Indiana communities have an opportunity to apply for a share of $75 million in federal money to demolish blighted and abandoned homes.
Indiana Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann has announced the Blight Elimination Program. The funding will come from $221.7 million that Indiana receives from the federal Hardest Hit Fund, which largely goes toward helping struggling homeowners make mortgage payments.
The Evansville Courier and Press reports that Vanderburgh County is grouped with 11 other counties that can apply for $19 million from the fund. The money will help finance demolitions. A 10 percent local match is required that can come in the form of volunteer labor or a rehabilitation project.
Ellspermann says Indiana has the highest percentage of abandoned foreclosed homes in the country. While the program is expected to tear-down at least 4,000 blighted and abandoned homes in Indiana, that’s less than 10-percent of such homes in the Hoosier State.