Ludington approves application for homebuyer purchase and rehab program.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

LUDINGTON — Ludington City Council, during its regular meeting, approved a resolution Monday evening allowing the city to apply for a Homebuyer Purchase and Rehabilitation Program grant application. The grant is through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and includes a $150,000 local matching grant from the Pennies from Heaven Foundation.

If approved, the state of Michigan would contribute $146,912 in matching monies towards the program that is meant to assist low to moderate income property owners or potential owners.

  The resolution states: “Safe affordable housing is an issue for low to moderate income persons in the City of Ludington. Developments are needed that provide housing choices that are safe for residents who are considered low to moderate income. Becoming a homeowner is a barrier for these residents as well. A need for transitional housing, homeownership counseling, homeownership finance classes, as well as purchasing and renovating homes within their budget are all needs that need to be addressed.”

According to Kittie Tuinstra, executive of Oceana Home Partnership, the third party administrator of the grant program, one of the highlights of the program is that it provides low interest loans to property owners to assist with rehabilitating their residential properties.