Macomb County is using about $10 million in federal funds to attack the vacant, blighted foreclosures in its neighborhoods.
It is helping to put working-class families (read: family of four with an income less than $83,900) into these homes. Families are expected to bring these problem homes back into the neighborhood fold -- erasing blight, promoting home ownership, and preserving the tax base. Demolition does none of these things.
The Macomb County Dept. of Planning & Economic Development will quarterback this new Neighborhood Stabilization Program. It hopes to help at least 200 families to buy these homes by helping with down payments and necessary repairs in the form of zero-interest loans.
About 60 percent of the money will be spent in Eastpointe, Center Line and Mount Clemens. The rest will be spread throughout the county. Warren, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, Roseville and St. Clair Shores have received their own separate federal foreclosure funding.
For information on the program, send an e-mail to: Federal.NSP@macombcountymi.gov or call (586) 469-6285.
Source: Macomb County
Writer: Jon Zemke
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