SOUTH POINT — Additional affordable housing will soon be available in eastern Lawrence County, thanks to a grant from a state housing agency aimed at providing homes to those who may not otherwise be able to afford them.

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency has kicked in $600,000 toward the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization’s $1.2 million project, The Pointe Villas. The housing development will be built on Randall Street, of County Road 1 just outside South Point.

It will include nine three-bedroom rental homes, two of which will be designated for those with handicaps. Each house will have central heating and air, a range and a refrigerator, among other amenities.

The rental prices will be based on the area’s average income, according to the OHFA.

Ralph Kline, CAO assistant executive director, said the houses will be an extreme asset to the eastern end of the county, where affordable housing for low-income residents is not as readily available as in Ironton and the immediate surrounding areas.

A grant from the OHFA paid for the construction of nine houses last year, two in South Point and seven in the western end of Chesapeake.

“According to the markets studies and the things that I’ve seen, it seems as though the western portion of the county is well served in affordable housing, but the farther east, the lesser served,” Kline said.

He said the CAO wants to ensure that people in every part of the county will have access to quality housing that they can afford.

The organization has been getting grants from OHFA since the 1980s, Kline said, and has built about 250 different houses, apartments and duplexes with the money.

“Obviously, it’s very important to us to have grants to help us provide housing,” Kline said.

OHFA awarded the money to 19 projects throughout the state, totally $10.6 million. The money will enable the construction of 597 rental houses and 108 houses for purchase.

“Developing and maintaining quality, affordable housing is key to the mission of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency,” said Douglas A. Garver, executive director of the OHFA. “Ohio remains committed to building strong communities by providing affordable housing options for all Ohioans.”