For more information, or to apply for the Homestead Exemption contact the Washington County Auditor's Office at (740) 373-6623 Ext 2123. Findings—2021 c 290: "The legislature finds that the homestead exemption is intended to protect the homeowner's equity in a home against unsecured creditors.Disabled applicants must complete form DTE 105E,. Homestead protection laws are intended to prevent homeowners from becoming homeless in the event of extreme financial hardship. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act on May 20, 1862. Major government surveys of the West were just beginning in the late 1860s. COLUMBUS, Ohio Major changes are expected to come to Ohioans who use the homestead exemption to reduce their property taxes.