Responding to COVID-19: Transit Systems Around Ohio Respond to Public Health Crisis

Transit providers have increased rigorous and frequent cleaning of all hard surfaces in facilities and buses. They are taking preventative measures as recommended by the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health. Transit providers are also coordinating with the Federal Transit Administration on proper protocol and for emergency support.

Passengers can help prevent the spread of the virus by taking everyday precautions: wash hands, do not touch your face and avoid sick people. Ohio Public Transit Association (OPTA) is encouraging Ohioans to check their local transit system’s website and social media channels for the latest updates on service and protocols. OPTA also encourages customers to avoid transit centers and to purchase tickets and passes through mobile devices if available. 

Many transit systems have elected to waive fees for transit rides during the COVID-19 outbreak. You should check with your local transit provider before opting to purchase tickets and passes in advance.

Many systems are also focused on helping children reach community centers and schools to pick-up free breakfast and lunch meals through service enhancements and/or free fares.

Below are links to transit systems around Ohio with information about how they are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Central Ohio Regional Transit Authority (COTA)

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA)

Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA)

Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (GDRTA)

Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA)

Akron Metro Regional Transit Authority (METRO)

Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA)

Laketran

Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA)

Sandusky Transit System (STS)

Ohio Public Transit Association (OPTA)

Responding to COVID-19: Disaster Relief Options for FHA Homeowners

Was your ability to make your mortgage payments harmed by an event that has been declared a disaster? The recent outbreak of COVID-19 and the declaration of a “national emergency” by the President of the United States means that you may qualify for relief to help you keep your home.

Much of the mortgage industry and The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development are committed to assisting borrowers whose lives and livelihoods are thrown into turmoil by a disaster.

If you can't pay your mortgage because of the disaster, your lender may be able to help you. If you are at risk of losing your home because of the disaster, your lender may stop or delay initiation of foreclosure for 90 days. Lenders may also waive late fees for borrowers who may become delinquent on their loans as a result of the disaster.

If you have a conventional mortgage, you are strongly encouraged to contact your lender for further information, and to see if you are eligible for relief.

If you have an FHA-insured mortgage, please continue reading to find out what options may be available to you.

How Can This FHA Disaster Relief Help Me?

HUD has instructed FHA lenders to use reasonable judgment in determining who is an "affected borrower." Lenders are required to reevaluate each delinquent loan until reinstatement or foreclosure and to identify the cause of default. Contact your lender to let them know about your situation. Some of the actions that your lender may take are:

• During the term of a moratorium, your loan may not be referred to foreclosure if you were affected by a disaster.

• Your lender will evaluate you for any available loss mitigation assistance to help you retain your home.

• Your lender may enter into a forbearance plan, or execute a loan modification or a partial claim, if these actions will help retain and pay for your home.

• If saving your home is not feasible, lenders have some flexibility in using the pre-foreclosure sales program or may offer to accept a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.

You can learn more about what options may be available to you directly from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s National Servicing Center.

There is additional information that is relevant to local government from these entities (specifically HUD) including eligible usage of CDBG funds (click here) .

Below is additional general guidance for natural disasters, providing general insight into policies and procedures regarding assisting homeowners with foreclosure avoidance.

• Department of Housing and Urban Development

• Department of Veterans Affairs

• Fannie Mae

• Freddie Mac

Thank you to Michael Halpern with MuniReg for sharing this information. GOPC will continue to provide information about various programs to provide relief to communities throughout the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

An Update for Friends & Supporters of Greater Ohio

As all of our thoughts are on the Covid-19 situation, GOPC would like to share an update on how we are responding as an organization. 

Through at least April 3, staff at GOPC will be working remotely. We will provide an update (via social media and our website) if this is extended beyond early April. We will also be postponing any in-person meetings and conferences that we had planned at-least through May 10, 2020. 

If you need to contact us, please do so via email. You can find links to all staff contacts via our website.