Thanks to everyone who joined us for Statehouse Advocacy Day 2026!
We had over 170 advocates attend 88 meetings with legislative offices during the course of the day. What a way to demonstrate the power of our movement to Ohio's decision-makers!
We also want to thank Sens. Bill Reineke and Michele Reynolds. They will have a lot of influence on state housing policy in the next General Assembly starting in January, so it was especially helpful to hear what they were thinking, and how we can effectively advocate.
If you haven't yet sent follow up, now is a good time to email the offices you met with, thank them for their time, and reiterate your message, and remind them that you're available to talk more about local housing and homelessness issues. Let them know about COHHIO's new Fact Sheet series for more detailed information about homelessness in Ohio.
Our Advocacy Toolkit has more suggestions for your follow up, and COHHIO's Advocacy Team is always available to help. (Advocacy and Policy Coordinator Elizabeth Martindale)
And thank you to our Year-round Whole Agency Sponsor!
Request for Proposals: Audit Services
The Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) is accepting proposals from qualified CPA firms to provide audit services for a three-year
engagement covering fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028. Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. ET on October 30, 2026.
Housing Ohio 2027 - Request for Workshop Proposals
The Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) is seeking workshop proposals offered by industry stakeholders that provide valuable insights, reflect diverse experiences, and demonstrate innovative approaches to attendees of the 2027 Housing Ohio Conference (April 5th & 6th, 2027).
Workshops are 90 minutes and preference is given to sessions that encourage discussion and other interactive elements of the presentation. Conference attendees include frontline providers, people with lived expertise, program leaders, system leaders, policy advocates, policy administrators, and researchers.
Submissions are open to anyone with skill, background, knowledge, or expertise relevant to ending homelessness. Speakers with lived expertise of homelessness, and speakers presenting research and data, are especially encouraged to submit proposals. Selected workshop presenters will receive free conference registration for both days of the conference. Presenters are responsible for their own conference-related expenses, including but not limited to travel, lodging accommodations, and meals outside of those provided during the conference.
Proposals are due by 11:59 P.M. ET on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
The submitter will be notified no later than the week of December 28, 2026 on whether or not their submission has been selected.
Ongoing Threats to Ohio's Federal Homelessness Funding
Sept. 22 Update:HUD recently reopened the FY 2026 Continuum of Care Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) after a federal appeals court stayed a lower court ruling that had blocked HUD's efforts to overhaul the program. In other words, HUD is continuing it's efforts to dramatically shift CoC funding away from permanent housing while the appeals court considers whether or not the changes are legal.
The court's ruling and HUD's subsequent action has forced homeless services agencies to once again devote enormous energy to submitting CoC grant applications before the Sept. 30 deadline even though the courts could invalidate the process again. A coalition of states and national advocates fighting the NOFO filed an emergency motion on Monday.
If implemented, HUD's NOFO could reduce an estimated $1.23 billion for housing for formerly homeless Americans, many of whom are families with children, have health conditions, disabilities, or are older adults.
We strongly encourage Ohio advocates and service providers to contact your members of Congress and voice concern that HUD's chaotic efforts to overhaul the CoC program could force up to 7,500 Ohioans with disabilities back into homelessness. Urge your U.S. Senator and House member to support pending legislation to require HUD follow a more rational, deliberate process for making changes to the CoC program.
Even without potential court intervention, HUD faces a tight timeline since Congress required the agency to announce FY 2026 awards by Dec. 1. A normal CoC competition process typically takes six months or longer to complete.
Public Comment Notice: HUD recently issued a notice seeking public comment on the research it cites as rationale for trying to quickly shift CoC funding away from permanent housing toward transitional housing, supportive services only, and law enforcement coordination. The agency initiated the 30-day public comment period in response to a federal court ruling in August that blocked implementation of the FY 2026 CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
We encourage Ohio advocates and providers to submit comments before the Oct. 13 deadline. It's important that HUD hear from people and providers that would be directly affected by these changes! We suggest focusing your comments on your agency's experience with the activities HUD discusses; cite examples with your local programs and clients.
COHHIO is closely monitoring these developments and will continue to provide more guidance and resources about the CoC NOFO in the near future to help you advocate for a more rational and effective CoC funding policy.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is working to overhaul the federal Continuum of Care program in a way that could have devastating consequences for people and communities in Ohio. HUD's drastic policies are having the effect of shifting resources away from programs that house formerly homeless people. In Ohio, permanent housing programs face the loss of an estimated $65 million that could force up to 7,500 Ohioans with disabilities back into homelessness.
Tell your members of Congress what's happening with CoC funding: some providers have experienced funding delays despite Congress providing clear direction on both the award of FY 2025 CoC funds and the FY 2026 competition.
The largest federal grant funding source for homelessness services and housing
HUD administers the CoC program to fund: Permanent Supportive Housing, Rapid Rehousing, Transitional Housing, and supportive services to move people out of homelessness
For decades, HUD’s CoC Program has funded and renewed ongoing projects that serve people with disabilities and households experiencing homelessness
2. Background on CoC Funding and Recent Policy Changes
In 2024, Congress approved a two-year funding cycle to reduce agencies’ administrative burden and maximize assistance to clients
In January 2025, HUD awarded $178 million in CoC funding for Ohio under the streamlined process
In November 2025, HUD issued an FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that sought to shift previously awarded CoC funding away from permanent housing to temporary programs
HUD’s drastic last-minute policy change would have diverted $80 million from local programs that house 10,000 formerly homeless Ohioans
3. Litigation, Legislation, Ongoing Uncertainty
The National Alliance to End Homelessness, several national nonprofits, and numerous local governments filed suit challenging the FY 2025 NOFO.
In February 2026, Congress passed appropriations legislation setting deadlines for HUD to renew existing FY 2025 CoC grants while litigation continued. The bill also required HUD to release the FY 2026 NOFO by June 1 and make awards by Dec. 1, 2026
On June 29, 2026, a federal court ruled that the FY 2025 NOFO was unlawful and would cause harm to individuals and communities.
Despite congressional and court action, HUD has been slow to finalize FY 2025 awards, creating ongoing funding delays and uncertainty.
4. FY 2026 CoC NOFO
On June 1, 2026, HUD released a new FY 2026 CoC NOFO that again makes similar drastic changes to federal homelessness funding priorities
The FY 2026 NOFO jeopardizes housing stability for more than 97,000 formerly homeless individuals nationwide, including 7,500 Ohioans
On July 2, 2026 NAEH filed a new lawsuit challenging implementation of the FY 2026 NOFO
On Aug. 7, a federal court blocked the FY 2026 NOFO finding that HUD violated federal rulemaking requirements. HUD announced that the FY2026 CoC Program competition and application submission deadline are no longer in effect.
On Sept. 11, HUD initiates a 30-day public comment period on interventions outlined in the FY 2026 NOFO.
5. Why It Matters
CoC funds are Ohio’s largest source of funding for supportive housing and rapid rehousing; many programs will receive reduced funding and shut down or serve fewer people.
Most residents have disabilities, including mental health and addiction issues; many will return to homelessness.
Ohio communities will see more street homelessness and increased demand for shelter, emergency, and public safety services.
COHHIO News Clips
Sept. 1, 2026
Congress is back in session this week to pass stop-gap legislation needed to postpone another government shutdown as the U.S. House takes up a Senate-passed bill to fund the government from Sept. 30 to Dec. 11.
The Continuing Resolution leaves funding levels for federal housing and homelessness programs largely unchanged until after the fall election. We'll keep you informed so you can advocate effectively in the next appropriations process.
On Oct. 21, the National Coalition for the Homeless is organizing the Housing Now National Day of Action. We're thrilled to have Executive Director Donald Whitehead join a special 30 at 3:00 Policy Briefing next week on Sept. 8 to share ways Ohio advocates can get engaged. (Note: This is a new date in the 30 at 3:00 webinar series - if you're already registered just use the same link as usual. If you're not registered yet, you're missing out! Register for 30 at 3:00.)
As for HUD's efforts to overhaul the Continuum of Care program, a federal court recently ruled HUD’s FY 2026 CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was illegal. HUD has filed an appeal, so we're currently waiting to see what happens next. There's a lot riding on this case since HUD's plans could have defunded supportive housing for up to 7,500 formerly homeless households in Ohio, forcing people with disabilities back into homelessness. We're watching this issue very closely and will let you know as soon as we hear something new.
Another recent federal rule change proposal seeks to dramatically alter Community Reinvestment Act regulations on how banks serve low and moderate income communities. The Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition is warning that the proposal could significantly reduce banks' investment in affordable housing, and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition says it could negatively impact communities and nonprofits in a variety of other ways. Join 30 at 3:00 on Sept. 22 to hear NCRC President & CEO Jesse Van Tol discuss how you can advocate through the public comment period, which runs through Oct. 13.
The Continuing Resolution to fund the government that is before Congress this week contains a provision that would delay implementation of the Office of Management and Budget's controversial rule, which would overhaul federal grantmaking and allow the administration to withdraw any grant it deems inconsistent with the president's priorities.
Here in Ohio, the General Election season is heating up. The Cook Political Report currently rates both Ohio's gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races "toss ups." Housing affordability has emerged as a major issue for all the campaigns. We've been meeting with candidates from both parties to discuss ways to address housing insecurity, and we encourage you to do the same!
Statehouse Advocacy Day 2026 is coming up on Oct. 7 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is your opportunity to meet face-to-face with your legislators and tell them what they need to know about homelessness and housing insecurity in your community. We make it easy for you - we'll group you with advocates from your community, train you how to advocate, schedule your meetings, and even feed you free breakfast and lunch. Please join us!
Here are a few other things to put on your radar:
The 2026 midterm elections are coming! Check out the Our Homes Our Votes campaign to strengthen nonpartisan voter and candidate engagement among low-income renters
OHFA is seeking public comment on its draft guidelines for the PY 2026 4% LIHTC with Bond Gap Financing program
COHHIO is partnering with the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health to organize community meetings that connect Assisted Outcome Treatment (AOT) staff with local mental health, housing and homeless service providers. Register now for an upcoming meeting in Bowling Green, Athens, or Berea.
COHHIO has many other training opportunities and events throughout the year - be sure to check out the calendar on our new website.
(WVXU) CINCINNATI - Federal funding for local homeless services came in sooner than expected, but still a month and a half late. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds the Continuum of Care program with services like permanent supportive housing, street outreach and rapid re-housing. The latest round of grant funding was due July 1. The nonprofit Strategies to End Homelessness administers the program locally. President Kevin Finn says delays are common, but they expected it to be longer this year; that's why they went to the city and county for help.
(Affordable Housing Finance) Affordable housing leaders are concerned that proposed rule changes to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) will weaken bank requirements to invest in low-income communities. The proposal calls for raising the asset thresholds under CRA, which could lead to a number of banks significantly reducing their lending and investing in low-income communities. This is troubling because CRA has been the main driver of bank investment into the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) and other community development programs.
(Athens Messenger) The gap between what Ohioans earn and how much they need to pay for a two-bedroom apartment is most pronounced in regions such as Southeast Ohio, where there’s a limited supply of affordable housing. In the 2026 Out of Reach report, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) found Ohioans have to earn $23.82 an hour to comfortably afford a two-bedroom apartment... However, the average renter wage in Ohio earns $19.59 an hour, $4.23 less than what the 2026 Out of Reach report found was necessary. The numbers are even bleaker in Athens County.
(Canton Repository) Riegel, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, said finding affordable housing is a lot like playing a game of musical chairs. For every 100 extremely low-income individuals looking for housing in Ohio, only 37 will be successful in finding it, according to a recent report released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. That shortage, its causes and consequences, were among topics discussed during an Aug. 20 roundtable co-hosted by COHHIO and U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron. Local leaders examined challenges in Stark County and potential solutions.
(WOWO Cleveland) U.S. Senator Jon Husted is highlighting workforce training and affordable housing efforts during a visit to northeast Ohio... Husted is also working on several housing initiatives in the U.S. Senate. One proposal, the First-Time Homebuyers Act, would allow Americans more flexibility to use existing 529 education savings for a first-time home purchase. Husted is also supporting permitting reform, which he says could help increase the housing supply and reduce construction costs.
(Ohio Capital Journal) Ohio Democratic lawmakers say the Republican “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” has made everyday life more expensive for Ohioans, saying that people are losing their jobs, healthcare, and food security.
More than 100,000 Ohioans — including more than 50,000 children — have lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits since President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” made the largest cuts to food stamps in the history of the program.
(Columbus Business First) Woda Cooper Companies Inc. aims to open the $51 million Opportunity Pointe development in fall 2028. The Columbus developer is leasing the land from the college's nonprofit real estate affiliate – one of several projects in a larger effort by the two-year school to remove non-academic barriers that can lead students to drop out... U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus, attended the ceremonial groundbreaking Monday. Six of Beatty’s bills were rolled into the large 21st Century Road to Housing Act, which became law in July, including measures making it easier for banks to invest in affordable housing and increasing liquidity for small and medium banks
(Ideastream Public Media) A drop-in center is still in the works, LMM announced on its website Monday, but the nonprofit did not state where it will be located or a timeline for when it could open. It will be operated by LMM's partner, A Place 4 Me, a nonprofit dedicated to ending youth homelessness in Cleveland... Neighbors who had filed suit, including former Cleveland Housing Court Judge Ron O'Leary, said they are not against a drop-in center for young people experiencing homelessness. But they've argued its location in their residential Ohio City neighborhood would increase crime, noise and trash.
(Cleveland.com) Fifty-five low-income Cleveland households have gone without federal housing assistance since the beginning of August because of a funding delay that started in Washington and has worked its way down to their monthly rent payments. The households receive help through a federal program that provides housing assistance to vulnerable low-income residents. They are still paying their required share of the rent, generally about 30% of their adjusted monthly income. But the federal money that covers the rest hasn’t arrived.
(Ohio House of Representatives) State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) yesterday announced that the Controlling Board approved $14.75M in funding for the Resident Services Coordinator Program, the Housing Development Assistance Program, and the Housing Assistance Grant Program, under the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. “These investments will make housing more affordable in Ohio and ensure more Ohioans have a safe place to live,” said Rep. Sweeney.
(OHFA) The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board approved financing from various programs to support three housing developments to create or preserve affordable housing units throughout the state. The Board also announced that 11 applicants will be asked to submit final applications for the State Fiscal Year 2027 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) with Ohio LIHTC program.
(Columbus Dispatch) The Columbus Foundation will provide a $2 million grant to the Community Shelter Board, helping offset a potential funding cut from Franklin County to make more resources available to help the homeless... The shelter board previously warned that it would have to cut about 43% of the county's year-round adult shelter capacity after learning it wouldn't receive the roughly $14.5 million in county funding it had budgeted for fiscal year 2027. The cuts come as homelessness in the county is rising, including the number of people living outside.
(Columbus Dispatch) The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority hasn't issued new Housing Choice Vouchers in nearly two years, leaving roughly 28,000 local families on a waiting list for housing assistance.
That's because Columbus' public housing agency has been in a $12 million funding shortfall with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) since December 2025, in turn causing CMHA to freeze Housing Choice Voucher issuance to new participants and lower the amount it will contribute toward rent for some existing voucher-holders, among other cost-cutting measures.
(Ideastream Public Media) Two new homeless shelters, one in Cuyahoga County and one in Portage County, are set to open their doors this week. The revamped Norma Herr Women's Center in Cleveland officially opened Wednesday, while Tommy's Place in Ravenna opens Thursday... EDEN owns the Norma Herr properties and oversaw the development process. The city of Cleveland supported the construction by contributing $5.6 million in Home Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program and Community Development Block Grant funding. In Ravenna, the grand opening of Tommy's Place, a low-barrier shelter, will take place Thursday, Aug. 13 at 11 a.m.
(WOSU) For more than a year, Wednesdays in Licking County Municipal Court have been H.O.M.E. Court days. The Housing Opportunities through Municipal Engagement court diversion program connects homeless people charged with nonviolent misdemeanor crimes to emergency housing, mental health services doctors and more.
(Community Housing Network) We’re thrilled to welcome Ann Bischoff as CHN’s next Chief Executive Officer! Ann joins CHN on September 14, bringing a decade of nonprofit leadership experience and a deep commitment to housing stability, strong communities, and creating opportunities for people to thrive.
(Community Housing Network) We’re thrilled to welcome Ann Bischoff as CHN’s next Chief Executive Officer! Ann joins CHN on September 14, bringing a decade of nonprofit leadership experience and a deep commitment to housing stability, strong communities, and creating opportunities for people to thrive.
Accepting Applications: Ohio Youth with Lived Experience Speakers Bureau
Are you a young person who has experienced homelessness or housing instability?
Do you have a passion for preventing and ending youth homelessness?
If so, apply to join the Ohio Youth with Lived Experience Speakers Bureau!
What is a Speakers Bureau?
The Ohio Youth Lived Experience Speakers’ Bureau is a non-partisan group of youth with lived experience of homelessness who work to improve policies and systems across Ohio in an effort to prevent and end youth homelessness. The purpose of the group is to help youth with lived experience share their stories and speak up about issues that matter to them. Members receive training in leadership, public speaking, advocacy, and how policies and systems work. Activities may include providing written or verbal testimony, speaking at conferences, meeting with legislators, and responding to press inquiries.
Members are paid for their time and participation. Opportunities are available both online and in-person.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for the Ohio Youth with Lived Experience Speakers Bureau, members must:
Have lived experience of homelessness and/or housing instability
Have interest in advocacy and policy efforts around youth homelessness
Be 18 – 24 years old*
Live in Ohio
*People older than 24 are also welcome to apply. A limited number of spaces are available to members above age range.
Full-time workers in Ohio must earn at least $23.82 an hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment, according to a report released Thursday by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio.
The 2026 Out of Reach report shows that the gap between rents and renter wages has widened in recent years. The average Ohio renter now earns $19.59 an hour, or $4.23 less than the two-bedroom Housing Wage. In 2020, the gap was $1.57 an hour, meaning it has grown by 169% over the last six years.
The Housing Wage estimates the hourly pay full-time workers need to afford a rental home at HUD’s Fair Market Rent without spending more than 30% of their income, the long-time standard for housing affordability.
In some areas, the Housing Wage is considerably higher than the statewide average. The Housing Wage is $27.50 an hour in Columbus, $26.02 in Cincinnati, and $24.60 in Cleveland.
While rents are generally higher urban areas, the gap between rents and wages is often wider in rural areas. For example, Fairfield County renters need to earn $27.50 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment, but the average renter there earns only $14.67 an hour. In Union County, which has the state’s highest Housing Wage of $27.56 an hour, the average renter earns only $19.86 an hour.
COHHIO Executive Director Amy Riegel said workers’ wages increased briefly during the pandemic but have fallen behind the cost of housing in recent years.
“Renters’ incomes shot up in the early 2020s, but then rent increases eventually swamped the wage gains. And it’s not just housing. The cost of food, transportation, healthcare, childcare, and education is continuing to rise while people working in low wage jobs are getting squeezed,” she said.
Ohio Chamber of Commerce General Counsel Tony Long said wages rose in recent years, but Ohioans are now struggling to keep up with ongoing housing inflation caused by the shortage of housing stock in Ohio.
“Safe, stable, affordable housing is essential for a strong workforce. But the growing shortage of affordable housing options is jeopardizing our competitive advantage,” he said. “We appreciate the steps that the state and federal governments have taken to add tools and programs to increase the supply of affordable housing, but more still needs to be done to reduce the housing supply deficit.”
Fred Berry, president and CEO of Humility of Mary Housing in Akron, said the affordable housing shortage has a direct impact on homelessness in the community.
“I’m amazed by our clients’ creativity and determination to overcome incredible barriers to rebuild their families and achieve stability. And while we’re helping many families get stably housed, even more are falling into homelessness every day,” he said. “The lack of affordable housing is increasing the risk of homelessness and making it harder to get out of homelessness.”
NLIHC President and CEO Renee M. Willis said the Out of Reach report highlights the significant need to assist the lowest-income renters and noted that only one in four eligible households receives federal housing assistance.
“To meaningfully address the affordable housing crisis, the federal government must adequately fund housing programs in a way that would expand rental assistance and both preserve and increase the supply of deeply affordable homes for those with the lowest incomes,” she said. “We have the resources to invest in expanding housing solutions that provide stable homes for the lowest-income people in our country. We just need the political will to do so.”
Rising Rents Drive Homelessness 3.7% Higher in Ohio
The affordable housing shortage is steadily increasing homelessness in Ohio, according to data recently released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
On one night in January 2025, at least 12,196 Ohioans were homeless, according to the most recent Point in Time count data recently released as part of HUD’s Annual Homelessness Assessment Report. That represents an increase of 3.7 percent from the previous year’s homelessness count.
Amy Riegel, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, said the lack of affordable housing – combined with rising prices for food, transportation, child care, healthcare, and other necessities – is forcing more Ohioans into homelessness.
“Homelessness is primarily a housing problem. When rents rise faster than incomes, homelessness increases,” she said, noting that two-bedroom rents increased 23 percent in Ohio between 2021 and 2026, according to Apartment List Rent Estimates.
“Rising rents don’t just push people into homelessness. They make it harder to get people out of homelessness. So at the same time more people are becoming homeless, fewer people are getting housed,” she said.
Nationally, homelessness decreased 3.3 percent over the past year. However, looking at the larger overall national trend, homelessness increased by 26.3 percent between 2013-2025.
Riegel said Ohio’s local, state, and federal policymakers still have the opportunity to enact bold policies to prevent homelessness from getting out of control as it has in some parts of the U.S.
“The good news is that it’s not too late to address Ohio’s housing affordability problem. A great start would be passing the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bipartisan bill that is currently pending in Congress. The state legislature should safeguard the Ohio Housing Trust Fund, expand the Ohio Low Income Housing Tax Credit, and enact tenant protections,” she said.
Key Ohio findings from HUD's AHAR report:
Unsheltered homelessness increased 4 percent in one year from 2,379 to 2,478
Family homelessness decreased by 8.5 percent in one year from 3,357 to 3,070
Unaccompanied youth age 18-24 increased by 16 percent in one year from 815 to 946
Chronic homelessness increased by 1.6 percent in one year 1,429 to 1,452
Veteran homelessness increased by 13.4 percent in one year from 589 to 668.
Housing Ohio 2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Housing Ohio 2026! Our annual conference has grown each year and this one was no exception, setting a new record with 785 attendees, 105 speakers, 57 sessions, and 33 sponsors!
Donald Whitehead, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, kicked off the conference on April 5 with a plenary address delivering insights on the history of America's housing crisis and an inspirational message focused on creating a housing system designed to meet this moment.
On April 6, Brian Goldstone, author of the book "There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America," joined 10TV anchor Stacia Naquin for a discussion on how we can create a better future for people trapped in the low-wage economy that can't afford a home. One week later, Brian was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction!
Throughout the conference, housing advocates, service-providers, community development professionals, policy-makers and individuals with lived experience connected and collaborated to devise ways to strengthen Ohio's response to housing insecurity.
A report released Thursday shows nearly half of Ohio’s 1.58 million renters are paying more than they can afford on rent, as the state faces a shortage of 266,000 affordable and available rental units.
The 2026 Gap Report, released jointly each year by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO), says Ohio’s 422,000 extremely low-income renters are especially precarious. 73% of these households spend over half of their income on rent, up from 66% five years ago.
“The data confirms what we hear all the time – renters across the board are having more trouble paying rent,” COHHIO Executive Director Amy Riegel said. “For people at the bottom of the pay scale, rent is gobbling up most of their paychecks. But this report shows the rent Pac-Man is moving up the income ladder.”
Ohio has only 37 affordable units available for every 100 extremely low income households across the state, but the deficit is more severe in some communities. ELI households earn less than $33,000/year for a family of four.
Ohio’s largest cities all have a similar shortage of affordable housing: Cincinnati has a deficit of nearly 55,000 units, Cleveland lacks 54,000 units, and Columbus 53,000. The ratio of affordable units available to ELI renters was only 27 to 100 units in Columbus, 32 to 100 in Cincinnati, and 36 to 100 in Cleveland.
NLIHC President and CEO Renee M. Willis said the Gap report shows that no state or major metropolitan area in the U.S. has an adequate supply of affordable and available homes.
“It is a sad fact that only one in four households who qualify for housing assistance receive it. When renters are housing cost-burdened, they cannot afford to cover other basic necessities such as food, healthcare, transportation, or childcare,” she said. “Congress has the solutions to increase housing affordability across the country. They must support robust housing assistance programs that can alleviate the housing crisis and ensure the wellbeing of millions of the lowest-income renters.”
Riegel said the upcoming mid-term elections are a good opportunity to highlight the housing affordability issue and called on candidates to lay out plans to make home more affordable for Ohioans.
“Policymakers must focus on the most vulnerable – the hundreds of thousands of hard-working Ohioans who are living on the edge, where a sudden illness or car repair can lead to eviction and potentially homelessness,” she said. “The time for complacency is over. We need action, and we look forward to working with elected officials to find a path out of the housing crisis.”
Updated March 24, 2026
Local Data and Advocacy
Gap Report data helps illustrate the extent of the affordable housing crisis in your community. Contact your elected officials, tell them what the gap is in your county, and ask them to support policies to increase the supply of affordable housing!
Here are some key points to highlight. (You can replace the underlined statewide totals with the data for your county):
45% of Ohio’s 1.58 million renters are paying more than they can afford on rent (see Column G and Column B on the Ohio county highlights spreadsheet)
The most vulnerable members of our community are especially precarious. We have a shortage of 265,000 affordable units available to Ohio's 422,000 extremely low income renters (see Column E and Column C)
73% of Ohio's extremely low income renters are spending over half of their income on rent (see Column I)
When families are spending so much of their income on housing, they can't afford other necessities like food, healthcare, transportation, or childcare. This puts a lot of our community members at risk of eviction and homelessness.
We need policies that increase the supply of affordable housing so everyone in our community can afford to live here.
Find information about COHHIO's policy priorities that can help address Ohio's affordable housing gap:
About the Gap data: The county-level spreadsheet based on NLIHC's analysis of HUD's most recent Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data from 2018-2022. The statewide and large metro data in the 2026 Gap Report is based on NLIHC's analysis of the Census Bureau's 2024 1-year American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data. There may be some discrepancies due to the different data sources and time periods.
