ATHENS COUNTY — Low-income homeowners in southeast Ohio are set to receive help with essential home repairs after state Rep. Kevin Ritter announced a $300,000 grant for the region this week.
The funding, awarded to Hocking Athens Perry Community Action by the Ohio Department of Development, will pay for essential home repairs and handicap accessibility modifications for homeowners in Hocking, Athens, and Perry counties who are at or below 50 percent of the area median income.
The money comes from the Housing Assistance Grant Program, which uses Ohio Housing Trust Fund dollars to help nonprofits across the state promote affordable housing and improve housing conditions. The Department of Development recently announced $6.8 million in grants through the program, aimed at helping nearly 1,200 low- and moderate-income Ohioans.
Nonprofits can contract with local qualified construction companies to complete repairs such as heating systems, water heaters, plumbing systems, severely deteriorated roofs, walls, windows, and doors, as well as hazardous electrical systems.
“This funding provides an opportunity to help more families when they need an essential repair or an accessibility update completed in their home,” Ritter, a Marietta Republican, said in announcing the grant. “It’s great to see resources allocated specifically for Southeast Ohio so work can be done in the community to ensure safe housing and a better quality of life for residents.”
The program also funds limited down payment assistance and homebuyer education through participating nonprofits.
