Housing Programs

Please note that assistance is contingent upon availability of funds.

General Information

The City of Bowling Green currently administers six housing programs. The Rental Rehabilitation, Mobile Home Repair and Elderly Emergency Home Repair programs are funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement dollars. The Owner Occupied Rehabilitation, the Downpayment Assistance and the Downpayment Assistance/Rehabilitation programs are funded through the City's Housing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). This fund was established under the approval of the State of Ohio, Department of Development.

These programs assist very low-, low- and moderate-income households, and are available to City of Bowling Green residents only. Residents of Wood County , who do not reside in Bowling Green, may find similar program assistance through the Wood County Planning Office, 419-354-9128.

Income Eligibility

Income eligibility for all programs is limited to households at the moderate income level or below as established by HUD.  The current income limits are as follows:

*(Updated 12/11/2012)

Housing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation

Loans are provided to very low-, low- and moderate-income level homeowners in amounts ranging, on average, from $3,000 to $38,000 per unit secured by a mortgage. Eligible properties for this program are any single-family dwelling units that have substandard conditions and are in need of rehabilitation, providing:

• The property has an after-rehabilitation appraised value at or below $257,497, based on independent real estate appraisal.
• The property is located within the corporation limits of the City of Bowling Green.
• The property owner is at or below 80 percent of the Wood County median income and has clear title to the property.

Housing RLF Downpayment Assistance Program

This program provides assistance to very low-, low- and moderate-income households that lack sufficient funds to purchase a home that does not require any rehabilitation. Loan amounts range, on average, from $1,000 to $16,000. The City will calculate the amount of assistance allowed based on the following:

• The total downpayment required to reduce the housing cost to an amount at or near 30% of the homeowner's gross monthly income.

Housing RLF Downpayment Assistance/Rehabilitation

This program provides assistance to very low-, low- and moderate-income households that lack sufficient funds to purchase or purchase/rehabilitate a property in need of repair. Loan amounts range, on average, from $1,000 to $39,000. The City will calculate the amount of assistance allowed based on the following:

• The total downpayment required to reduce the housing cost to an amount at or near 30% of the homeowner’s gross monthly income.
• The amount required to correct all deficiencies on the purchase property.

Loan Financial Mechanism for the Housing RLF Programs 

All loans for the above-noted Housing RLF Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation, Downpayment Assistance and Downpayment Assistance/Rehabilitation programs are zero interest deferred payment loans (a mortgage is placed on the property) in effect until the property is sold, title is transferred or property ceases to be the primary residence of the applicant. Fifty percent of the loan will be forgiven if the applicant owns the property after the complete tenth year, providing the loan is in good standing and in adherence with other program guidelines.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Rental Rehabilitation

In this program, zero interest loans are provided to landlords for a seven-year period. If property is sold or title is transferred before seven years, the loan amount will be due in full. At the end of seven years, the loan will be forgiven. This is provided that the owner has not been found in default of the program requirements, specifically, the one requiring rental to low/moderate-income persons. Defaulting on any program requirement will cause the loan amount to be due in full. A mortgage is placed on the property during the seven-year period. The landlord must put at least 50 percent construction costs into the project. Maximum loans per bedroom size are as follows:

The units must meet State of Ohio's Residential Rehabilitation Standards and Wood County Health, Safety and Sanitation Regulations upon completion of the rehabilitation. Units housing 51 percent or more very low-, low- and/or moderate-income families qualify for funding. 

CDBG Elderly Home Repair

This program funds the repair or replacement of substandard systems for very low-, low- and moderate-income households 62 years of age or older. The property must be located within the Bowling Green City limits. The maximum grant is $8,000 to repair one substandard item. No mortgages are placed on the property. The homeowner is required to obtain 3 estimates to assure reasonable replacement costs. Substandard systems include, but are not limited to:  roofing, plumbing, heating and electrical problems. If a structure has more than one substandard condition, the owner is encouraged to participate in the City’s Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation program.

CDBG Home Repair

This program funds the repair or replacement of substandard systems for very low-, low- and moderate-income households in the City of Bowling Green. The property must be located within the Bowling Green City limits. The maximum grant is $8,000 to repair one substandard item. No mortgages are placed on the property. The homeowner is required to obtain 3 estimates to assure reasonable replacement costs. Substandard systems include, but are not limited to:  roofing, plumbing, heating and electrical problems. If a structure has more than one substandard condition, the owner is encouraged to participate in the City’s Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation program.

CDBG Mobile Home Repair

This program provides zero interest, forgivable loans to very low-, low- and moderate-income mobile home owners for essential repairs. The maximum loan is $2,500, and there is a requirement that the homeowner maintain principle residency in the unit for three years, after which time the loan is forgiven.

For more information on the above programs and application packets, please contact:

Matt Spiess, Housing Specialist

City of Bowling Green    304 N. Church St., 2nd floor

Bowling Green, OH 43402

(419) 354-6221 or (419) 354-6203

bggrants@bgohio.org

For persons with speech and/or hearing impairments, contact us

through the Ohio Relay Network at:

1-800-750-0750

Section 8 Rental Assistance

The Section 8 rental assistance program for the City of Bowling Green is administered by Henry Metropolitan Housing Authority in Napoleon, Ohio. For more information on the Section 8 rental assistance program, please call (419) 592-1735.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development prohibits unlawful discrimination in federally assisted programs based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability.