COLUMBUS -- Abandoned homes affect countless Central Ohio neighborhoods, but there's a new effort to make it easier for Ohio’s cities to take action.
State Senator Steve Stivers is set to unveil proposed legislation that would speed up the foreclosure process by allowing cities to go after property owners even if they don't owe the city money, NBC 4 reported.
Columbus has more than 4,000 abandoned homes such as the home next door to Columbus resident James Wise.
He's watched the fire-damaged house become a breeding ground for crime and squatters during the past two years.
“I had dope addicts here,” Wise said. “I had two people living in this garage here for a long time until I chased them out.”
Wise agreed with legislators working to shorten the time it takes to foreclose on abandoned homes.
Stay tuned to NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for the latest information.
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