Groups put forth plan to help house Ohioians

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A coalition of business leaders and housing advocates held a meeting Tuesday to address Ohio’s housing crisis. 

Like many states, Ohio is facing the challenge of meeting the affordable and diverse housing demand. Housing advocates believe that their plan would help lawmakers tackle this issue. 

Groups including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio gathered to unveil a platform for housing, consisting of 11 policy initiatives that are broad enough to where they can adjust as needed. 

The coalition would like to see Ohio improve recently enacted state housing development programs while also establishing new ones that would make it easier for communities to develop a range of housing options. Members also add that the state should modernize and fix outdated zoning regulations. 

“We're seeing a lack of housing in a lot of our communities,” Tony Long, general counsel with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said. “It's not keeping up with demand as certain areas grow in other areas.” 

The platform recommends the state build on recent efforts to support and incentivize the development of affordable housing. According to the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, more than one million Ohioans now live in households that spend over half their income on housing, putting them at high risk of housing and financial instability. 

“It is inevitable that the opportunities that we have are going to bring more people here and so when people are here in the area, we want them to have the greatest quality of life that they can have,” Amy Riegel, executive director for the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO), said. 

Riegel said that in order for Ohioans to have the greatest quality of life that they can, it starts with a place to call home, whether that be an apartment, house or condo. 

“That is the foundation for them to be healthier, to them and for them to have better education access, for them to be able to pursue their economic goals that they have,” Riegel said. 

One issue she sees is Ohio has people who are entering homelessness and want to be housed; some even have the resources that would help them secure a place to live, but there are just not enough housing options. 

“That's why so many of these proposals focus on the supply of more units of housing because what we need is a way for people to exit homelessness,” Riegel said. 

Members of the coalition said that they look forward to working with the 2025 General Assembly to advance these proposals. 

“I think we would like to see an effort to help us do some modernization of zoning reforms,” Long said. “We would like some additional funding around the LIHTC (low-income housing tax credit) program.” 

Those we spoke with say their message is simple but powerful: Home Matters to Ohio.