FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 4, 2025
COHHIO Statement on Gov. DeWine’s Executive Budget
Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio’s Executive Director Amy Riegel issued the following statement in response to the introduction of Gov. Mike DeWine’s 2026-2027 executive budget proposal:
“We are pleased to see Gov. DeWine continuing the discussion on fixing Ohio’s affordable housing shortage in his new budget proposal. The governor and legislature have made significant progress by creating the new state Low Income Housing Tax Credit in the last budget, which has spurred a surge of affordable housing development and rehabilitation around the state.
Gov. DeWine’s new proposal to invest $100 million in rural housing opportunities has the potential to create more affordable housing in high-need areas where development is especially challenging.
And just as importantly, the state must fund the services necessary to prevent people from falling into homelessness, to quickly get people out of homelessness, and to keep people stably housed. We look forward to working with the General Assembly to support the folks working on the frontlines of Ohio’s affordable housing crisis.
COHHIO is urging the legislature to stabilize the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. OHTF revenues have decreased dramatically in recent years, reducing state resources for homeless and housing services at the same time housing insecurity is on the rise.
COHHIO is also advocating to: allocate funding to prevent the unnecessary evictions of families with children; support pregnant women facing homelessness, and allow Medicaid to provide housing stability services. We’re also asking the legislature to build on their efforts late last year to encourage communities to reform outdated zoning codes that too often stymie affordable housing development.”
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