Ohio RealEstateRama

Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH), along with Congressman Tim Walz, (D-MN), have introduced the Clean Water Affordability Act of 2015. This bill will assist municipalities to more affordably manage their wastewater infrastructure projects.

Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) is pleased to announce the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a three-million dollar grant to the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) to implement a Jobs-Plus Pilot program. Research based on a 5 year demonstration project has shown that when properly implemented, the Jobs-Plus program produced substantial increases in residents’ earnings. Higher pay levels were sustained even when residents left public housing and were no longer in the program. The program also increased employability skills, successfully bringing some unemployed residents into the workforce.

Bipartisan energy efficiency legislation authored by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today passed the U.S. Senate. The Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 contains key energy efficiency provisions that will strengthen the economy and reduce pollution

Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), a member of the Senate Budget and Finance Committees, proposed an amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution that would create a deficit-neutral reserve fund for legislation that would aid in demolishing vacant and abandoned homes

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) funds in the amount of $921,790 to the village of Valley View, Ohio, and $224,670 to Medina County, Ohio, for the mitigation of flood prone residential structures.  The Medina County funding will be used to acquire and demolish one structure in the floodplain of the Rocky River.

U.S. Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and U.S. Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA) announced they will introduce a bill to remove uncertainty in the tax code and boost affordable housing availability by making a permanent floor for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) – ranking member of the of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs – today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Capital Fund Program has awarded $39,446,320 to improve public housing infrastructure in east and northeast Ohio. This funding allows authorities to make critical improvements to their housing units, including roof replacements and plumbing and electrical system upgrades, along with asbestos and lead paint removal. According to HUD, the U.S. loses nearly 10,000 public housing units each year due to disrepair, making these investments in critical repairs all the more important

The Justice Department announced today that Massillon, Ohio landlords John and Mary Ruth have agreed to pay $850,000 to settle lawsuits filed by the Justice Department and other parties alleging that the Ruths discriminated on the basis of race and familial status at properties they formerly owned in Massillon. The settlement must still be approved by United States District Judge John R. Adams in the Northern District of Ohio.

COLUMBUS www.ohiohome.org In recognition of National Homeownership Month, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board presented the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation with the 2014 Spirit of Homeownership Excellence Award (SHEA) yesterday. Additionally, the Board received a proclamation from Governor John Kasich in honor of the celebratory month

U.S. Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and U.S. Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, announced they will introduce a bill to remove uncertainty in the tax code and boost affordable housing availability by making a permanent floor for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit

Ohio EPA will hold a public information session and hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2014, to accept comments on a water quality certification for the Ohio Department of Transportation’s project on Interstate 70 in Butler Township. The meeting will take place at the Englewood Government Center, 333 W. National Road, Englewood

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) today announced the recipients of the 2014 Housing Tax Credit (HTC) program to fund the construction, acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable housing units in Ohio. More than $27 million in federal housing tax credits were awarded to 46 developments serving families, seniors and individuals with disabilities in 31 counties

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today warned consumers about spring home improvement scams, while stressing the importance of researching contractors to help ensure their reliability.

U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), and Rep. Marcia Fudge (OH-11) wrote to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to express their concern that misinterpretation of an interim rule could keep struggling families from receiving vital housing assistance. In order to ensure Northeast Ohio homeless persons remain eligible for programs that could help get them back on their feet, Brown, Portman, and Fudge urged HUD to clarify its intentions.

Congresswoman Kaptur (OH-9) and Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins announced a federal award for environmental infrastructure improvements in the Cullen Park area of the Point Place neighborhood.

Forest City Land Development and Collinwood BioEnergy have received a covenant not to sue under Ohio EPA’s Voluntary Action Program (VAP), after investigating the Water Tower Park property, 948 East 140th Street, Cleveland.

Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced new federal housing resources available to residents in Ashtabula County as part of the 2014 Farm Bill implementation. Changes to the “rural area definition” used by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will expand eligibility for rural housing programs for residents in northeast Ohio

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 7, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today helped pass provisions of the Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act, legislation aimed at relieving homeowners of the requirement to pay taxes on mortgage debt forgiveness resulting from mortgage modifications, or short sales. The provision was included in the Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act, which passed the Senate Finance Committee today.

Washington, D.C. - March 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Tim Ryan announced nearly $650,000 in successful grant approvals today awarded for both Neighborhood Development Services in Ravenna and the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation Inc. Neighborhood Development Services was awarded $572,500 in grant funds, and East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation Inc. was awarded $176,000 in grant funds. NeighborhoodWorks America has awarded these grants in order to create opportunities for people to obtain affordable housing, improving their lives and strengthening the communities in which they reside.

Washington, D.C. - March 3, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today released the following statement in a monthly series highlighting Washington’s wasteful spending during a time of record debt and deficits: