Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) – Owner Home Repair

How it works

The City of Shelby, in partnership with the Richland County Commissioners, receives Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) funding through the Ohio Department of Development and contracts with the Ohio Regional Development Corporation to run the program. The program is meant to improve housing stock in Shelby and Richland County for low- to moderate-income residents.

What the money covers

For owner-rehabilitation work, eligible items include installation and/or repairs to:

• foundations
• roofs
• gutters
• electrical upgrades
• plumbing
• furnaces
• hot water heaters
• insulation
• windows
• doors
• accessibility improvements
• lead-based paint abatement

The city also describes a "Home Repair" activity as limited assistance to correct specific problems affecting occupant health and safety or structural integrity. Examples given include a roof, furnace, hot water tank, or accessibility ramp.

Amounts and matching

The page states that owner home repair is a 100% grant with no mortgage placed on the property. The guidelines page also says home repair projects are subject to a $5,000 program limit. If the repair cannot be completed without exceeding that limit, the home is considered ineligible under the program’s walk-away policy.

How to apply

Applicants must complete an application and call the office to schedule an appointment to submit the completed application. At that appointment, the application and all required documents are verified; if the application is incomplete or documents are missing, it will be denied. Home repair applications are considered first come, first served.

Timing and deadlines

The guidelines say applicants must not be delinquent or in default on mortgage payments, homeowners’ insurance, property taxes, assessments, or utilities. The page does not give a program closing date or annual opening date.