Holmes County
Housing Coalition
A community led coalition committed to strengthening housing access, stability, & solutions in Holmes County, Ohio.
Our Challenge
Many people in Holmes County are struggling to find a safe, decent, and affordable place to live, especially rentals and homes under $1,000 a month, as housing costs continue to outpace wages and supply remains limited. Younger families, seniors, single parents, and people in essential jobs are finding fewer options close to work, school, childcare, and healthcare, made harder by zoning complexity, limited housing types, and a lack of shared understanding about development options. In a county with no public transportation and long distances to travel, the cost of keeping a car makes stable housing even more difficult, pushing everyday needs further out of reach.
Without a coordinated countywide effort, employers will struggle to hire and retain workers, young families will continue to leave, seniors will become more isolated, and housing instability will increase. This challenge is too large for any one group to solve; a countywide coalition is needed to align resources, reduce duplication, and protect Holmes County’s rural, humane, and communal culture so neighbors can continue to care for neighbors.
Support &
Stability
Purpose:
Make the system easier to navigate for families, seniors, and workers who are one crisis away from losing housing. Connect agencies so people don’t fall through cracks, and make transportation challenges part of every conversation.
Focus:
- Homelessness coordination
- Senior supports and accessibility
- Eviction prevention and mediation
- Referrals between agencies
- Strong links between housing and transportation
- School connections
Housing Solutions & Development
Purpose:
Help the county be “ready” when an opportunity arises. Make it easier for developers, builders, and employers to bring attainable housing to the community. Identify small, realistic steps that fit Holmes County’s rural character.
Focus:
- Finding possible sites and development opportunities
- Talking with developers about what’s possible
- Support for starter homes and attainable rentals
- Employer‑assisted housing (helping workers live closer to jobs)
- Rehab pipeline for older or vacant homes
Community Education & Outreach
Purpose:
Help the community understand the real housing challenges in Holmes County. Make information easy to share, easy to read, and easy to talk about.Lift up the voices of residents, employers, and families so people see this is a community‑wide issue, not just a “housing” issue.
Focus:
- Public education and simple fact sheets
- Employer briefings and lunch‑and‑learns
- Media, social media, and community newsletters
- Expanding the public survey so more ZIPs and groups are represented
- Storytelling that honors dignity and lived experience
Holmes County Housing & Transportation Survey
Your input will guide coalitions working to improve housing and transportation options for everyone in Holmes County.
Voices of Holmes County
“In Holmes County, the community puts emphasis on staying close and in contact with family and friends, yet the housing issues mean some might have to move away just to find an affordable dwelling.”
“I have to employ people from outside the county. It makes it hard to find skilled laborers because they can’t live here.”
“People end up in the ER for routine medical management because they can’t get to appointments. Lack of transportation drives people to the most expensive care.”
Interactive Guides
Educational information for prospective home buyers & first-time renters. Not financial or lending advice.
Single Family Housing (SFH)
USDA Rural Development offers qualifying individuals and families the opportunity to purchase or build a new single family home with no money down, to repair their existing home, or to refinance their current mortgage under certain qualifying circumstances. There are also programs to assist non-profit entities in their efforts to provide new homes or home repair to qualifying individuals and families.
Multi-Family Housing
USDA Multifamily Housing supports and revitalizes more than 14,000 rural rental properties by providing loans, loan guarantees, grants, and rental assistance. These programs help create, preserve, and improve affordable housing for low-income families, seniors, farm laborers, and individuals with disabilities. Multifamily Housing also helps protect eligible tenants, preserve affordability, and fund critical property repairs and improvements to ensure safe, quality housing in rural communities.
Business Programs
USDA Rural Development Business Programs provide funding, financing, and technical support to help rural businesses start, grow, and create jobs. Through partnerships with local organizations and lenders, these programs offer loans, loan guarantees, grants, business development services, and entrepreneurial training. Available to businesses, farmers, nonprofits, cooperatives, public entities, and Tribal communities, the programs help expand access to capital, equipment, workforce training, and other resources that strengthen rural economies and improve quality of life for generations to come.
Become Part of Housing Solutions in Holmes County
Share your name, email, and your organization or local connection to Holmes County to get started.
