Ohio Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP)

Statewide in OH

The Ohio Department of Development invests in single family home development through the state’s Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP). The program is supported by the HOME Investment Partnerships Program through U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

• Through the work of Southeast Ohio Habitat for Humanity, CHIP has supported 37 homes built providing a social return on investment of $31 million and included volunteer hours (87,000) and sweat equity hours by 37 homeowners (13,000). Over the life of these mortgages, $10.2 million in property taxes will be contributed to their communities.

“Having an affordable mortgage led to a better chance at financial responsibility for us. It has allowed us to plan with our money and lessen our dependency on the food bank, we haven’t been there since February. Knowing that our mortgage is going towards something we own and can make our own has been a blessing. When we received our stimulus checks and taxes, we paid our mortgage payments an entire year ahead. That’s something we wouldn’t have been able to do without having an affordable home.

Being a Habitat homeowner has given us stability in an unstable time. I don’t have to worry about my kids having a safe, healthy place to school from home due to the pandemic. We don’t have to worry about moving ever again. Habitat has given my children the childhood I had.”

CHIP-supported homeowner in SE OH

Kelly Davis, age 36, is the mother of two young boys, ages 5 and 2. She is employed fulltime as a direct support professional at Sunshine Communities, Inc. and part-time at Door Dash. Kelly had been living with her mother and had wanted a home to raise her two young boys. Kelly committed to the 250 sweat equity hours and 25 hours of education classes built upon Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace curriculum. Kelly and her family moved into her home on December 24, 2020.
Kelly’s home is an example of how Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity is leveraging several sources to finance and build new and rehabbed homes. HOME$ funds of $34,000, Six NW Ohio Rotary Clubs contributed $35,000 for her home, as well as numerous donors/volunteers and in-kind donations.

Clarissa Parker and Andrew Valdez are Habitat for Humanity homeowners and their home was partially funded by CHIP.  Clarissa works as a nurses’ aid in the assisted living wing of a local nursing home and Andrew works at a local tomato canning company.  They live in their new home with their four children ages 10, 7, 5 and 4. 
The $20,000 from CHIP was taken off their mortgage which is a great help to the family and our affiliate since we have those funds to apply to future builds.  Clarissa said, “CHIP is wonderful. It really helped us out.”