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Sandusky staff report 112 households helped in 2025 housing-beautification program; new $2,000 exterior-paint pilot planned
Summary
City housing development staff reported 112 households aided in 2025 through exterior repairs, substantial redevelopment and home-purchase assistance, and outlined a 2026 pilot to supply $2,000 in paint and supplies to eligible owner-occupied homes (labor not covered). Applications open April 1, 2026.
Debbie Eversole, a housing development staffer, presented the Sandusky City Commission with a year-end review of the 2025 Housing Development and Beautification Program on March 23, saying the program assisted 112 homeowners through grants and purchase assistance.
Eversole said 17 projects qualified under the substantial redevelopment stream (projects over $20,000 receiving $5,000 after completion and inspection); 74 projects received exterior repair grants covering 50% of project cost up to $3,000; and 21 households received $5,000 home-purchase assistance tied to owner-occupancy requirements. She said program awards leveraged more than $2.1 million in total improvements along with roughly $283,000 in grant-funded improvements during 2025.
The 2025 budget allocated $400,000 for the program, with up to $300,000 designated for property improvements and at least $100,000 for home purchase assistance. Eversole said 19 of the 21 purchase-assistance recipients were first-time buyers and that the program reached new construction and rehabilitation projects across the city.
For 2026, Eversole outlined a pilot exterior-paint program that will provide eligible single-family owner-occupied homeowners with $2,000 in supplies (labor is not included). Detached garages are eligible; applicants must be approved before buying supplies and must submit a completed application, an estimate for supplies, and an acknowledgement of lead-safe work practices. Applications open April 1 and the program runs through Oct. 31, 2026. Eversole provided a phone number and an email for follow-up.
Commissioners asked about past uptake and distribution; staff said program changes to target owner-occupied dwellings reduced the speed at which funds were claimed compared with prior years when rentals also qualified. The commission did not vote on the presentation; it was informational and intended to encourage continued public participation in the program.
Eversole closed by encouraging applicants and describing outreach through the city land bank and tax-abatement incentives to promote residential development.
