OHFA Annual Plan - Ohio Housing Finance Agency

capacity to quantify vacant properties. Neighborhood-level organizations, various unitsof local government, and real estate resources such as mortgage servicers and financialinstitutions can contribute to the creation of good data systems by working as a team(ReBuild Ohio report 2007).ReBuild Ohio reports that cities need assistance “to implement good tracking systems.” Suchsystems should have, at a minimum, the following:• A regular citywide inspection “sweep” and inventory• A cross-agency electronic data system capable of producing reports• A uniform system of assigning property identifies that link with county auditor data• Assignment of costs to city activities related to properties• Regular updates of the status of properties being tracked and longitudinal data.Consistent data is needed across cities. Cities use a variety of definitions and measurementsfor vacant, abandoned and nuisance properties and some have not defined key terms inuse, creating a challenge for local and state policy makers, according to Roberta Garber,Executive Director of Community Research Partners, the research institution that conductedthe study for ReBuild Ohio. Ms. Garber says there is a need for a more in-depth needsassessment of local government data systems that could form the basis of a plan to provideassistance to local governments. Issues in gathering data range from inadequate numbersof skilled personnel, lack of systems, absence of teamwork or sharing of data sets amongelected officials and government offices, and lack of appropriate software and hardware.According to Ms. Garber, municipalities gather most of their data during code enforcementactivities, usually during “sweeps”. Some are examining utility shut off and reconnectiondata, including Cleveland, Dayton and Toledo, and attempting to compare the data withcounty level data, such as tax liens. Municipalities have such basic problems as knowingwhether addresses still exist – what’s vacant and what is still standing. There’s a need for abetter understanding of best practices with data collection and analysis. “Talk about the nutsand bolts of record keeping,” advises Ms. Garber. And while there’s need for better statewidedata on vacant housing, Ms. Garber recommends starting with improvements to local datacollection systems.Other related needs are to prevent the eviction of tenants due to foreclosure and develop aquick means to move vacant, tax delinquent property to local land banks and collaborationsso that properties can be quickly conveyed to responsible owners. Additional areas forexploration include identifying ways to encourage creditors to pursue alternatives toforeclosure and establishing increased creditor responsibility to maintain vacant properties.(Allan Mallach, Tackling the Foreclosure Crisis: Ten Action Steps for State Government).Met Housing NeedsThe Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP): The State of Ohio and 22 counties orcities will receive additional financial resources from US Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment to address the issues associated with vacant housing. This infusion of $258million for the State and designated entitlement cities will allow cities and the State toundertake the following eligible activities as defined by HUD:Residential Development:• Establish financing mechanisms for purchase and redevelopment of foreclosed uponhomes and residential properties, including such mechanisms as soft seconds, loan lossreserves and share equity loans for low-and moderate income homebuyers;97