EAST PALESTINE Fund aids homeowners and first-time buyers

Four meetings are scheduled for those interested in applying for the money.
EAST PALESTINE -- The city has $500,000 available to help families make home improvements or buy their first home.
City Manager Gary Clark said the funding is available through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Housing Improvement Program.
Low-income residents may apply for home-improvement funds. Those who have never owned a home may apply for down-payment assistance to buy a home in East Palestine.
Sessions: Anyone interested in applying may attend one of four sessions at city hall: at 1 or 7 p.m. Oct. 15; or 7 p.m. Nov. 6 or 14.
The city qualified for the funding based on the results of a Community Housing Improvement Study.
Council spent $10,000 in 2000 for the study, required annually beginning that year for East Palestine, or any other municipality to be eligible for the CHIP program.
Bleckman and Associates of North Canton put the housing study together for the city.
CHIP funds are issued from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to the states and then to counties and municipalities, and are distributed by the counties' development offices.
Last year: Participating in CHIP in 2000, the city was able to assist three first-time home buyers with down payments and received funding for about 10 homeowners, including those three, to make improvements to their homes.
Homeowners and potential first-time home buyers must apply to be considered for the CHIP funds, Clark said.
Anyone unable to attend the meetings at city hall may call Marshall Bleckman at Bleckman and Associates, (330) 499-9798, for an application.