St. Joseph County Housing Consortium

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FY 2025-2029 Five-Year Consolidated Plan City of South Bend, IN Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, sexual assault, and stalking —Domestic violence survivors have additional needs beyond housing. These include: transportation, employment, and job training. Women and children who are displaced by domestic violence face problems that their children will have a disruption in their education. St. Margaret's House and YWCA North Central Indiana serve victims of domestic violence,dating violence,sexual assault,and stalking in St.Joseph County.This shelter at YWCA North Central Indiana has waiting lists for women, who struggle to find available beds, since many facilities that serve them are day centers. According to stakeholder consultations, YWCA North Central Indiana serves approximately 1,800 individuals annually,not including an additional 4,000 calls each year through their emergency hot line. St. Margaret's House serves approximately 1,000 adults and 400 children annually. YWCA serves men who are victims of domestic violence but both organizations acknowledge a shortage of domestic violence resources or a day center for adult men. What are the most common housing problems? The largest housing problem in the St.Joseph County is housing affordability. According to the 2016-2020 ACS data, an estimated 38.0% of all renter households are cost burdened by 30% or more in the County, and an estimated 11.6%of all owner households are cost burdened by 30%or more. In consultations, interviews and surveys, the shortage of affordable, decent, safe, sound, and accessible housing for the area residents is a problem. Though St. Joseph County has a reputation for affordability, and is marketed as an affordable area to potential new residents from larger cities such as Chicago, the affordable housing that is available is in need of major rehabilitation work.Affordable rental housing in the area is outdated,has high utility costs,and requires rehabilitation and expensive repairs.Area landlords do not always rehabilitate their housing due to a lack of funding, lower rents,return on investment,and costly repairs. The eviction rate in the City of South Bend is extremely high and is amongst the highest in the State and Country.There is a need for affordable housing for those with the lowest income,and who are at the highest risk of eviction and becoming homeless. Low-and Moderate-income renters who would like to purchase a home also face fmancial challenges.Less expensive housing in the area is often older, and means it also requires major rehabilitation work. The financing for purchasing and rehabbing older housing is not readily available. Banks are not willing to loan to lower-income first time home buyers. There are many vacant lots in the City of South Bend,in part as a result of the City's Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative. There is an opportunity to build on these vacant lots for infill housing as they present a potential for affordable housing locations. The City has conducted targeted planning processes to determine what to construct on the vacant lots,and how to best utilize the lots that will remain vacant going forward. Additional planning is needed and is under discussion. OMB Control No:2506-0117(exp.07/31/2025) 66