WARREN Official calls rehab program ineffective

Youngstown also is considering changes to its program.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Sign up for a housing rehabilitation today. They'll be there in 2036.
Michael D. Keys, community development director, wants to revamp the city's owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program, which, at the moment, has a waiting list of 169 people.
The city allocates about $100,000 annually for the program from its federal Housing and Urban Development grant funding to rehabilitate houses and bring them up to code.
The average rehab costs about $25,000, so the city usually does about four per year.
A few years ago, the program was changed from a deferred, 0 percent interest loan to a grant, producing a flood of applicants.
When it was a loan, the homeowner had to repay the city when they sold the house or when they died and the house transferred to an estate.
The department gets to each house on a first-come, first-served basis. There's no mechanism to address those houses with more severe needs before others.
Could wait 30 years
With the growing list of applicants and the slow pace of work, a person who signs up today would get help in about 30 years.
One person, who isn't eligible because of income, signed up, knowing that because he'll retire, he'll meet the requirements by the time his name comes up on the list, Keys said.
"We're not being effective," he said.
To be eligible, a family must meet federal income requirements, own the single-family house for at least a year and agree to live in the home for five to 10 years.
The agreement is for five years for rehabilitation costs between $1,000 and $14,999. It extends to 10 years when costs exceed $15,000.
Earlier this week, Daniel E. Polivka, D-at large, chairman of council's community development committee, suggested first preference for the program be given to the elderly and single mothers.
When a project is complete, the house must be livable, meeting all housing codes.
Lead paint removal
Many houses in the city were built in the 1930s, meaning the majority of the homes that come through the program contain lead paint, which must be removed, contributing to high costs for many rehab projects.
Youngstown also is considering changes to its program, which operates as a deferred loan.
About 600 people wait on a list that primarily works on a first-come, first-served basis, said Jay Williams, director of Youngstown's community development agency.
But the CDA also offers an emergency repair program to address homeowners' need that can't wait, he said.
With a $500,000 annual allotment, Youngstown repairs between 20 and 40 homes each year.
"The city is too large to continue rehabs on a random basis," Williams said.
Youngstown is considering, as part of its overall comprehensive plan, encouraging relocation of residents to more densely populated, more sustainable areas, he said.
Although no one would be forced to move, the city doesn't want to improve properties sporadically around the city with no measurable benefit.
Williams stressed that revamping is still in the discussion phase.
denise.dick@vindy.com