MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Voucher has hit pause on upcoming Section 8 vouchers due to rising housing costs, according to executive director Steve Andrews. Andrews said the authority has “suspended” vouchers for several residents who had been approved or were actively looking for housing, but hadn’t found it yet. Those applicants were placed back […]
Housing
News on housing developments, affordability and efforts to address housing insecurity and shortages in Richland County and beyond.
Posted inHousing
Metro housing partners with Mansfield developer to restart affordable housing project
MANSFIELD — A plan to build 120 new affordable housing units on Mansfield’s south side could be back on track with shovels in the ground by the end of this year. Steve Andrews of the Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority said the agency plans to reapply for state project funding in partnership with a new, local housing […]
Posted inHousing
Metro housing board seeks state funds for affordable housing project
MANSFIELD — Steve Andrews said he’s still hopeful the Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority can secure the funding it needs to move forward with a proposed affordable housing project in Mansfield. The MMHA, which serves all of Richland County, hit a bump in the road after the Ohio Housing Finance Agency withdrew $5.5 million in bond gap […]
Posted inCommunity Development
Ohio pulls $7.7 million in affordable housing funds for Turtle Creek project
MANSFIELD — A 120-unit affordable housing project on Mansfield’s southwest side has hit its biggest snag yet. The Ohio Housing Financing Agency is poised to withdraw $7.7 million in bond gap financing from the Turtle Creek extension project, which aims to construct additional apartments on James Avenue. OHFA awarded the Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority $7.7 million […]
Posted inHousing
Land bank approves three more properties for Lead Ohio grant
MANSFIELD — The Richland County Land Bank board approved three more residences for a lead remediation program Friday. The land bank is in charge of overseeing Richland County’s Lead Safe Ohio Program, which is funded through the Ohio Department of Development. The Land Bank was allocated $1,358,000 last year for the program, which funds exterior […]
Posted inHousing
MMHA plans to break ground on affordable housing complex this summer
MANSFIELD — The timeline on a 120-unit affordable housing development in Mansfield will be pushed back another two months, but is still set to break ground in 2025. The Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority will submit its final application to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency this spring, executive director Steve Andrews said Tuesday. Andrews told board members […]
Posted inNews
Metro housing board offers director 2.5-year contract
MANSFIELD — Steve Andrews will continue to serve as the executive director of the Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority in 2025. At its final meeting of the year, the MMHA board voted to design a contract for Andrew’s renewal. The director’s existing contract was set to expire on Jan. 24. Andrews’ new contract will run through […]
Posted inNews
Richland County Land Bank OKs lead remediation for three more residences
MANSFIELD — The Richland County Land Bank board on Monday approved three more residences for lead remediation, bringing to 18 the total thus far in the Ohio Department of Development’s Lead Safe Ohio Program. The Land Bank was allocated $1,358,000 last year for the program, which is funding exterior rehab projects across the county. A total […]
Posted inNews
Mansfield Metro Housing settles lawsuits with 2 former employees
MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority will pay $68,500 to settle out-of-court with two former employees. Members of the MMHA board voted unanimously to approve settlement agreements with former deputy director Stephanie Hartzler and former tenant counselor LaConia Ross during a Sept. 24 meeting. Both Hartzler and Ross were terminated from their employment with […]
Posted inNews
Mansfield Metro Housing reinstates landlord incentive payments
MANSFIELD — A voucher for federally-funded housing assistance isn’t worth much if you can’t find a place to rent. That’s a real-world struggle for local residents carrying a voucher from the Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority. “There are not a lot of units out there,” said Steve Andrews, executive director of the MMHA. “We have 130 […]