Not every region of the Buckeye State receives the same attention from Columbus, we all know that. In fact, rural Southeast Ohio tends to be an afterthought most of the time. But last week, state Rep. Kevin Ritter, R-Marietta, announced $300,000 is headed to Hocking Athens Perry Community Action to provide some much-needed assistance with housing repairs for low and moderate-income residents.

Ritter’s 94th Ohio House District includes parts of Athens, Meigs and Washington counties, and he knows all too well the struggle for affordable, livable housing in the region. Those who are in homes are not always able to keep up with the constant need for maintenance and repairs that goes along with it, as prices sky rocket and local economies remain sluggish.

But Ohio Department of Development grants are available to help nonprofits contract with construction companies for essential home repairs such as heating systems, water heaters, plumbing systems, severely deteriorated roofs, walls, windows, doors, hazardous electrical systems, and more. The grant for Hocking Athens Perry Community Action will help provide home repairs and handicapped accessibility modification for homeowners at or below 50% of the area median income. AMI in Athens County, for example, is $41,950 for a one-person household and $59,900 for a four-person household.

These families need all the help they can get.

“This funding provides an opportunity to help more families when they need an essential repair or an accessibility update completed in their home,” Ritter said. “It’s great to see resources allocated specifically for Southeast Ohio so work can be done in the community to ensure safe housing and a better quality of life for residents.”

Indeed, it is. Now, here’s hoping Ritter and other Southeast Ohio lawmakers keep up the pressure to prevent Columbus from once again turning away from the region.