Toledo’s Department of Housing and Community Development and Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity Announce Home Rescue Achievements

The City of Toledo’s Department of Housing and Community Development and Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity (MVHFH) are excited to announce the success of the Home Rescue program, a multi-year partnership that leveraged both private and public funding, for critical home repairs in distressed neighborhoods. The first 10 projects started in Junction two years ago, and just a short two years later, 55 homes have since been rehabbed with a total investment of over $3.5 Million dollars in Toledo neighborhoods. This has been a remarkable achievement.

The Home Rescue program is the City of Toledo’s owner-occupied rehab program that is administered by Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity. The program brings a home up to current code standards and abates all lead for qualifying homeowners. The average cost of each project is $65,000 and the scope of work typically includes roof replacement, window replacement, siding, and upgraded electrical and/or plumbing. In some cases, where funding was available, aging in place modifications like walk in showers were completed.

“The Home Rescue program is critical to the viability of Toledo neighborhoods, because well preserved housing is the key indicator of a stable neighborhood,” Rosalyn Clemens, Director of Housing and Community Development said.

The original partnership goal was aimed at completing 34 projects with an investment of $1.5 million in federal HOME funding. However, thanks to the collaboration with Maumee Habitat for Humanity, an additional $700,000 of HOME funds were invested by the City. This funding has leveraged over $2.3 Million of additional investment in the Home Rescue Program.

The Ohio Department of Health granted $1.4 Million dollars through the Ohio Lead-Safe Home Fund to help offset all lead abatement work. Other funders like Owens Corning, Fifth Third Bank, Cleveland-Cliffs, Mercy Grey Nuns, and the ProMedica Junction Neighborhood Fund of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation all supported projects in specific neighborhoods.

Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz expressed his commitment to addressing the housing preservation challenge in Toledo.

"Our Home Rescue program is an essential component of our efforts to provide safe and stable housing for all residents, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every family in our community has access to the resources they need," Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said.

"Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity is consistently working at the intersection of housing, human services and health in all that we do. So much of our lives is spent in our homes, so this critical work is life changing for homeowners. Furthermore, by targeting this work in focused neighborhoods, there is a renewed sense of commitment and pride for its residents. We are proud to invest in our neighborhoods and partner with our community, and the City of Toledo, to improve the overall quality of life for residents,” Michael McIntyre, Executive Director, Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity said.

The Home Rescue Program is an ongoing effort to address the housing crisis in Toledo.


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