St. Joseph County Housing Consortium

Home Browse Search

FY 2025-2029 Five-Year Consolidated Plan City of South Bend, IN 5-A: The Cities and County should consider using Federal and State funding to provide housing or credit counseling to potential low- and moderate-income homebuyers in impacted neighborhoods to decrease the number of denials due to poor credit, debt-to-income ratios, or incomplete applications. 5-B: The Cities and County should consider entering into an agreement with Indiana Legal Services, Inc. to perform research to determine if any patterns of discrimination are present in home mortgage lending practices for minorities and other protected classes when they wish to purchase properties located in impacted areas of the Cities or County. 5-C:The Housing Consortium should consider using Federal and State funding to provide a higher rate of public financial assistance to potential homebuyers in impacted neighborhoods to improve the loan- to-value ratio, so that private lenders will increase the number of loans made in these areas. Impediment 6: Impacted Areas of Concentration There are specific areas throughout the two Cities and the County where the concentration of low- income persons exceeds 70% of the area's population, and areas with concentrations of minority persons. Goal: Promote the de-concentration of low-income and minority areas that may exist within the Cities of South Bend and Mishawaka to reduce concentrations of low-income households and minorities, while preserving fair housing choice for both low-income and minority residents. Strategies: To meet this goal, the following activities and strategies may be undertaken by St. Joseph County and the Cities of South Bend and Mishawaka: 6-A: Support, promote, and plan for affordable housing developments outside areas of low-income concentration, while still supporting the improvement of housing within concentrated areas. 6-B: Market and promote housing opportunities for both minority and low-income residents outside areas of low-income concentration. 6-C: Provide financial assistance to low-income households to provide them with a choice to reside outside areas of low-income concentration. Impediment 7: Economic Issues Affecting Housing Choice There is a lack of economic opportunities in the County and both Cities which prevents low-income households from improving their income and providing an opportunity to live outside areas of low- income concentration. Goal: The local economy will provide new job opportunities, which will increase household income, and thus promote fair housing choice and mobility. Strategies: To meet this goal,the following activities and strategies may be undertaken by St. Joseph County and the Cities of South Bend and Mishawaka: OMB Control No:2506-0117(exp.07/31/2025) 160