Development awards $6.8 million in grants for essential home repairs, down payment assistance 

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Development today announced $6.8 million in grants to help improve housing and provide down payment assistance for nearly 1,200 low- and moderate-income Ohioans.  

The funding comes from the Housing Assistance Grant Program, which utilizes Ohio Housing Trust Fund dollars to help non-profit 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.  

"Ohio's housing challenges do not begin and end with the cost of buying a home," said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development. "The truth is, keeping a home safe and livable can be just as challenging for many families. This funding helps fill critical gaps for Ohioans who need support now—supporting essential repairs, accessibility updates, and down payment assistance that improve quality of life and provide greater stability." 

With these 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.  

The following 19 nonprofits will receive grants through this program:  

Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Marrow, Richland, Seneca, Wyandot counties) will receive $830,000 to provide home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners aged 60 and older who are at or below 50 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) in the counties served.  

• Ohio District 7 Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Vinton counties) will receive $270,000 to provide essential home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners aged 60 and older who are at or below 50 percent of the AMI in the counties served.  

The Area Agency on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc. (Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Williams, Wood counties) will receive $480,000 to provide essential home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners aged 60 and older who are at or below 50 percent of the AMI in the counties served. 

The Ability Center of Greater Toledo (Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Williams, Wood counties) will receive $430,000 to provide handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners with disabilities who are at or below 50 percent of the AMI in the counties served. 

Bridges Community Action Partnership (Delaware, Madison, Union, Logan, Champaign, Shelby counties) will receive $550,000 to provide essential home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners aged 60 and older who are at or below 50 percent of the AMI in the counties served. 

CHN Housing Partners (Cuyahoga County) will receive $550,000 to provide essential home repairs for low-income homeowners in Cuyahoga County who are at or below 50 percent of AMI and continue its down payment assistance program for its lease purchase homebuyers in Cleveland who are also at or below 50 percent AMI. Down payment assistance will not exceed $3,000 per unit. 

Clermont Senior Services, Inc. (Clermont County) will receive $200,000 to provide essential home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications through its Home Safety Repair Program for homeowners aged 60 and older who are at or below 50 percent of the AMI in the county.  

Famicos Foundation (Cuyahoga County) will receive $250,000 to provide essential home repairs for homeowners aged 60 or older who are at or below 50 percent of AMI in select neighborhoods within Cleveland, and down payment assistance to households at or below 65 percent AMI. 

The Community Action Commission of Fayette County (Fayette, Ross, Greene, Clinton counties) will receive $115,000 to provide essential home repairs and/or handicapped accessibility modifications for residents aged 60 or older who are at or below 50 percent AMI, and down payment assistance and housing counseling to households in the counties served with an AMI of up to 65 percent.  

Highland County Community Action Organization, Inc. (Highland County) will receive $100,000 to provide essential home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners aged 60 or older who are at or below 50 percent AMI. 

Hocking Athens Perry Community Action (Hocking, Athens, Perry counties) will receive $300,000 to provide essential home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners who are at or below 50 percent AMI in the counties served.  

Home Is The Foundation (Preble County) will receive $100,000 to provide essential home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications through its Senior Home Repair Program for low-income homeowners aged 60 or older who are at or below 50 percent AMI.  

Jackson-Vinton Community Action (Jackson, Vinton counties) will receive $100,000 to provide essential home repairs and/or handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners aged 60 or older who are at or below 50 percent AMI.  

The Community Action Commission of Lancaster-Fairfield County Area (Fairfield County) will receive $200,000 to provide essential home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners who are at or below 50 percent AMI.  

The Miami Valley Community Action Partnership (Montgomery, Greene, Darke, Preble counties) will receive $200,000 to provide essential home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners at or below 50 percent AMI in Darke and Miami counties, and down payment assistance and homebuyer counseling for prospective homeowners at or below 65 percent AMI in all counties served.  

The Neighborhood Housing Partnership of Greater Springfield, Inc. (Clark County) will receive $300,000 to provide essential home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners who are at or below 50 percent AMI.  

The Community Action Council of Portage County (Portage County) will receive $325,000 to provide essential home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners who are at or below 50 percent AMI in Portage and Trumbull counties. The program will target owners of mobile homes in the two-county area, but site-built housing could also be served.  

The Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership (Trumbull County) will receive $400,000 to provide home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners at or below 50 percent AMI.  

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (Mahoning County) will receive $1,100,000 to provide essential home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications for homeowners who are at or below 50 percent AMI.  

The Ohio Department of Development empowers communities to succeed by investing in Ohio’s people, places, and businesses. Learn more about our work at development.ohio.gov.