Council President Ginther Supports the Creation of New Affordable Housing Units in Columbus
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 20, 2015
For More Information:
John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798
Columbus City Council
President Andrew J. Ginther is joining local housing advocates in a push to
create 27,000 new affordable housing units in Columbus and Franklin County in
the next 10 years. Ginther announced his support for the plan,
being led by the Affordable Housing Alliance Central Ohio, during a meeting with
the South Side Housing Strategy Group at the new Reeb Avenue
Center. Both groups are working to increase housing options in
Columbus.
“I
am pleased to commit my support to the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central
Ohio, and I am excited about the opportunity to help lead a collaborative
effort to close the affordable housing gap overtime, not overnight,” said
Ginther. “The Southside Housing Action Plan embodies many of the
solutions to increase the stock of affordable housing citywide, and serves as a
model to help neighborhoods develop housing initiatives that contemplate the
strengths and challenges individual neighborhoods face.”
The Alliance is a coalition
of 11 housing organizations that include:
- Affordable
Housing Trust of Columbus and Franklin County
- Buckeye
Community Hope Foundation
- Columbus
Metroplitian Housing Authority
- Community
Development for All People
- Community
Housing Network
- Community
Shelter Board
- Creative
Housing
- Habitat
for Humanity-MidOhio
- Homeport
- National
Church Residences
- Ohio
Capital Corporation for Housing
The group says its data shows
an affordable housing shortfall of 54,000 units for households experiencing
poverty, workers who earn less than a housing wage, and the growing population
of seniors. The Alliance is looking to increase investment in workforce
housing for people with low-wage jobs and address the housing needs of the
growing population of seniors. The Alliance wants to achieve its
goals by establishing a local rent subsidy program, offering incentives to increase
rental housing, and developing more permanent supportive housing
units.
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