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Lorain County Land Bank Partners on Regional Affordable Housing Initiative

One Community Update
January 16, 2026

Source: Cleveland.com

The Lorain County Land Bank is partnering with the cities of Lorain, Elyria and Oberlin, along with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, on a regional housing initiative tied to Ohio’s Welcome Home Ohio program.

WHO provides up to $22.8 million per fiscal year in grant funding to support the purchase, construction and rehabilitation of residential properties.

If awarded, the grants would support new construction and rehabilitation projects intended to increase attainable homeownership and reinforce neighborhood stability throughout Lorain County.

Local officials say demand for the funding is expected to be high due to the program’s success since its launch.

Through the collaboration, the Lorain County Land Bank is working with a group of experienced builders and developers, including Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, Unibilt and Community Building Partners.

Officials said the team was selected based on its prior experience delivering projects under the Welcome Home Ohio program. Grant award announcements are expected within 60 to 90 days.

Local leaders said the partnership is aimed at increasing affordable, owner-occupied housing while promoting long-term neighborhood stability across Lorain County.

The effort focuses on reinvestment in communities that have experienced limited new housing development in recent decades.

County commissioners emphasized the importance of a coordinated approach to addressing housing needs. Officials said collaboration between the county, municipalities and nonprofit partners strengthens neighborhoods while supporting workforce housing goals.

Municipal leaders from Lorain, Elyria and Oberlin echoed that sentiment, noting that housing challenges often extend beyond city boundaries and require regional solutions.

Oberlin officials highlighted the role of partnerships in expanding affordable housing options, while Elyria leaders pointed to the potential for reinvestment in existing neighborhoods.

Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity officials said the Welcome Home Ohio funding aligns with the organization’s broader mission to increase homeownership opportunities.

The partnership is also expected to support Habitat’s ongoing efforts to expand housing access across Northeast Ohio.

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

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CEO

Alan Jaffa

Alan Jaffa is the Chief Executive Officer for Safeguard Properties, steering the company as the mortgage field services industry leader. He also serves on the board of advisors for SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties’ business model into complimentary markets.

Alan joined Safeguard in 1995, learning the business from the ground up. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2002, and was named CEO in May 2010. His hands-on experience has given him unique insights as a leader to innovate, improve and strengthen Safeguard’s processes to assure that the company adheres to the highest standards of quality and customer service.

Under Alan’s leadership, Safeguard has grown significantly with strategies that have included new and expanded services, technology investments that deliver higher quality and greater efficiency to clients, and strategic acquisitions. He takes a team approach to process improvement, involving staff at all levels of the organization to address issues, brainstorm solutions, and identify new and better ways to serve clients.

In 2008, Alan was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business in its annual “40-Under-40” profile of young leaders. He also was named a NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award finalist in 2013.

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Esq., General Counsel and EVP

Linda Erkkila

Linda Erkkila is the General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Safeguard Properties, with oversight of legal, human resources, training, and compliance. Linda’s broad scope of oversight covers regulatory issues that impact Safeguard’s operations, risk mitigation, strategic planning, human resources and training initiatives, compliance, insurance, litigation and claims management, and counsel related to mergers, acquisition and joint ventures.

Linda assures that Safeguard’s strategic initiatives align with its resources, leverage opportunities across the company, and contemplate compliance mandates. She has practiced law for 25 years and her experience, both as outside and in-house counsel, covers a wide range of corporate matters, including regulatory disclosure, corporate governance compliance, risk assessment, compensation and benefits, litigation management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Linda earned her JD at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She holds a degree in economics from Miami University and an MBA. Linda was previously named as both a “Woman of Influence” by HousingWire and as a “Leading Lady” by MReport.

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COO

Michael Greenbaum

Michael Greenbaum is the Chief Operating Officer of Safeguard Properties, where he has played a pivotal role since joining the company in July 2010. Initially brought on as Vice President of REO, Mike’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision quickly propelled him to Vice President of Operations in 2013, and ultimately to COO in 2015. Over his 14-year tenure at Safeguard, Mike has been instrumental in driving change and fostering innovation within the Property Preservation sector, consistently delivering excellence and becoming a trusted partner to clients and investors.

A distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mike earned a degree in Quantitative Economics. Following his graduation, he served in the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Branch, where he specialized in supply chain management. Before his tenure at Safeguard, Mike honed his expertise by managing global supply chains for 13 years, leveraging his military and civilian experience to lead with precision and efficacy.

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CFO

Joe Iafigliola

Joe Iafigliola is the Chief Financial Officer for Safeguard Properties. Joe is responsible for the Control, Quality Assurance, Business Development, Marketing, Accounting, and Information Security departments. At the core of his responsibilities is the drive to ensure that Safeguard’s focus remains rooted in Customer Service = Resolution. Through his executive leadership role, he actively supports SGPNOW.com, an on-demand service geared towards real estate and property management professionals as well as individual home owners in need of inspection and property preservation services. Joe is also an integral force behind Compliance Connections, a branch of Safeguard Properties that allows code enforcement professionals to report violations at properties that can then be addressed by the Safeguard vendor network. Compliance Connections also researches and shares vacant property ordinance information with Safeguard clients.

Joe has an MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University’s Honors Accounting program.

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Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties