COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Development on Thursday announced nearly $4.6 million in grants to help improve housing and provide down payment assistance in communities across the state.
The funding comes from the Housing Assistance Grant Program, which uses Ohio Housing Trust Fund dollars to help nonprofit organizations across the state promote more affordable housing opportunities and improve housing conditions through essential home repairs, renovations for handicap accessibility, limited down payment assistance and homebuyer education.
The following nonprofits will receive grants through the program to assist residents in the Mahoning Valley:
- Columbiana County Community Action Agency will receive $178,000 to provide 36 home repairs for homeowners at or below 50 percent AMI.
- Catholic Charities Housing Opportunities, serving Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage, Stark and Trumbull counties, will receive $42,755 to provide down payment assistance and housing counseling to seven households at or below 65 percent AMI.
With the grants, nonprofits can contract with local qualified construction companies to complete essential home repairs such as heating systems, water heaters, plumbing systems, severely deteriorated roofs, walls, windows, doors, hazardous electrical systems and more.
The grants also allow investments of up to $5,000 per home toward down payment assistance and associated out-of-pocket expenses, as well as up to $500 per household for homebuyer education.
“For some Ohioans, the challenges of buying a home do not stop once they get the keys,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development. “These grants empower our local partners to step in where help is needed most by providing essential repairs and crucial education that makes the American Dream more attainable for more families.”