A coalition of housing advocates and business groups announced a plan Tuesday to fight a lack of affordable housing in Ohio. But it will need the support of state lawmakers.
The Home Matters to Ohio coalition hopes that lawmakers will enact their plans in next year’s state budget bill, a package of billions of dollars in state spending that’s often a vehicle for numerous law changes. Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to announce his budget plan in January, and lawmakers must approve it by the end of June.
The coalition recommends lawmakers make changes to two affordable housing programs contained in the last state budget, approved in 2023:
- Expanding the Ohio Low Income Housing Tax Credit program for developers who build affordable rental projects
- Changing the Single Family Housing Tax Credit program, which is meant to encourage developers build single family housing. The advocates said the program’s rules, which include requiring newly built homes to remain affordable for 10 years, have resulted in low interest from investors.
The coalition also calls for creating a home improvement program to help upgrade the state’s aging homes. A news release references a first-of-its kind $125 million program in Pennsylvania created in 2022 using money from the federal American Rescue Act Plan. Other proposals include helping local governments update their zoning codes, overhauling the state’s complex system of assessing property taxes and setting up requirements for large corporate landlords meant to make it easier to hold them accountable for housing problems.
“Collectively, these policy recommendations will help move the needle on housing in Ohio and provide measurable change in the amount and quality of housing and most importantly, the well being and stability of Ohio community residents,” said Leah Evans, CEO of Homeport, a large affordable housing developer in Columbus.
Members of the coalition include the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the AARP of Ohio Habitat for Humanity and the Children’s Hunger Alliance.
