COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING IN OHIO

OHIO BALANCE OF STATE CONTINUUM OF CAREON BEHALF OF OHIO, COHHIO PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND PRIMARY STAFF SUPPORT TO THE OHIO BALANCE OF STATE CONTINUUM OF CARE (BOSCOC), A REGIONAL HOMELESS SERVICES PLANNING AND COORDINATION BODY COMPRISED OF 80 COUNTIES. IN THIS ROLE, COHHIO MANAGES THE BOSCOC PROGRAM AND SYSTEMS-LEVEL PERFORMANCE, LEADS STRATEGIC PLANNING EFFORTS, LEADS THE COORDINATED ENTRY PROCESS, AND FACILITATES THE ANNUAL APPLICATION PROCESS FOR FEDERAL HOMELESS DOLLARS. IN 2023, COHHIO HELPED SECURE MORE THAN $25 MILLION IN FEDERAL HOMELESS PROGRAM FUNDS FOR THE BOSCOC TO SUPPORT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, RAPID RE-HOUSING, AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS. AS PART OF THE BOSCOC, THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (HMIS) UNIT COLLECTS AND MAINTAINS DATA ON HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN HOMELESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CONTINUUM OF CARE. THE DATA IS USED TO HELP DETERMINE THE EFFICACY OF THESE PROGRAMS AND TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL SYSTEM RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS. THE HMIS UNIT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING THE HOUSING INVENTORY CHART AND POINT IN TIME COUNT DATA DURING 2023, ALONG WITH ENSURING THE COC COULD MEET ALL FEDERAL HOMELESS SYSTEM REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. THE HMIS TEAM OFFERED MULTIPLE USER TRAININGS FOR HMIS USERS ACROSS THE STATE, HELPING ENSURE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE DATABASE.

ADVOCACYCOHHIO'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS SEEK TO END HOMELESSNESS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL OHIO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. COHHIO ESPECIALLY TARGETS OHIO'S MOST CHALLENGED POPULATIONS EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND OHIOANS WITH DISABILITIES.ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES IN 2023, INCLUDING TOURS AND EVENTS WITH POLICYMAKERS, TESTIFYING IN THE LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, COALITION BUILDING, AND MEDIA OUTREACH, CENTERED AROUND THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES:YOUTH HOMELESSNESS: SECURED A $7 MILLION APPROPRIATION IN THE STATE BIENNIAL BUDGET TO CONTINUE THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S GRANT PROGRAM TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE AGENCIES' SERVICES TO YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.HEALTHY BEGINNINGS AT HOME: PROMOTED THIS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES TO AT-RISK, LOW-INCOME PREGNANT WOMEN TO REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY AND IMPROVE BIRTH OUTCOMES AND FAMILY HEALTH; COHHIO SECURED $2.5 MILLION IN THE STATE BUDGET TO EXPAND HEALTHY BEGINNINGS.OHIO HOUSING TRUST FUND: SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR RAISING THE MAXIMUM ANNUAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE OHTF FROM $55 MILLION TO $65 MILLION TO DIRECT MORE STATE RESOURCES TO LOCAL PROGRAMS SERVING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, OHIOANS WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS, YOUTH AND VETERANS STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING INSECURITY.AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAX CREDIT: SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO CREATE OHIO'S NEW $100 MILLION STATE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT TO CREATE UP TO 4,000 ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING UNITS; ADVOCATED FOR TARGETING THE PROGRAM TOWARD OHIO'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.ACCOUNTABILITY & OVERSIGHT: SUCCESSFULLY BLOCKED LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO POLITICIZE THE OHIO HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY AND DESTABILIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE INDEPENDENT AND ACCOUNTABLE OVERSIGHT.TENANT PROTECTIONS: PROMOTED POLICIES TO RESTRICT PREDATORY INVESTORS AND PROTECT TENANTS AT THE STATE LEVEL; SUPPORTED ADVOCATES WORKING TO ADVANCE LOCAL TENANT PROTECTIONS IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OHIO.FEDERAL BUDGET: WORKED WITH OHIO'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO DEFEND AND EXPAND EFFECTIVE FEDERAL HOUSING PROGRAMS, LIKE HOMELESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS AND HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS.