STATE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $3.6 MILLION IN GRANTS TO HELP PREVENT HOMELESSNESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2004

Columbus, OH -- State Development Director Bruce Johnson today announced that 79 nonprofit organizations will receive more than $3.6 million to help prevent homelessness. The State Controlling Board approved the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF) grants, which are administered by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD).

“This funding source will have a positive impact on Ohio’s homeless population and organizations whose goal is to prevent homelessness,” said Johnson. “We must continue our efforts to improve the living standard for households and individuals dealing with or threatened with homelessness.”

More than $2.6 million of the funds will enable grant recipients to provide emergency rent/mortgage/utility payments to prevent homelessness, impacting more than 3,300 households consisting of more than 7,400 persons throughout the state. Funds will be distributed to 46 current Housing Assistance Request for Proposals (HARP) Program grant recipients based on organizational past performance and capacity and need for services in the area served by the organization.

In addition, $1 million of the funds will enable 33 Homeless Assistance Request for Proposals Program grant recipients to rehabilitate 46 shelter, transitional housing and permanent housing facilities, serving approximately 19,000 persons. The program provides funding to eligible nonprofit organizations for rehabilitation, homelessness prevention and operating expenses.

The OHTF, created in Ohio House Bill 339, provides housing and housing assistance to Ohio’s low- and moderate-income families and individuals. Nonprofits, private developers, lenders and certain local governments are eligible to participate in the OHTF programs. The OHTF is unique compared to other state and local housing programs in that a majority of the funds are targeted to Ohio’s poorest citizens – those at 50 percent of the county median income and below.

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency, with the assistance of the Office of Housing and Community Partnerships, is responsible for administering the OHTF programs. Both offices are divisions of the ODOD. A permanent OHTF Advisory Committee and the public help contribute to the design of the OHTF programs.