Three Northeastern Ohio nonprofit agencies serving Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties will receive $420,755 to assist residents with housing needs, the Ohio Department of Development announced Thursday.

Eighteen agencies will share nearly $4.6 million in grants. Funds come 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 home repairs, renovations for handicap accessibility, limited down payment assistance and homebuyer education. 

The area recipients are:

● Catholic Charities Housing Opportunities (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% area median income in the counties served.

● Columbiana County Community Action Agency will receive $178,000 to provide 36 home repairs for homeowners at or below 50% area median income.

● Ashtabula County Community Housing Development Organization will receive $200,000 to provide 56 home repairs for homeowners who are at or below 50% area median income in the counties served.

“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.”

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 aid and associated expenses, as well as up to $500 per household for homebuyer education. 

Learn more about the Ohio Department of Development at development.ohio.gov.