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Ohio Doesn't See Max Federal Money To Fight Blight, Foreclosures

Cleveland (Tony Ganzer / ideastream)

Ohio has not been awarded as much federal funding for vacant home demolition as expected.  The state received just over $94 million, less than half of the request. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown says fault lies with Ohio officials. From Ohio Public Radio station WKSU, Kevin Niedermier explains.

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency had asked for $250 million dollars with 90% going toward demolition and 10% for financial aid to help people avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes.  

But the full request was denied because the state did not show it could perform the demolitions in a timely manner.  

Senator Brown says the application filing hurts Ohio.

“It would have meant a lot of good things for cities and rural areas alike who suffer from foreclosure issues and abandoned homes. And I’m just intensely disappointed to see Ohio bungle this in the way that state government did.”

No state received the maximum $250 million from the $2 billion federal fund…but Michigan was awarded nearly $190 million, and Illinois got more than $150 million.