St. Joseph County Housing Consortium

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FY 2025-2029 Five-Year Consolidated Plan City of South Bend, IN NA-50 Non-Housing Community Development Needs - 91.415, 91.215 (f) Describe the jurisdiction's need for Public Facilities: • Many park areas need to be improved to encourage public use and to become a welcoming environment. • Parks in low-income areas need accessibility improvements and bike lanes,as well as trails,curbs, and sidewalk improvements. • There is a need to expand recreational facilities in all parks,including basketball courts,playground equipment, sidewalks,benches, and picnic tables. How were these needs determined? These needs for public facilities were determined through: the resident surveys; agency needs surveys; interviews with County staff, City staff, City Council members, Department of Community Investment staff, and other City and County agencies; public hearing comments on needs; and the County's Comprehensive Plan. Describe the jurisdiction's need for Public Improvements: • The City has recently switched from one-way Downtown streets to two-way streets with bike lines. There is a need to widen all public sidewalks. • The City has been responsive about addressing ADA complaints. There is still some work to be done on improving ADA accessibility on curbs and sidewalks. • The County has the highest percentage of well and septic systems in the state.It is more expensive in the County to set up a municipal sewer lines than in neighborhoods in South Bend and Mishawaka. • There are vacant lots which are a source of blight on the surrounding neighborhoods. There is a need to develop these lots for new housing or green landscaped areas. How were these needs determined? These needs for public facilities were determined through: the resident surveys; agency needs surveys; interviews with County staff, City staff, City Council members, Department of Community Investment staff, and other City and County agencies; public hearing comments on needs; and the County's Comprehensive Plan. Describe the jurisdiction's need for Public Services: • There is a persistent need to provide case management services to homeless, both sheltered and unsheltered.Coordination is needed between service providers and the Balance of State CoC.There is a need to get public services into shelters for the benefit of clientele. • There is a need for improved public transit for low-income individuals in the City of South Bend including expanded bus routes and service hours. oMB Control No:2506-0117(exp.07/31/2025) 91