Neighborhoods

Did you know that moving from one home to another in the same county is apparently more difficult in Mahoning and Trumbull counties than it is in the state as a whole?

A study released to the public about a year ago that focuses on ways to improve housing in Mahoning and Trumbull counties for the betterment of the community discusses that fact, saying 12% of Ohioans moved within the same county the previous year, while in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, the percentage is 9.

The report suggests that one reason for not moving as often is what the report calls a “mismatch” between the number of families needing a home of one, two, three or four bedrooms and the number of homes that size that exist in the two counties.

For instance, the study states that in the two counties, there are 26,822 two-bedroom homes, but there are 50,927 two-person “households,” meaning there is a deficit of 24,105 two-bedroom homes available for those who want one.

There are more than enough three-bedroom homes in the two counties — 82,967, compared to the 18,355 “households” of three people. The study assumes a household of two, for instance, needs a two-bedroom home and a household of three people needs three bedrooms.

There are 29,672 homes with four or more bedrooms in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, but there are only 22,455 “households” of four or more people, the data states, a deficit of 7,227, the report states.

The population of the two counties is expected to drop by 21% by 2050, but the housing “mismatch” between supply and demand of housing is not expected to go away without intervention, the report states.

“There is a surplus of (owner-occupied homes with three or four bedrooms) in both Trumbull and Mahoning counties and a shortage of studio, one and two-bedroom units,” the report states.

REGIONAL HOUSING STRATEGY

The Youngstown-based Eastgate Regional Council of Governments commissioned the plan as part of the Mahoning Valley Regional Housing Strategy, which is aimed at creating programs to stabilize and strengthen all housing markets in the two counties, according to the study.

The strategy was unveiled a year ago in partnership with Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and The Youngstown Foundation. The Columbus based nonprofit Greater Ohio Policy Center developed the plan in conjunction with the Reinvestment Fund, a national financial group.

The Mahoning Valley Regional Housing Strategy unveiled a year ago “offers data recommendations about policy, program and funding adjustments that can help set the course for a better functioning housing market that encourages the types of housing that are needed in individual jurisdictions,” the plan strategy states.

Research and data generated for the strategy revealed that there is “ample vacant land, small “households,” a desire for new housing options and a need to address housing quality as top priorities for the Strategy, the report states.

The strategy contains various parts. The information about the “mismatch” is contained in a section called Housing Stock and Population Trends.

That section states that “Technically, there are enough housing units currently in Mahoning and Trumbull counties to house current and projected populations. But the conditions of some of the homes fall short of market expectations.”

It states that “In 2022, there were 183,725 households in Mahoning and Trumbull counties and 202,462 housing units, a surplus of over 18,000 units. However, these units are not well-matched to the population in terms of size and condition.”

It states that “Existing houses tend to be larger than they need to be to house the existing and projected populations. Between the two counties, 66% of the housing stock has three or more bedrooms, but only 30% of current (families or “households”) are large enough to need a house of that size, assuming one bedroom per person.”

Thirty-four percent of the homes in Mahoning and Trumbull counties have two bedrooms or less, but 70% of the households have two people or less.

Because of the “excess number of (housing units) already in the Mahoning Valley and the high cost of new construction, a major focus of the (Mahoning Valley Regional Housing Strategy) needs to be the renovation, repair and retrofitting of existing (housing) units,” the Strategy report states. “Home repair programs should be employed to improve the safety and marketability of the existing stock.”

EASTGATE’S ROLE

In the year since the Mahoning Valley Regional Housing Strategy was released, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments Director of Planning and Development Justin Mondok has been meeting with officials from cities, villages and counties to “arm them with information, so they can make the best decisions possible” about how to implement the strategies in the plan.

Mondok said the plan contains information that needs to be explained in a simpler way than the sometimes complex way the report was written. “We are going to put out some communications that really break it down in a different way that helps people get to know the information in a more simplified manner and eases people into the more technical information and helps inspire ideas about what to do with the information,” Mondok said during an interview at Eastgate’s downtown Youngstown offices.

Mondok said, “There are a lot of good resources in there. But if there is a barrier of knowing how to use it, what good is it? That is our next big step is how do we make different entry points for folks to be able to grasp the material and be able to use it fully so we can get more mileage out of that document.”

Mondok said the process of implementing the housing strategy by government and community organizations should be incremental. “You don’t want wholesale, broad based changes. This is really a game of inches, where you make small tweaks, you see how that plays, and change your practices and your systems you have set up, and you keep making that small progress until you get to a point where you’ve reached a place where you are no longer hindering development, you are not putting up arbitrary barriers.”

He said he has had “one-on-one-style conversations with our communities. We want to hear from them where they are going, where they see their communities going and where they need additional support.”

He said he realizes that a lot of communities in Mahoning and Trumbull counties “don’t necessarily have the time and a staff available to dig into these more (complex) topics.” He said, “That is where we feel we (Eastgate and partners) can be of service” and “be more useful to our local communities.”

Mondok said one of the “bigger points that came out of the housing strategy process was the creation of a housing consortium that will coordinate “all of the multiple facets of housing, saying it is a pretty broad, complex topic.”

He said Eastgate is creating a housing consortium as “a centralized place for folks who work in housing day in and day out to come, share information, share the successes they are having, also areas that they are struggling with that they need more support with.”

He said the plan is to bring “experts from outside for some educational and training opportunities as well.” He said there will be several events this year to make educational and expert opportunities available to the communities.

When Mondok was asked what he considers the important goals of the housing strategy are, he said one is addressing the sustained population loss in the two counties, which has lowered property values.

One key thing the study did was provide data on the “submarkets” of the communities in the two counties and “gave them a grade based on where they fall on a spectrum of strength of the housing market. We have some markets that are very strong. You could build a house and sell it and the builder will probably make a profit,” he said. Some middle markets might perform better with incentives to build or improve housing. And there are markets where a “subsidy really needs to come in to make it a viable place for housing development to happen.”

He said each housing submarket needs to be treated differently, and the data helps with that. “One tool is not going to be a perfect fit for each” community and submarket.

He said when looking at areas with a depressed housing market, “it requires a different set of tools, a different mindset from being able to put down a large (housing) development where those houses will sell.” He added, “We are looking at all market sectors and what are the levers we can pull to make sure everything gets better.” It’s an attempt to help all communities, he said.

“I think we have a good base of housing developers who are really interested. But I think there is certainly more work to be done in terms of getting people to think bigger and a little more creatively about some of the solutions we can use,” he said.

REGIONAL CHAMBER

When Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, was asked about the Mahoning Valley Regional Housing Strategy, he said the Chamber’s role is “advocacy among all levels of government and education, providing information and promoting collaboration.”

He said, “We formed a Housing Council about a year ago, made up of about 20 Chamber members who work in housing. It includes builders, developers, lenders, suppliers, land banks and organizations like the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp and others.”

The Housing Council meets regularly “to discuss our collective role. It has adopted goals that include support to help drive construction of 1,000 new homes by 2030 across the region. We also are starting to develop a housing tool kit, which will be an in-depth directory that identifies and explains available programs to help make housing development more affordable to builders, developers and homebuyers,” he said.

The Regional Chamber has also advocated for programs like the Ohio Residential Economic Development District (REDD) grant to help cover some infrastructure costs for new construction, such as water and sanitary sewer lines. It was part of the biennial state budget.

“We encourage local governments to consider applying for the REDD grant, and we also have had conversations with federal legislators asking them to consider ways to help fund needed infrastructure” for such projects.

He said the Regional Chamber also has been talking to officials in Mahoning and Trumbull county communities where “in-fill” housing is a good option, such as Youngstown, Warren, Struthers and Niles. In-fill housing is a term used to describe “new housing that is built in an existing neighborhood,” according to the city of Shaker Heights’ website.

Coviello credited local organizations such as the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. and Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership for their work in acquiring land and developing it into new housing, including on Glenwood Avenue in Youngstown and on the former Emerson School site on Warren’s northwest side.

To read the full story from Tribune Chronicle, click here.

At its March meeting, the Raymond John Wean Foundation board of directors approved $2.4 million of grants to four organizations to support community revitalization, economic opportunity, and public and civic sector leadership in the Mahoning Valley. The organizations that received grants are:

•Bridgeway Capital, in support of its Mahoning Valley operations over two years.

Founded in 1990, Bridgeway Capital is a Pittsburgh-based community development financial institution (CDFI) that seeks to combat injustices and advance opportunities by building small-business and nonprofit capacity, investing capital in low-income areas and supporting underserved entrepreneurs.

Bridgeway opened a Mahoning Valley office two years ago and has closed 14 loans totaling $6.2 million, delivered business accelerator programs and built strong community partners through sponsorships, collaborations and events. Ensuring support to historically underfunded minorities, including black borrowers, remains a priority in its lending practices. More than half of the organization’s total lending capital in fiscal year 2025 supported enterprises led by people of color.

•Economic Action Group for two years of operating funds in support of small business and talent development initiatives seeking to advance equitable growth and long-term community resilience. Founded in 2013, EAG bridges grassroots efforts and anchor institutions to address long-standing capacity gaps in regional revitalization. EAG employs strategies that combine capital-readiness education (i.e., business planning, startup expenses and budget development), workforce training tied to visible redevelopment (i.e., collaborative internship placements) and policy coordination to reduce fragmentation.

•Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership for general operating support over two years. TNP’s mission is to empower residents through programming and projects that improve the quality of life in Warren neighborhoods.

TNP’s work spans a range of activities, including home renovations and emergency repairs; collaborative strategies that address neighborhood conditions, systems change and equity; capacity-building and technical assistance for grassroots and neighborhood-based organizations; and the convening and facilitation of cross-sector, resident-informed initiatives.

TNP also operates the Trumbull County Land Bank and has led the demolition and rehabilitation of vacant properties in Warren.

•Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. (YNDC) for general operating support over two years.

To read the full article from The Vindicator, click here.

The Raymond John Wean Foundation board of directors approved $2.4 million in grants to four organizations to support initiatives in the Mahoning Valley region. The grants will fund community development, small business support, workforce training, and affordable housing programs.

Why it matters
The Wean Foundation's investments aim to address long-standing capacity gaps and advance equitable growth in the Mahoning Valley, which has faced economic challenges in recent decades. By supporting organizations working on the ground, the foundation is helping to strengthen community-based efforts and drive sustainable revitalization.

The details
The four grant recipients are: Bridgeway Capital, a Pittsburgh-based community development financial institution (CDFI) expanding its operations in the Mahoning Valley; Economic Action Group, which provides small business and talent development programs; Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, focused on improving quality of life in Warren neighborhoods; and Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., dedicated to affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization in Youngstown.

To read the full article from National Today, click here.

At its March meeting, the Raymond John Wean Foundation board of directors approved $2.4 million of grants to four organizations to support community revitalization, economic opportunity, and public and civic sector leadership in the Mahoning Valley. The organizations that received grants are:

• Bridgeway Capital, in support of its Mahoning Valley operations over two years.

Founded in 1990, Bridgeway Capital is a Pittsburgh-based community development financial institution (CDFI) that seeks to combat injustices and advance opportunities by building small-business and nonprofit capacity, investing capital in low-income areas and supporting underserved entrepreneurs.

Bridgeway opened a Mahoning Valley office two years ago and has closed 14 loans totaling $6.2 million, delivered business accelerator programs and built strong community partners through sponsorships, collaborations and events. Ensuring support to historically underfunded minorities, including black borrowers, remains a priority in its lending practices. More than half of the organization’s total lending capital in fiscal year 2025 supported enterprises led by people of color.

• Economic Action Group for two years of operating funds in support of small business and talent development initiatives seeking to advance equitable growth and long-term community resilience. Founded in 2013, EAG bridges grassroots efforts and anchor institutions to address long-standing capacity gaps in regional revitalization. EAG employs strategies that combine capital-readiness education (i.e., business planning, startup expenses and budget development), workforce training tied to visible redevelopment (i.e., collaborative internship placements) and policy coordination to reduce fragmentation.

• Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership for general operating support over two years. TNP’s mission is to empower residents through programming and projects that improve the quality of life in Warren neighborhoods.

TNP’s work spans a range of activities, including home renovations and emergency repairs; collaborative strategies that address neighborhood conditions, systems change and equity; capacity-building and technical assistance for grassroots and neighborhood-based organizations; and the convening and facilitation of cross-sector, resident-informed initiatives.

TNP also operates the Trumbull County Land Bank and has led the demolition and rehabilitation of vacant properties in Warren. Last year marked the first year TNP ventured into new construction, with the development of four homes on the former Emerson Elementary School site.

• Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. (YNDC) for general operating support over two years. YNDC is a community development organization dedicated to stabilizing neighborhoods, expanding access to quality affordability housing and advancing resident-centered revitalization in the city of Youngstown.

To read the full article from Tribune Chronicle, click here.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Bryce has lived in the Youngstown area for the majority of his life, and he says it’s the sense of community and Youngstown’s rich culture that have kept him here. After years of renting, Bryce felt it was time to start looking for a home that he could buy.

When he started his search, architecture and location were at the forefront of his mind. “I’m really big into Tudor homes. I’m really big into the cultural architecture of the area. It is very unique. You see a lot of that right by Lanterman’s Mill,” Bryce said. After touring a few homes, his approach started to change. “I looked at a lot of older homes, probably a dozen or so. The maintenance required for those and just the age that comes with that type of house wasn’t feasible to sink that kind of money into,” he said.

Bryce is a big fan of Mill Creek MetroParks, so staying close to the park was important. That’s when Bryce’s Realtor introduced him to YNDC’s homes, specifically two newly constructed homes on Mineral Springs Avenue. The location, the purchase incentives, and YNDC’s program made his decision easy. “These homes are beautiful,” Bryce said. “We toured the home down the street and then popped into this one. We viewed this home and then I think I put my offer in the next day.”

He was unaware of YNDC before purchasing his home but now has an appreciation for its work in the community. “It is so nice to see Glenwood as a whole getting revitalized,” he said.

He is also a part of YNDC’s free HUD-approved housing counseling program, which he says is beneficial for first-time homebuyers. “Every question is valid. It is exactly what you need to balance the ideals of buying a home, learning the process, and then the burdens that come with buying a home. It is the niceties but it’s also the real stuff, you know, you’re paying for gas, electric, water, and trash. It is all that,” Bryce said.

Since moving in, he has referred multiple friends to check out YNDC homes. “I have recommended [YNDC] to a lot of my friends. Some were on the tours with me for the homes. I would love to see more people getting into the [YNDC program], especially people who care about the local community, who are local, and work locally. I really want to see Youngstown become what it was again.”

The Glenwood Neighbors Business Association is meeting Thursday, April 16th at 5 P.M. at the Youngstown Playhouse. The Glenwood Neighbors Business Association is a coalition of neighborhood leaders, business owners, and institutional stakeholders along Glenwood Avenue who work together to improve safety, quality of life, and generate economic opportunity along the corridor and surrounding neighborhoods on Youngstown’s Southside.

At the April meeting, Glenwood Neighbors will discuss upcoming corridor projects and strategies for growing the coalition. City staff and elected officials are also invited. Individuals and organizations tied to Glenwood Neighbor’s mission are invited to attend.

Monday, March 30, 2026

The Western Reserve Health Foundation awarded YNDC a $20,000 grant for neighborhood improvement projects. This work will focus on blocks with new housing development or major renovation projects underway or planned in the near term. Neighborhood improvements will include replacing broken and failing sidewalks, removing dead and dying street trees, planting new street trees, implementing a community safety program, and other targeted improvements. Thank you to the Western Reserve Health Foundation for the support!

A small grassy lot in Alliance, anchored by a towering backhoe, was ready for new construction.

To a group of people gathered March 31 for a groundbreaking at 727 Milner St., it was no ordinary event. It symbolized hope and renewal in the city's Ward 2.

The area is blighted.

"This is wonderful," said Mayor Andy Grove. "This is just another step in what's been our plan for the last 2½ years to get affordable housing in Alliance."

Rev. Raymont Johnson of the Family Matters Resource Center in Alliance gives a blessing March 31, 2026, during a Build Ohio groundbreaking ceremony at 727 Milner St. in Alliance.
Build Ohio Neighborhoods Inc., a North Canton nonprofit, plans to build 10 high-quality homes for families in 2026 in the Freedom neighborhood, which includes Milner Street. More will be built in 2027 and 2028. All of them will be on the market for sale.

The Milner address is the first build.

The houses will cost between $150,000 and $160,000, after down-payment subsidies.

Don Ackerman, president of Build Ohio, said the houses will come with property tax credits and qualified buyers can get up to $70,000 in down-payment assistance. He also said the houses cannot become rentals for at least three years. Investors and landlords are not eligible to buy them.

The Greater Alliance Foundation; Grove Appliance Charitable Fund; Joseph and Charlotte Mastroianni Family Charitable Fund; Geraldine Burnell Brotsman Charitable Fund; the Tolerton Family; John F. Peters and Madge P. Peters Charitable Fund; and the city have donated to the project.

Ackerman also said he is seeking additional grant dollars for more construction.

Build Ohio is a joint venture between Canton For All People and the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.

To read the full article from The Repository, click here.

The Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley will host its inaugural Impact Dinner at Stambaugh Auditorium on April 8.

This year’s event will feature a seated dinner, annual report presentation and the recognition of the 2026 Visionary Award winners.

This event is to celebrate the impact the Foundation has had over the past year and celebrate all that has been accomplished through donor and volunteer generosity.

“The transformative generosity of our donors serves as the cornerstone of our work in the Mahoning Valley, proving that when we invest together, we create a healthier, more resilient community,” said Paul Homick Jr. JD, president of Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley.

The Visionary Awards recognize individuals who make a profound impact in the community in the spirit and mission inspired by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary since 1911, when Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Hospital opened its doors.

Stories of three inspiring awardees who, in their everyday lives, provide an example of the mission to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus, of their visionary leadership in helping make the Mahoning Valley a healthier place and of their exceptional stewardship of the resources provided by the Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley, will be shared during the event.

• Leadership in Health Award — Dr. Ronald Rhodes, chief academic officer, Mercy Health-Lorain and Youngstown.

• Heart of the Mission Award — St. Elizabeth Youngstown and Boardman Hospitals Auxiliary.

• Continuing the Legacy Award — Ian Beniston, executive director, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.

To read the full article from the Tribune Chronicle, click here.

Thursday, April 2, 2026

YNDC has completed the first phase of its cottage court development on Pearce Avenue. A cottage court is a housing development featuring a group of small, detached dwellings arranged around a central, shared common green or courtyard. YNDC worked with the City of Youngstown to change the zoning to Planned Development Overlay to allow for the cottage court style development.

Phase 1 included renovating three existing cottages constructed in 1926 that likely housed workers for the former Idora Park amusement park. The renovation is complete and the units are now available for lease. The first phase of the project was funded with support from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh's Affordable Housing Program. PNC Bank served as the member bank. YNDC served as the general contractor for the project.

The second phase will include constructing three new homes similar in design to the existing homes that also front a common greenspace. Construction on the homes is anticipated to begin later this year.

The City of Youngstown also supported repaving Pearce Avenue and funding sidewalk replacement along Pearce and Parkview Avenues.

More information on Phase 2 will be available in the coming months.