Housing trust fund to get up to $3M boost

The final version of the state budget includes an additional $2.5 million to $3 million a year for affordable housing and homelessness programs.

Advocates were pushing for $8 million more per year for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. But they were pleased that House and Senate leaders included a budget amendment that provided more money for the trust fund for the first time in 16 years.

“We’re glad they stepped up and did something,” said Bill Faith, the executive director of the Coalition on Housing and Homelessness in Ohio.

The housing coalition said homelessness has risen 20% in Ohio over the past five years to more than 71,000 people. Of that, children are the fastest-growing portion, with the number now at 20,717, including nearly 3,000 who are less than a year old.

Faith said that to pay for the increase, county recording fees are going up by $6, to $34 per page.

The Ohio Housing Trust Fund board learnedin Junethat its funding for fiscal year 2020was to be$43 million, without any increase.in 2005 it was $73 million.

“It’s not like we changed the world with that, but it certainly helps,” Faith said of the budget increase.

State Sen. Joy Hottinger, R-newark, supported the boost for the fund, which pays for the Homeless Crisis Response Program, the Housing Development Assistance Program through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, andto a supportive

housing program.

He said if children don’t have stable housing and food security, then they can’t learn as well, for example.

By state law, the Ohio Housing Trust Fund must grant 50% of the money to rural communities. It also requires a 100% local match.

Faith said he was also happy to see an additional $2.5 million in the budget for the Ohio Department of Health to address youth homelessness.