Homeowners in Cleveland now have the opportunity to apply for ARPA-funded home repair assistance as part of the city's latest effort to improve housing quality and support low-income residents. The pre-approval applications for the home repair lottery will remain open until August 21, at 5 p.m., as announced on The City of Cleveland's website.
Those interested should be aware that following the pre-approval period, the Department of Community Development will review applications to determine basic eligibility. Because the demand is expected to be high, the city will select 150 eligible homeowners through a lottery to ensure equitable distribution. To apply, homeowners must be the occupant-owners with up-to-date property taxes and use the online form. According to the city staff, spoke to on the phone, they cannot process applications in person or over the phone.
The initiative is backed by significant financial support, including a $10 million commitment from Cleveland's share of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Additionally, Mayor Justin M. Bibb's Southeast Side Promise initiative received a targeted investment of $5 million for neighborhood revitalization. Highlighting the city's dedication, Mayor Bibb said, "For the past 11 months we have been working diligently behind the scenes to lay a foundation that sets these critical programs up for success," as reported by The City of Cleveland.
Cleveland has also received a $2.5 million philanthropic boost from KeyBank. Five nonprofits, including Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity and CHN Housing Partners, will administer the funds to aid residents needing home repairs. To help homeowners not wait just for a handout, Cleveland Restoration Society, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Cleveland, and Community Housing Solutions are among the organizations participating in applying for grants and loans for up to $30,000, covering expenses like roof and HVAC repairs.
City Council President Blaine A. Griffin echoed the community's concerns in a statement: "Councilmembers hear from residents every day about the urgent need for resources to help them maintain their homes," thereby highlighting the local government's commitment to addressing housing insecurities, as documented on The City of Cleveland. Currently, 27 properties have been repaired, and an additional 33 are in progress, underlining the existing engagement in providing home repair support.
The latest update from Cleveland’s Director of Community Development Alyssa Hernandez emphasized the limitations of the current funding, stating, "We know the need is greater than the dollars we have, and not everybody will receive support this time around. This is why we established the lottery process to ensure that all eligible applications have the same shot at being selected". Hernandez also mentioned efforts to increase the city's capacity to address the community's needs more swiftly, seeking to expedite federal funding for future assistance, as The City of Cleveland reported. Successful applicants will be notified by September 30, as the review process for eligibility concludes.
