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.

No Community Reinvestment Act, No Community Development: Proposed Changes to the CRA
Posted on March 18, 2020
In 1977, the Community Reinvestment Act was passed to prevent redlining and discriminatory lending practices that came with it. Since its inception, total investment in disenfranchised communities is about $2 trillion dollars. Proposed changes to CRA could impact the way CRA works and how banks invest in the neighborhoods that need it most.
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Closing the Gap on Housing and Transportation
Posted on January 14, 2020
For residents across the country, there is a direct connection between housing and transportation, and both have immense impact on how we live our lives. For most households, especially low-income, transportation is the second largest expense after housing.
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Annual Economic Impact of the Ohio Housing Trust Fund
Posted on January 7, 2020
Since its creation in 1991, the Ohio Housing Trust Fund has had one of the best track records in the country, helping nearly 1 million Ohioans. Not only does the Trust Fund help Ohioans access much needed shelter, but it also has a positive impact on Ohio's economy.
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OHFA's Holiday Map
Posted on December 12, 2019
This holiday season OHFA partnered with the North Pole to make sure Ohioans are prepared for the most wonderful time of the year: We've created maps to help you track Santa, see where snow is probable and get a good night's sleep, complete with visions of dancing sugarplums.
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How Ohio's Tax Credit Projects Meet Specific Housing Needs
Posted on November 5, 2019
Determining who lives in OHFA-financed multifamily properties is an important step in understanding how we are serving Ohio's affordable housing needs. This infographic compares current residents in Ohio's Housing Tax Credit projects to all of Ohio's low-income renter households.
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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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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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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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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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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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