Housing Administrator:  Rita Parise 

2013 AWARE Manual

The Housing Division serves Columbus by preserving and producing housing that helps build strong, distinct and vibrant neighborhoods. The Housing Division collaborates with federal, state and local government housing agencies to strategically target its resources for neighborhood investment. These programs are available to city of Columbus residents eligible for assistance guided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Income Guidelines.

Click here for a link to the 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan.

Click here for a link to the Fair Housing Plan.

Click here for a link to the Columbus Covenant.

Click here for a link to NSP 1 through Finance and Management's website.

Click here for a link to NSP 2 through Finance and Management's website.

Click here for a link to NSP 3 through Finance and Management's website.

Please click here for Notice of Substantial Amendment to the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP2) 

Please click here for Section 3 Forms

Please click here for the current Housing Division Program Chart.

Please click here for a link to the current 2013 income limits effective December 11, 2012.

Below are links to the current programs in the Housing Division:

• Acquisition and Relocation Compliance Services: Acquisition and relocation due to a federally funded housing/highway project or code vacate order.
• American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI):Downpayment assistance to purchase a first home in the City of Columbus & Columbus School District.
• Chores Program: The Chores program assists senior citizens and/or disabled persons with minor repairs to their homes.  These repairs must be for the safety and/or health of the senior or disabled person.
• Deaf Modification Program : Special housing needs for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
• Emergency Repair Program: The Emergency Repair program provides for the immediate correction of an emergency condition that has been determined to present an imminent danger to the health and/or safety of the occupants of residential property in the City of Columbus including heating, plumbing, and electrical repairs.
• Home Modification Program : Special housing needs to enable accessibility.
• Home Safe and Sound Program : The mission of the Home Safe and Sound program is to preserve decent, safe and sanitary housing for low and moderate income residents in Columbus neighborhoods.
• Homeownership Development Program (HDP): Developer/Builder assistance to construct or rehabilitate homes in the Neighborhood Investment Districts.
• Lead Safe Columbus : Lead-based paint hazard control work (interior and exterior).
• Neighborhood Investment Districts & Community Reinvestment Areas/Residential Tax Incentives : Property tax abatement on increased valuation due to property improvements in the Neighborhood Investment Districts and Community Reinvestment Areas.
• Old Oaks Homeownership Pilot Program : Promote the redevelopment of residential homes and residential properties in the Old Oaks Historic District as homeownership opportunities, returning neglected properties to productive use.
• Rental Housing Production and Preservation Program (RHPP) : Developer/builder assistance for rehabilitation or new construction of affordable multi-family rental housing
• Rental Rehabilitation Program: The Rental Rehabilitation Program is designed to provide necessary funding for repairs to  smaller rental projects in the central city. The program provides financing of up to $40,000.00 per unit in the form of a grant. This provides an incentive for owners and/or investors to rehabilitate rental property for low and moderate income qualified renters and keep units online.
• Tool Library: The Rebuilding Together Central Ohio Tool Library is a tool-lending library that is located in Columbus, Ohio. The Tool Library was created by the City of Columbus in 1976, using a Federal Community Development Block Grant. In March 2009, Rebuilding Together Central Ohio took over operation of the library. The RTCO Tool Library offers over 200 different types of and over 4,500 individual hand and power tools.
• Vacant Properties Rehabilitation Program : The Vacant Properties Rehabilitation (VPR) Program is designed to foster homeownership and return neglected properties to productive use within Columbus. The program provides development gap financing up to $40,000 per unit in the form of a forgivable loan. This provides an incentive for developers and/or builders to rehabilitate or construct houses for income qualified homebuyers to be able to afford homes in established portions of the City.
• Vacant Property Prevention Program : The mission of the Vacant Property Prevention Program is to assist individuals and families to remain in their homes and live independently in a safe and sound environment.

The Ohio Preservation Compact (OPC) is pleased to unveil the only comprehensive website dedicated to the preservation of affordable housing in Ohio: www.ohiopreservationcompact.org. This website features a web-accessible database open to the public, with a comprehensive list of over 3,000 affordable housing communities in Ohio. The database is a resource for owners and developers of affordable rental housing.