SANDUSKY — On Pierce Street this fall, once-blighted lots will hold brand new homes — two of 14 affordable homes being built through the city’s Welcome Home Sandusky program.
The program is backed by a $3.5 million state Department of Development grant awarded last year. City Manager John Orzech said Sandusky was among the first communities in Ohio to receive such a large award.
“Basically what happens is we use the grant to build the homes, and qualified buyers purchase them for $160,000,” Orzech explained. “When those sales close, the funds go back into the account. If all 14 homes sell, we’ll be able to build 31 more. It’s a self-sustaining cycle.”
Eligible families must meet income requirements, secure bank approval, and complete financial literacy training. Buyers then choose from available city owned lots identified by the city’s land bank.
A goal before 30
For Hannah Smith, a bus garage administrative assistant with Sandusky Schools, the program is life-changing. She and her husband Justin, who is a bar manager, are raising three children — including nine-year-old twins.
The family has been living in a camper outside Norwalk since June after leaving a rental property with unsafe conditions. Smith says the new home is not just shelter, but the fulfillment of a promise to herself.
“I set a goal that I wanted to be a homeowner by the time I turned 30,” she said. “The ribbon-cutting is Sept. 24, and my birthday is Sept. 28. I’m going to make my goal.”
The family expects to move in before the end of September, just in time for the children to settle into their new rooms much closer to the Sandusky Intermediate School they attend.
When asked what the move meant to them, the children were candid about their excitement and frustrations. The first twin said, “It means a lot. I’m really excited.” Their younger brother agreed, adding, “It means a lot, too, because I want to move into a house now, I’m tired of living in that camper.”
The other twin echoed the sentiment when asked if they were excited about the new home. “Yes,” they said, “because I’m tired of living in that stupid camper.” Their remarks capture both the eagerness for a fresh start and the discomfort of their current living situation.
For the family, the move represents more than just a change of address—it’s a chance for stability, privacy and a place to grow up with a sense of permanence that the camper could never provide.
A Neighborhood reborn
For neighbors, the homes represent more than new construction. On Pierce Street, lifelong resident Jerry Jackson has watched one lot sit vacant for more than a decade after an abandoned house decayed and was eventually demolished.
“It had possums, skunks, everything under it,” Jackson said. “Now it’s going to be a home again. It’s going to fix the block up real nice.”
Jackson, who has lived on the street since 1960, said the project brings new energy and hope for longtime residents who have endured years of decline. He’s already met Hannah and her family and he’s so happy to welcome them to the neighborhood.
What’s next
City officials say the 14 houses are only the beginning. With continued sales and reinvestment, dozens more affordable homes could rise on city-owned lots in the next few years.
An open house for the Welcome Home Sandusky program is planned for late September.
Stop paying rent; you can buy a brand new home in Sandusky
🏡 Welcome Home Sandusky: Affordable Housing Initiative
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