The Commission encourages Community Leaders to address all housing (especially chronic nuisance properties) to ensure compliance with health and safety codes.
Hold rental property owners accountable for providing safe and sanitary housing.
Safe Housing Program brochure created and the program has been implemented.
Nov 28, 2017, City Council passed an ordinance requiring owners of single-family rental homes to register their contact information with the city of Springfield effective Jan 1, 2018. Landlords can register homes through the city website and the process is currently free. Approximately 10,000 properties should become registered.
For many years, the City of Springfield and Community Partnership of the Ozarks have collaborated to offer landlord training each year. This training is designed for landlords and property managers of single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes to create safer neighborhoods, improve the working relationship with the Springfield Police Department, and facilitate better business success for landlords. Class participation dramatically increased during the Zone One Blitz.
A new landlord training program is now available for landlords.
Creation and expansion of programs for home repair and maintenance.
The city has identified priority projects:
- Comprehensive Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)
- Commercial Loan Program
- Forgivable Loan Program if the homeowner stays in their home for at least 10 years.
- One Door
- H.E.L.P. program for the homeowner emergency repair program. Four agencies work together to address the repair needs:
- Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri
- Council of Churches Handyman Program
- Habitat for Humanity
- Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC)
Organizations with homeowner repair assistance:
- Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri
- Council of Churches Handyman Program
- Habitat for Humanity
- OACAC
- Senior Age (Ramps and Fixtures)
- Empower: Abilities – formerly known as the Southwest Center for Independent Living (Ramps and Home Modifications)
- During the Zone One Blitz, Mayor Bob Stephens commissioned a 17-member community Task Force on Crisis Sheltering. Since the recommendations were issued, funding was secured for three additional One Door diversion and case management specialists, a common HMIS was created, and a new facility was located and purchased to house One Door and other services using HUD funds.
- Habitat for Humanity chose to adopt Woodland Heights as a focus area in Springfield-Greene County for its Neighborhood Revitalization efforts, which is an approach to serve more families by responding to community goals with a variety of products, services and partnerships that enable residents to revive their neighborhoods and enhance their quality of life.
- The City has traditionally funded annual or semiannual neighborhood cleanups, in which used appliances, other large items and/or leaves and brush are transported to a central location within the neighborhood or left at the curb to be removed by paid haulers contracted by Community Partnership of the Ozarks (CPO), the City’s partner. On average, 15 regular neighborhood cleanups have been completed in each of the last three fiscal years. An additional $45,000 provided opportunity for nine additional cleanups. The response of citizens and organizations wishing to help with these efforts was significant throughout the duration of the Zone Blitz. Many neighborhoods were cleaned up and beautified.
Additional shelter beds, especially the critical need for housing units for homeless families.
There are several other entities that have increased shelter beds that will be added as we continue our research. Below, please find a few shelter bed increases:
- Safe to Sleep (Council of Churches), an overnight emergency shelter for women, started with 6 cots in 2011 and had 50 cots in 2017.
- Harmony House, shelter for women, men and children fleeing domestic violence, had 110 beds in 2007 and in 2017 had 168 beds.
- The Kitchen expanded Rare Breed Youth Housing program, in 2015, to 13 apartments and to 24 apartments in 2017.
Expand services to serve the homeless in our community that include case management and wrap around services.
Research in process
Reduce the impact of costs on families through energy efficiency measures by expanding programs such as OACAC’s Energy Assistance and Weatherization programs.
Research in process
Create a more robust sidewalk, biking and public transit system to improve the job/housing connection and provide more mobility to access services with a focus where vehicle ownership is lowest.
The Transportation Collaborative identified 10 key areas that can assist with this action item. However, funding and resources are a major issue. They selected two projects to start with at this time: TRIP Program Pilot at the N. W. Project with a ride share program where a person is reimbursed a certain amount for mileage and a Bike Share program.
The City currently uses some of their HOME funds to address public sidewalk improvements and to provide accessibility ramps where necessary. Over $7M was invested in the northwest part of Springfield as part of the Zone One Blitz over the past 18 months. Several sidewalks were added that connected to local schools.
The city is currently working on sidewalks on Kansas Expressway, a trail on Bennett Street and sidewalks near the Grant Street Bridge Project. The Grant Street Bridge Project is expected to be completed by fall 2018. There are plans for updates on Battlefield and Fremont planned for the end of 2018.
The bike share program should launch by the summer of 2019.
The Food Collaborative worked with local farmers and City Utilities to host a “pop-up” Farmer’s Market at the bus transfer station. They are planning additional ways to bring food options closer to areas frequented by community members.
Encourage public and private affordable housing development in close proximity to public transit and walking and biking facilities.
Research in process
Investigate the vacant and abandoned housing issue and work with the development community to determine if actions can be taken to make these units productive for affordable housing.
This action item has been investigated. There are approximately 200 homes on the list to be demolished. The cost to demolish each home is approximately $4000 to $5000 and the process can take years because of legal requirements.
Promote and Expand the Great Neighborhoods Program.
Research in process