NEWS RELEASE
TO: News Editor
IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 1, 2006
HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM EXPANDS COUNTYWIDE
Treasurer’s H.E.L.P. Program Now Available In Nearly Every Community
Cleveland, OH – June 1, 2006 – Need to repair that leaky roof? Update that outof-date wiring? Or maybe, you just need a fresh coat of paint on the outside of your home? Now there’s help. Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis’ awardwinning Housing Enhancement Loan Program (H.E.L.P.) has expanded to include 19 new communities, making discounted home improvement loans available to homeowners in nearly every part of the county. Created in 1999, the H.E.L.P. program has earned national recognition for its ability to help residents improve their homes, while enhancing neighborhoods and communities. The program has also been cited as a tool to aid in combating urban sprawl. H.E.L.P. allows residents to visit participating banks for home improvement loans at interest rates 3 percentage points below the normal lending rate. Residents borrow what they need, from $3,000 all the way up to $200,000, and pay it back over 5 years, or 10 years for loans over $12,500. The program caps bank fees at $175, there are no upper limits on borrower’s income and funds can be used for single and multiple unit homes as well as investment properties. Since the program’s inception, more than $71 million (5,700 loans) has been borrowed and used to improve homes in dozens of communities. According to Jim Rokakis, “ I am very pleased by the program’s success and excited to be able to offer the program in these new communities. County Commissioners Dimora, Hagan, and Jones should be commended for their assistance that makes it possible for my office to offer the program throughout the county.” The participation of 19 new communities expands the program to include 52 cities, benefiting residents at all points of the county.
Communities include: Berea Brecksville Broadview Heights Brook Park Brooklyn Brooklyn Heights Chagrin Falls Village Cleveland Cleveland Heights Cuyahoga Heights East Cleveland Euclid Fairview Park Garfield Heights Gates Mills Glenwillow Highland Heights Highland Hills Independence Lakewood Linndale Lyndhurst Maple Heights Mayfield Heights Mayfield Village Middleburg Heights Moreland Hills Newburgh Heights North Olmsted North Randall North Royalton Olmsted Falls Olmstead Township Orange Parma Parma Heights Pepper Pike Richmond Heights Rocky River Seven Hills Shaker Heights Solon South Euclid Strongsville University Heights Valley View Warrensville Heights Westlake Woodmere
A cooperative effort between county agencies, participating municipalities, and banks; the program has been lauded as a tremendous success; earning praise by the U.S. EPA’s National Award for Smart Growth Achievement, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Eco-City Cleveland, Dominion East Ohio Gas, and has been used as a model for other counties across the country. County residents interested in obtaining a H.E.L.P. loan are encouraged to visit their local branch of any one of the six participating banks, including Fifth Third, Huntington, Key Bank, National City, Sky Bank, and U.S. Bank. More information on the program is also available by contacting the County Treasurer’s Community Outreach division at 216.443.2149. ###
Media Contacts: Jim Rokakis Cuyahoga County Treasurer 216.443.7400 Bruce Nimrick Director, Community Programs, Cuyahoga County 216.443.2149