St. Joseph County Housing Consortium

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FY 2025-2029 Five-Year Consolidated Plan City of South Bend, IN SP-70 Anti-Poverty Strategy - 91.415, 91.215(j) Jurisdiction Goals, Programs and Policies for reducing the number of Poverty-Level Families The resources and opportunities that the City has for reducing the number of families with incomes below the poverty line are limited. Since poverty is a function of income, its effect on housing opportunity and choice is apparent.Conversely,without adequate,stable housing,alleviating poverty is more difficult. Still, the means of addressing both issues are fragmented. Several structural barriers to poverty are addressed through different local policies.For example,the City has a policy that requires the employment of Section 3 households in construction contracts when applicable. More direct efforts to alleviate poverty by combining case management, social services,job training, and housing assistance are becoming more common. City and County social service agencies have embraced the Continuum of Care models being introduced across the country. As these agencies increase services to the needy,poverty rates may decline. The City's anti-poverty strategy is based on attracting a range of businesses and supporting workforce development including job-training services for low-income residents. In addition,the City's strategy is to provide supportive services for target income residents. Planned economic development programs include: • ED-1 Employment—Encourage and support new job opportunities through job creation,job retention, job training, workforce development, and educational programs to address the need for a well-trained labor force. • ED-2 Financial Assistance—Support new development of business and industry through expansion, new development, capital equipment purchases, etc. to be funded with federal programs including the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program. • ED-3 Incentives—Support local, state, and federal tax breaks,tax credits, land development bonuses, and planning initiatives to promote new development and expansion of business and industry. How are the Jurisdiction poverty reducing goals, programs, and policies coordinated with this affordable housing plan Providing access to and increasing the supply of affordable housing is integrally tied to the City's anti- poverty strategy.The most successful way to implement this is through job training/creation activities while providing affordable housing. OMB Control No:2506-0117(exp.07/31/2025) 167