COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Coalition of Homelessness and Housing in Ohio testified to the Finance Subcommittee on Agriculture, Development and Natural Resources on Thursday morning.
The executive director, Amy Riegel, told lawmakers that they need to see a positive change in the affordable housing crisis here in Ohio, adding emergency funds are much needed.
In her testimony, she blamed the affordable housing crisis on the rent increase over the last few years.
Riegel discussed a new report the group conducted called, “The Gap Report.” The report found that the affordable housing gap grew 6% over the past year. So for every 100 households with extremely low income, only 40 affordable housing units were readily available.
According to the Gap Report, extremely low-income renters will continue to face significant barriers as housing costs consume a huge share of their paychecks.
The Coalition of Homelessness and Housing also supports Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposal to expand the Ohio housing trust fund, and legislation to establish the Ohio workforce housing tax credit. She said the recent housing market boom increased fee revenue.
“Governor DeWine’s proposed executive budget proposes raising that spending authority to $65 million a year,” said Riegel. “This is not a fee increase it will merely allow a state to distribute money that has already been accruing in the fund to local programs that are helping vulnerable seniors, children, and people with disabilities in your community.”
Riegel told lawmakers in her testimony that she’s very grateful for the DeWine administration’s help so far.
She hopes the recent data from their group’s report and her testimony could potentially allocate even more federal dollars from the budget to homelessness and housing in Ohio.
