What does home mean to you? For me, home is a place of comfort, safety, and belonging—a space that holds my family, our memories, and serves as a sanctuary from the world.
Home is also a foundation for growth, both personal and financial. Yet, for many homeowners in our community, accessing affordable home repairs is a significant challenge. In Hamilton County, 60% of our housing stock was built before 1970. Older homes often require major updates—such as a new roof, improved heating and air conditioning, or even foundation repairs. For legacy homeowners who carefully manage tight household budgets, these repairs can feel out of reach.
To address this need, LISC Greater Cincinnati is proud to launch the Revive + Thrive Home Repair Loan Program. Modeled after successful programs in cities like Detroit and Memphis, Revive + Thrive will provide affordable, below-market loans to homeowners who may not qualify for traditional bank financing. This program will offer the resources necessary to help homeowners maintain and improve their homes, ensuring stability for families today and building generational wealth for years to come.
Revive + Thrive is the second component of our Homeownership Preservation Strategy, following the Lead Safe Hamilton County initiative. The program is supported by a $2 million investment from the Hamilton County Commission, a $1 million investment from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and an additional $1 million leveraged through LISC.
Thanks to the leadership of the Hamilton County Commission, homeowners now have access to the resources they need to invest in their homes. Our strong partnership with the Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF), which contributed $1 million in critical loan capital, also enabled LISC to secure an additional $1 million from a national philanthropic investor. Together, these funds allow Revive + Thrive to support even more homeowners.
The program offers low-interest loans at a 2% interest rate, repayable over a term of up to 10 years. Loan amounts will range from $5,000 to $25,000, available to eligible homeowners with household incomes up to 80% of the area median income (AMI). This equates to $75,500 for a family of three and $58,700 for a single person. Currently, the program is open to homeowners in participating jurisdictions within Hamilton County, outside the City of Cincinnati, with announcements for city residents to follow soon.
Partnership is key to this program’s success. We deeply appreciate our community partners: Working in Neighborhoods, Warsaw Federal, Cincinnati’s first Minority Depository Institution, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati, who will provide critical support and oversee repairs on behalf of homeowners. United Way of Greater Cincinnati will serve as the first point of contact, guiding interested homeowners through the process. A call to 211 will start the application process.
This is more than just a loan—it’s about empowering families to remain in their homes, improve their living conditions, and build long-term financial stability. It’s about preserving our housing stock and investing in the people and communities that make Hamilton County a vibrant place to live. I want to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to bring this program to life. The Revive + Thrive Home Repair Loan Program is a powerful tool for building stronger communities. I’m excited to see the positive impact it will have on the lives of so many Hamilton County residents.