Mayor irked that Ohio won’t give Youngstown more demo funds

YOUNGSTOWN — Mayor Jay Williams is “livid” that the state failed to give Youngstown, with the highest foreclosure rate among Ohio’s larger cities, additional money from a federal housing stabilization program

“This is absolutely outrageous,” Williams said today. “It’s an absolute affront to the city.”

Williams along with other city officials and community activists were concerned when it was announced in September that Youngstown would receive $2.7 million from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Cities with lower foreclosure rates received more money than Youngstown.

The money is to be used for demolitions, housing rehabilitation, to buy foreclosed properties, offer down payment and closing-cost assistance to low- to moderate-income homebuyers and create land banks.

Youngstown expected more money when the second round of money was awarded.

But when the Ohio Department of Development released the list today, Youngstown wasn’t on it.

“The state has money for a number of programs related to providing assistance to cities,” he said. “I’m going to leave it to them to present a scenario to get more funding for Youngstown.”

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