Amid Record Homelessness, Columbus Triples Funding Homeless Outreach

By: Cole Behrens, Columbus Dispatch

The city of Columbus has nearly tripled its funding for the Community Shelter Board in 2024, using COVID pandemic relief money to shelter vulnerable groups and to increase staffing.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and City Council President Shannon Hardin announced Wednesday that the city was investing $9.4 million in the Community Shelter Board (CSB), nearly tripling the city’s yearly funding for the nonprofit that is combatting the homelessness crisis, according to a release.

'We Have to be More Ready Than Ever Before': Shelter Board CEO Addresses Housing Crises

By: Peter Gill, Columbus Dispatch

Since becoming CEO of the Community Shelter Board in December 2022, Shannon Isom has already dealt with several major housing crises. 

First, there was the displacement of more than 150 residents from the Latitude Five25 apartments on Columbus’ Near East Side in late 2022.  Late last year, over 1,300 people — many of them Haitians asylum-seekers — were kicked out of the Colonial Village apartments on Columbus’ East Side by the property’s receivership estate. And in recent weeks, Prairie Township officials announced they want to demolish the Galloway Village complex after a long string of housing code violations. 

Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio Named One of the Columbus Foundation’s Top Five Nonprofits to Watch for 2024

By: Chelsea Kiene, Director, Communications and Marketing, The Columbus Foundation

Central Ohio’s nonprofit sector is full of dynamic and impactful organizations dedicated to strengthening and improving the region. Each year, The Columbus Foundation recognizes 5 Nonprofits to Watch that are addressing pressing community issues such as housing, hunger, education, youth engagement, neighborhood connectedness, underrepresented populations, and more.

Congratulations to the 5 Nonprofits to Watch in 2024: Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, Franklinton Farms, Mansion Day School, Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio, and We Amplify Voices.

The honorees represent growing, small- to medium-sized organizations in Franklin County. Although their missions vary, each organization provides vital services and resources that help create opportunity, promote well-being, and cultivate a sense of belonging.

We recently asked leaders from this year’s 5 Nonprofits to Watch to share more about their organizations and how they are building community:

Pathways Community HUB Director Co-authors Publication: Ohio Community Pathway HUB: The Cost Benefit of Supporting Minority Mothers

Health Impact Ohio is proud to share a recent publication that Aimee Budnik, the director of Pathways HUB Community Action in Akron, Ohio, co-authored. Pathways HUB Community Action is part of the Ohio Network of Certified Pathways Community HUBs, which also includes the Central Ohio Pathways HUB managed by Health Impact Ohio.

The publication includes a cost-benefit analysis of the Pathways Community HUB model used across the state of Ohio to provide supports to at-risk minority women during their pregnancies and after the birth of their children and a review of the benefits of investing in the program.

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio Releases Fact Sheet on Housing and Health

While housing is a foundational driver of health, not everyone has equal access to housing. Stable and safe housing influences access to jobs, healthy food, quality healthcare and educational opportunities and reduces stress. Housing is especially important during pregnancy and for families with young children, impacting maternal, child and family well-being.

This fact sheet uplifts experiences with two programs — Healthy Beginnings at Home (HBAH) and Families Flourish — with emerging evidence of improving housing stability and maternal, child and family health and well-being.