The City of Piqua Housing Rehabilitation Program, funded by the federal government's Comprehensive Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) Grant, is designed to help preserve the existing housing stock and preserve neighborhoods by eliminating existing or potential eyesores in neighborhoods; assist property owners in eliminating all property code violations; and encourage property owners to take responsibility for the maintenance of their home and to take pride in their homes and neighborhood. The funds are available to lower and moderate income (LMI) households and those with special needs in the City of Piqua. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) establishes these LMI incomes each spring. The incomes are adjusted for the number of persons living in that house and are for a multi-county area of which Piqua is a part.

These goals are achieved by providing a number of programs or activities under the CHIP Grant Program. The City has received more than $4.88 million in CHIP grant funds since 1991 (through 2004) and has helped many Piqua LMI households: loans for 162 home Private Owner Rehab projects, 61 Home Repair grants, 47 loans for Down Payment Assistance/ Rehabilitation projects for first-time homebuyers. 

The Ohio Department of Development who oversees the federal Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) grant for Fiscal Year 2004 (2004-2006), has announced that the City of Piqua has successfully completed its application for funds in the amount of $530,000 in assistance for LMI housing projects through 2006 " for five different housing activities or programs.

Program Publicity

Each of the five different activities in the CHIP Program, as well as a presentation on fair housing, were explained at the Community Development Department's "CHIP Community Kickoff Meeting" on November 17th at 3 pm and another at 6 pm. The meeting was held to allow as many residents to attend as possible. It was to communicate information to them and they, in turn, would pass it on to relatives and friends and to clients of the community organizations that they represent. More than 60 individuals, including public officials, members of the community's social service agencies, churches, Piqua Housing Advisory Committee, etc. attended along with interested residents.

The CHIP Program has been publicized in the past year at various times  and in various ways, including the Piqua and Dayton newspapers, local WPTW-AM radio “County in Focus” and “Your City and You” programs , local cable access television (Piqua TV5) “What’s Happening in Piqua” monthly program and “Grant Money For You”, and on Piqua TV5 during the live and rebroadcast of the Piqua City Commission where the Commission and the public were briefed on the CHIP Programs, at all CDBG grant public meetings (six during 2005), through an extensive informational campaign on Emergency Housing Assistance which involved contacting all area mortgage lenders, social service agencies, other non-profit organizations, at various other meetings or gatherings throughout the community,  Deputy Gary Backe, the Miami County Sheriff Deputy who manages Sheriff Sales of foreclosed properties.  Each contact was asked to circulate the Emergency Housing Assistance program information to all staff for potential client and acquaintance referrals. 

The New CHIP Grant Consists of Five Major Activities or Programs 

Home (owner-occupied) Rehabilitation loans - for lower-moderate income (LMI) homeowners in the City of Piqua whose median income falls below the limit (80% of the median area income) set by the federal government. The loan is a 0%, partially forgivable and the balance declines each year with 30% of the loan due when the homeowner and his spouse sells the home and leaves the property. The maximum loan with the City CHIP Program is $25,000. The rehabilitation assistance is designed to bring the residences up to City and federal property maintenance codes and reduce lead paint hazards where necessary. Generally, eligible repairs include roofs, gutters, windows, doors, furnaces, hot water heaters, plumbing, insulation, painting, handicap accessibility modifications. Items that are not eligible include room additions, cosmetic changes, garages, and general property improvements.

Currently, applications are closed.  The city publicly announced a brief re-opening of applications from September 6-16 in order to assist from 1-2 additional eligible households.

Home Repair grants - for lower-moderate income (LMI) homeowners in the City of Piqua whose median income falls below the limit (65% of the median area income) set by the federal government. The grant is for one or two repairs up to $8,000. Generally, eligible repairs include roofs, gutters, electric, furnaces, plumbing, major structural damage, handicap accessibility modifications and lead based paint abatement. Items that are not eligible include windows (due to lead-based paint issues), room additions, cosmetic changes, garages, and general property improvements.

Currently applications for assistance are closed (closed officially April 21, 2005).  The last home repair projects are being started and a number have been completed.

First-Time Homebuyer Assistance loans or Downpayment Assistance/ Rehab loans - for lower-moderate income (LMI) homeowners in the City of Piqua whose median income falls below the limit (80% of the median area income) set by the federal government. Here, two loans are available to those who have not owned their own home in the last three years or longer. The first is a 0% interest loan for the down payment to purchase an eligible home in the City of Piqua - 5% of the purchase price (a maximum of $5,000), which is due in full due when the homeowner and his spouse sells the home and leaves the property. Once the down payment assistance is extended, the homeowner is automatically eligible for a second loan, a 0%, partially forgivable loan that works much like the Private Owner Rehabilitation loan does. The maximum loans for the rehabilitation work is a maximum of $25,000 (for both the down payment assistance plus the rehab work). Free homebuyer credit and budget counseling is required of all participants. The key here is having good enough credit to secure a loan for a home. Those who have insufficient credit to obtain mortgage lending are encouraged to begin the process of either obtaining debt to establish credit or repair their credit to apply for the CHIP Down Payment Assistance/ Rehab program the next time the City offers it in their CHIP Grant Program.

Currently, applications are still being accepted although the city  publicly announced a brief re-opening of applications from September 6-16.  The city has attracted additional applicants and it appears that the city will be able to assist from 1-2 additional eligible applicants.  One client has purchased her home with the CHIP downpayment assistance and rehab repair work will begin.

Rental Rehabilitation loans - a new CHIP Program designed to help landlords, private and commercial and non-profits, rehabilitate rental units in order to improve the housing stock, improve tenants' living conditions in affordable units, and bring additional housing up to code (just like the Home Owner Rehab loan Program). The program is run very similar to Miami County's current and very successful Rental Rehab Program. Landlords can take advantage of one of two loan options: 1) 5 year, deferred 0% interest, declining balance loan 2) 5 year 3% direct loan - both up to a maximum of $14,999 of CHIP assistance. Landlords may contribute additional funds of their own to complete the rehab work. Landlords must sign a contract requiring that all units must be rented to LMI persons and for no more than the HUD-established "Fair Market Rent" limits for the life of the loan. The landlord must bring the unit up completely to State RRS and City Codes, just as the other rehab programs must.

Currently applications for rental rehab assistance are closed (closed officially April 21, 2005) for this year’s program, but applications expressing an interest or desire to participate in the program (2006-2008), if rental rehab is continued, are available.    

Emergency Housing Assistance grants - a new CHIP Program to Piqua also. It is designed to help low and moderate income (LMI) households, who are facing foreclosure. Eligible homeowners will receive a one-time grant to avert the housing crisis. It is emergency help and not meant to provide long-term mortgage assistance. Recipients must demonstrate the ability to emerge from debt and remain debt free. The maximum assistance is $2,400. Here, the City will utilize the services of the Piqua Salvation Army, a local non-profit agency that has a long and distinguished track record at dealing with people that have such needs. They will distribute and process applications. Required of all who desire financial assistance is a mortgage credit counseling with Consumer Credit Counseling/Lutheran Social Services to make a plan to get out of debt and stay out of debt.  The final decision on granting any assistance will be the City with recommendations of the Salvation Army and Consumer Credit Counseling.

Currently, applications are still being accepted.  The city has attracted several additional applicants in recent weeks, but many more eligible households can be assisted with the funds available..

CHIP Program Staff

The "CHIP Community Kickoff Meeting" was also used to introduce the City’s CHIP staff. David Bollinger, a veteran housing rehabilitation specialist who has been with the Piqua CHIP Program since 1991, has responsibilities to do all the inspections, prepare work specifications, manage the bid process and provide technical assistance to the homeowners. Dianne Harris, who has replaced the recently retired Jack Baumann, is the administrative/finance specialist.  She receives all but Emergency Housing Assistance applications, verifies applicant eligibility and closes all loans, verifies requests for contractor payment and other related functions. Juanita Supinger, Piqua Salvation Army (773-7563), receives all applications for the Emergency Housing Assistance program. She will verify eligibility and recommend to the CHIP Administrator that each applicant either be approved or denied assistance. Lutheran Social Services will conduct the mandatory Homebuyer Counseling necessary for those in the Down Payment Assistance/ Rehab Program and mortgage credit counseling for the Emergency Housing Assistance Program. Karen Dickey, Miami County Fair Housing Coordinator, will provide Fair Housing services when Piqua citizens feel that they have a fair housing complaint. CHIP Administrator Andy Burner, is responsible for the overall administration of the grant. He is the City's Community Development Director and the only full-time employee in the Piqua CHIP Program.

Applications

Income Eligibility Limitations

Household
Size

1)Private Owner Rehab
2)Emergency Housing Assistance
3)Rental Rehab
4)First-Time Homebuyers or Down Payment Assistance/Rehab

1)Home Repair

These 2005 limits are updated annually each April by HUD.

Community Development
Development Program Manager - Bill Lutz
201 W Water Street
Municipal Government Complex - 2nd Floor
Piqua OH  45356
937-778-2062
937-778-0809 (FAX)
e-mail  Community Development