Muskingum County receives a $750,000 grant to improving housing

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Ohio’s Department of Development is administering a program to help combat the ongoing housing crisis while partnering with communities across the state.

The Community Housing Impact and Preservation program, or CHIP, aims to improve housing and provide homeownership and rental assistance for low and moderate-income families. Community Development Director Kyle Dunn calls the program a win-win-win for the county.

“Obviously, it helps the homeowner usually stay in their home and that homeowner’s usually… a lot of times it’s people who are retired, people who are working but just don’t have that much money to replace a whole roof or repair their plumbing or what-have-you,” Dunn said. “But it’s also a win for Muskingum County because we don’t get homes that are, become dilapidated and our housing stock stays up, which at this point in time, is a pretty prevalent thing.”

Muskingum County will receive $750,000 to rehabilitate seven homes and repair 12 homes throughout the county. Dunn says that this money not only helps homeowners but also creates economic opportunities.

“Those contracts for fixing those homes are always awarded to local contractors, that money’s going to local workers and supplies are almost always bought locally. So it’s an infusion of economic growth and stability for the housing stock here in Muskingum County,” Dunn said.

The grant will also provide tenant-based rental assistance for 30 homes, which helps tenants pay their initial deposits when moving into a new home.