Housing Resources
Safer Homes & Stronger Communities
The City of Cincinnati Buildings and Inspections Department offers programs to help low-income families make critical and emergency repairs to their homes.
- Family Rehousing Assistance Program
- Housing Repair Services Program
- Housing Assistance Repair Building Order Remission Program
- Essential Services Program
Family Rehousing Assistance Program
The City of Cincinnati Family Rehousing Assistance Program helps provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing for Cincinnati’s citizens by providing assistance to people displaced due to building and health code violations, or other emergency situations, such as fires.
In some cases, families may be required to vacate, by Health Department orders, because children under the age of six have elevated blood lead levels. Tenants impacted by this may also be eligible to receive FRAP assistance.
FRAP will assist citizens to relocate from blighted properties by ensuring timely financial assistance and referrals to secure permanent housing.
The purpose of FRAP payments is to minimize the hardship of tenants displaced by City of Cincinnati Code Enforcement activities and to aid financially in renting suitable standard replacement units (Permanent Housing). When the City of Cincinnati issues Vacate Orders on a housing unit due to Code Enforcement; eligible tenants may receive a FRAP Payment for security deposit, rent and a moving expense within the limits of the program.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for relocation assistance, tenants must meet one of the following criteria:
- Lawful tenants in receipt of a written notice to vacate, issued by the City of Cincinnati, provided those tenants have occupied the housing unit at least 60 days immediately preceding the notice to vacate: or
- Lawful tenants who are in receipt of a written statement from the Cincinnati Health Department attesting that their current housing unit is substandard due to high lead content; and, is occupied by a child 6 years of age or under, regardless of the length of occupancy.
- Tenants vacated from housing units with current Vacate Orders that were issued before the tenants’ occupancy are eligible for FRAP if they meet the other eligibility requirements. In addition, the City of Cincinnati may file criminal charges against the landlord through the City of Cincinnati Law Department Community Prosecution Section.
Ineligible Tenants
- Tenants who receive a notice to vacate after the landlord has filed eviction proceedings in Court, unless the tenant filed a complaint with the City alleging substandard housing prior to the filing of the eviction proceedings.
- Tenants in Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority units.
- Tenants who have transferred to a unit under the same Management Agency.
- Tenants vacated due to overcrowding.
- Tenants who have lived in their dwelling less than 60 days.
Upon request, ineligible claimants will be given written notice of reasons for rejection of their claim.
HARBOR Program - Homeowner Assistance Repair and Building Order Remission Program
The HARBOR Program addresses gaps in assistance for homeowners unable to fund necessary repairs or qualify for existing programs. Managed by the Buildings and Inspections Department of the City of Cincinnati, the program takes a holistic approach, serving as a clearinghouse for referrals to People Working Cooperatively (PWC). HARBOR provides PWC with grant dollars to help residents resolve code violations cited by the city, ensuring safer homes and stronger communities.
*HARBOR participants have to be referred by a City of Cincinnati Building Inspector.
HARBOR Eligibility
Owner occupied
Open Code Violations
Scope of repairs within limits of program
3 or less dwelling units
House not in foreclosure
Meet Income Guidelines
- HARBOR - (80% AMI)
HRS Program - Housing Repair Services Program
The Housing Services Program, created by the City of Cincinnati’s Buildings and Inspections Department, provides assistance for residents needing emergency, immediate or critical home repairs. From wheelchair access and handrails to broken water lines and gutter issues, the program addresses immediate needs to ensure safe living conditions. Grant funding is provided by the Buildings and Inspections Department to People Working Cooperatively, who manage repairs and improvements, helping residents resolve issues and maintain their homes.
Providing Assistance
The Housing Repair Services program ensures safe living conditions by funding critical home repairs. Through City of Cincinnati grant funding, People Working Cooperatively (PWC) provides installation and services such as:
- Grab bar installation
- Electric lift installation
- Wheelchair ramp installation
- Gutter installation
- Step repairs
- Window repairs
- Roof repairs
- Painting
- And more
HRS Eligibility:
Owner occupied
Scope of repairs within limits of program
3 or less dwelling units
House not in foreclosure
Cost of repairs
Meet Income Guidelines:
• HRS - (50% AMI)
To apply for the Housing Repair Services Program call People Working Cooperatively, who serves as the clearing house for the City of Cincinnati’s Housing Department:
People Working Cooperatively Inc.
4612 Paddock Road
Cincinnati, OH 45229
Email: info@pwchomerepairs.org
Phone: 513-351-7921
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Essential Services Program
The Essential Services program is a property maintenance code enforcement initiative designed to reduce the number of tenant evacuations caused by unsafe conditions in residential rental properties. The program enables the City to respond swiftly when essential building systems—such as heat, electricity, plumbing, or fire exits—fail and the property owner does not make timely repairs.
In some cases, property owners have failed to address serious issues like broken furnaces in winter, collapsed sewer lines, unsafe electrical systems, or blocked fire exits. When these critical systems are not repaired, the City may be forced to order tenants to vacate their homes with little notice—disrupting lives and creating immediate housing and financial hardships. (Learn more about Landlord Responsibility below.)
Under this program, if the property owner does not correct these violations in a reasonable timeframe, the Director of the Department of Buildings and Inspections will have the authority to dispatch City-approved contractors to make the emergency repairs. Once the work is completed, the City will seek reimbursement from the property owner for all associated costs. If the owner does not pay, the City may pursue collections, place the cost on the property’s tax bill, or initiate foreclosure proceedings.
The Essential Services program follows similar procedures already used by the department under the Hazard Abatement Program, Barricade Program, and Private Lot Abatement Program (PLAP).
Landlord Responsibility Ordinance
In December 2023, City Council approved an Ordinance creating the Landlord Responsibility Program. The Landlord Responsibility ordinance establishes a procedure by which tenants may receive relocation assistance if ordered by the City to vacate their residences due to unsanitary living conditions that are either created, or knowingly and willfully left unabated by the property owner.
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The City of Cincinnati has a variety of housing programs and services that can help older adults and people with disabilities, individuals and families with low incomes, or those who are at-risk of , or experiencing homelessness. The information on this page will help connect individuals, families, and providers with someone at the local level that can directly assist with housing needs.
Rent Payment Assistance
Did you know that there are several organizations that can provide rent and utilities payment assistance for those in need? The agencies listed below can provide assistance for City of Cincinnati residents facing eviction.
- St. Vincent DePaul Society (Rent Payment Assistance) (Spanish Available) Call: (513)421-0602
- Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati (Rent Payment Assistant; and Free legal assistance for those who qualify) (Language Services Available) Call: (513) 241-9400, ask for Housing Department; or 1-800-582-2682 (toll free)
- Community Action Agency (Rent Payment Assistance) (Spanish Available); Make an appointment: (513)569-1840, Option 4, 8am to 5pm, Monday-Friday
Eviction Help
Financial Resources for Owner-Occupied Properties
Home Repair Assistance Program