Ohio REALTORS Testifies in Support of the Housing Technical Assistance Grant Program
By Anastasia Kotkovskaya, Manager of Advocacy and Research, Ohio REALTORS®
With Ohio’s housing crisis escalating to a critical level, Ohio REALTORS® is proactively working with stakeholders to find solutions. House Bill (HB) 315 has gained momentum through the legislative process, presenting an opportunity to address the state’s housing challenges head-on.
HB 315 includes a package of provisions to address multiple township issues. Importantly, the bill creates the Housing Technical Assistance Grant Program, which would allocate $1.5 million annually to help local governments modernize their outdated zoning and housing codes. This program would empower communities to take proactive steps in tackling Ohio’s growing housing shortage without imposing mandates and is a voluntary, resource-driven approach to modernizing housing policies.
Ohio’s housing shortage is well documented. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), Ohio is short more than 100,000 single-family housing permits – a staggering figure that underlines the urgent need for action. Restrictive zoning codes are a significant barrier as they often make housing development costly and inaccessible.
While the $1.5 million is a promising start, Ohio REALTORS® stressed in their testimony that the demand for these grants is expected to far exceed this amount and urged the committee members to increase funding as this program takes shape.
HB 315 will now continue through the Ohio Senate’s legislative process.
Read more about this bill here:
HB 315 Passes Unanimously with Key Housing Provision
Ohio REALTORS Urge Support for Measure to Address Housing Shortage
