The City of Cincinnati, the Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office, The Port and nonprofit Working in Neighborhoods are teaming up to bring financial relief to some of the city’s most vulnerable homeowners. At a joint press conference Monday, the intergovernmental partnership announced a new tax-relief initiative that will help about 250 Cincinnati homeowners with delinquent property taxes totaling nearly $800,000.
Many Hamilton County homeowners felt sticker shock after seeing how much their property taxes went up in 2024 — some as much as tripling — after Ohio’s scheduled reappraisal and property tax update in 2023. The rise prompted concerns about lower-income homeowners potentially losing their homes. This program aims to prevent those foreclosures and offer vulnerable homeowners a fresh start.
“Across the state, we’ve seen property values rise and taxes rise with them,” Hamilton County Treasurer Jill Schiller said. “And while there needs to be a holistic approach by the state legislature to address these issues, we are using the tools we have to help our most vulnerable.”
The Hamilton County Landbank, which is managed by The Port, will coordinate with the Treasurer’s Office to purchase and retire tax liens before 2025 tax bills are due next year.
“One-time debt relief doesn’t just prevent foreclosure; it clears the way for families to access resources that help keep their homes stable for the future,” said Laura Brunner, president and CEO of The Port.
Homeowners eligible for the program will automatically be notified by mail, says Sr. Barbara Busch from Working in Neighborhoods. To be eligible for the program, you must:
- Reside in the City of Cincinnati
- Live in an owner-occupied single or two-family home
- Have a home with a market value of $100,000 or less
- Owe $10,000 or less in delinquent property taxes as of July 2025
If you get a letter, you’ll contact Working in Neighborhoods to establish a plan. Working in Neighborhoods will also be partnering with other housing organizations to provide additional legal and financial services to participants.
This article appears in Aug 6-19, 2025.
