City of Toledo Awarded $4 Million HUD Pro Housing Grant to Boost Affordable Housing and Remove Barriers to Development

The City of Toledo was awarded a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through its Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program in partnership with the Lucas County Land Bank and the Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions. The funding will help the city address critical barriers to housing production, advance innovative housing strategies, and make significant investments in affordable housing infrastructure. Toledo is one of only 18 communities across 15 states to receive a portion of the $100 million in competitive grants awarded today by HUD.

This historic funding, delivered as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Housing Supply Action Plan, will help Toledo modernize its zoning and development standards, streamline permitting processes, and incentivize affordable housing in targeted neighborhoods. These measures are key to achieving the city's goals of increasing housing supply and affordability for current and future residents.

"Housing affordability is a top priority for our city," said Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz. "This $4 million grant is not just an investment in housing - it's an investment in the people of Toledo. By addressing barriers to development, updating outdated zoning codes, and supporting targeted incentives for affordable housing production, we are creating a stronger, more equitable future for our community. I'm grateful for HUD's recognition of Toledo's vision and for the support of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and other leaders who share our commitment to meeting the housing needs of our residents."

"As a city and regional planner by training, I've worked on innovative housing approaches throughout my career. I can say without a doubt that this is a win for the people of Toledo and our region of Northwest Ohio," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). "Too many families face burdensome housing costs, and this innovative approach to boost critical housing supply and help lower costs is a game changer. I look forward to working closely with Mayor Kapszukiewicz and the City of Toledo to ensure these funds have the intended effect. By working together, we can achieve great things, and this $4 million federal investment is an investment in the people of Toledo, and future homeowners and renters who will benefit from lowered housing costs."

Toledo's proposal outlined the following key initiatives:

Comprehensive Updates to the Toledo Planning and Zoning Code: Modernizing outdated land-use and development standards to facilitate housing production and reduce regulatory burdens.

Development of Housing Design Templates: Creating standardized housing templates for developers to streamline permitting and reduce costs associated with new affordable housing projects.

Appraisal Gap Financing: Providing targeted financial incentives to encourage housing development in high Low-to-Moderate Income and weak market neighborhoods.

This first-of-its-kind initiative reflects HUD's commitment to addressing restrictive land use policies and facilitating innovative, community-centered solutions. Toledo is poised to maximize the impact of this funding to create a more inclusive and resilient housing landscape.

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