Housing

A picture of Beverly Lewis

Beverly Lewis
Housing Director & Fair Housing Coordinator
blewis@massillonohio.gov

Anna Jordan
Community Development & Housing Assistant
ajordan@massillonohio.gov

Tel: 330-830-1717   |   Fax: 330-830-1778

Municipal Government Annex
151 Lincoln Way East   |   Massillon, OH 44646

Ohio Relay Phone Number: 711 or 1-800-750-0750

About our Program

The City of Massillon operates its own fair housing program that is designed to improve and promote housing opportunities in the community, including education and outreach, monitoring and evaluation, and administration of fair housing laws.

As a HUD based housing program we are dedicated to furthering Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity within the City. Our goals and objectives are in line with the Department of Housing and Urban Developments (HUD) Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity (FHEO) national objectives of eliminating housing discrimination. We believe that through the promotion of diversity, inclusion, and opportunity, we can strengthen our neighborhoods and communities here within our great city. We adhere to and uphold both federal and State of Ohio Fair Housing and anti-discrimination laws.

Our department also addresses tenant/landlord issues, Fair Housing Discrimination Complaints, and conducts periodic workshops and counseling services between the tenant and landlord.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary conditions for low and moderate income homeowners by offering fair housing & anti discrimination tenant/landlord services, several housing rehabilitation programs, as well as offering individuals and families a home buyer’s assistance program to help with down payment and closing costs.

Housing Programs and Information

The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing-related transactions because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status. Many State and Local Laws also prohibit housing discrimination based on several additional protected classes.

The Fair Housing Act applies to a wide variety of housing transactions, including rentals, sales, home mortgages, appraisals and homeowners insurance. Landlords, real-estate agents, lenders, insurance companies, and condominiums, cooperative and homeowners associations must not discriminate because of one’s membership in a protected class.

Housing Discrimination is against the law! The only way to stop discrimination is to report it!

Printable Posters & Brochures

Veterans Fair Housing Poster & Veterans Fair Housing Poster (Spanish)

Fair Housing for Families Brochure

Fair Housing for Home Owner, Cooperative, & Condominium Associations Brochure

Fair housing for Individuals with Disabilities Brochure

This program is to be utilized by residents wishing to become homeowners but do not have the resources to cover all initial costs, such as down payment assistance or closing costs. To qualify for assistance, the applicant must be a first time homebuyer (as determined by HUD regulations), use the residence as their primary dwelling, and the property being purchased must be in the city limits of Massillon. Household income must be within 80% area median income as stated in the current HUD income guidelines. The property being purchased will undergo an inspection and must meet Residential Rehabilitation Standard (RRS). Applicants are required to participate in a credit counseling session as a condition of assistance being provided. A Lien will be placed on the property to be satisfied after a five year period.

 

Funding is currently available for this program!

The following programs are designed to help homeowners who live within the city limits of Massillon make needed repairs and improvements on their property to bring it up to local housing code and to ensure decent, safe and sanitary living conditions.

To be eligible to apply, you must be the owner-occupant of a single-family residence for a period of one full year.  Real estate taxes must be current and homeowners insurance must be maintained on the property.

Income cannot exceed 80% of the area median income (AMI) for the Stark County area based on the current U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) income guidelines.

These programs are provided on a one-time only basis and a waiting list may exist as the assistance is contingent upon availability of funds.

Emergency Grant Assistance

The purpose of this program is to correct true emergency problems that are a current threat to the health and safety of the household. Problems such as a furnace, hot water tank, and water or sewer line can be addressed. The maximum amount of assistance cannot exceed $9,500.00 for roofs & $5,500.00 for all other items.

Full Housing Rehabilitation

The purpose of this program is to address needed repairs, correct existing violations of the Massillon housing code and bring the house up to decent, safe and sanitary conditions. The maximum amount of assistance cannot exceed $25,000.00 and will result in a deferred lien, not to exceed 10 years, being placed on the property. Those individuals holding a land contract are not eligible for this program.

Minor Home Repair

This program has been developed to bridge the gap between Emergency and Full Rehabilitation Assistance, and is inclusive of more than one minimum code items (more than one, but not to exceed four specific to the amount required for repair) in the household that may be functioning but in serious need of repair. No lien is placed upon the property for the Minor Home Repair Program.

*At times a waiting list may exist for some of our housing programs.

Income Limits CDBG & HOME FY 2023 - Stark County

Effective 06/15/2023

Household Size/ Income Group

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

30%

17,100

19,550

22,000

24,400

26,400

28,350

30,300

32,250

Low

28,500

32,600

36,650

40,700

44,000

47,250

50,500

53,750

60%

34,200

39,120

43,980

48,840

52,800

56,700

60,600

64,500

Moderate

45,600

52,100

58,600

65,100

70,350

75,550

80,750

85,950

Your rights as a landlord or tenant

  1. Keep the building safe and sanitary by complying with local housing, health, and safety codes.
  2. Make repairs to keep the building fit and habitable.
  3. Keep hallways, stairs, and other common areas safe and sanitary.
  4. Keep in good working order all electrical, plumbing, heating, and ventilation systems and fixtures.
  5. Provide garbage cans and arrange for pickup, if the landlord owns four or more units in same building.
  6. Provide running water and reasonable amounts of hot water and heat unless hot water and heat are supplied by an installation under the exclusive control of tenant and supplied by a direct public utility connection.
  7. Not abuse the right of access.
  8. Give at least 24 hours notice, unless it is an emergency, before entering a tenant’s unit and entering only at reasonable times.
  9. Evict tenant when informed by a law enforcement officer of drug activity by the tenant, a member of the tenant’s household, or a guest of the tenant occurring in or otherwise connected with the tenant’s premises.

There is no government control over rent in Ohio, except in subsidized housing programs. In the case of a month to month agreement, a landlord must give a full thirty days notice before raising rent. In the case of a lease, a landlord may not raise rent during the term of the lease agreement. Ohio Landlord Tenant Law does not specifically address the issue of late charges. Late charges may be assessed as a part of the rental agreement. Late charges may not be “unconscionable” in their intent or application.

Recent changes in the Ohio Landlord Tenant Law require landlords to evict tenants when the landlord has actual knowledge of or reasonable cause to believe that the tenant, members of the tenants’ household, or persons on the property with the consent of the tenant, are engaged in drug activity. A landlord’s actions are triggered by a notice from a police department which has acted pursuant to a search warrant. Lease termination and eviction procedures in drug situations are faster than in other cases.

  1. Keep the premises which the tenant occupies safe and sanitary.
  2. Dispose of rubbish in the proper manner.
  3. Keep the plumbing fixtures as clean as their condition permits.
  4. Use electrical and plumbing fixtures properly.
  5. Comply with local housing, health, and safety codes.
  6. Refrain from activity that causes damage to the premises and keep guests from doing the same.
  7. Maintain appliances subject by the landlord in good working order.
  8. Conduct himself/herself in a manner that does not disturb any neighbors, and require guests and family members to do the same.
  9. Comply with state or municipal drug laws in connection with the premises and require household members and guests to do likewise.
  10. Permit the landlord to enter the dwelling unit if the request is reasonable and proper notice is given.

A landlord or a tenant may terminate a month-to-month rental agreement by giving a full thirty days notice to the other party. The thirty days begin on the rent due date. A written rental agreement (lease) normally specifies the method for termination or renewal. If it is not specified, then the agreement terminates on the date specified in the agreement. A landlord may give & a tenant notice that the tenant is not complying with the requirements of the Landlord Tenant Law and that the rental agreement will terminate in thirty days. The tenant may correct his noncompliance within the thirty-day period and the termination will be dropped. A tenant may give a landlord notice to comply with a duty imposed on him/her by the Landlord Tenant Law, the rental agreement or the local building, housing, health or safety code within thirty days, or the tenant may terminate the rental agreement.

If the landlord does not meet his/her duties under the law or local codes, or the rental agreement, a tenant may give the landlord a written notice of the conditions which need to be corrected. This notice must be delivered to the person or place where the tenant normally pays rent. The tenant should keep a copy. If the landlord fails to remedy conditions that are required by the ‘ Landlord Tenant Law, the rental agreement or the local building, housing, health and safety codes within a reasonable time, not to exceed 30 days, then the tenant may:

  1. deposit the rent with court; or
  2. request the court to order the repairs to be made;
  3. terminate the rental agreement

A landlord may apply to the court for a release of rent on the grounds that the conditions did not exist or has been corrected, that the tenant failed to follow the proper procedure in depositing rent while the Clerk of Courts, or that the landlord needs the rent to make the repairs or pay critical bills, The tenants have the opportunity to dispute the landlord’s application for release of a court hearing. A tenant who simply refuses to pay rent because of bad conditions may be subject to eviction.

  • Tenant must be current in rent before depositing with the Clerk of Courts.
  • A tenant may not deposit rent with the Clerk of Courts in “bad faith”.
  • Deposit must be made on or before the normal rent due date.
  • If the landlord has given the tenant a written notice at the beginning of the tenancy which states that the landlord owns three or fewer rental units, then the tenant may not exercise these rights.

If the owner has failed to disclose his/her name and address or name and address of her/his agent, the owner give up the right to notice of correction before a tenant exercises legal action to get corrections.

A landlord may bring an eviction action against a tenant when the tenant:

  1. has not paid rent; or
  2. is in violation of a condition of a written rental agreement that is not a duty under the Landlord Tenant Law; or
  3. has caused a violation of a building, housing, health or safety code or has permitted a member of the household or guest to violate a code requirement, or the landlord must vacate the unit in order to comply with local building, housing, health and safety codes or;
  4. if holding over beyond the term of the tenant’s rental agreement.

To bring an eviction action, the landlord must first give the tenant a three (3) day notice to vacate. This notice must include specific legal language informing the tenant of her/his rights. If the tenant does not move out after three days, the landlord may file an eviction action with the Clerk of Courts, The Clerk will schedule a hearing and the tenant will receive a summons and complaint from the court at least five days before the hearing, The tenant may offer defenses to the eviction at the hearing. If the court grants the eviction and the tenant still does not vacate the premises, the landlord must then request that the court issue a Writ of Restitution. This authorizes the court to send a bailiff or sheriff out to the property to remove the tenant and his/her belongings from the unit. The landlord may also file a “second cause of action” to recover money damages when he/she files for the eviction. A date for a default hearing on the second cause will be set. The tenant may answer the complaint within 28 days of receiving the complaint in the mail. If the tenant fails to file an answer within the 28 day time limit this will result in a default judgment against the tenant. A default judgment will stop the tenant from later objecting to the amount of damages the court may award to the landlord on a claim against the tenant for damages to the premises. The tenant has the right to counterclaim for money damages and to deny the land-lord’s charges and/or assert a reduction in value of the rental unit. The tenant has the right to have these costs offset against any security deposit that is being held by the landlord. Not all cases will include a “second cause” for money damages. If there is only a claim for eviction, the case will be terminated after the eviction hearing.

If there is a ‘second cause” for money damages, however, the case will not be terminated until the landlord recovers a money judgment against the tenant or the case is dismissed through settlement or court action. Therefore, it is important that the tenant notify the Clerk of Courts in writing of his/her new address. Failure to leave a written forwarding address with the Clerk may result in a default judgment. There is some variation in local procedures for eviction. Landlord and tenants may wish to check with a local court official or an attorney to find out about local procedures.

The Ohio Landlord Tenant Law permits the landlord to collect a security deposit to cover the costs of any unpaid rents or damages to the property beyond normal wear and tear. The landlord is required to return the security deposit to the tenant within 30 days after the tenant gives up occupancy and terminates the tenancy. The landlord must provide a written itemization of any costs for repairs or unpaid rent deducted from the security deposit. If, after 30 days, the landlord does not return the deposit, or if the tenant feels that some portion of the deposit has been wrongfully withheld, the tenant may sue for the amount wrongfully withheld and reasonable attorney’s fees. If the tenant has given a written forwarding address the tenant may sue for double the amount that he/she believes was wrongfully withheld. Security deposit claims for less than $1000.00 may be brought by the tenant in Small Claims Court, without an attomey. If the security deposit is more than one month’s rent and the tenant stays more than six (6) months, the landlord must pay interest on the amount that is greater than one month’s rent.

Every rental agreement must contain the owner’s name and address and the name and address of the owner’s agent. If the owner or agent is a corporation partnership or other entity, the address must be the principle place of business in the County where the premises is located or, if none of the County, then the principle place of business in Ohio. This notice must include the name of the person in charge. In the case of an oral rental agreement, the information described above must be delivered in writing to the tenant at the beginning of the rental agreement.

Whether or not a tenant’s right to continued use of the premises has ended, a landlord may not shut off utilities, change locks, or seize a tenant’s personal property. A landlord can only legally regain the control of the premises by properly filing for and obtaining judgment for an eviction, and then requesting that the court issue a Writ of Restitution. The Court will then send a bailiff out to the premises to oversee the changing of the locks on the unit. Even if a court has granted an eviction, a landlord must have the bailiff present to remove the tenant’s property from the premises.

Federal, State, and Local Laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, families with children and persons with handicaps. With some exceptions, landlords may not discriminate against families with children. Cities may establish reasonable regulations on the number of persons who can occupy a rental unit. Landlords may not unreasonably deny handicapped persons the right to modify the rental unit to permit full use of the premises. Landlords may ask for a security deposit from the tenant to cover the cost of restoring modifications that limit the future marketability of the unit.

The Ohio Landlord Tenant Law forbids a landlord from retaliating by increasing the rent, decreasing the services, evicting or threatening to evict a tenant who has:

  1. Complained to an appropriate government agency about a code violation.
  2. Complained to the landlord about fulfilling his/her duties.
  3. Joined with other tenants to deal with the terms and conditions of the rental agreement as a group.

A landlord who engages in retaliation may be held liable for any actual damages to the tenant and for reasonable attorney’s fees.

Phone Numbers that may assist you

Greater Stark County Urban League
330-456-3479

Massillon Clerk of Courts
330-830-1731

Massillon Code Enforcement
330-809-0235

Massillon Health Department
330-830-1710

Community Legal Aid Services
866-584-2350

Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority
Massillon Office 330-837-9392
Canton Office 330-454-8051

Stark County Bar Association
330-453-0686

Stark County Community Action Agency
330-454-1676

Stark County Fair Housing
330-451-7775

Note: The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.  Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.

Funded by: Community Development Block Grant Funds provided through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

 

There are 8 bridges under the jurisdiction of the Department of Engineering within the City of Massillon inspected by ODOT. ODOT/County maintains an additional 12 bridges in the corporation limits. Some of the bridges have recently been added such as the 17th St NE Bridge, the Pedestrian Bridge over SR 21 and the Woodstone Creek Bridge.

Each year the State of Ohio Department of Transportation contracts with an Engineering Firm to complete a comprehensive evaluation of the bridges. Upon the field inspection a report is compiled and it is filed.

The City of Massillon’s Drainage System consists of approximately 131.78 miles of storm sewer pipes, 1,812 Manholes, 4,226 Catch Basins, 27 Junction Chambers, 150 outfalls and appurtenances, which carry flow to the Tuscarawas River. Please visit our Storm Water web page for more information.

There are 174.412 miles of roads in the City that require “Annual Maintenance” work. As asphalt constructed roads age, the petroleum products in their surfaces evaporate, causing roads to become brittle and then they begin to break up. The pavement will continue to deteriorate until it fails and must be reconstructed. An increased repair effort is required to keep passable roads that have exceeded their useful pavement life. The infrastructure replacement or reconstruction cost of the roads is $213,000,000.00 or $1,220,000.00 per mile. This cost includes the asphalt pavement, subbase and excavation only. It does not include curbs, sidewalks, under drains, utilities, or sewers.

It is obviously less costly for the City to keep its roads from slipping into the expensive road reconstruction category. Thus, the preferred method for road maintenance is to resurface roads annually versus reconstruction. The strategy of the Department is to expend Capital Improvement Funds on the roadways. This would represent the present funding provided annually in the City of Massillon on average of $1,000,000.00.

Streets and Highways Department

The City of Massillon’s Sanitary Sewer Collection System consists of approximately 169.95 miles of sewer pipes, 3651 manholes, and appurtenances, which flow to the Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The collection system’s first pipes were installed in 1898. The system currently is comprised of five different types of pipe with varying sizes and service life. The service life of sewer pipes is determined by the structural integrity of the pipe, materials and the connections that join them and the composition of the sewage flowing through them. The pipe material used in the City of Massillon and its anticipated service life are as follows:

PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride            100 Years

VC – Vitrified Clay                         50 Years

DI – Ductile Iron                            75 Years

RCP – Reinforced Conc. Pipe      80 Years

FM – Forced Main                      100 Years

Please visit our Collection System web page for more information.

The City of Massillon’s Traffic Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings are maintained by our Traffic Safety Division. The City maintains 57 signalized intersections throughout the City Corporation Limits. These intersections include Traffic signals, Pedestrian signals, Controllers, Video, Loop or Mechanical Vehicle Detection, Mast Arms or Span Wires, Pull Boxes, Signs, Wiring and Power Service maintained by the City.

Also, 21 Flashing Signals, 1,453 Stop Signs, 303 Speed Limit Signs, 13 School Zones and other pertinent roadway signs, including 460 Parking signs and 2,100 Street Name Signs.

The replacement cost of these items totals more than $10,000,000.

Construction of City of Massillon’s original sewer system began over 100 years ago. Since that time, the system has been periodically expanded to accommodate additional residential, commercial and industrial users.

The effluent from the treatment facility discharges into the Tuscarawas River, an interstate river that also serves as a source of public water supply. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 established new federal guidelines and regulations for sewage treatment projects. As a result, the City was required to satisfy many new regulatory requirements.

Construction upgrades of City of Massillon’s sewer treatment plant became the focal point of the new millennium. With the increased usage of industrial and residential sewage waste collection from an expanding Western Stark County, the facility could no longer properly handle the growing sewage flows. For that reason the Massillon Regional Waste Water Treatment Plant Upgrade 2000 project came to fruition. The $32 million dollar expansion improvements increased the size of the plant facility to 15.8 MGD Advanced Secondary Treatment Process.

As required by a federal mandate, in the early 1980’s, the City began to study the effects of local industrial wastes. This study determined the character of these wastes, assessed their relative compatibility with the sewerage system, and established Industrial Pretreatment regulations for all incompatible wastes. As a result of this study the Industrial Pretreatment Division was created. Today, this function is overseen by an Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator who regulates the industrial and commercial waste in the City.

There are four publicly owned pump stations in the wastewater collection system:

The Augusta Lakes Pump Station

The Lincoln Way West Pump Station

The Nova Industrial Park Pump Station

The 17th St/Carmont Pump Station

In addition to the sanitary pump stations, the collection system has several metering stations located in the City.

Massillon Sanitary Sewer Infrastructure GIS Map

Stark County Sanitary Sewer Infrastructure GIS Map