Cuyahoga County committee approves suspension of second reading for $872,431 down-payment assistance contract

The Cuyahoga County Community Development and Housing Committee on April 28 reviewed Resolution 20250162, which would authorize a contract with CHN Housing Capital for up to $872,431 to administer a down-payment assistance program for eligible homebuyers in Cuyahoga Urban County communities and the city of Parma for the period May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2027.

Kelly Glenn, administrator in the Department of Housing and Community Development, told the committee the contract is intended "to provide more access of affordable housing, in the form of down payment assistance to the urban areas in Cuyahoga County and the city of Parma." Glenn said the contract would help low-income individuals by connecting them to counseling, lender lists and credit-repair services through CHN Housing Capital.

Committee members asked for details about geographic and income eligibility. Glenn said the program covers 59 urban communities in the county and "does not include the City of Cleveland," clarifying that communities outside Cleveland are eligible. She said eligibility is based on HUD income guidelines at 80% of area median income for Cuyahoga County and that CHN will income-qualify applicants and determine award amounts. "Everything is equal billing," Glenn said, describing the program as first-come, first-served rather than favoring certain municipalities.

Glenn outlined the applicant process: prospective buyers contact CHN, complete pre- and post-purchase counseling courses, and, if needed, receive credit-repair assistance. She said applicants with credit scores around 650 or above could become eligible in roughly two to three weeks, but timelines vary. Glenn gave an anecdotal example that about 10–12 people in the city of Euclid have received assistance during her tenure and said she would provide comprehensive historical data and an estimate of how many households the new contract is expected to serve at a later date.

A committee member moved to suspend the second reading to accelerate distribution of funds; the motion was seconded and the committee voted in favor. The committee did not record a formal adoption vote for the resolution on the transcript excerpt; the procedural suspension passed, clearing the way for the contract to proceed more quickly.

The meeting also recorded the approval of minutes from the March 31 meeting and noted that Ordinance 20250001 was being held at the sponsor's request. With no further business, the committee adjourned.

The department said it will follow up with requested historical performance data and an estimate of households the contract will serve.