Almost $1M in housing grants secured

CLYDE — The latest round of grants from Gov. Mike DeWine's administration to help build "safe, affordable housing" provided about $1 million for projects in Clyde and in Ottawa County. DeWine and Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development, announced $26.9 million in grants to 57 counties. It's the latest round of funding for Ohio's Welcome Home Ohio program. Here are details on the two local grants: • Clyde, in Sandusky County, will get a $602,000 grant to rehabilitate or build six single-family homes in the city. "This grant award represents years of commitment and forethought into reducing the amount of unproductive property within the city," Clyde city manager Justin LaBenne said. "Over the last few years, we aggressively ramped up the acquisition of vacant parcels to be ready for development opportunities such as this." "The Welcome Home Ohio grant is a tremendous opportunity for Clyde," added Jared Young, Clyde's zoning and code enforcement director. "By helping bring six homes back into productive use, this program expands homeownership opportunities, revitalizes our neighborhoods and strengthens the long-term vitality of our community." City officials said Community Building Partners will coordinate the work and that home buyers will get financial counseling. • Habitat for Humanity of Ottawa County will get two grants: — A grant for $200,000 grant to purchase and rehabilitate of existing homes — A grant for $210,000 to help cover the cost of building new homes. The $200,000 can be used to purchase two foreclosed homes and complete any necessary repairs, explained Valerie Winterfield, community engagement director for Habitat for Humanity of Ottawa County. Those are reimbursement grants. The agency can spend up to $100,000 per house and then apply to be reimbursed, she explained. If either of those two homes is sold rather than used for Habitat families, then the money will go into building new homes, said Debi Heiks, executive director of the agency. As for the $210,000, it will be used to help cover the costs of building four new homes in Port Clinton. The agency has just finished building four new homes in Oak Harbor and is about to build four new homes in Port Clinton on Faythe Street. "Affordable housing development involves much more than constructing a house," Heiks explained. "Before a home can even be built, there are substantial costs associated with infrastructure, roads, water and sewer services, storm drainage, engineering, permits and utility tap fees. This funding helps bridge the gap between the actual cost of development and what working families can realistically afford," she said. The agency says infrastructure costs for the new four-house development are approaching $250,000. Even with the grant, Habitat will be seeking donations. People who move into a Habitat home must pay a low-interest mortgage and also are expected to volunteer their time to help the agency. The agency also recently started a home repair program to help seniors and people with disabilities. Since the program began, Welcome Home Ohio has given out close to $86 million to support the creation of 727 homes in 63 counties.