City of South Bend, Indiana

The City of South Bend

My Employer

The City of South Bend is my home tome area, and is located in northern Indiana, approximately a 100 miles east of Chicago. Before I returned to graduate school, I worked for the City of South Bend as an urban developer. A picture of where I worked is displayed to the right. I mainly did three Housing & Urban Development (HUD) grants for the city, which were the Emergency Shelter Grant, the HOME Program, and Shelter Plus Care. I also did environmental reviews, Federal wage laws, and computer stuff. Don't let me confuse you, I am not an attorney. I am an economist.

The County-City Building in downtown South Bend

The County-City Building is located in the downtown of South Bend, Indiana.

A project sponsored by the City of South Bend.

This is a rental duplex that was rehabilitated with HOME funding. This property can only be rented out to low-income families.

The Housing & Urban Development Grants

The HUD grants can be very complicated, so I will simplify them as much as possible. The HOME Program is used to support affordable housing to low-income families. Typical projects include homeowner rehabilitation, mortgage subsidies for newly constructed houses, and construction of rental properties. The Emergency Shelter Grant helps support local homeless shelters and Shelter Plus Care helps provide rental subsidies for people who are ill.

The Work Environment

Some days working for the City could be difficult, while most of the time, it is a good job. I worked with good, honest people and the office is very comfortable. The department has good computer equipment and plenty of software. Of all the places where I worked and played, I learned the most in this job. I learned to design web pages, GIS software, and the art of scanning pictures.

This home was constructed using HOME Funds

HOME funds helped finance the construction of this home. This home was sold to a low-income family.

It's a Tough Job!

The City government is doing a lot for its citizens, but an underlining problem exists. During the early part of the twentieth century, the City of South Bend had many industrial jobs. Swinger Sewing Machine, Studebaker Corporation (made automobiles), Bendix Corporation, etc. These companies paid excellent wages, but now they are gone. When the Studebaker Corporation closed down in the 1960's, over 7,000 workers lost their jobs. Some factories closed down; others replaced the workers with machines or moved the factories over seas. These high-paying union jobs were supplanted with low-paying service industry jobs. You know, stores and restaurants. In the long run, it doesn't matter how much the city does. Economic growth and prosperity depends on plentiful high-paying jobs.