New home built in Leesburg for disabled residents

The Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Highland Housing Services held an open house in Leesburg on Tuesday, Oct. 15 to celebrate the construction of a new home in Leesburg that will provide housing for clients of the board who have a disability but also have the ability to live on their own.

The house is at 537 W. Main Street in Leesburg.

“The project here is with Highland Housing, which is a non-profit corporation that we formed many years ago with the county board, but since it has separated, and they have their own board,” said Superintendent for the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities Larry Gray. “Now, with this house, they have ten units, and they’re getting ready to build one more.

Gray said most of the money to build the house was obtained from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.

“We got $255,000 for this home, and some small amount came from the county board for local match, and we used project financing for the rest of the project,” said Gray.

The new home will be able to house four people.

“They share the rent and utilities just like anybody else or a family,” said Gray. “We do have other homes throughout the community, and we also partner with Community Action.”

Gray said the board has about 20 units in Highland County.

“We have a huge need, and sometimes it’s very hard to find suitable housing in these smaller communities where people can live,” he said. “We designed this house so it’s fully accessible from the front so they can get in with a wheelchair, and it also has accessible bathrooms and wide doorways.”

Gray said people who are served by the county board are eligible to be placed in the housing.

“We’re just very happy to partner with Highland Housing, and we’re appreciative of the community here in Leesburg,” he said. “We’re excited to be able to bring this to the community, and the funds are out there for all counties to take advantage of.”

Reach John Hackley at 937-402-2571.