Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding utilized to improve housing

Neighborhood Stabilization Program

funding utilized to improve housing

As a result of the enactment of House Resolution 3221, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded more than $3.9 billion of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds to states and communities across the country to address the nation's abandoned and foreclosed homes crisis.  In total, Ohio received an allocation of $258,089,179, with more than $116.8 million awarded to the state and the remaining funds awarded directly to Ohio cities and counties. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) specified that all of the funds appropriated under the NSP program be used with respect to individuals and families whose income does not exceed 120% of the area median income.  

Highland County received funding as part of region which included Adams, Brown and Highland County with the Brown County Commissioners serving as the Administrative entity for the funding.  The Highland County Commissioners in turn allocated their dollars to be utilized by the Highland County Community Action Organization, Inc. as well as the Cities of Hillsboro and Greenfield. 

The cities of Hillsboro and Greenfield utilized NSP funding for the demolition of single family homes and other previous residential buildings that were condemned and had become a nuisance within their communities. Both Cities, also, received a waiver to demolish three additional dilapidated buildings. By removing these physical structures from these neighborhoods, the neighborhoods should become a bit safer as well as the other housing more viable.  

Peg Beekman and staff headed up the project for the cities of Hillsboro and Greenfield. A total of 15 dilapidated properties will be demolished in Greenfield and five (5) within Hillsboro.  Peg stated, “In both Greenfield and Hillsboro; property owners are ecstatic about the opportunity to demolish their dilapidated structures and clean up the lots. The units had been condemned and the owners were going to be responsible for the expense of taking the units down. It was an expense most of them did not have the finances to handle.  This program is an asset to the property owners and to all citizens of the two cities as we eliminate the blighted areas.”  

Following demolition of the structures, the lots will be graded and seeded.

Highland County Community Action Organization, Inc. targeted several census tracts within the Paint Township Region of Highland County. The organization has purchased two foreclosed properties in this area.  One property has been totally rehabbed and sold to an income eligible household which has participated in extensive housing counseling.  

The second home is in the process of being rehabilitated and will in turn be sold to an eligible household.  According to Julia Wise, Executive Director of HCCAO, Inc., “We are finding that when homes are vacated due to foreclosure or abandonment, quite frequently they sit empty for long periods of time and continue to deteriorate, particularly in today’s economic situation. NSP 1 has been a great opportunity for our organization to purchase these homes and utilize local contractors to improve the physical structures.  Subsequently, we are able to resell them to income eligible residents. The proceeds from the sale of these properties are put directly back into the program to be used to purchase additional foreclosed or abandoned properties and rehabilitate them as well.  We truly appreciate the efforts of our County Commissioners for moving forward with the NSP Program within our county.”   

As a result of the enactment of House Resolution 3221, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded more than $3.9 billion of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds to states and communities across the country to address the nation's abandoned and foreclosed homes crisis.  In total, Ohio received an allocation of $258,089,179, with more than $116.8 million awarded to the state and the remaining funds awarded directly to Ohio cities and counties. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) specified that all of the funds appropriated under the NSP program be used with respect to individuals and families whose income does not exceed 120% of the area median income.  

Highland County received funding as part of region which included Adams, Brown and Highland County with the Brown County Commissioners serving as the Administrative entity for the funding.  The Highland County Commissioners in turn allocated their dollars to be utilized by the Highland County Community Action Organization, Inc. as well as the Cities of Hillsboro and Greenfield. 

The cities of Hillsboro and Greenfield utilized NSP funding for the demolition of single family homes and other previous residential buildings that were condemned and had become a nuisance within their communities. Both Cities, also, received a waiver to demolish three additional dilapidated buildings. By removing these physical structures from these neighborhoods, the neighborhoods should become a bit safer as well as the other housing more viable.  

Peg Beekman and staff headed up the project for the cities of Hillsboro and Greenfield. A total of 15 dilapidated properties will be demolished in Greenfield and five (5) within Hillsboro.  Peg stated, “In both Greenfield and Hillsboro; property owners are ecstatic about the opportunity to demolish their dilapidated structures and clean up the lots. The units had been condemned and the owners were going to be responsible for the expense of taking the units down. It was an expense most of them did not have the finances to handle.  This program is an asset to the property owners and to all citizens of the two cities as we eliminate the blighted areas.”  

Following demolition of the structures, the lots will be graded and seeded.

Highland County Community Action Organization, Inc. targeted several census tracts within the Paint Township Region of Highland County. The organization has purchased two foreclosed properties in this area.  One property has been totally rehabbed and sold to an income eligible household which has participated in extensive housing counseling.  

The second home is in the process of being rehabilitated and will in turn be sold to an eligible household.  According to Julia Wise, Executive Director of HCCAO, Inc., “We are finding that when homes are vacated due to foreclosure or abandonment, quite frequently they sit empty for long periods of time and continue to deteriorate, particularly in today’s economic situation. NSP 1 has been a great opportunity for our organization to purchase these homes and utilize local contractors to improve the physical structures. Subsequently, we are able to resell them to income eligible residents. The proceeds from the sale of these properties are put directly back into the program to be used to purchase additional foreclosed or abandoned properties and rehabilitate them as well. We truly appreciate the efforts of our County Commissioners for moving forward with the NSP Program within our county.”