In order to enhance housing and increase homeownership, the County uses both local and federal funding to create affordable housing units, purchase homes, repair and rehabilitate homes, and remove blight. To further improve communities the County uses local and federal funds to ensure that the infrastructure (roads, walkways, parks, community centers, etc.) are safe and accessible by providing grants to nonprofit and municipal partners. 

Housing and community needs shift over time and the County has created a Housing Plan that provides a roadmap of current issues and how all housing stakeholders can work together to address current housing issues. One tangible example is the 2014 creation of the Cuyahoga County Demolition Program for demolishing blighted, vacant property. Blight has significantly decreased over the past few years, in part to the creation of the County’s program, but also because the area received other significant sources of funding from the Federal Hardest Hit funds and the City of Cleveland budgeting additional funds for demolition. Even with lower demand the County will continue to work on blight removal as funding remains available. With additional funding available to the community, the County can focus efforts on a growing area of concern: the ability of residents to purchase, repair and maintain housing.