Stories of Home

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency is proud to present Stories of Home – a blog that features current happenings in the housing industry and also highlights those that have been positively impacted by our Agency's work.

Tricks and Treats of Historic Rehab
Posted on October 30, 2019
Old buildings don't have to be scary, or come to a chilling end. Through historic rehabilitation, these architectural gems with their antique and aged features can be preserved and brought to new life.
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Revitalizing Over-the-Rhine
Posted on May 1, 2019
Over the past 30 years, community developers have transformed Over-the-Rhine, an historic neighborhood in Cincinnati, OH. In this episode of Doorsteps, learn how the Model Group's efforts can help protect neighborhood residents and be replicated to other neighborhoods.
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Public Libraries: A Great Equalizer
Posted on October 17, 2019
Lower income households often face barriers to accessing high quality amenities. What's one public institution that defies this logic? Libraries. Due to their rich programming and accessibility, libraries have become an integral part of housing initiatives across the country.
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A "Third Way" for Housing: Safe & Affordable Alternatives to Owning or Renting
Posted on October 2, 2019
As home prices rise, fewer Ohioans are able to buy a home, pushing them into rental markets with little housing security and no ability to build wealth. However, there have been an increasing number of housing options providing a "third way" between owning and renting.
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What to Expect When You're Expecting...to Buy a Home
Posted on September 26, 2019
Our latest podcast answers common homeownership questions and walks through some OHFA homebuyer programs that help make buying a house or condo easier.
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Myth Debunk'd: Who Lives in Affordable Housing?
Posted on September 24, 2019
The current rental market in Ohio is challenging for many, particularly families with low-to-moderate incomes. Over the last decade, median rent across the state increased by 5%, which has led to about a quarter of Ohio families spending more than half their income on housing.
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Natural Disasters: A Catalyst for Housing Instability
Posted on August 27, 2019
Extreme weather events can intensify underlying economic stress and inequalities, as lower income households have higher barriers for finding shelter and/or repairing their home.
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Opportunity Zones: Targeting Investment in Ohio's Most Distressed Communities
Posted on August 14, 2019
As part of a federal tax incentive created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to spur private investment in economically-distressed communities, Opportunity Zones were chosen through a two-step process. In Ohio 1,647 census tracts were identified as eligible.
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Investing in LIHTC Residents
Posted on July 23, 2019
A safe, decent, and affordable home can help improve the economic mobility of a low-income resident. Coupling this with proper amenities and services can help bolster the resident's success and economic security. Learn more in this episode of Doorsteps.
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Trust Fund Gives Homeless Veterans a Place to Call Home
Posted on July 15, 2019
Many Ohio veterans struggle to afford housing. In Ross County, 44% of veteran renter households were rent burdened between 2013 and 2017, higher than the state average (30%), according to data from the American Community Survey.
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