Director's Message 
Welcome to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) where we open the doors to an affordable place to call home. Our programs assist first-time homebuyers, renters, veterans, and senior citizens with low- to moderate-incomes. Since 1983, OHFA has provided affordable mortgage loans for more than 138,000 Ohioans, facilitated the creation and rehabilitation of more than 87,000 affordable rental housing units, and monitored multifamily properties throughout the state to ensure the safety of Ohio residents.
As the Agency responsible for allocating housing tax credits, OHFA continues to play a pivotal role in facilitating the development and preservation of Ohio's affordable housing communities. OHFA recently announced the 2012 Housing Tax Credit funding awards. More than $29 million in federal housing tax credits was awarded to 37 developments that will serve families, seniors and individuals with disabilities. The competitive housing tax credit program continues to help further OHFA's mission throughout the state as the largest driver of the production of affordable housing.
The Agency recognizes that successful homeownership means strong pre- and post-purchase homebuyer education. Through its many programs, OHFA plays an active role in contributing to the improvement of Ohio's housing market, allowing for more individuals to realize the dream of homeownership. In 2011, the Agency closed 3,610 mortgages through its First-Time Homebuyer Program.
On January 1, 2012, the Agency announced new enhancements to the state's foreclosure prevention program, Restoring Stability: A Save the Dream Ohio Initiative. Funded through the U.S. Department of Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund (HHF), Restoring Stability is helping thousands of homeowners with financial hardships who have otherwise been unable to qualify for most loan modification and foreclosure prevention programs. In just a year and a half, this valuable program has assisted more than 4,160 homeowners, positioning OHFA as a leader among the HHF states. This program is and will continue to be valuable in helping struggling homeowners maintain the homes they worked so hard to obtain.
OHFA's Office of Affordable Housing Research (OAHR) is currently embarking on several exciting endeavors designed to help shape affordable housing policy in Ohio. The office recently announced the launch of an assessment to examine the health impact of a proposed policy change to reduce the frequency of physical inspections in the state of Ohio. I look forward to the results of this study and future initiatives that further OHFA's mission to assist Ohioans in locating affordable housing options.
We at OHFA strive to provide quality, beneficial programs to address housing needs throughout the state of Ohio. We invite you to contact us if you have questions about our services. You can reach us toll free at 888.362.6432.
Douglas A. Garver
Executive Director
Ohio Housing Finance Agency
