City Awards $12.2 Million in COVID-19 Rental Assistance to Help Keep Vulnerable Residents in their Homes
To
help ensure the equitable distribution of rental assistance to residents
adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Columbus
City Councilmember Shayla Favor announced the award of $12.2 million to 26
community organizations through the city’s Stable Housing Initiative. The
initiative will fund rental assistance, supportive services and targeted
outreach to hard-to-reach Columbus residents who have not yet accessed
emergency rental assistance available to them.
The
$12.2 million in Stable Housing Initiative funding is additive to the $26
million in federal funding the City of Columbus has allocated for rental
assistance since the pandemic began. Communitywide, more than 14,400 central
Ohio renters have received more than $33 million in COVID-19 rental assistance
from the city, county and state, working in partnership with local nonprofits. The
new Stable Housing Initiative seeks to reach at-risk populations and distribute
assistance through organizations they know and trust.
“Our community has moved swiftly to distribute an unprecedented
amount of rental assistance during the pandemic, keeping thousands of our neighbors
in their homes. Yet some residents hardest hit by COVID-19, including new
Americans, seniors, individuals with disabilities, youth in transition and
other vulnerable populations have yet to hear that this funding exists, or how
to access it.” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “Through this initiative, and partnerships
with community organizations, Columbus City Council and the courts, we will
ensure that all Columbus residents have access to the resources they need to
remain in safe, stable housing during the pandemic and beyond.”
“The Stable Housing Initiative will assist the City of Columbus
and our partners in a continued effort to reach and protect the most vulnerable
among us as we continue to fight against the looming eviction cliff,” said
Councilmember Favor. “I urge our landlord community to work with our nonprofit
partners to gain access to these unprecedented resources that will help provide
stability and reassurance during these difficult times.”
Organizations
awarded funding through the Stable Housing Initiative are:
| Agency | Populations served | Award |
|
LSS
CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence
|
Victims
of domestic violence, including those in the refugee and immigrant
communities
| $1,000,000 |
|
Broad
Street Presbyterian Church
|
Seniors,
individuals with disabilities and immigrants and refugees
| $873,570 |
|
Physicians
CareConnection
|
Families
residing in the 43228 ZIP code
| $850,000 |
|
Jewish
Family Services
|
Seniors
and immigrants and refugees
| $650,000 |
|
Star
House
|
Youth
ages 18 to 24 years old experiencing homelessness
| $650,000 |
|
Catholic
Social Services Inc.
|
Immigrant
Hispanic population, seniors and youth ages 18- to 24 years old
| $500,000 |
|
Columbus
Urban League
|
Black,
female-led households
| $500,000 |
|
Equitas
Health
|
LGBTQ+
community
| $500,000 |
|
Lifecare
Alliance
|
Seniors
and individuals with disabilities
| $500,000 |
|
Somali
Community Association Of Ohio
|
Immigrants
and refugees, youth, individuals with disabilities and seniors
| $500,000 |
|
Somali
Community Link Inc.
|
Immigrant
and refugee households
| $500,000 |
|
The
Homeless Families Foundation
|
Pregnant
women who are homeless or imminently at risk of becoming homeless
| $500,000 |
|
YMCA
of Central Ohio
|
Seniors,
individuals with disabilities, and immigrants and refugees
| $500,000 |
|
Columbus
Literacy Council
|
Immigrants
and refugees
| $425,000 |
|
Central
Community House
|
Seniors
and youth ages 18 to 24 years old
| $400,000 |
|
Clintonville-Beechwold
Community Resources Center
|
Seniors,
individuals with disabilities, and immigrants and refugees
| $400,000 |
|
Gladden
Community House
|
Very
low income households from Franklinton and near west side
| $400,000 |
|
North
Community Counseling Centers Inc.
|
Seniors,
youth, individuals with disabilities, and immigrants and refugees
| $400,000 |
|
St.
Stephen's Community House
|
Very
low income households from Linden and northeast Columbus
| $360,000 |
|
Homes
On The Hill Community Development Corporation
|
Seniors
and immigrants and refugees
| $350,000 |
|
Community
Development For All People
|
People
who are unemployed or have been underemployed for an extended period of time
| $335,000 |
|
Kaleidoscope
Youth Center
|
Youth
ages 18 to 24 years old who identify as LGBTQIA+ and/or an LGBTQIA+ person of
color
| $335,000 |
|
Neighborhood
Services Inc.
|
Seniors,
individuals with disabilities and immigrants and refugees
| $280,000 |
|
Our
Helpers
|
Immigrants
and refugees
| $211,312 |
|
Us
Together Inc.
|
Immigrant
and refugee households; victims of gender-based violence who are refugees and
immigrants
| $171,430 |
|
Muslim
Family Services Of Ohio
|
Immigrant
refugees
| $120,000 |
| Total funding |
| $12,211,312 |
Funds awarded through the Stable Housing Initiative will
supplement rental assistance currently available to residents adversely
impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional federal funding awarded to the City
of Columbus is currently available to eligible renters in need through IMPACT
Community Action ( apply.impacthopefund.org)
and the Columbus Urban League (https://www.cul.org/emergency-rental-assistance/).
The City of Columbus is contracting with recipient agencies to
award $10 million of the funding now, with $2.2 million in funding to be legislated
by City Council when it reconvenes.