By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
With affordable housing becoming a myth for many since the COVID pandemic, a pitch was made Thursday morning for COVID relief funds to help Wood County residents realize the dream of decent affordable homes.
Habitat for Humanity of Wood County Executive Director Mark Ohashi asked the Wood County Commissioners for $871,280 in American Rescue Plan Act funding.
The Habitat request would pay for the startup of a ReStore, help with the higher cost of construction materials and land acquisition, help with home repairs, plus provide matching funds for some new staff positions.
The needs have grown during the COVID pandemic, Ohashi told the county commissioners.
“COVID has impacted the world globally, but it’s also impacted us personally, locally here in Wood County,” he said.
Many local families face a difficult decision of living in affordable housing that is not decent or safe – or living in decent housing that is not affordable.
Habitat can provide both affordability and safety.
“This is what Habitat can do for families of Wood County,” Ohashi said. “One homeowner at a time.”
COVID has exacerbated the problem by resulting in an increase in building material costs, creating great competition for construction workforces, and raising costs for land development.
“The need for decent and affordable housing is real here in Wood County,” Ohashi said.
Habitat’s goal, he said, is to build homes, communities and hope.
Last year in Wood County, Habitat for Humanity built four new homes and helped with home repairs at more. A total of 234 volunteers put in more than 3,000 hours to help.
If approved, the funding would have the following results, according to Ohashi:
- 36 families served, either with new homes or with repairs to existing homes.
- Launching of a ReStore, which would mean a reduction of landfilled building supplies.
- Engagement of more community volunteers.
- Repair program and ReStore profits contributing to sustainability of Habitat.
In Wood County, many homeowners pay mortgages that are more than 40% of their monthly income, Ohashi said. More than 31% of renters in Wood County spend more than 35% of their monthly income on rent, he said.
In Bowling Green the percentage is even higher, since the median rent in Ohio is $811 compared to the median rent in Bowling Green of $1,200.
Adding to the problem is the older housing stock in Wood County – with much of it pre-dating 1939.
“Maybe some of that older housing is affordable, but it’s definitely not decent or safe,” he said.
Habitat for Humanity offers a solution – providing affordable new home construction with monthly payments of $600 for a 30-year mortgage.
Habitat also provides new homeowners financial education and homeowner education that help families transition from being tenants to being homeowners.
COVID also led to decreased corporate sponsorship of Habitat in 2020. Some corporations have returned, but not to the pre-COVID numbers, Ohashi said.
The plans to open a ReStore would allow Habitat to bring in regular income, while providing building supplies and other items at lower costs. Ohashi described Habitat ReStores as a cross between Home Depot and Goodwill.
“We need to be self-sustaining,” he said. “It’s also a service to the community.”
Following is a breakdown of the Habitat for Humanity funding request:
- $50,000 for one-time cost of opening a ReStore.
- $62,400 for one-time costs of ReStore employees.
- $30,000 in matching funds for a construction manager.
- $75,000 to help with increased material costs.
- $30,000 for land acquisition and preparation.
- $36,000 for roof repairs of existing homes.
- $18,720 to help fund home repair coordinator position.
The ReStore is expected to be self-supporting, so those costs are just for the first year. The other costs will continue over four years.
Wood County has been awarded a total of $25.4 million in ARPA funds. The county commissioners will take the Habitat request under consideration.
