Federal Stimulus Update:
Community Development

Since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed, the federal government has announced that Ohio is expected to receive more than $9 billion to help strengthen our economy. Much of the media focus since its inception has been on an advanced energy economy and supporting the transitioning automotive industry.

However, we have seen a shift to rebuilding local communities and assisting local residents in the past few months. Ohio received news in May and June that federal stimulus funding will be available for four programs that are helping Ohio communities and their residents.

Cutting Energy Costs for Ohio Families
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu joined Governor Ted Strickland, and state leaders in mid-June to announce that $106 million of federal funding will go toward Ohio's Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP). The program gives low-income Ohioans the opportunity to weatherize their homes, helping them save on their energy bills and improve their quality of life. Secretary Chu spent the day in Ohio, making the announcement after touring a Columbus home that was undergoing weatherization.

Ohio was one of the first states to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Energy for HWAP. Administered by the Ohio Department of Development's Community Development Division and its Office of Community Services, HWAP assistance is free for citizens whose annual household income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

The program is an important element in meeting our state's goal of reducing our energy costs and helping Ohioans. It reduces household energy expenditures, increases energy efficiency, and improves the safety of homes owned or occupied by low-income Ohioans. Since 1977, the program has weatherized more than 304,000 dwellings and created approximately 403 skilled jobs throughout the state, resulting in a reduction of millions of pounds of gases.

To learn more about Ohio's Home Weatherization Assistance Program and to search for weatherization providers, click here.



Giving Ohioans a Place to Call Home
Federal Stimulus funds are also being used to combat homelessness. Ohio is expected to receive more than $25.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to combat homelessness throughout the state. The funding has become increasingly important during these tough economic times, as more Ohioans now need assistance to support their families.

Nearly $24.5 million of the funding will be distributed through the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). The program provides financial assistance and services to help prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless, and assisting those experiencing homelessness to be re-housed and stabilized. The remaining $1 million will be awarded to five nonprofit organizations for the Family Homelessness Prevention Pilot Program, which provides services to prevent the loss of housing.

Administered by our Community Development Division, Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program funds were allocated to 49 service areas around the state. Ohio's Continuums of Care and county boards of commissioners partnered with the Department to award the funds, with the areas of greatest need receiving funding. Continuum of Care helps communities plan for and provide a full range of services to address the various needs of the homeless, including homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing.

With the additional funding, Ohio is taking the steps to help Ohioans overcome the challenges of the current economy and ensure a brighter future for their families. To learn more about the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, click here.


Creating Suitable Living Environments
With the help of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Ohio will distribute approximately $11.6 million to smaller communities to improve drinking water and sewer systems in their areas. The Office of Housing and Community Partnerships began taking applications in June for the Community Development Block Grant Program's Water and Sanitary Sewer Program, and recipients were announced earlier this month.

The program gives Ohio communities the opportunity to provide a safe and sanitary living environment for Ohio citizens through safe and reliable drinking water and proper disposal of sanitary waste. It allows cities with populations less than 50,000 and counties with populations less than 200,000 to apply for assistance with projects to improve service laterals, septic tanks, and well abandonment. The program also helps cover some of the related fees of the Community Development Block Grant Program, with the maximum amount awarded topping $500,000 for public infrastructure improvements and $100,000 for on-site improvements.

Communities with documented health and safety concerns will receive priority for funding, helping them improve critical public health infrastructure systems. Projects must be ready to proceed within 120 days and provide water and/or sanitary sewer service to primarily residential users.


Servicing Communities and Ohioans
Communities across Ohio received more great news in May. In addition to the approximately $27 million made available to community action agencies every year through the Community Services Block Grant Program, nearly $39 million became available in June thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

This latest funding for the Community Services Block Grant Program was allocated to local community action agencies to provide services and activities addressing employment, emergency services, and a variety of activities to combat poverty. Administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the $38.9 million will help strengthen Ohio's communities and provide families with the tools they need during this tough economic time. The Community Development Division and its Office of Community Services will distribute the funds over the next two years to community action agencies to assist families and individuals whose annual household income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

Agencies will work closely with the state to invest these funds in projects which reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower Ohioans to be self-sufficient. Community action agencies will be required to coordinate their employment-related services with local One-Stop Career Centers, which offer free resources for job seekers. Agencies will also be encouraged to link their services with the Ohio Benefit Bank, a program that connects low- and moderate-income families with services that can help them gain financial stability and security.

To learn more about the Community Services Block Grant Program, click here.

The State of Ohio is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider of ADA Services.