HOUSING COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM

Our Mission is to increase the homeownership rate in Price Hill and to see that rental units 
are affordable and in good condition.

COMMUNITY SERVICE GROUPS LENDING A HAND

Volunteers from St. X and Leadership Cincinnati helped two Price Hill families in need of assistance make necessary repairs to their homes. Thanks to a donation of scaffolding, drop cloths, and other supplies from Home Depot, Santa Maria Community Services and Price Hill Will were able to provide volunteers with the proper tools to get the job started.

Helpful Links

Homeownership Center of 
Greater Cincinnati


Better Housing Legue of
Greater Cincinnati


Invest In Neighborhoods


Hamilton County Auditor:
find out owners of 
problem properties

People Working Cooperatively

City of Cincinnati 
Buildings and Inspections:
report building code 
violations.

BIS Questions & Answers

• How does it work? The City of Cincinnati has committed a total of $630,000 to be 
  allotted in two installments to make this project work. PHW spends up to $60,000 
  per house for purchase and renovation. The remaining costs are funded privately. 
  Once the rehab of a house is complete, PHW sells it to an owner-occupant. The 
  proceeds of the sale go to pay off the private lender and, with what is left over, we 
  try to recoup the $60,000 City contribution. In most cases, though, PHW takes a 
  moderate loss on the project. That loss will come from City funding. Whatever 
  money is left over from that goes in the next house. This process continues until 
  the money runs out.
  
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  Who gets the houses? We sell at market rate to qualified buyers-buyers who will 
  live in the house. Anyone who wants a house in Cedar Grove and can afford the 
  mortgage is eligible. Our goal is to improve the neighborhood as a whole. The 
  first phase of accomplishing this objective is to bolster the owner-occupancy rate 
  of Cedar Grove. We do not subsidize buyers, we subsidize construction costs so 
  that we can sell at market rate.
  
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  What if I'm not sure if I'm a qualified buyer? PHW can provide home-buyer 
  counseling through a partnership with the Homeownership Center of Greater 
  Cincinnati. They will work with you to see if you qualify and work to get you 
  qualified if you aren't.
  
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  How do we make sure that these houses are owner-occupied? A restrictive 
  covenant will be attached to the purchase contract of every house that is done 
  by PHW. This means that the buyers must live in the house for three years after 
  making their purchase. If they sell before, there is a monetary penalty that goes 
  to PHW.
  
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  How does this help the neighborhood?  Numerous studies show that people 
  who own their houses are more likely to take care of them and more likely to feel 
  a greater stake in the neighborhood. As PHW improves more houses we expect 
  to see a spin-off effectÑthe neighbors will also begin to improve their homes. 
  PHW, with the help of the Homeownership Center, assists neighbors in finding 
  low interest loan products for making home improvements.
  
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  Why take the loss?  PHW rehabs attractive houses fallen into such disrepair 
  they are not ikely to be profitable if done by a private developer. It is a small 
  financial sacrifice when compared to the social and economic costs ensued 
  by a vacant property.
  
  
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