Money for housing remains untouched

EAST PALESTINE -- City Manager Gary Clark said although he believes East Palestine is a good place to call home, federal funding available for home purchases sits untouched.
Clark said the city has funding through the Community Housing Improvement Program to help four families buy homes this year and four more to buy homes in 2005.
CHIP provides funding to help low-income residents make home improvements to homes they already own or to buy a home.
Those who buy a home may then also qualify for funding to improve it.
Part of the CHIP funds are used to help low-income homeowners to make improvements. "There are plenty of people applying for that money," Clark said.
He said the people applying to buy a home through CHIP funding don't have to be first-time homebuyers, but CHIP funding provides a good opportunity for families to move from renting to owning a home.
Anyone interested in applying for CHIP funds to buy a home in East Palestine may call city hall at (330) 426-4367or the Community Action Agency at (330) 424-4013.