PACT is proud to announce it is expanding the Exterior Home Repair Program thanks to a combined $147,500 in grants from Fifth Third Bank’s Strengthening Our Communities Fund, the Fifth Third Community Development Corporation and Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing to support the PACT Exterior Home Repair Program. Additional funders include The Ohio State University and United Way of Central Ohio.   

Representatives from Fifth Third Bank and the community were on hand to celebrate the expansion during a ceremony on October 12.

“The success of our pilot program helped us realize the importance of supporting our current residents as we continue to drive community transformation in the PACT geography,” said David A. Cofer, executive director of PACT. “This grant from Fifth Third enables PACT to have a greater impact on helping homeowners and families make needed repairs on their homes and helps us tackle the issue of blight head-on,” he continued.

Through the home exterior program, piloted over the last few years, PACT has repaired a total of nine homes. With funding from the Fifth Third Foundation, the program will be expanded to repair the exteriors of 20 more properties located on Long Street, Taylor Ave., and/or Monroe Ave, within the PACT geography.

“We view this as a continuation of Fifth Third’s commitment to help drive community development initiatives in the communities we serve,” said Stefanie Steward-Young, ‎senior vice president, regional director of community & economic development, Fifth Third Bank. “The PACT exterior home repair program helps to further support and complement existing redevelopment on the Near East Side and aligns with our mission of improving communities and supporting neighborhoods.”

All Near East Side residents within identified target zones are eligible to participate in the exterior home repair program. Typical repairs may include and are not limited to: roof repairs, new windows, siding, gutters and downspouts, front porch and/or deck repairs. Homeowners help to inform the scope of work for each renovation.  The program includes collaboration with Homeport and MORPC, both organizations providing valuable support to the initiative. MORPC provides expert repair consultation and trained technicians who meet individually with each homeowner to establish an individualized work plan. MORPC oversees the repair project and ensure repairs are completed properly and within the scope of work. The average value of each repair is expected to be $10,000.  Additionally, Homeport offers its technical expertise as a non-profit developer of affordable housing.

Repairs for the 2017-18 PACT Exterior Home Repair Program begin October 2017 and will continue through Spring 2018.