Department change could add money for home improvement

The Lorain Department of Building, Housing and Planning could add staff in a move to spend federal money designated to improve houses in the city.

The Building, Housing and Planning Department will reorganize in an effort to resolve longstanding issues with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

That is the federal agency that oversees the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which can pay for home improvements for low- to moderate-income residents.

The HOME program has been on hold in Lorain since 2016, said Max Upton, director of building, housing and planning for the city.

The city gets up to $500,000 a year in HOME funding, Upton said.

Every year that ticks by, Lorain is losing out on money that could be going to help people, he said.

“The whole program is all about housing stability,” Upton said. “Right now, we have $2.4 million of funds that are frozen by the federal government that could be used to rehabilitate houses.

“It could be used to help develop new housing; it could be used to help renters with rental assistance; it could also be used for down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers or low-income homebuyers. So, it’s a crucial program.”

This month, Upton outlined prospective changes in a letter to the Lorain Civil Service Commission.

He also stated the Building, Housing and Planning Department would seek approval for five job descriptions needed for more staff to work with the HOME Program.

Lorain’s department needs an organizational structure to support the HOME program and provide appropriate oversight.

It also needs a staffing plan with clear lines of authority and responsibility for the HOME program, along with Lorain’s spending of federal Community Development Block Grant money, Upton said, citing the criteria provided by the federal HUD Department.

Upton also credited U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, the federal HUD Department and TDA Consulting Inc., a firm that provided technical assistance to the city starting in September last year.

The city would pay for the new workers through the federal HOME and block grant money that comes to Lorain.

It would not require spending money from the city’s general fund, Upton said.

“So, this is an opportunity for us to be fully staffed and to implement programs that increase housing stability, invest money into our neighborhoods, and to do so, will take no obligation from the city of Lorain’s general fund,” he said.

“To me it’s a win-winwin.”

This month’s informational letter did not require Civil Service Commission action, but Upton said he did not want that board to be overwhelmed when it is inundated with the job descriptions.

“I was just making them aware of what was kind of going on and what our intentions were over the next few weeks here as we get ready for the February meeting,” he said.

Ultimately, Lorain City Council will have to approve the job descriptions, Upton said.

He expects to present more information Jan. 25 during a meeting of Council’s Federal Programs Committee.

SUBMITTED In January 2021, Lorain Building, Housing and Planning Director Max Upton notified the Lorain Civil Service Commission about a department restructuring that could allow the city to spend federal money for home improvements in the city. This organizational chart shows new positions that would be added.