to 10 households or 25 clients. Additional clients will benefit from rent
assistance through funds from the Colorado Homeless Prevention Activities Grant and Federal
Emergency Management Agency EFSP funds.
Douglas County is home to many clients in need of rent assistance and CDBG funds help these
clients to remain in their homes and in Douglas County for at least another 30 days. IFCS
provides other resources and refers clients to resources that will hopefully lead to solutions for
the client’s financial situation. Helping clients remain in their homes addresses Impediment No.
2 in generating a diverse and balanced population of various races, ethnicities, incomes, sizes,
etc. Clients who request rent assistance have an opportunity to learn more about fair housing
by meeting with a case manager that discusses their current situation with them as well as their
rights under the Fair Housing Act (Impediment No. 3). Education is an important part of helping
clients to be better informed about their situation so that they have an opportunity to succeed.
Page 146 of 211
Organization: Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Castle Rock (SVdP-CR)
Project Name: Rent Assistance
The SVdP-CR has been operating for the past 10 years and provides rent, utility and
emergency housing (hotel vouchers) assistance to low-income families, and operates a food
pantry two Saturdays per month. Eligible residents can receive one-time rent assistance so that
families can remain in their homes and avoid homelessness. In previous years, CDBG
assistance allowed SVdP-CR to assist more families, increase flexibility in utilizing their
resources for additional utility assistance, and expand their food bank.
Combining CDBG funds with other community resources allows SVdP-CR to support six to eight
families each month with partial rent payments between $100 and $300. The organization plans
to use CDBG funds to assist 55 to 60 clients with partial rent assistance.
In 2013, SVdP-CR was able to provide a total of $33,848 in rental, utility and emergency
assistance for 190 households (650 individuals). Data collected indicated that 70 percent of
these households had extremely low incomes based on HUD guidelines; approximately 45
percent were female head of household; and 27 percent were Hispanic. Out of the households
that came to the food bank, more than 20 percent were headed by someone over the age of 65
and 18 percent had a person with a disability.
Low-income individuals and families greatly benefit from this program as they are able to remain
in their homes, remain in Douglas County and avoid homelessness. Helping those in need
maintains diversity and addresses Impediment No. 2 in the AI (the County could be more
diverse and balanced). When the SVdP-CR case manager interviews clients, there is also the
opportunity to share fair housing information, which addresses Impediment No. 3, and helps
clients understand their rights regarding housing discrimination.
Public Facilities and Improvements: High Priority
One public facilities and improvements project will be funded in 2014 making up 21 percent of
the total 2014 grant allocation. This project addresses the following Consolidated Plan
objective:
·
Organization: D/ETF
Project Name: Building Renovation Suite A
The D/ETF is the most well-known facility in Douglas County for providing assistance to those in
need with its food bank, rent and utility assistance, hotel vouchers, thrift store, and referrals to
other resources. CDBG funds helped the D/ETF purchase its current facility in 2010. The
number of clients served has increased over the years and space in the building allows for
improvements to be made to address the increased demand, improve safety and traffic flow,
and provide additional privacy for clients. In 2013, 14,740 clients were assisted, many of which
Page 147 of 211
were experiencing a crisis and dealing with incredible stress. Having a calm, warm, quiet place
for them to come, and being welcomed by a smiling volunteer immediately diffuses some of that
stress.
Currently, there is a partition up between the Client Services area and the Thrift Store, which
does not provide a great deal of privacy for clients. The organization’s mission includes helping
clients “through troublesome times with dignity” and increasing privacy for clients will do just
that. Client Services will be moved to the west end of the building as well as the donation dropoff area. Moving the Client Services area as a result of the project will allow the D/ETF to
increase their client load by 20 to 25 percent. Moving the donation area to the west side of the
building will be safer for residents bringing donations. A new sign will be installed that will be
visible from the street directing clients to the new donation area. The thrift store will be
expanded into the current Client Services area. This renovation will allow additional donations
to be accepted and more merchandise to be sold, increasing the organization’s revenues and
allowing more emergency assistance clients to be served. Some clients are given a voucher for
merchandise and allowed to “shop” at the store. As the store expands, more clients will benefit
from the additional services provided.
Facility improvements will benefit approximately 6,768 Douglas County residents as well as
many Elbert County residents. Services provide food for the hungry, prevent homelessness and
help during times of crisis. This project addresses Impediments No. 2 and No. 3 of the AI.
Services offered by the D/ETF invite diversity and balance in Douglas County’s population by
helping those in need to remain in Douglas County. Balance for both the population and the
economy includes the need for residents of various income levels to perform a variety of jobs.
Clients receiving rent and utility assistance provide information on their current living situation
and volunteers or case managers are trained to identify any fair housing issues and provide
clients with any necessary information.
Infrastructure Needs: Low Priority
One low priority infrastructure project will be funded during the 2014 program year with
$152,702 or approximately 16 percent of the total grant award for 2014. The Consolidated Plan
objective addressed by infrastructure programs for the 2014 program year is to:
·
leveraging funds.
Organization: Town of Castle Rock (ToCR)
Project Name: ADA Surface Improvements
Downtown Castle Rock serves as the county seat. Government services for Douglas County
and the ToCR, businesses, retail, restaurants and residential housing are located in the
downtown area. Downtown Castle Rock is historic, which has created some difficulties when
making facility improvements to existing buildings. Most have store fronts at the property line
and do not have enough space to accommodate ADA ramps. Many of these businesses have
parking in the rear of the building and have added ADA ramps to ensure accessibility for all
Page 148 of 211
employees and residents. Parking in this area is linked to alleyways that are in need of repairs.
This project will improve ADA accessibility and mobility for pedestrians in the area. Several of
the proposed locations are used frequently by low-income residents to access apartments or
other housing. Downtown Castle Rock is located within a CDBG target area.
Several existing alleyways will be improved providing a smoother surface to improve mobility
between the parking areas and local businesses to meet accessible ADA standards.
Impediment No. 2 of the AI is improved by the implementation of this project. Providing
increased accessibility and mobility allows for a diverse and balanced population as those with
physical disabilities can shop, dine, and work in the businesses benefitting from these new
improvements.
Organization: Douglas County
Project Name: 2014 CDBG Grant Administration
The County will use CDBG funds to administer housing and community development programs.
Administration funds will be used for salaries, benefits, supplies, training, marketing the program
and mileage, as well as other activities required to operate this entitlement grant program.
Alternative Activity Funding
CDBG applicants are advised that every effort should be made to complete their projects and
expend allocated funds within a one-year timeframe. If there are instances where applicants
are unable to spend down their allocation in a timely manner, funds will likely be reallocated to
partially funded or alternative projects. Should funding become available, the CDBG Advisory
Board ranked the following projects to receive funding:
Housing, Public Facilities and Infrastructure Projects
1. Town of Castle Rock – ADA Surface Improvements
2. Douglas County Housing Partnership – Home Ownership Program
3. Douglas/Elbert Task Force – Facility Improvements
4. Brothers Redevelopment – Housing Rehabilitation
5. Sedalia Water and Sanitation District – Water Line Improvements
Public Services Projects:
1. Douglas County Department of Community Development – Community of Care Program
2. Douglas/Elbert Task Force – Rent Assistance
3. St. Vincent de Paul of Castle Rock – Rent Assistance
4. Inter-Faith Community Services – Rent Assistance
5. Audio Information Network of Colorado – Audio Information Services
6. Douglas/Elbert Task Force – Utility Assistance
Page 149 of 211
AP-50 Geographic Distribution – 91.220(f)
Description of the geographic areas of the entitlement (including areas of lowincome and minority concentration) where assistance will be directed
Downtown Castle Rock (Block Group 1, Tract 145.04) is the only project funded during the 2014
CDBG program year that is specific to a target area. Downtown Castle Rock is approximately
26 percent minority, or 162 persons out of a total of 632. The target area is 1.4 percent Asian
and 22 percent Hispanic or Latino. Castle Rock is one of the block groups in Douglas County
that has the highest percentages of minorities.
Geographic Distribution
Target Area
Downtown Castle Rock
Percentage of Funds
16%
Table 55 - Geographic Distribution
Rationale for the priorities for allocating investments geographically
Geographic priorities for the county have not been established. Funds that are allocated
geographically are typically for organizations applying for a project in a CDBG geographic target
area. Douglas County is considered to be an affluent community and the number of target
areas is limited. For this reason, HUD allows Douglas County to use the upper quartile
exception when determining target areas. Without this exception, only eight block groups
qualify as target areas with concentrations of 51 percent or more of low- and moderate-income
households. Using the upper quartile figure of 29 percent allows the County to add an
additional 28 block groups as target areas.
During the application evaluation process, the CDBG Advisory Board adds additional points
when scoring projects located in a target area. Proposed applications in designated target
areas automatically address a need as the area’s low- and moderate-income community will
benefit from the project. The types of projects typically proposed in target areas also benefit the
greater population, thereby serving more residents. The project proposed in downtown Castle
Rock will benefit businesses and low-income residents as well as the disabled population.
All other projects being funded are not located within a target area.
Discussion
N/A
Page 150 of 211
Affordable Housing
AP-55 Affordable Housing – 91.220(g)
Introduction
One Year Goals for the Number of Households to be Supported
Homeless
158
Non-Homeless
252
Special-Needs
73
Total
483
Table 56 - One Year Goals for Affordable Housing by Support Requirement
One Year Goals for the Number of Households Supported Through
Rental Assistance
169
The Production of New Units
0
Rehab of Existing Units
12
Acquisition of Existing Units
14
Total
195
Table 57 - One Year Goals for Affordable Housing by Support Type
Discussion
Douglas County’s estimates for Table 5 were developed based on the following CDBG
allocations and calculations:
·
Homeless Households to be Supported (158 total):
o The D/ETF will receive $7,500 in overnight lodging assistance. They estimate
serving approximately 170 clients who are homeless, transients and victims of
crime. Assuming the majority of those served are homeless, an estimate of 150
households was provided.
o The Community of Care Navigator estimates serving approximately eight
households.
·
Non-Homeless Households to be Supported (252 total):
o Organizations providing rent assistance (169), housing rehabilitation (12) and
down payment assistance (14) are providing services to non-homeless
households (see Table 6 estimates below for calculations); therefore,
approximately 195 households could be assisted.
o The D/ETF will receive $20,000 for utility assistance. An average amount of
$350 in utility assistance is provided per non-homeless household resulting in
approximately 57 households being assisted.
·
Special Needs Households to be Supported (73 total):
o During the 2012 program year, approximately 73 households that received some
form of housing assistance had a person with disabilities. Douglas County used
this number to estimate the number of special needs households assisted in the
chart above. The numbers were based on the following services, all of which will
be offered again during the 2014 program year:
Page 151 of 211
§
§
§
§
§
The Douglas County Department of Community Development provided
rent assistance to four households with a person who was disabled.
The D/ETF provided rent assistance to 23 households with a person who
was disabled.
The D/ETF provided utility assistance to 27 households with a person
who was disabled.
The D/ETF provided overnight lodging assistance to 10 clients who had a
disability.
SVdP-CR provided rent assistance to nine households with a person who
was disabled.
Douglas County’s estimates for Table 6 were developed based on the following CDBG
allocations and calculations:
·
Households Supported through Rent Assistance (169 total):
o The D/ETF will receive $20,000 for rent assistance. They typically provide about
$250 per client; therefore, they could assist approximately 80 households.
o SVdP-CR will receive $12,000 for rent assistance. They estimate providing
about $100 to $300 per client. Averaging about $200 per client, a total of 55
households could be assisted.
o IFCS will receive $5,000 for rent assistance. They estimate providing about $811
per client; therefore, they could assist approximately six households.
o Douglas County’s Department of Community Development will receive $27,741
for housing assistance to serve approximately 28 households.
·
Households Supported through Rehabilitation of Existing Units (12 total):
o BRI is the only project offering housing rehabilitation. They received $80,000
that will be used in a variety of ways to assist approximately 12 households.
·
Households Supported through Acquisition of Existing Units (14 total):
o The DCHP received $258,900 for down payment assistance. Around $18,421 is
the cost for the loan and administrative costs resulting in about 14 first-time
homeowners acquiring an existing home.
Page 152 of 211
AP-60 Public Housing – 91.220(h)
Introduction
Douglas County does not have any public housing.
Actions planned during the next year to address the needs to public housing
N/A
Actions to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in
management and participate in homeownership
N/A
If the PHA is designated as troubled, describe the manner in which financial
assistance will be provided or other assistance
N/A
Discussion
N/A
Page 153 of 211
AP-65 Homeless and Other Special Needs Activities – 91.220(i)
Introduction
Even though prevention resources are available in Douglas County and throughout the Denver
metro area, there are not enough services available to meet the growing needs of both the
emerging homeless population and residents who are at risk of becoming homeless.
Unfortunately, the 2014 Point-in-Time Study of homeless persons will not be released until later
in the year; therefore, the most recent data collected in 2013 indicates that there continues to be
a rise in Douglas County’s homeless population. The Point-in-Time Study is conducted on a
single night, which most likely does not encompass the entire homeless population. The Study
identified 172 homeless persons; however, Douglas County School District served 902 students
through its McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program confirming our theory that there are
more homeless people than those included in the Point-in-Time Study. Of those who
responded to the survey, 78 percent reported having children in their household. Respondents
provided the following as top causes for homelessness: 46 percent stated housing costs, 31
percent stated relationship or family break-up, 28 percent listed lost jobs, 19 percent listed
eviction or foreclosure, and 16 percent stated medical issues.
Douglas County has developed goals and actions to reduce and end homelessness in the
county. The County has a fairly small homeless population compared to other areas in the
Denver metro region. Developing resources and collaborating with other entities working to
assist the homeless and at-risk population will be necessary in addressing the community’s
needs and reducing the number of people in need.
In Douglas County, there does not appear to be a link between homelessness and race,
ethnicity or disability. The majority of respondents to the Point-in-Time Study were Caucasian,
which is in line with Douglas County’s population of 85 percent Caucasian residents. There is
no indication from the provider or community surveys that homelessness is related to race,
ethnicity or disability.
Although there does not appear to be a link between homelessness and race, ethnicity or
disability, it is important to ensure that housing options and services are available to all.
Douglas County’s Housing Objective 2 specifically addresses the need to “increase and
maintain accessible housing options for the disabled and aging populations”. All other goals
and objectives are directed to all populations, this is the only objective specific to persons with
disabilities and seniors.
Describe the jurisdictions one-year goals and actions for reducing and ending
homelessness including:
Throughout the next year, Douglas County will focus on the following goals:
1. Reduce the number of homeless people as well as those at risk of homelessness.
2. Increase knowledge of the homeless population to address issues that led to
homelessness.
Actions that will support the goals of reducing and ending homelessness are to:
Page 154 of 211
1. Allocate CDBG funds for projects that will help reduce homelessness in Douglas County
and provide services to residents with special needs.
2. Work collaboratively with local area organizations and regionally, when appropriate, to
address issues and improve circumstances for the homeless and special needs
populations.
3. Hold two “Strive to Thrive” events (winter and summer) to provide services and
resources to the homeless and those at risk of homelessness.
4. Work with partnering agencies through the Family Collective program to help clients
address barriers and reach self-sufficiency.
5. Identify opportunities for collaboration, collect referral information, plan events such as
“Strive to Thrive” and collectively identify solutions to address issues and meet clients’
needs through the Community of Care Network.
6. Continue to reach out to homeless persons, including chronically homeless on a monthly
basis, to provide them with food and offer resources to help them improve their current
circumstances. The County’s Community of Care Navigator will conduct the outreach.
7. Participate in the Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative’s Point-in-Time Study,
conducted in January each year, to learn more about homeless individual’s situations
and needs.
Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and
assessing their individual needs
The actions described above meet the one-year goals by providing funding, opportunities for
collaboration and events to help reduce and increase knowledge of the homeless population.
Funds will be directed to projects that work with the homeless or vulnerable population.
Working with these populations and participating in the Point-in-Time Study will allow staff to
better understand the factors leading to homelessness. The Family Collective program partners
with other agencies to help clients obtain and maintain self-sufficiency. This program works by
assisting homeless persons and those at-risk of becoming homeless with case management to
address barriers and learn skills that will prevent them from returning to homelessness again.
Collaboration helps to strengthen relationships among agencies, increases knowledge of
services available, creates a starting point to address system gaps, and generates ideas for
reaching out to this population.
Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless
persons. Helping homeless persons (especially chronically homeless individuals
and families, families with children, veterans and their families, and
unaccompanied youth) make the transition to permanent housing and
independent living, including shortening the period of time that individuals and
families experience homelessness, facilitating access for homeless individuals
and families to affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and families
who were recently homeless from becoming homeless again
Currently, the only emergency shelter in Douglas County is the Crisis Center’s 28-bed facility for
victims of domestic violence. Douglas County’s homeless population is fairly new and growing.
In the past, this need was met using motel vouchers and an emergency shelter was not
considered an immediate need; however, as this population grows, there are indicators that a
shelter for the homeless will be an important consideration in the future.
Page 155 of 211
Motel vouchers are available through the D/ETF, Parker Task Force, local law enforcement, and
other organizations and churches. CDBG funded $7,500 in overnight lodging assistance to the
D/ETF for the 2014 program year. Douglas County realizes that motel vouchers are not a longterm solution for sheltering the homeless, which is why collaborating with other agencies to
determine the best avenue to approach this issue in the future will be fundamental.
Douglas County is making an effort to work with other organizations on a variety of unmet
housing needs to benefit the homeless such as transitional housing. Discussions are underway
to increase opportunities for transitional housing in the future.
Douglas County has been increasing the number of available affordable housing units, but
many are still above fair market rent. Currently, organizations working with clients who are in
need of rental units at lower rates are provided referrals to apartments that have rental units for
varying levels of AMI. If clients are unaware of the affordable housing options available, being
directed to those apartment complexes may allow them to secure housing that is more
affordable. Paying lower rent will help them to adjust their finances and remain sheltered.
Clients receiving assistance will also be informed of other resources that may be available to
them such as housing vouchers, food assistance, and referrals to other organizations and
churches that might be able to assist them.
Douglas County has limited resources available to assist clients in transitioning and maintaining
stable housing. Collaboration among entities will create a forum for discussing the best options
for the community in the future. Motel vouchers, homeless shelters, transitional housing,
affordable housing, and permanent supportive housing will all be part of the discussion to
reduce the homeless and vulnerable population.
Helping low-income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless,
especially extremely low-income individuals and families and those who are:
being discharged from publicly funded institutions and systems of care (such as
health care facilities, mental health facilities, foster care and other youth facilities,
and corrections programs and institutions); or, receiving assistance from public
or private agencies that address housing, health, social services, employment,
education, or youth needs
Douglas County residents have access to several resources that provide assistance in housing,
health, social services, employment, education and youth needs, such as the following:
Housing and Social Services:
· Residents can access emergency assistance services through the Douglas County
Human Services Department, D/ETF, SVdP-CR, IFCS, Parker Task Force, the Fresh
Harvest Food Bank, the Salvation Army, as well as churches and other local
organizations. These agencies can assist with one or more of the following: clothing,
food, rent and utility assistance, and hotel vouchers.
·
The Crisis Center is Douglas County’s only shelter that offers temporary housing for
victims of domestic violence and their families.
Page 156 of 211
·
The DCHP has a Foreclosure Mediation Program to assist families who are delinquent
on their mortgages to the point that their lender has filed for foreclosure. Counselors
help them determine their options, including working with their bank for a loan
modification.
·
The DCHP recently started a Reverse Mortgage Counseling program in 2012 for
homeowners age 62 and older. Counselors work with clients to determine if the client
should tap into the equity in their home and use the monies for living expenses.
·
Douglas County has several affordable housing apartment complexes. Residents in
need of affordable housing can be directed to one of these facilities to see if they are
eligible and if an apartment is available to meet their needs.
Health:
· Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network (ADMHN) offers a wide variety of mental
health and substance abuse services including: individual, family, marital and group
counseling, therapy, groups, psychiatry, emergency and residential treatment programs
for all age groups. Services include: outpatient counseling and psychiatric services,
emergency and acute care treatment, short- and long-term residential (inpatient)
treatment, programs for those with severe and persistent mental illness, and a host of
other programs. Specialized offerings include their therapeutic day treatment school,
programs for those struggling with bipolar disorder, grief, post-traumatic stress
syndrome, borderline personality disorder, intensive services and more.
ADMHN is not in the housing business, but is aware that some clients may not be able
to be treated without the stability of safe, clean housing and without meeting clients’
other basic needs, such as food, medical care, and other social services. Several types
of supported housing arrangements, ranging from help with housing to a short-term
emergency acute treatment are available.
·
The D/ETF has a Mobile Medical Van, in collaboration with Castle Oaks Church and
ACS Community L.I.F.T., that comes to the D/ETF on the first and third Wednesday
evenings providing free medical and prescription assistance.
Employment:
· Arapahoe/Douglas Works! (A/D Works!) Workforce Center serves as a critical resource
to connect people and businesses in Arapahoe and Douglas Counties. A/D Works! also
offers free workforce development services to businesses in the Denver metro area to
ensure that the region remains economically competitive and can maintain an
adequately skilled workforce for the future. Professional assessments and job training
are available to Douglas County residents. A/D Works! offers programs for specific
audiences such as: Veterans Services, Youth in the Works, Persons with Disabilities,
Generations @ Work for those age 50+, and WIA Adult and Dislocated Workers.
Education and Youth:
· The Douglas County School District operates a program to identify and coordinate
services for students and their families who are homeless. The Homeless Student
Services Liaison works with a number of homeless students to ensure they have access
to the same opportunities as other students in terms of education, sports and the ability
Page 157 of 211
participate in other activities. Students often receive referrals and resources to other
agencies that they can share with their parent(s) or guardian(s).
·
The Douglas County Youth Initiative was developed through the Partnership of Douglas
County Governments and began in September 2005 as a method of coordinating local
youth-serving efforts and assessing the needs of the community’s youth. The
WrapAround program is offered through the Youth Initiative and works with families to
address a variety of issues. The Youth Initiative’s mission is to unite the Douglas County
community, including youth, parents, agencies, governments, schools, non-profits and
other adults in mutual efforts to:
o Collaborate effectively as a seamless continuum of services.
o Advocate for system improvements that will better serve youth and families.
o Support youth and encourage their contributions to the broader community.
o Effectively intervene with youth who are endangered by their decisions or
situation.
o Support and expand opportunities for youth to express viewpoints.
o Support parents with resources, education and unconditional care.
·
Douglas County Libraries offers education through their monthly activities as well as
adult tutoring, opportunities to get a GED, learning English through ESL classes, and
inmate education.
·
Catholic Charities of Central Colorado offers English classes for Spanish-speaking
adults.
These resources greatly benefit clients and are aimed at learning more about individual needs
related to the homeless and vulnerable population to reduce the number of people experiencing
homelessness. All of these entities will be invited to participate in the collaboration process to
ensure that all factors causing homelessness are considered.
Discussion
The majority of questions above pertained more to the homeless population and not the special
needs population; therefore, the following information is specific to residents with special needs:
·
AINC is Colorado’s only volunteer-based, broadcast and audio information service for
the blind, visually impaired and print-disabled residents throughout the state. For the
past 23 years, the AINC provides free audio access to newspapers, magazines and
other print materials to this specific population of Coloradans.
This service allows visually impaired residents access to local newspapers, ad circulars,
magazines and other print materials. Approximately 83 percent of current listeners in
Douglas County are over 60 years of age. Locally, AINC broadcasts the Douglas
County News Press, Castle Rock News Press, the Lone Tree Voice, the Highlands
Ranch Herald, and the Parker Chronicle along with more than 100 newspapers
statewide. As the information contained in newspapers is an effective method to present
detailed coverage of community-wide issues, this service allows seniors and persons
with disabilities to remain connected to their community, be knowledgeable voters and
consumers, and allows them to participate in local activities. The CDBG program has
Page 158 of 211
funded the organization over multiple program years from four different jurisdictions to
help the organization expand services throughout Colorado.
·
Developmental Pathways is a Colorado non-profit agency created to serve persons with
developmental disabilities and their families. It was established in 1964 as a communitybased alternative to institutional care. Since that time, Developmental Pathways has
developed a broad array of services based on the principle that full inclusion and
participation in community life is attainable for every individual with a developmental
disability. Developmental Pathways serves citizens of Arapahoe and Douglas Counties,
and a portion of Adams County within the City of Aurora.
Developmental Pathways offers a variety of residential placements with supervision and
independence levels tailored to the individual requirements of the person served. Their
staff is committed to addressing the total needs of each individual in a typical home
environment. Residential settings include independent living situations, group homes,
apartment programs and host homes. Specific services available include: community
participation, personal assistance and community access, and job skills training.
·
Douglas County Transit Solutions (DCTS) is a Local Coordinating Council (LCC) which
continues to identify and strengthen existing and new community partners. The LCC
assesses the transit needs of Douglas County’s disabled, low- and moderate-income,
and elderly populations, and in particular those who are transit dependent.
DCTS along with its LCC partners were successful in securing approximately $173,000
for Douglas County during the 2013-2014 grant funding cycle. This Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) grant enables the coordination of existing services for low- and
moderate-income, the elderly and disabled populations within Douglas County. This
grant is estimated to provide approximately 66,000 trips during the funding cycle.
DCTS and the LCC continue to make strides in expanding transportation options in
Douglas County. The LCC issued a coordinated Human Services Transportation
Request for Proposals (RFP) to integrate three Human Services transportation funding
sources. This allows the County to make more informed funding decisions and increase
the number of trips available to residents.
Funding for these trips comes from a 2013-2014 grant award of $103,800 from the
Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). Douglas County plans to provide a
minimum of 4,325 trips to a minimum of 220 qualified residents. Rides will be provided
for medical appointments, congregate meal sites, grocery shopping and other locally
prioritized trips. Of the $103,800 awarded, approximately $50,000 has been earmarked
to provide transportation to residents with developmental disabilities. During the 20142015 program year, Douglas County estimates providing a minimum of 7,000 FTA
funded trips for eligible residents through the Section 5310 program of MAP-21.
Douglas County was awarded 2014-2015 Funding Advancement for Surface
Transportation and Economic Recovery (FASTER) funding for the acquisition of five new
transport vehicles. The County plans to use the $227,200 in FASTER funds to pay for
80 percent of the cost of five new vehicles that would be leased on a competitive annual
basis. To the Rescue, an LCC partner and local transportation service provider, plans to
Page 159 of 211
compete for the leased vehicles. Being a for-profit company makes them ineligible to
apply for the FASTER grant directly. To the Rescue employees are specifically trained
to assist customers with a variety of special needs such as those with Lou Gehrig’s
Disease (ALS), Alzheimers, arthritis, autism, dementia, developmentally disabled,
diabetic, disabled, multiple sclerosis, respite, Parkinsons, traumatic brain injury and
more. Their services allow those with special needs to be comfortably transported to
medical appointments, run errands, attend events, and be more involved in the
community.
·
The Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA) provides therapeutic recreation
programs to enhance the quality of life of individuals with special needs. Programs are
facilitated by Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists or qualified staff. Participants
can enjoy a quality and compassionate community-based environment for participants of
all ages and abilities that challenge participants and support general independence,
choice, self-determination, and self-confidence. Scholarships are available for those in
need of financial assistance. Activities offered include: Therapeutic Recreation
Personal Instruction, Therapeutic Recreation Small Group Instruction, Special Needs
Family Swim, Therapeutic Recreation Classes, Splash Swim Group, Special Needs
Tumbling, Special Needs Hip Hop Dance Class, Special Needs Tae Kwon Do, Thrilling
Thursdays, Special Needs Basketball and Special Needs Indoor Soccer. HRCA also
has two Special Olympics groups.
·
The Town of Castle Rock offers the Recreation, Education and Active Living (REAL) for
individuals with disabilities. REAL combines the social aspect of being part of a group
and the enjoyment of trying new activities. This club gives people with special needs a
chance to participate in activities they choose, interact with peers and voice their
opinions. Each meeting has a different theme, and the program is affiliated with Special
Olympics.
On the second and fourth Tuesday nights of each month, club members meet to eat,
hang out and have fun in a safe and secure atmosphere. Club activities include
basketball games, bowling nights, painting ceramics, hikes, barbecues and more. There
is no limit to the number of members in the club, and siblings and parents are always
welcome.
·
The Town of Parker’s Recreation Center offers therapeutic recreation programs
designed to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities through
participation in adapted programming. The program strives to minimize barriers,
increase leisure awareness, promote skill building, celebrate individual success and
promote overall well-being for participants. A scholarship program is available for
eligible residents. Activities offered vary each month and are posted on the Town of
Parker’s website.
·
Sky Cliff Stroke Center provides stroke victim recovery and adult day services to senior
citizens of Douglas County. Sky Cliff also incorporates the use of an equestrian
program, which offers equine therapy for challenged children and adults. This is the only
stroke support center in Douglas County. Sky Cliff is currently considering their options
and exploring funding opportunities to expand their current facility.
Page 160 of 211
·
Parker Senior Center’s Transportation Program does not serve the disabled population.
They currently do not own a vehicle that is ADA accessible, nor do they have staff to
accommodate residents with special needs. The Transportation Program is run by
volunteers and supported by rider donations. The Parker Senior Center can serve
residents with disabilities that do not require an ADA accessible vehicle or staff equipped
to assist with specific disabilities. Seniors with limited vision, or seniors using a walker
or cane can receive services. Seniors are provided rides to and from the Center for
meals and activities, to doctor and dentist appointments, to area businesses for grocery
and other shopping, and to other locations as needed. The Center currently provides
more than 200 rides per month.
·
CRSC’s transportation services are available to seniors and disabled residents in the
Castle Rock area. Most trips must be within Douglas County; however, medical
appointments to the Denver metro area can be provided. Shuttle services operate five
days a week.
The CRSC organizes and provides transportation for medical
appointments, outdoor recreation, restaurants, grocery and other shopping trips, bingo,
movies, theater, plays and other cultural events through a volunteer driver and
dispatcher program. Most of these clients are without transportation, either because
they no longer have a car, or they have health issues that prevent them from driving
themselves. CRSC also delivers meals to homebound residents through its Meals–onWheels program.
·
The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving
children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
The Arc Arapahoe and Douglas Counties opened its doors in 1955, and has continually
provided services that promote the general welfare of people with developmental
disabilities including: advocacy, public awareness, training, community organizing,
educating legislators, and referrals to other resources.
Advocacy is provided to meet the client’s specific needs and stage in life. On average,
the organization works with 50 children and 70 adults with disabilities and their family
members per month. A variety of workshops are offered, which include Mobilizing
Families 1, Step Up Into Your Life: Planning for After High School, and Learning for
Living. The $125,000 allocated in 2012 is the first grant The Arc has been awarded from
Douglas County. This amount, combined with other funds, allowed them to purchase a
new facility to expand services and better serve clients.
Page 161 of 211
AP-75 Barriers to affordable housing – 91.220(j)
Introduction
Douglas County continues to identify and eliminate barriers to affordable housing and increase
the availability of affordable housing units.
Actions it planned to remove or ameliorate the negative effects of public policies
that serve as barriers to affordable housing such as land use controls, tax
policies affecting land, zoning ordinances, building codes, fees and charges,
growth limitations, and policies affecting the return on residential investment
Many barriers to affordable housing exist in Douglas County including the high cost of land and
the increased costs associated with development. Douglas County staff is working to help
educate and encourage developers to partner with the DCHP, take advantage of tax credits,
private activity bonds, and leverage funds in an effort to increase the number of affordable
housing units in Douglas County.
Douglas County’s 2030 Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP) contains information on affordable
housing needs. “Section 6: Community Services” of the CMP includes goals, objectives, and
policies to support, encourage and promote a variety of housing optionsThrough the CMP,
Douglas County implemented an attainable housing policy. Three groups are expected to need
attainable housing: 1) Homeowners earning between 50 and 80 percent of AMI; 2) Renters
earning less than 50 percent of AMI; and 3) Low-income seniors. The following are specific
strategies outlined in the CMP to meet the attainable housing objective.
·
·
·
Establish a program whereby County application fees and other fees for attainable
housing can be reduced, delayed, or waived, and encourage special and metropolitan
districts and municipalities to do the same.
Give projects that include attainable housing priority within the planning review process.
Develop flexible County standards to encourage attainable housing.
Discussion
N/A
Page 162 of 211
AP-85 Other Actions – 91.220(k)
Introduction
Planning needs to take place in order for programs and services to make enough of an impact
to meet the needs of the community. According to the U.S. Census, Douglas County’s
population in 2000 was 175,766 people. The January 1, 2014 population estimate for Douglas
County was 302,464 resulting in an estimated increase of 126,698 people between 2000 and
2014. With this growth comes an increased need for programs and services in a variety of
different areas and for different populations. Demographic data helps Douglas County to better
understand the population and how it will change in the future.
For example, between 2000 and 2010, the population age 60 and over increased 194 percent in
Douglas County, which was the highest growth rate of all counties in the U.S. Between 2010
and 2015, this same population is forecasted to increase 39 percent in Douglas County. This
suggests that there will be an increased need for senior services, programs, transportation, and
housing, to name a few.
Preparing for this changing population involves cooperation among entities and leveraging of
funds. CDBG funds can assist in meeting the needs of Douglas County’s changing population;
however, additional steps must be taken in order to address all community needs and have a
successful outcome.
Actions planned to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs
The provider survey revealed that the highest gaps in services are housing and transportation,
followed by public services, economic development and infrastructure. The 2014-2018
Consolidated Plan has identified housing and public services as high priorities. Transportation
projects fall under the public services category; therefore, are considered a high priority.
One obstacle Douglas County faces in eliminating the gaps to meet underserved needs
includes a lack of funding. The at-risk population would benefit from an increase in funding
toward:
· Additional housing options for affordable, accessible and permanent supportive housing.
· New and expanded services to fill existing gaps.
· Infrastructure improvements to shore up the transportation services available.
· Additional transportation services.
· Development of new organizations to provide transportation services in Douglas County.
New organizations are consistently solicited to apply for CDBG funds for projects to help
address service gaps. Applicants applying for CDBG funding over the next five years must
meet one of the priority needs, which will help to bridge the gap in services. Although CDBG
funds will be used to provide support to help meet the underserved needs, the County will also
strive to:
· Encourage organizations to seek out additional funding by applying for other grants,
soliciting donations, holding fundraisers, and other options.
· Forward organizations information regarding other grant opportunities and trainings to
help with grant writing and organizational development.
Page 163 of 211
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Encourage the development of new organizations and provide them with resources
necessary to collaborate with other organizations.
Encourage organizations to apply for CDBG funding for projects that would address
service gaps.
Offer capacity building opportunities to current organizations.
Continue developing Douglas County Transit Solutions and support the Douglas County
Transit Mobility Manager.
Collaborate with the Denver Regional Council of Governments on transportation
planning and efforts for regional transportation options.
Participate in training opportunities to gain valuable information and network with other
agencies experiencing similar situations and undergoing similar projects.
Support the development of infrastructure to benefit the community.
Actions planned to foster and maintain affordable housing
Douglas County’s community survey asked respondents to rate the availability of affordable
housing in Douglas County. Approximately 56 percent responded that the availability of
affordable housing in Douglas County is below average.
One of the biggest challenges in the county is the huge disparity between housing costs and
what people with low- and moderate-incomes can afford to pay. The median cost of housing in
Douglas County is among the highest in the Denver metro area. Because of this, fostering and
maintaining affordable housing is a high priority for Douglas County.
The DCHP was formed as a cooperative effort between businesses and local and county
governments to address the lack of affordable housing for people who work in the area. This
organization utilizes CDBG and HOME funds, as well as other funding sources to offer
programs that help people afford to purchase their first home. The DCHP also owns or is a
partner on several rental properties that offer affordable units and has been working to increase
the amount of affordable housing available to Douglas County residents.
Actions planned to foster and maintain affordable housing include:
·
·
·
·
·
·
Provide CDBG funds toward eligible projects that foster, maintain and increase
affordable housing units.
Fund housing rehabilitation projects to maintain the existing housing stock.
Work with the DCHP and other applicable agencies on maintaining and increasing the
availability of affordable housing in Douglas County.
Educate planners to work with developers on possible options for including affordable
housing such as tax credits, private activity bonds, and CDBG funds.
Collect data on Douglas County’s demographics, organization’s clients, and other
necessary data to determine the types and amount of affordable housing needed.
Ensure that housing opportunities are available to all ages, races, ethnicities, disabilities,
and other protected classes.
Actions planned to reduce lead-based paint hazards
Douglas County has approximately 6,100 housing units that were built prior to 1978, the year
lead-based paint was banned nationwide for consumer use. These homes could cause
Page 164 of 211
exposure to lead-based paint, particularly if the homeowner undergoes property improvements
or rehabilitation.
Actions planned to reduce lead-based paint hazards include the following from SP-65:
· Ensure contracts with organizations that will be conducting housing rehabilitation on
homes built prior to 1978 include testing criteria for lead-based paint and require safe
work practices.
· Provide handouts on lead-based paint at outreach events.
· Educate attendees at fair housing training events on lead-based paint.
Actions planned to reduce the number of poverty-level families
The percentage of Douglas County residents with incomes below the poverty level has been
increasing over the past six years. According to the 2012 American Community Survey 1-Year
Estimates, approximately 13,900 Douglas County residents are below the poverty level. This
number is small compared to the entire Douglas County population, which was estimated at
302,464 as of January 1, 2014. Although the number of residents below the poverty level is
small, these residents are an important part of the Douglas County community and efforts will
be made to improve their circumstances.
Actions planned to reduce the number of poverty-level families include:
· Provide CDBG funds toward eligible projects that benefit low-income families.
· Engage local organizations in working collaboratively to address issues of poverty and
increase the availability of resources and the opportunities for success.
· Review data regarding this population to determine if there are any links between
poverty-level families and protected classes, and if links are present, address that
population directly to reduce numbers.
· Work with Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Center, TPM Staffing agency, and
others to increase opportunities for job training and employment for low-income
individuals.
· Educate youth by providing them encouragement, options, and resources to expand
their knowledge and skill set now and into the future.
· Provide programs for troubled youth to advance them out of their current situation such
as alternative programs, WrapAround, the Douglas County Youth Initiative, among
others.
· Inform residents of tax options that might be available to them such as the Earned
Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Child and Dependent Care Credit.
· Support financial education programs and encourage residents to accumulate their
assets by participating in an Individual Development Account or other savings account
matching option.
· Support small business development throughout the county, but particularly in lowincome areas, in cooperation with local Chambers of Commerce and economic
development organizations.
· Encourage the de-centralization of poverty, and the creation and stabilization of mixedincome neighborhoods through the development of affordable housing outside of
exclusively low-income areas.
· Increase transportation options so that residents can get to and from work and have
access to a variety of different types of jobs.
Page 165 of 211
·
Increase opportunities for vulnerable residents to work with a case manager, such as the
Community of Care Navigator, who cooperates with other agencies to help clients obtain
and maintain self-sufficiency.
Actions planned to develop institutional structure
Douglas County acts through its Board of County Commissioners (BCC). The three-member
board acts, by majority vote of a quorum present, to adopt ordinances in those limited areas for
which specific authority has been given by the State legislature, and to adopt resolutions to
conduct all of its other business.
The BCC performs legislative, executive and quasi-judicial functions. The Board serves as the
legislative, policy-making and administrative body governing the unincorporated areas of
Douglas County.
The BCC appoints a County Manager to carry out the policy directions of the Board and to
supervise and coordinate the work of the staff in the departments that fall under direct control of
the Board. With the exception of the County Attorney, the County Manager will have line
authority over all County departments under the BCC. The Department of Community
Development that is responsible for administering the CDBG program is one of these
departments.
Actions planned to develop institutional structure (gaps identified in the SP-40) include:
· Implement the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan and the 2014 Annual Action Plan for the
CDBG program.
· Inform the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners regarding the CDBG
program, request approvals as needed, provide project updates, etc.
· Include the local jurisdictions in the CDBG process and encourage them to apply for
funding.
· Encourage, facilitate and foster relationships throughout Douglas County to strengthen
the services available to the public.
· Continue engaging the Advisory Board in the CDBG process and increase their
involvement in the annual application process.
· Continue working with the Partnership of Douglas County Governments that includes
local governments and quasi-governmental agencies to work together to improve the
community.
· Provide data and other information through the appropriate channels to ensure that
leaders are aware of issues and can make decisions accordingly.
Actions planned to enhance coordination between public and private housing
and social service agencies
Coordination among all providers is essential to improving the conditions and addressing the
gaps in services for Douglas County residents. One organization can assist and help a Douglas
County resident in a specific area, but agencies that work together will provide greater benefits
to the client and increase their opportunities for success in a variety of areas.
Actions planned to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social service
agencies include:
Page 166 of 211
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Provide CDBG funds to eligible projects for housing and social services.
Encourage agencies to work together to apply for CDBG funds to leverage resources to
the fullest.
Continue the Community of Care Network which includes: government agencies, local
non-profits, faith-based organizations and service providers that partner together to
address issues of poverty and homelessness in Douglas County.
Encourage agencies to participate in the Community of Care Network.
Continue the Douglas County Transit Solutions Local Coordinating Council to encourage
cooperation and leveraging of funds and resources to increase transportation options.
Inform local organizations of the DCHP services so that they can inform clients of the
following programs:
Homebuyer Education classes, Home Ownership Program,
Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling, Reverse Mortgage Counseling, and the affordable
housing apartment complexes.
Work with the DCHP, local jurisdictions, developers, and other applicable agencies to
issue Private Activity Bonds for additional affordable housing options.
Host meetings, events and other opportunities for housing and social service agencies to
network.
Offer referrals to organizations that would benefit from the leadership, programs,
services or collaboration of other organizations.
Engage businesses interested in relocating to Douglas County through incentives
offered as part of Douglas County’s Economic Development program.
Continue to work collaboratively with local and regional economic development councils,
chambers of commerce, and jurisdictions to bring new businesses into Douglas County.
Work with Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Center and colleges offering workforce
development programs to ensure that programs offered to residents are in line with the
needs of local businesses.
Douglas County currently does not have any public housing.
Discussion:
N/A
Page 167 of 211
Program Specific Requirements
AP-90 Program Specific Requirements – 91.220(l)(1,2,4)
Introduction:
All projects to be completed during the 2014 program year meet HUD’s national objective of
benefitting low- and moderate-income residents as well as a priority, goal and objective in the
2014-2018 Consolidated Plan. All CDBG funds are anticipated to directly benefit Douglas
County’s vulnerable population eligible for CDBG programs.
Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)
Reference 24 CFR 91.220(l)(1)
Projects planned with all CDBG funds expected to be available during the year are identified in
the Projects Table. The following identifies program income that is available for use that is
included in projects to be carried out.
1. The total amount of program income that will have been received before
the start of the next program year and that has not yet been reprogrammed
2. The amount of proceeds from section 108 loan guarantees that will be
used during the year to address the priority needs and specific objectives
identified in the grantee's strategic plan
3. The amount of surplus funds from urban renewal settlements
4. The amount of any grant funds returned to the line of credit for which the
planned use has not been included in a prior statement or plan.
5. The amount of income from float-funded activities
Total Program Income
$22,500
0
0
0
0
$22,500
Other CDBG Requirements
1. The amount of urgent need activities
2. The estimated percentage of CDBG funds that will be used for activities that benefit
persons of low- and moderate-income.
3. Overall Benefit: A consecutive period of 1, 2, or 3 years may be used to determine
that a minimum overall benefit of 70% of CDBG funds is used to benefit persons of lowand moderate-income. Specify the years covered that this Action Plan.
0
82%*
3
* 100 percent of CDBG funds allocated for projects serve low- and moderate-income residents. The remaining 18 percent outside
of this allocation is for administration of the CDBG program.
Discussion:
N/A
Page 168 of 211
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN
Purpose
Citizen participation is required as part of 24 CFR Part 570.486 (a), which states that citizens
should have a reasonable opportunity to be part of the CDBG process from the beginning to the
end.
The Citizen Participation Plan will be available for public comment during the 2014-2018
Consolidated Plan public comment period. Distribution of the document, its availability and any
events related to the document, will be advertised as indicated below.
Policy
It is Douglas County’s policy to comply with the Citizen Participation Plan and any federal
regulations related to citizen participation. Douglas County encourages and invites all residents,
not-for-profits, businesses, organizations, etc., to participate in the various stages of the CDBG
process.
Citizen Access
CDBG Advisory Board Meetings
The CDBG Advisory Board meets during the CDBG application process. Meeting dates, times,
locations and agendas are posted on Douglas County’s website as well as on the community
bulletin board outside of the Douglas County Philip S. Miller Building at 100 Third St. in Castle
Rock. These meetings are open to the public; however, they will need to notify CDBG staff prior
to attending to ensure they are able to get into the meeting room.
Board of County Commissioners’ Business Meetings and Hearings
The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners typically holds their Business Meetings
and Hearings on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month in the public hearing room of the
Douglas County Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third St. in Castle Rock. Business Meetings are
at 1:30 p.m. and Public Hearings are at 2:30 p.m. Dates are subject to change; therefore,
meeting and hearing dates, times, locations and agendas are posted on Douglas County’s
website as well as on the community bulletin board outside of the building. These meetings are
open to the public and allow the public an opportunity to share input on the CDBG program,
documents and proposed projects.
The majority of CDBG items that go before the Board of County Commissioners for approval are
on the Business Meeting agenda. The Consolidated Plan, Citizen Participation Plan and Annual
Action Plan are the only documents that are included on the Public Hearing agenda. These
items are announced in the local newspapers approximately one month in advance of the
meeting informing the public about the public comment period and providing the information
regarding the public hearing.
CDBG Information and Records
Douglas County updates the CDBG website on a regular basis to ensure that subgrantees and
the general public have access to application materials, forms, reports, fair housing information,
invitations to open houses and meetings, etc.
Page 169 of 211
All information that is due to HUD, including public comment periods, is made available on the
website including: the Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, Consolidated Annual
Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER), Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, and
much more.
The Annual Action Plan consists of the subgrantees’ proposed projects and use of CDBG funds
for the upcoming program year. The CAPER identifies what the subgrantee accomplished
during the program year and how funds were utilized. These documents are available on the
CDBG website, but are also available through the Department of Community Development’s
Project Records Online (PRO) database, which includes all archived materials and provides a
search function.
Additional information and records are available upon request. Requested information will be
provided with reasonable access to CDBG program records, subject to County and local laws
regarding privacy and obligations of confidentiality. Douglas County maintains project records
for a period of five years after the completion of the project.
Public Comment Periods
As mentioned above, public comment periods are posted online and are included in the legal
section of the local Douglas County community newspapers. The documents that are available
for public comment are also posted online, a hard copy at the front desk of the Department of
Community Development, a hard copy at the front desk of the Douglas County Philip S. Miller
Building, and hard copies at the reference desks of the Douglas County Library branches. All
documents provided include a telephone number, mailing address, and email address of the
staff person responsible that they may contact in order to provide input.
Public comment periods generally are included for the following documents and time frames:
· Annual Action Plan (30-day public comment period)
· CAPER (2-week public comment period)
· Consolidated Plan including the Citizen Participation Plan and the Annual Action Plan for
that first year (this plan is completed every five years and has a 30-day public comment
period)
During the public comment periods, Douglas County usually hosts at least one open house
inviting the public to attend and provide feedback on the proposed projects, documents, etc.
Comment forms are made available for those who would like to remain anonymous. Several
staff members are on hand to speak with the public, accept comments and answer questions.
Public Events
Douglas County hosts several open houses and other events related to the CDBG program.
Typically an open house is held for the public to attend and provide comments on the Annual
Action Plan and Consolidated Plan, as well as for other documents, as needed. Events are
posted online, included in the local newspaper, emails are sent out to our CDBG contact list,
and often include the distribution of posters and postcards to local not-for-profit organizations.
Douglas County often hosts additional events which may be open to the public or may be
specific to target audiences. Events for specific target audiences will be invited via email or mail
invitation.
Page 170 of 211
Limited English Proficiency Persons
Douglas County’s population is predominately Caucasian with 91 percent of residents speaking
English. Only 2.3 percent of the population does not speak English “very well”. Although the
number of people with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) is small, Douglas County and its
subgrantees understand the importance of ensuring access to services, as well as LEP persons
having the ability to participate in the public input process. LEP persons will be assisted in
accordance with Douglas County’s CDBG Language Assistance Plan.
Hearing Impaired Persons
Douglas County includes a legal notice in the local newspapers, posts on the website, and on
the first page of the document that is being available for public comment information for persons
who are hearing impaired. The following statement is included, “Persons in need of information
for the hearing impaired may call the TTY number at 303-663-7791.”
Residents interested in listening to or participating in the Board of County Commissioners’
Business Meetings or Public Hearings may ask the Clerk to the Commissioners, or other staff,
for an Amplified Hearing Assistance device so they can better understand the proceedings.
Then they will also be able to more easily participate in the public comment portion of the
meeting, if they so choose.
Special Needs Persons
The Douglas County Philip S. Miller building is where the Board of County Commissioners’
Business Meetings and Public Hearings are located as well as the open houses. This building
is ADA accessible and the meetings are held on the first floor of the building, which allows easy
access regardless of disability. In addition, the Board of County Commissioners’ meetings are
broadcast live on the Internet allowing anyone with Internet access to listen to the meetings,
regardless of disability or lack of transportation.
Responses to Written Complaints and Grievances
Complaints related to a document will be addressed, in writing, no later than 15 days, where
practicable, following receipt of the complaint.
Substantial Amendments
Substantial Changes to CDBG Documents
Occasionally, changes in community priorities, needs, and resources may warrant a change or
amendment to the Consolidated Plan. The criteria for plan amendments are referred to by HUD
as “Substantial Amendment Criteria”. The following conditions are considered to be Substantial
Amendment Criteria:
1. Any change in the described method of distributing program funds.
Elements of a “method of distribution” are:
· Application process
· Grant size limits
· Selection criteria
· Allocation among funding priority categories
Page 171 of 211
2. An administrative decision to reallocate all the funds allocated to an activity in the Action
Plan to other activities of equal or less priority need level, unless the decision is a result
of any of the following:
· A federal government recession of appropriated funds, or appropriations are so
much less than anticipated that the County makes an administrative decision not
to fund one or more activities; or
· The governor declares a county emergency and reallocates federal funds to
address the emergency; or
· A unique economic development opportunity arises where the County
administration asks that federal grants be used to take advantage of the
opportunity.
In the event of a substantial amendment to the Consolidated Plan, the County will conduct at
least one additional public hearing. This hearing will follow a comment period of no less than 30
days. Citizens will be notified of the substantially amended Consolidated Plan’s availability
through newspaper notification prior to the 30-day substantially amended Consolidated Plan
comment period. The notification will appear in at least one local newspaper that is circulated
throughout the county. The substantially amended sections of the Consolidated Plan will be
available for review at the County during the full public comment period. In addition, the
substantially amended sections of the Consolidated Plan will be made available on the Douglas
County website for the full duration of the public comment period.
In the event of substantial amendments to the Consolidated Plan, the County will openly
consider any comments on the substantially amended Consolidated Plan from individuals or
groups. Comments must be received in writing or at public hearings. A summary of the written
and public hearing comments on the substantial amendments will be included in the final
Consolidated Plan. Also included in the final Consolidated Plan will be a summary of all
comments not accepted and their reasons for dismissal.
Any changes in federal funding levels after the Consolidated Plan’s draft comment period has
expired and the resulting effect on the distribution of funds will not be considered an amendment
or a substantial amendment.
Page 172 of 211
LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE PLAN (LAP)
I. Introduction
This Language Assistance Plan (LAP), for Douglas County has been developed in response to
federal requirements included under Section 601 of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42
U.S.C. 2000d), which provides that no person shall “on the grounds of race, color or national
origin be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
Federal Executive Order No. 13166, issued in August 2000 by President Clinton, “Improving
Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,” was created to “…improve
access to federally conducted and federally assisted programs and activities for persons who,
as a result of national origin, are limited in their English proficiency (LEP)…” President Bush
affirmed his commitment to Executive Order 13166 through a memorandum issued on October
25, 2001, by Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Ralph F. Boyd, Jr. and Acting Assistant
Attorney General, Loretta King directed a strengthening of enforcement of Title VI in a
memorandum dated July 10, 2009.
As a sub-recipient of federal funds, Douglas County has developed this LAP to ensure
compliance with federal regulations. It includes an assessment of the LEP needs of our area,
an explanation of the steps we are currently taking to address these needs, and the steps we
plan to take in the future to ensure meaningful access to federally funded programs by persons
with LEP.
II. Purpose and Authority
The purpose of this plan is to establish effective guidelines, consistent with Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 13166, for Douglas County Community and Resource
Services personnel and its subgrantees to follow when providing services to, or interacting with,
individuals who have Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
III. Policy
It is Douglas County’s policy to ensure that programs and activities, normally provided in
English, are accessible to LEP persons and thus do not discriminate on the basis of national
origin in violation of the Title VI prohibition against national origin discrimination. Douglas
County will, to the maximum extent feasible in its official deliberations and communications,
community outreach and related notifications, provide appropriate alternative non-English
formats for free to persons with LEP to access information and services provided.
It is Douglas County’s policy to provide free language assistance services whenever an LEP
person requests language assistance services. Any organization that receives federal funding
from Douglas County is required to have a Language Assistance Plan in place or to utilize this
plan in order to comply with federal requirements.
IV. Douglas County LEP Needs
The Four Factor Analysis, included below, provides information on the number and percentage
of LEP persons in Douglas County, and the nature, frequency and importance of the contact
Douglas County staff and subgrantees have with LEP persons in providing services. All data
provided is from the American Community Survey 2007-2011 5-Year Estimates from the U.S.
Census Bureau.
Page 173 of 211
The Census tracks both the number of people who speak a language other than English at
home, and of those, the number who speak English less than “very well”. The Census data on
the population who speak English “well”, “not well”, and “not at all” are used to describe the
population with LEP, for the purposes of this plan.
Factor 1. Demography – The number or proportion of LEP persons eligible to be served
or likely to be encountered in Douglas County.
Population Breakdown
The total population for Douglas County from the American Community Survey 2007-2011 5Year Estimates is 280,643. Approximately 23,378 people speak a language other than English
at home. Out of the 23,378 people who speak a language other than English at home, 5,986 or
26 percent, speak English less than very well compared to the Metro Area’s 44 percent of the
population.
Douglas County has a small population of people who have limited proficiency with the English
language. Among individuals five years and over, only 2 percent speak English less than very
well. For comparison, in the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), 8.7
percent of individuals have LEP.
Population
Total population age 5 and over
Only speak English
Speak English and another language
Do not speak English “very well”
# of People
258,481
235,103
17,392
5,986
% of People
91%
7%
2%
Seniors, people age 65 years and over, make up a disproportionately high share of the
population that speaks English less than very well in Douglas County. Although seniors are 7
percent of the total population, they are 12 percent of the nearly 6,000 people with LEP. This is
very different from the MSA where seniors are 11 percent of the total population, but only 9
percent of the population with LEP.
Douglas County residents who speak a language other than English at home are highly
educated. In Douglas County, 57 percent of people who speak a language other than English
at home have bachelor degrees or higher, compared to 55 percent of the total Douglas County
population. In the MSA, only 25 percent of the people who speak a language other than English
at home have bachelor degrees or higher.
As is the case in the MSA, individuals in Douglas County who speak a language other than
English at home have a higher incidence of poverty than the total population. The overall
poverty rate in Douglas County is 3.5 percent, but for other language speakers it is 4.5 percent.
Of the individuals with incomes below the poverty level, 12 percent do not speak English at
home.
In general, compared to the MSA, the individuals who speak a language other than English at
home in Douglas County are more likely to:
· Speak a language other than Spanish
· Be older
· Have a bachelor’s degree
Page 174 of 211
Compared to the total Douglas County population, individuals who speak a language other than
English at home are more likely to:
· Be older
· Be foreign-born
· Have a bachelor’s degree
· Have incomes below the poverty level
Data for the population who speak a language other than English at home was mapped by
Douglas County census tracts (see Appendix A). The countywide average is 9.0 percent, but a
few tracts show much higher concentrations of people who speak languages other than English
at home. The tracts with more than 15 percent of the people age 5 and over who speak a
language other than English at home are located in northern Douglas County along the I-25
corridor. Two tracts are in Lone Tree, two in Highlands Ranch, one in unincorporated Parker,
one in Castle Pines, and one in northern Castle Rock.
Language Breakdown
Individuals with LEP in Douglas County do not speak languages in one predominate language
group. In the MSA, 72 percent of individuals with LEP speak Spanish. In Douglas County, only
43 percent speak Spanish. Douglas County has a higher percentage of people who speak
Asian and Pacific Island languages (33 percent) and who speak Indo-European languages (22
percent) than the MSA as a whole (4 percent and 9 percent, respectively).
Language Groups of Individuals with LEP
Page 175 of 211
In terms of individual languages, Spanish is the
language most common among the people who speak
English less than very well in Douglas County. Of the
nearly 6,000 people with LEP, approximately 2,550
speak Spanish. The table on the right shows the top 10
most commonly spoken languages among the people
with LEP in Douglas County.
Language Spoken
Spanish
Chinese
Korean
Russian
Thai
French
German
Hindi
Vietnamese
Persian
# of People
2,550
860
460
233
160
150
140
130
120
120
Language Breakdown by Household
Another way to account for individuals who have LEP is
by their households. A person who does not speak
English may live with other family members who do and
who can translate for the individual. Households in which no one 14 years or older speaks
English very well are considered to be linguistically isolated. In Douglas County, only 1 percent
of all households are linguistically isolated. For comparison, in the MSA, 4.7 percent of
households are linguistically isolated.
Language Spoken
Total households in which no one age 14 and older speaks English
only or speaks English “very well”
Asian and Pacific Island languages
Spanish
Other Indo-European languages
Other languages
# of
% of
People
Households
1,296
1.0%
481
415
391
9
0.4%
0.3%
0.3%
0.0%
Douglas County Community Development Block Grant Program
In conjunction with the Douglas County Community Development Block Grant program’s
Consolidated Plan update, provider and community surveys were distributed to learn more
about services available in Douglas County and client demographics. The community survey
was available in both English and Spanish. Both versions were available online and hard
copies were distributed throughout Douglas County. Douglas County received a total of 388
completed community surveys. Out of the 379 residents who answered the question, “What
language are you best able to express yourself in?”, 355 responded English, 17 responded
Spanish, and seven responded Other.
A total of 40 completed provider surveys were received representing 20 different organizations,
departments or programs, which are listed below under Factors 2 and 3. Surveys revealed that
eight of the organizations did not serve any clients needing interpretive services; eight
organizations served a minimal number of clients needing interpretive services only a couple of
times per year; and seven organizations served 50 clients or more needing interpretive services
several times per month or per week. Of the organizations needing interpretive services,
Spanish was the most common language to be translated. Several organizations had staff or
volunteers available to assist with interpretive services, and the majority of those spoke
Spanish.
Douglas County School District
The Douglas County School District (DCSD) consists of 64 elementary schools, 23 middle
schools and 16 high schools. The majority of students speak English; however, 3,344 students
out of a total student population of about 64,500 are considered part of DCSD’s English
Language Learner population.
Page 176 of 211
The DCSD’s Homeless Education Program has five clients who are considered LEP. Clients
speak Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. An interpreter is hired a couple of times per year if
needed. Two staff members are available to translate in Spanish as needed.
The DCSD’s Student Wellness Program has LEP clients in which an interpreter is needed a
couple of times per month for Spanish. Several staff members can translate in Spanish if
needed and the DCSD has a Language Assistance Plan in place.
Douglas County Libraries
Douglas County Libraries has a Literacy Department that provides enrichment for all ages
through various language development programs. Their goal is to bring together community
partnerships to create a rich environment for learning and personal growth. They offer an Early
Childhood Literacy program, Adult Literacy program and a program called “Book Start”.
Practice Your English Conversation sessions are available on Saturday mornings at the
Highlands Ranch, Parker, and Castle Rock libraries from 10:30 a.m. to noon. These classes
are helpful for high beginners to intermediate level English speakers. LEP persons can also
sign up for one-to-one tutoring at the Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Parker, and Castle Rock
libraries.
Visitors
Douglas County does not have a huge visitor population as some areas may have, but staff
understands that it is important to be able to communicate and welcome those who are visiting.
Certain amenities and events do draw crowds, such as: The Outlets at Castle Rock, The
Wildlife Experience, Park Meadows Mall, Douglas County Fair and Rodeo, the Renaissance
Festival, Solheim Cup, Castle Rock Starlighting, Douglas County parks, trails and open space
areas, as well as some of the local jurisdiction’s events, parks, and trails and open space areas.
The majority of these amenities and events do not involve critical services that would affect
someone’s well-being or impact their life; therefore, interpretive services may not be necessary.
The need for interpretive services at these types of events has not been identified. Douglas
County staff will continue to monitor the amenities, events and demographics so that changes
can be made as necessary and so that people feel welcome in Douglas County.
Factor 2 and 3.
· Factor 2. Frequency of Contact – The frequency with which LEP individuals come
in contact with the program and/or activities.
· Factor 3. Importance – The nature and importance of the program, activity or
service to people’s lives.
The following is a list of the provider responses to the surveys. Some of the organizations
receive federal funds from Douglas County Community and Resource Services. The
information provided address Factors 2 and 3 mentioned above. Each organization is ranked
as high, medium or low in terms of the critical nature of the services they provide, level of
interaction with the people they serve, uniqueness of their organization to residents in need of
their services, and volume of clients.
Page 177 of 211
Non-Profit Organizations
Alternatives Pregnancy Center
Language(s):
Spanish
Number of LEP persons encountered:
5
Frequency of contact with LEP persons:
Couple times per year
Other needs:
N/A
Resources:
· Forms and materials are available in Spanish
· Two staff members can translate in Spanish, French and German
Importance: High
Services at the Alternatives Pregnancy Center are ranked as high importance as clients are
receiving pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, STD testing, medical referrals, etc. If clients do not
have someone who can translate, staff calls their downtown location to have an interpreter
available.
Language Assistance Plan: No
Castle Rock Senior Center (CRSC)
Language(s):
None
0
0
Other needs:
Five seniors require materials in large print
Resources:
N/A
Importance: High
The CRSC is the only organization in Castle Rock that offers transportation, hot meals and a
variety of activities for Castle Rock area seniors. Their transportation services are ranked as
high importance because transportation options are limited in Douglas County and it is
important that seniors and persons with disabilities have access to services if needed.
Language Assistance Plan: Yes
Crisis Center (formerly the Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center)
Language(s):
Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Eastern Block or other Asian language
10
Couple of times per year (typically 4-5)
Other needs:
Two clients require sign language (couple of times per year)
Resources:
Forms and materials are available in Spanish
Importance: High
Page 178 of 211
The Crisis Center offers shelter and services to victims of domestic violence. They have been
ranked as high importance because in order for clients to recover and come up with a future
life plan, interpretive services are vital to the safety of their clients in providing clear
communications.
Douglas County Educational Foundation (DCEF)
Language(s):
Spanish
About 79 or 13% of clients
Couple of times per month
Other needs:
N/A
Resources:
Two staff members are available to translate
Importance: Low
The DCEF develops private resources to enrich education within Douglas County schools for
the fulfillment of lifelong learning experiences of students, citizens and the community.
Education is important; however, they do not directly educate students, which is why they have
been ranked as low importance. The DCEF shares the same facility as the Douglas County
School District administration staff; therefore, would be able to access their staff for interpreters
and other resources, if necessary.
Douglas County Housing Partnership (DCHP)
Language(s):
Spanish, Vietnamese
A couple
Couple of times per year
Other needs:
N/A
Resources:
One staff member can translate in Spanish
Importance: High
The DCHP provides affordable housing services that are available to all. Because the
availability of services could impact a person’s life, a high importance ranking has been given.
Anyone seeking services should be provided oral or written translation services if the need
arises. This includes, but is not limited to information related to the Down Payment Assistance
Program, Shared Equity Program, Home Buyer Education Class and foreclosure counseling.
Page 179 of 211
Douglas County Neighbor Network
Language(s):
Spanish
1
Other needs:
· About 100 clients require materials in large print
· More than 20 require Braille or other needs to communicate verbally
Resources:
Currently located in the Douglas County building; therefore, can access Douglas County staff
to translate, if necessary (see Appendix C)
Importance: Medium
The Neighbor Network program is unique to Douglas County as they match volunteers with
seniors for a variety of things such as companionship, help around the house, help with
errands, and transportation. This program is categorized as medium importance because
clients would not be able to find another organization to provide this type of assistance and
transportation opportunities are limited in Douglas County.
Language Assistance Plan: Yes, uses Douglas County’s CDBG LAP
Douglas/Elbert Task Force (D/ETF)
Language(s):
Spanish, Russian
About 650 people or 10% of clients
Couple of times per week
Other needs:
· Less than 100 clients require materials in large print
· Greater than 1% require sign language (couple times per month)
Resources:
· 10 staff members and volunteers can translate in Spanish, French and Russian
Importance: High
The D/ETF is ranked as high importance because it is typically one of the first agencies where
residents go for assistance because they have a food bank, thrift store, and offer rent and
utility assistance, as well as other services.
El Grupo VIDA
Language(s):
Spanish
Did not provide numbers
Other needs:
A few clients require sign language (couple of times per year)
Resources:
Page 180 of 211
· One staff member can translate in Spanish
Importance: High
El Grupo VIDA is a network of Spanish speaking families who have children with
developmental disabilities and need access to education and services. This is ranked as high
importance as this is the only organization that Douglas County is aware of, that is devoted to
residents who speak Spanish. This is a valuable resource for families experiencing similar
situations and needs.
Highlands Ranch Senior Outreach Services
Language(s):
None
0
0
Other needs:
About 63 people require materials in large print
Resources:
N/A
Importance: Low
Highlands Ranch Senior Outreach Services has one staff member that provides limited
education and senior services to residents, many of which are for social purposes. Seniors
can access other resources in Douglas County, if needed, and depending on their needs, the
organization directs residents to DRCOGs’ Area Agency on Aging.
Parker Senior Center
Language(s):
None
0
0
Other needs:
N/A
Resources:
N/A
Importance: High
The Parker Senior Center offers transportation services, meals, and a variety of activities for
Parker area seniors. Transportation options are limited in Parker, and seniors and persons
with disabilities are in need of these services; therefore, they received a high importance
ranking only for their transportation services as other services are not as critical.
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Castle Rock (SVdP-CR)
Language(s):
Spanish
50
Page 181 of 211
Other needs:
About 50 clients require large print
Resources:
· 5-10 volunteers can translate in Spanish
Importance: Low
SVdP offers rent assistance to clients in need, which is a critical service; however, this
organization was ranked as low importance because they partner with larger organizations that
could provide services for LEP persons. SVdP has volunteers who can translate in Spanish,
and clients would only be directed elsewhere if they need an interpreter for another language.
The Arc
Language(s):
Spanish, Farsi
3
Other needs:
· Four clients require sign language (couple times per year)
· One client requires Braille or other needs to communicate verbally
Resources:
· One staff member or volunteer can translate in Spanish
Importance: High
The Arc is one of the only organizations that offer services to developmentally disabled clients
and their families; therefore, they have been ranked as high importance. The Executive
Director is contacted if a client is unable to be assisted by staff and then options for interpretive
services are made available to the client.
Governmental or Quasi-Governmental Agencies
City of Castle Pines
Language(s):
None
0
0
Other needs:
Five people require materials in large print
Resources:
N/A
Importance: High
It does not appear that the City of Castle Pines has any issues assisting clients who do not
speak English “very well”. They have been ranked as high importance because as a
government it is essential that residents are able to access services, pay bills, participate in the
government process, etc.
Page 182 of 211
City of Lone Tree
Language(s):
None
0
0
Other needs:
N/A
Resources:
N/A
Importance: High
It does not appear that the City of Lone Tree has any issues assisting clients who do not speak
English “very well”. They have been ranked as high importance because as a government it is
essential that residents are able to access services, pay bills, participate in the government
process, etc.
Douglas County Government – Adult Services Program
Language(s):
Spanish
Did not provide numbers
Other needs:
Several seniors require materials in large print
Resources:
Staff can be called upon to translate, if necessary (see Appendix C)
Importance: High
The Adult Services Program provides case management, senior programs and transportation.
This is ranked as high importance because of the critical nature of utilizing case management
and transportation services for seniors, which will help them attain the highest level of selfsufficiency possible. If needed, I Speak cards are available for the client to select and an
interpreter is called upon to translate.
Douglas County Government - CDBG Program
Language(s):
None
0
0
Other needs:
N/A
Resources:
Importance: Low
CDBG program funds are distributed to various subgrantees to carry out services; therefore,
CDBG staff typically does not come into contact with LEP persons, which is why this program
is ranked as low importance. The CDBG program does provide resources like the Annual
Page 183 of 211
Action Plan, Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report, Consolidated Plan, etc. that
can be translated or specific sections translated if a LEP person requests the information.
Douglas County Government - Family Development Program
Language(s):
Clients may have spoken a language other than English, but were able to communicate in
English to access services.
0
0
Other needs:
N/A
Resources:
Importance: High
The Family Development Program is implemented by the Community of Care Navigator who
works closely with clients to help them achieve and maintain self-sufficiency. This program is
ranked as high importance because effective communication must take place as the navigator
works closely with clients to provide resources such as rent and utility assistance, referrals to
other agencies, etc. For certain services, the client may be able to work with other agencies
that may have an interpreter on staff or through a volunteer.
Douglas County Government - Human Services Department (DCHS)
Language(s):
Spanish, Chinese, Farsi
About 300; however, many of these can still be assisted without an interpreter.
Other needs:
· About 50 clients require materials in large print
· About 25 clients require sign language (couple times per year)
· About 50 require Braille or have other needs in order to communicate verbally
Resources:
· Forms or materials are available in Spanish
· Two staff members are available to translate in Spanish
Importance: High
DCHS’ services are ranked as high importance because they provide critical services such as
rent and utility assistance, case management, TANF, SNAP, etc. They can contact the
Colorado Language Connection for translation services when the need arises.
Douglas County School District (DCSD) – Homeless Education Program
Language(s):
Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese
Five clients require an interpreter
Page 184 of 211
Other needs:
Three clients require sign language (couple of times per year)
Resources:
Two staff members can translate in Spanish
Importance: High
DCSD provides education, which is necessary for all youth. It is important that interpreters are
available if needed, to ensure that everyone is receiving equal education and homeless
students have the same access and resources as other students.
Douglas County School District (DCSD) – Student Wellness Program
Language(s):
Spanish
Did not provide a number
Other needs:
Sign language (couple of times per year)
Resources:
· About 20 employees can translate in Spanish, Chinese and sign language
Importance: High
It is important that students have access to services to ensure their health and safety while
attending school; therefore, this program is ranked with high importance. The Student
Wellness Program’s process for interpreters is to utilize on-site foreign language speakers first.
If the student needs testing or other services of this nature, staff uses a service provided
through special education.
Douglas County Transit Solutions (DCTS)
Language(s):
N/A
N/A
N/A
Other needs:
N/A
Resources:
N/A
Importance: High
Transit services are ranked as high importance as they are necessary for people to work,
access services, for education, legal assistance, etc. DCTS consists of 21 organizations,
some of which are listed in this section, such as the CRSC and the Parker Senior Center.
Language Assistance Plan: Yes, uses Douglas County’s CDBG LAP, unless individual
organizations have one in place.
Page 185 of 211
Town of Castle Rock – Transportation Program
Language(s):
Spanish
3
Other needs:
N/A
Resources:
Forms and materials are available in Spanish
Importance: High
In the Town of Castle Rock, there are very limited options for residents who need
transportation services. As a government entity that assists the public with many services in
addition to transportation, this is ranked as high importance.
Factor 4. Resources – The resources available and the costs.
Reasonable Business Practices
Douglas County has a close-knit community with a number of organizations that work well
together in order to benefit the community. Several organizations offer similar services;
therefore, it might be possible for the smaller organizations that are staffed largely by volunteers
to work together to access an interpreter, if one is not available through their organization. For
example, if one organization has a volunteer who can offer interpretive services, this person
might be available to assist another organization if the need arises. Since Douglas County does
not have a large LEP population, it makes sense to combine resources until the need for
interpretive services becomes greater.
Costs associated with hiring interpreters and translating documents can be expensive.
Organizations can work closely together so that services are more affordable and residents
have access to the services they need. They can also work through the County to coordinate
and access services if their resources are limited.
Resources
The following resources are available:
· “I Speak” cards: These cards are available to all Douglas County front desk staff and
online so that subgrantees may download them if needed. An “I Speak” card is provided
at all Project Manager Trainings and is attached as Appendix B.
· Douglas County staff: Several Douglas County employees are fluent in languages
other than English and can act as an interpreter when needed. See Appendix C for a list
of employees.
· Interpreters (oral): If a client needs assistance and a staff member is not available,
staff will rely on the technological resources identified below. If staff is unable to
communicate using some of the tools available, an interpreter will be hired and a time
that works for all parties will be set up to discuss services. See Appendix D for
interpreters for hire.
· Interpreters (written): If there is a large enough population of LEP persons (1,000
persons or 5 percent of the population, whichever is less) for the same language,
interpreters will be hired to translate documents into that language and made available
to clients. See Appendix D for interpreters for hire.
Page 186 of 211
·
Technology:
o Google Translate
o Microsoft Outlook Translate
o Babel Fish - www.babelfish.com (translates sentences)
o Language Line - www.languageline.com (pay as you go services)
V. Language Assistance
Acceptable Methods of Communication
The following types of communication services are available:
1. Oral Interpretation Services:
Oral interpretation services will be provided to LEP persons in some form at no cost. If a
bilingual employee is available they will be called upon to translate. If the LEP person
has an adult family member or friend that can provide interpretive services that will be an
option. The LEP person will be informed that an interpreter is available at no cost if they
wish to use that person instead of a family member or friend due to privacy issues,
comfort, etc. If all other options have been exhausted, an outside interpreter or
telephone service line will be utilized. Douglas County staff will ensure that the LEP
person’s choice is voluntary, and that they are aware of their options.
2. Written Interpretation Services:
The number of LEP persons in Douglas County speaking one language is not high
enough to warrant translating documents into a specific language. Clients will be
assisted in completing forms, as necessary. Documents will be revisited and possibly
revised, when, or if, the number of LEP persons increases and there is a greater need.
Language Assistance Protocol
1. Telephone Assistance:
Callers who are limited in their English speaking abilities often have an English speaking
person present when they call. If this is the case, the English speaking person will be
asked if they are acting as the person’s translator. If they are not, they will be asked
what language the person speaks and arrangements will be made for translation
services to be available at an agreeable time for all parties.
If the caller is unable to speak English and the language is recognizable, staff will find a
bilingual employee or will assist the caller to the greatest extent possible, which may
involve setting up a time when a translator would be available.
2. Walk-in Assistance:
The majority of clients seeking services will be walk-in clients. A LEP person who walks
into the office will be assisted to the greatest extent possible by Douglas County or
subgrantee staff, or a bilingual employee, if available. The client can indicate the
language they are speaking on an “I Speak” card. They will then be informed of their
right to an interpreter free of charge. Arrangements will be made for translation services
to be available at an agreeable time for all parties. Staff will follow the guidelines
outlined above under “Acceptable Methods of Communication”.
3. Written Assistance:
Douglas County staff will first try to assist the client to determine what documents they
need or want. Once that has been identified, staff will find a translator to assist the client
in completing the form for services. If it is a larger document they are interested in, such
Page 187 of 211
as something they would like to provide public comments on, the interpreter will work
with the client to provide an overview of the document, discuss specific topics the client
is interested in, and the interpreter can inform staff of the client’s comments regarding
the topic.
At this time, the number of LEP persons speaking one language does not warrant that
forms and other documents be available in that language. Douglas County staff will
continue to monitor the County’s demographics so that forms and documents are
available in a different language when the population speaking that language exceeds
1,000 persons, or it is 5 percent of the population, whichever is less.
Although Douglas County has 2,547 individuals over the age of five who speak Spanish,
many of those will not be seeking services as they are children. In relation to the
number of households, there are only 1,296 people age 14 and older who are
considered LEP. When that population is broken down by language, there is not one
language that has more than 1,000 persons who speak it. Douglas County will continue
to monitor the demographics and make adjustments as this number increases.
4. Interpreter Assistance:
If it is determined that an interpreter is necessary, Douglas County staff will keep an
updated list of employees and external interpreters who speak a variety of languages
that can be called upon, if necessary. This list will be updated annually and kept in the
O:\Community Services\CDBG\Admin\LEP_LAP folder.
Staff Compliance
The general policy above denotes that all Douglas County Community and Resource Services
and Subgrantees who are funded through this division are required to provide free language
assistance services to LEP individuals and must inform the public about available language
assistance services.
Staff Training
Training is critical so that staff can competently work with LEP persons and make the necessary
accommodations to provide proper services. Additional training will be scheduled as needed.
Community and Resource Services staff will be trained in:
· The LAP
· How to work with and respond to LEP persons
· Who to contact if the need for language assistance arises
· The location of documents available in other languages
Outreach Efforts
Public notices that are published in the local newspapers will state that interpretive services are
available on an as needed basis and who to contact to make arrangements. Copies of
documents that are made available to the public for public comments as well as final or
approved documents will contain information regarding interpretive services.
Posters
advertising public meetings or open houses will also contain contact information so that an
interpreter can be available at the event, if requested.
Monitoring and Updating the LAP
Douglas County does not expect the LEP population to increase drastically from year to year;
therefore, the LAP will be updated every five years in conjunction with the Consolidated Plan.
For the Consolidated Plan, CDBG staff conducts community and provider surveys to get a firm
understanding of community services being offered, demographics of clients being served, etc.
Page 188 of 211
If data suggests that the population is changing in between the five-year updates based on the
American Community Survey as well as other available data, Douglas County will determine at
that time if an update is necessary.
Disseminating the LAP
The LAP will be made available to Douglas County staff, on the Douglas County website, given
out at Application Workshops, given to subgrantees at Project Management Training, and
copies will be provided as requested.
Methodology
The data collected and used in this LAP are from the following sources:
· American Community Survey 2007-2011 5-Year Estimates from the U.S. Census
Bureau
· 2013-2014 Community Development Block Grant Community and Provider Surveys
· Douglas County School District
· Douglas County Libraries
Page 189 of 211
Page 190 of 211
Ü
7,00014,000
Feet
28,000
October 2013
Douglas County
Department of
Source: 2011
American Community Survey
5-Year Estimates
0
42,000
*In Douglas County, 9.0% of the population
age 5 and over speaks a language other than
English at home.
15.03% - 20.98%
10.23% - 14.24%
7.18% - 9.59%
4.28% - 6.75%
0.44% - 3.87%
0.44%
Who Speak a Language Other Than English At Home
Percentage of People 5 Years and Over
Legend
LOCATIONS OF CONCENTRATIONS OF
PEOPLE WHO SPEAK OTHER LANGUAGES
7.51%
10.26%
4.7%
4.28%
I
TS
C
JE
O
R
P
3.87%
10.88%
7.53%
15.2%
5.84%
6.02%
17.33%
12.54%
2.83%
7.2%
7.18%
2.68%
7.65%
10.78%
6.75%
6.05%
1.32% 10.9%
8.39%
6.35%
9.59%
11.36%
6.71%
7.37%
8.79%
5.27%
11.74%
5.12%
7.57%
11.44%
20.71%
11.76%
12.41%
Path: O:\Planning\CZeiler\GIS\MXDs\13.09.09_Nancy G_LEP households & LEP people_Map.mxd 10/22/2013 4:40:05 PM
1.95%
8.1%
12.86%
7.32%9.02%
13.03%
20.98%
11.89% 3.8%
15.03%
7.34%
8%
10.58%
16.38%
16.07%
8.58%
8.69%
10.23%
3.51% 7.38%
5.4%
Appendix A: Douglas County Census Tracts Map
Appendix B: "I Speak" Cards
2004
Census
Test
2010
LANGUAGE IDENTIFICATION FLASHCARD
1. Arabic
.á«Hô©dG çóëàJ hCG CGô≤J âæc GPEG ™HôŸG Gòg ‘ áeÓY ™°V
2. Armenian
3. Bengali
QUmbJÇak'kñ¨g®b/b'enH ebI/ñk/an …niXaXPasa e‡oµe .
4. Cambodian
Motka i kahhon ya yangin ûntûngnu' manaitai pat ûntûngnu' kumentos Chamorro.
5. Chamorro
6. Simplified
Chinese
7. Traditional
Chinese
Označite ovaj kvadratić ako čitate ili govorite hrvatski jezik.
8.Croatian
Zaškrtněte tuto kolonku, pokud čtete a hovoříte česky.
9. Czech
Kruis dit vakje aan als u Nederlands kunt lezen of spreken.
10. Dutch
Mark this box if you read or speak English.
11. English
12. Farsi
CDBG 2014-2018
DB-3309 Consolidated Plan
Page 191 of 211
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Cocher ici si vous lisez ou parlez le français.
13. French
Kreuzen Sie dieses Kästchen an, wenn Sie Deutsch lesen oder sprechen.
14. German
15. Greek
16. Haitian
Creole
Make kazye sa a si ou li oswa ou pale kreyòl ayisyen.
17. Hindi
Kos lub voj no yog koj paub twm thiab hais lus Hmoob.
18. Hmong
Jelölje meg ezt a kockát, ha megérti vagy beszéli a magyar nyelvet.
19. Hungarian
Markaam daytoy nga kahon no makabasa wenno makasaoka iti Ilocano.
20. Ilocano
Marchi questa casella se legge o parla italiano.
21. Italian
22. Japanese
23. Korean
24. Laotian
Prosimy o zaznaczenie tego kwadratu, jeżeli posługuje się Pan/Pani
językiem polskim.
CDBG 2014-2018
Consolidated Plan
DB-3309
Page 192 of 211
25. Polish
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
26. Portuguese
Assinale este quadrado se você lê ou fala português.
27. Romanian
ометьте этот квадратик, если вы читаете или говорите по-русски.
28. Russian
29. Serbian
Označte tento štvorček, ak viete čítať alebo hovoriť po slovensky.
30. Slovak
Marque esta casilla si lee o habla español.
31. Spanish
Markahan itong kuwadrado kung kayo ay marunong magbasa o magsalita ng Tagalog.
32. Tagalog
33. Thai
Maaka 'i he puha ni kapau 'oku ke lau pe lea fakatonga.
34. Tongan
ідмітьте цю клітинку, якщо ви читаєте або говорите українською мовою.
35. Ukranian
36. Urdu
Xin ñaùnh daáu vaøo oâ naøy neáu quyù vò bieát ñoïc vaø noùi ñöôïc Vieät Ngöõ.
37. Vietnamese
38. Yiddish
CDBG 2014-2018
DB-3309 Consolidated Plan
Page 193 of 211
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Appendix C: Bilingual Employees
Bi-Lingual Employees
Language
Name
Department
Phone Ext.
Dutch
Jonathan Rife
Weed Control
7476
French
Shelley Burek
Sheriff's
6332
German
Stephanie Cook
Treasurer
4246
Hungarian
Attila Denes
Sheriff's
7036
Spanish
Ed Martinez
Sheriff's
6560
Spanish
Marlene Fleming
IT
6166
Ukrainian
Helen Kellogg
Finance
4140
Page 194 of 211
Appendix D: Interpreters for Hire
Julia S. Vang, Department Manager
COLORADO LANGUAGE CONNECTION
Asian Pacific Development Center (APDC)
1544 Elmira Street, Aurora, CO 80010
Office: 303-365-2959 Ext: 114
Emergency Contact #: 720-220-6742
Fax: 303-344-4599
Email: [email protected]
LIST OF PRICES
Services
Emergency (EMG) Interpretation*
Hourly Rate
General/ Medical
$90.00
Legal
$100.00
General/ Medical
$75.00
Legal Interpreting
$85.00
General/ Medical Interpreting
$18.75/15 minutes
Legal Interpreting
$21.25/15 minutes
In-Advance Request Interpretation**
Phone Reminder/Confirmation Call***
Varies by language
Documentation
Translation
Transcribing
Web Testing & Translation Improvement
Written Document
Video, Voice Recording, ETC…
Website Testing
Special Services
Advance Arrangement Required
EMG General/ Medical*
EMG Legal*
General/ Medical**
Legal**
Weekend Appointment
$150.00-$250.00
American Sign Language
Credit Card Payment
$90.00 plus $25
$100.00 plus $25
$75.00 plus $25
$85.00 plus $25
Additional Charge
Varies by Card
*Service requested with less than 24 hour notice
**Service requested with more than 24 hour notice
Both (* and **) includes in-person OR telephone interpretation with 3 or more parties involved (client, customer,
interpreter)
***Involves only interpreter and client. Charged at 15 minutes increments
Any cancellation less than 24 hour notice will still be charged and billed
Page 195 of 211
TRAVEL FEE & MILEAGE POLICY
****Mileage on Mapquest.com website ONLY****
For appointment between 30-80 miles round trip from APDC office (1544 Elmira Street, Aurora,
CO 80010), $33.00 FLAT FEE will be applied
Some of the cities may include:
WHEAT RIDGE
GOLDEN
BROOMFIELD
WESTMINSTER
EVERGREEN
MORISON
ENGLEWOOD
LITTLETON
CASTLE ROCK
NORTHGLENN
PARKER
THORNTON
LAKEWOOD
ARVADA
FIRESTONE
LOUISVILLE
LONE TREE
FREDERICK
SHERIDAN
LAFAYETTE
HIGHLANDS RANCH
CENTENNIAL
BRIGHTON
For appointments farther than 80 miles round trip from APDC office, a FLAT FEE and an additional
$0.45/mile will be applied
CITIES/AREAS INCLUDED
Mileage
CHEYENNE, WY
$100.00
COLORADO SPRING
$60.00
FORT COLLINS
$60.00
GEORGETOWN
$50.00
GREELEY
$50.00
LONGMONT
$40.00
LOVELAND
$50.00
PUEBLO
$50.00
ALAMOSE
$250.00
FORT LUPTON
$45.00
BACK HAWK
$45.00
NEDERLAND
$50.00
Page 196 of 211
Language Line Solutions
Learn more about Personal Interpreter
Communicate With Your limited English-Proficient (LEP) individuals within the US
and across the globe.
Whether you or your staff need assistance communicating with Limited
English speaking customers, clients, patients or simply for personal use when
Connect with an Interpreter
traveling domestically and abroad, in two effortless steps you can connect with
a Professional interpreter, in over 200 languages, 24/7/365 days a year without
the formality of a contract-and, you only pay for the minutes you use.
PERSONAL INTERPRETER CALL FLOW
(https://webpi.languageline.com/webpi/go/login/create/)
Self-Service Portal
(https://webpi.languageline.com/webpi/go/)
Dial the Personal Interpreter access number, enter your 8-digit PIN, and
Complete the
state the name of the language you need right into the phone. It will be
sign up form
Recognized by our speech recognition/response system
(https://webpi.languageline.com/webpi/go/login/create/)
You will be immediately connected to the appropriate interpreter.
Receive your PIN instantly
Charges begin when the interpreter joins the call and end when you hang
Dial a toll-free number and enter your PIN
up.
Connect with an interpreter or translator for your
Per minute charges include complementary domestic or international third
chosen language
party calls placed by our attendant for you, to anywhere in the world.
Usage billed at $3.95 per minute and charged
Charges are billed to your Credit Card daily and kept securely.
directly to your credit card
Once you receive your PIN, you can use it over and over again, without
having to re-register.
For more information about personal interpreter
services contact our customer service department
PERSONAL INTERPRETER SELF-SERVICE PORTAL
View and print reports containing your usage, call history, and charges
Retrieve lost Personal Identification Number (PIN)
(mailto:[email protected]) or
browse frequently asked questions
(/solutions/interpretation/personal-interpreter/faq/).
Update your account information
Download FREE training tools
To access The Personal Interpreter Self-Service Portal, click here:
Self-Service Portal (https://webpi.languageline.com/webpi/go/)
For more information, please call 1-800-528-5888. If you’re located outside of
North America call us at 1+ 831-648-7582, or you can also email us at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
(http://www.languageline.com/solutions/interpretation/persona
interpreter/personal-interpreter-sign-up-and-callflow-process/pi-image/)
CDBG
2014-2018
Consolidated
Plan w w .languageline.com/site-map/)
© Copyright 2013
LanguageLine
Solutions
Sitemap (http://w
Page 197 of 211
Privacy Policy (http://w w w .languageline.com/privacy-policy/)
Contact Us
Douglas County Provider Survey Results
Douglas County received a total of 40 completed Provider Surveys. Below each of the question responses is the number of
people who responded to that specific question. If it states that “scores are weighted”, the score is a weighted calculation
where items that were ranked first were valued higher than the following ranks. The score is the sum of all weighted rank
counts. If it states that “additional topics were available to choose from” that means that survey respondents had additional
items they could vote on, but only the top scoring items were included.
Rank the top three categories that you feel should be the
highest priority for the use of Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) funds for the next five years:
Rank the top three service facilities that would best address
the needs of low- and moderate-income residents:
Mental health facilities
155
Housing (affordable, rehabilitation, homeownership)
167
Childcare centers
145
Public services (for seniors, emergency assistance,
transportation, etc.)
122
Job training
140
Facility improvements (non-profits, senior centers,
group homes, etc.)
Healthcare facilities
110
84
Homeless shelters
110
Economic development
40
Infrastructure (water, sidewalks, accessibility, etc.)
32
40 respondents; scores are weighted; additional topics were available to choose from
Rank the top three services that you feel would help residents
in Douglas County obtain and maintain self-sufficiency:
Housing assistance
155
Childcare
99
Job placement
91
Transportation
81
Rank the top three housing options that would best address
the housing needs for low- and moderate-income residents:
Affordable housing
485
Senior rental housing
206
Rental assistance
202
Emergeny housing (shelter)
175
Temporary or transitional housing
168
What do you think are the top three gaps in services?
Housing
40
Transportation
31
79
Public Services
9
Sidewalks
57
6
Streetscape improvements (trees, furniture, lighting)
32
Infrastructure
4
Street improvements
32
Water facilities
31
Rank the top three infrastructure improvements that you
believe would address the great need in Douglas County:
ADA accessibility
Page 198 of 211
107 responses; additional gaps were provided
Douglas County Community Survey Results
Douglas County received a total of 388 completed Community Surveys. Below each of the question responses is the number
of people who responded to that specific question. If it states that “scores are weighted”, the score is a weighted calculation
where items that were ranked first were valued higher than the following ranks. The score is the sum of all weighted rank
counts. If it states that “additional topics were available to choose from” that means that survey respondents had additional
items they could vote on, but only the top scoring items were included.
Rank the top three categories that you feel should be the
highest priority for the use of Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) funds for the next five years:
Housing (affordable, rehabilitation, homeownership)
1,590
Public services (for seniors, emergency assistance,
transportation, etc.)
716
Facility improvements (non-profits, senior centers,
group homes, etc.)
319
Economic development
273
Infrastructure (water, sidewalks, accessibility, etc.)
221
269 respondents; scores are weighted
Rank the top three services that you feel would help residents
in Douglas County obtain and maintain self-sufficiency:
Which one of the following services would most likely help
you improve your current situation?
Affordable housing
30.7%
I do not need help to improve my current situation
15.9%
Transportation
13.0%
Job placement
11.6%
Healthcare
10.6%
378 respondents; additional topics were available to choose from
Did anything prevent you from accessing services?
Nothing has kept me from getting services
43.5%
Cannot afford services
24.7%
No transportation
19.0%
Food assistance
710
Not available in Douglas County
13.4%
Housing assistance
703
Not available where I am able to go
10.8%
Transportation
442
Not available when I am able to go
9.9%
Healthcare
402
Other
8.8%
Job placement
384
Not physically accessible
2.8%
Childcare
307
352 respondents
Which best describes your current living situation?
Rank the top three infrastructure improvements that you
believe would address the greatest need in Douglas County:
Rent an apartment, condo, townhouse, house or other
53.7%
Own a condo, townhouse, house or other
24.2%
13.8%
Street improvements
277
Living with family or friends
Sidewalks
265
Other
5.2%
Parking facilities
217
Staying in a motel
2.6%
Living in your vehicle
0.3%
Living on the streets
0.3%
How many times have you received assistance in the last year?
# of times
0
Percentage %
1-3
4-6
7+
21.6% 27.3% 21.6% 29.6%
385 respondents
Have you or anyone in your household received services within
the past year from non-profits or government entities?
Food assistance
59.0%
Clothing assistance
32.5%
I have not received services
24.5%
Emergency assistance, utility
21.5%
Healthcare
18.1%
Housing assistance (rent or mortgage)
14.1%
Emergency assistance, rent
13.6%
Page 199 of 211
384 respondents; Staying at a Shelter was an additional topic available that received 0
What contributed to losing or not securing stable housing?
Loss of a job
13.2%
Unable to pay rent
13.2%
Bad credit
12.6%
Family breakup or divorce
7.3%
Medical expenses
6.5%
Disability
6.2%
Foreclosure
5.9%
Rate the availability of affordable housing in Douglas County:
Do you feel like Douglas County has adequate types of
transportation opportunities to meet your needs?
Below average
56.4%
Average
17.3%
No
50.8%
14.4%
Not sure
30.8%
Yes
19.1%
Not sure
Seeing improvements, but need more
8.1%
Above average
3.7%
381 respondents
372 respondents
Which transportation opportunities do we need more of?
Rank the top three issues that you feel provide safe and
secure housing for low- and moderate-income residents:
Local bus services
79.0%
Regional bus services
33.9%
Affordable housing
741
Bus stops (where service is available)
33.3%
Rent assistance
223
Sidewalk connections
11.8%
Down payment assistance
202
Other
11.3%
Assisted living for seniors
193
Bike trails or bike lanes
More rental housing options
174
Lease-purchase program (apply rent to home purchase)
172
What one type of housing do you feel is most important for
people with low- and moderate-incomes?
5.1%
195 respondents
For those with disabilities, what barriers have you experienced
in accessing adequate housing?
Not affordable
43.9%
I have not experienced any barriers
40.3%
13.0%
Apartments
40.8%
Location
Single-family houses
28.3%
On waiting list
12.2%
Condos or townhouses
15.2%
No housing available to accommodate my disability
10.1%
11.7%
Other
Duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes
Mobile homes
4.1%
9.4%
139 respondents
368 respondents
Which best describes your current employment situation?
Rank the top three improvements most needed for persons
with disabilities?
Full-time employment
22.2%
Affordable housing
226
Retired
21.2%
Transportation
126
Unemployed
19.8%
Employment assistance
99
Other
15.1%
97
Part-time employment
13.3%
Housing modified to accommodate persons with
disabilities
Homemaker, stay-at-home parent, caregiver, etc.
383 respondents; Student and Other were additional topics available to choose from
Page 200 of 211
7.3%
132 respondents; scores are weighted; additional topics were avaialble to choose from
RESOLUTION NO. R-014THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF THE COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, COLORADO
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2014-2018 CONSOLIDATED
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
WHEREAS, in 1974, the U.S. Congress enacted the Housing and Community Development Act
of 1974 (“Act”) permitting and providing for the participation of the Federal government in a wide range
of local housing and community development activities and programs, which activities and programs are
administrated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”); and
WHEREAS, the primary objective of Title I of the Act is the development of viable urban
communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic
opportunities, mainly for persons of low- and moderate-income, this objective to be accomplished by
providing financial assistance in the form of block grant funds to state and local governments for the
conduct and administration of housing and community development activities and programs, such as the
Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) Program; and
WHEREAS, Douglas County has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the Towns
of Castle Rock and Parker, and the Cities of Castle Pines and Lone Tree for the conduct of the CDBG
Program, and which benefits the residents of unincorporated Douglas County; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to 24 C.F.R. §§ 91.200, et seq., Douglas County is required to submit a
Consolidated Plan, which serves as: (1) a planning document; (2) an application for federal funds; (3) a
strategy to be followed in carrying out the CDBG Program; and (4) an Activity Action Plan that provides
a basis for assessing performance (“Consolidated Plan”), in order to qualify to receive CDBG funds; and
WHEREAS, Douglas County anticipates a CDBG grant of $853,273 for CDBG Program Year
2014; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to 24 C.F.R. §§ 91.200, et seq., Douglas County is required to file an
Annual Action Plan for each year of the five-year life of the Consolidated Plan, with 2014 being the first
of those five years; and
WHEREAS, Douglas County’s 2014 Annual Action Plan serves as an application for Federal
funds and a plan that provides a basis for assessing performance; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF
DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO, that the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan, a copy of which is attached
hereto, is hereby adopted in its entirety, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Roger A. Partridge, Chair of the Douglas County Board of
County Commissioners, is authorized to sign the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan, which includes the 2014
Annual Action Plan, the 2014 CDBG Certifications and SF-424 on behalf of Douglas County.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 11th day of June, 2014, in Castle Rock, Douglas County, Colorado.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF THE COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, COLORADO
BY: ____________________________________
Roger A. Partridge, Chair
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
Melissa Pelletier, Deputy Clerk
CERTIFICATIONS
In accordance with the applicable statutes and the regulations governing the consolidated plan
regulations, the jurisdiction certifies that:
Affirmatively Further Fair Housing -- The jurisdiction will affirmatively further fair housing, which
means it will conduct an analysis of impediments to fair housing choice within the jurisdiction, take
appropriate actions to overcome the effects of any impediments identified through that analysis, and
maintain records reflecting that analysis and actions in this regard.
Anti-displacement and Relocation Plan -- It will comply with the acquisition and relocation
requirements of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of
1970, as amended, and implementing regulations at 49 CFR 24; and it has in effect and is following a
residential antidisplacement and relocation assistance plan required under section 104(d) of the
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, in connection with any activity
assisted with funding under the CDBG or HOME programs.
Anti-Lobbying -- To the best of the jurisdiction's knowledge and belief:
1.
No Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of it, to any
person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a
Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of
Congress in connection with the awarding of any Federal contract, the making of any Federal
grant, the making of any Federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, and
the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any Federal contract,
grant, loan, or cooperative agreement;
2.
If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any
person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a
Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of
Congress in connection with this Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, it
will complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, "Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying," in
accordance with its instructions; and
3.
It will require that the language of paragraph 1 and 2 of this anti-lobbying certification be
included in the award documents for all subawards at all tiers (including subcontracts,
subgrants, and contracts under grants, loans, and cooperative agreements) and that all
subrecipients shall certify and disclose accordingly.
Authority of Jurisdiction -- The consolidated plan is authorized under State and local law (as
applicable) and the jurisdiction possesses the legal authority to carry out the programs for which it is
seeking funding, in accordance with applicable HUD regulations.
Consistency with plan -- The housing activities to be undertaken with CDBG, HOME, ESG, and
HOPWA funds are consistent with the strategic plan.
Section 3 -- It will comply with section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, and
implementing regulations at 24 CFR Part 135.
______________________________
Roger A. Partridge, Commissioner
Board of County Commissioners
County of Douglas, Colorado
Page 203 of 211
_____________
Date
Specific CDBG Certifications
The Entitlement Community certifies that:
Citizen Participation -- It is in full compliance and following a detailed citizen participation plan that
satisfies the requirements of 24 CFR 91.105.
Community Development Plan -- Its consolidated housing and community development plan
identifies community development and housing needs and specifies both short-term and long-term
community development objectives that provide decent housing, expand economic opportunities
primarily for persons of low and moderate income. (See CFR 24 570.2 and CFR 24 part 570)
Following a Plan -- It is following a current consolidated plan (or Comprehensive Housing Affordability
Strategy) that has been approved by HUD.
Use of Funds -- It has complied with the following criteria:
1.
Maximum Feasible Priority. With respect to activities expected to be assisted with CDBG funds,
it certifies that it has developed its Action Plan so as to give maximum feasible priority to
activities which benefit low and moderate income families or aid in the prevention or elimination
of slums or blight. The Action Plan may also include activities which the grantee certifies are
designed to meet other community development needs having a particular urgency because
existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the
community, and other financial resources are not available);
2.
Overall Benefit. The aggregate use of CDBG funds including section 108 guaranteed loans
during program year(s) 2013, (a period specified by the grantee consisting of one specific
consecutive program year), shall principally benefit persons of low and moderate income in a
manner that ensures that at least 70 percent of the amount is expended for activities that
benefit such persons during the designated period;
3.
Special Assessments. It will not attempt to recover any capital costs of public improvements
assisted with CDBG funds including Section 108 loan guaranteed funds by assessing any
amount against properties owned and occupied by persons of low and moderate income,
including any fee charged or assessment made as a condition of obtaining access to such
public improvements.
However, if CDBG funds are used to pay the proportion of a fee or assessment that relates to
the capital costs of public improvements (assisted in part with CDBG funds) financed from other
revenue sources, an assessment or charge may be made against the property with respect to
the public improvements financed by a source other than CDBG funds.
The jurisdiction will not attempt to recover any capital costs of public improvements assisted
with CDBG funds, including Section 108, unless CDBG funds are used to pay the proportion of
fee or assessment attributable to the capital costs of public improvements financed from other
revenue sources. In this case, an assessment or charge may be made against the property
with respect to the public improvements financed by a source other than CDBG funds. Also, in
the case of properties owned and occupied by moderate-income (not low-income) families, an
assessment or charge may be made against the property for public improvements financed by
a source other than CDBG funds if the jurisdiction certifies that it lacks CDBG funds to cover
the assessment.
Page 204 of 211
Excessive Force -- It has adopted and is enforcing:
1.
2.
A policy prohibiting the use of excessive force by law enforcement agencies within its
jurisdiction against any individuals engaged in non-violent civil rights demonstrations; and
A policy of enforcing applicable State and local laws against physically barring entrance to or
exit from a facility or location which is the subject of such non-violent civil rights
demonstrations within its jurisdiction;
Compliance With Anti-discrimination laws -- The grant will be conducted and administered in
conformity with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 USC 2000d), the Fair Housing Act (42 USC
3601-3619), and implementing regulations.
Lead-Based Paint -- Its activities concerning lead-based paint will comply with the requirements of 24
CFR Part 35, subparts A, B, J, K and R;
Compliance with Laws -- It will comply with applicable laws.
______________________________
Page 205 of 211
_____________
Date
OPTIONAL CERTIFICATION
CDBG
Submit the following certification only when one or more of the activities in the action plan are
designed to meet other community development needs having a particular urgency as specified in 24
CFR 570.208(c):
The grantee hereby certifies that the Annual Plan includes one or more specifically identified
CDBG-assisted activities which are designed to meet other community development needs
having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat
to the health or welfare of the community and other financial resources are not available to
meet such needs.
______________________________
Page 206 of 211
_____________
Date
APPENDIX TO CERTIFICATIONS
INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING LOBBYING AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS:
A. Lobbying Certification
This certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when this
transaction was made or entered into. Submission of this certifications is a prerequisite for
making or entering into this transaction imposed by section 1352, title 31, U.S. Code. Any person
who fails to file the required certification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000
and not more than $100,000 for each such failure.
B. Drug-Free Workplace Certification
1. By signing and/or submitting this application or grant agreement, the grantee is providing the
certification.
2. The certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance is placed when the
agency awards the grant. If it is later determined that the grantee knowingly rendered a false
certification, or otherwise violates the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act, HUD, in
additional to any other remedies available to the Federal Government, may take action
authorized under the Drug-Free Workplace Act.
3. Workplaces under grants, for grantees other than individuals, need not be identified on the
certification. If the grantee does not identify the workplaces at the time of application, or upon
award, if there is no application, the grantee must keep the identity of the workplace(s) on file
in its office and make the information available for Federal inspection. Failure to identify all
known workplaces constitutes a violation of the grantee’s drug-free workplace requirements.
4. Workplace identifications must include the actual address of buildings (or parts of buildings) or
other sites where work under the grant takes place. Categorical descriptions may be used
(e.g., all vehicles of a mass transit authority or State highway department while in operation,
State employees in each local unemployment office, performers in concert halls or radio
stations).
5. If the workplace identified to the agency changes during the performance of the grant, the
grantee shall inform the agency of the change(s), if it previously identified the workplace in
question (see paragraph three).
6. The grantee may insert in the space provided below the site(s) for the performance of work
done in connection with the specific grant:
Place of Performance (Street address, city, county, state, zip code)
Douglas County
100 Third Street
Check X if there are workplaces on file that are not identified here.
The certification with regard to the Drug-Free Workplace is required by 24 CFR part 24, subpart F.
7. Definitions of terms in the Non-procurement Suspension and Debarment common rule and
Drug-Free Workplace common rule apply to this certification. Grantees’ attention is called, in
particular, to the following definitions from these rules:
“Controlled substance” means a controlled substance in Schedules I through V of the
Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812) and as further defined by regulation (21 CFR
1308.11 through 1308.15);
“Conviction” means a finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo contendere) or imposition of
sentence, or both, by any judicial body charged with the responsibility to determine violations
of the Federal or State criminal drug statutes;
Page 207 of 211
“Criminal drug statute” means a Federal or non-Federal criminal statute involving the
manufacture, distribution, dispensing, use, or possession of any controlled substance;
“Employee” means the employee of a grantee directly engaged in the performance of work
under a grant, including: (i) All “direct charge” employees; (ii) all “indirect charge” employees
unless their impact or involvement is insignificant to the performance of the grant; and (iii)
temporary personnel and consultants who are directly engaged in the performance of work
under the grant and who are on the grantee’s payroll. This definition does not include workers
not on the payroll of the grantee (e.g., volunteers, even if used to meet a matching
requirement; consultants or independent contractors not on the grantee’s payroll; or
employees of subrecipients or subcontractors in covered workplaces).
By:
______________________________
Page 208 of 211
_____________
Date
Page 209 of 211
Page 210 of 211
Page 211 of 211

2014-2018 Consolidated Plan for the Community Development

Transcription

Similar documents

Douglas Commons Douglas Commons

COWLEYGROVES COM

46 Cronk Y Berry Avenue, Douglas, IM2 6HG Asking

january 2007 newsletter

project of the year + gold

DouglasBoot2 - Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land, Inc.

HDCW109-6 LuxalonGrnBulletin

13 Harcroft Meadow, Douglas, IM2 1JS Asking price

Douglas County, Nevada Media Kit