CMHA Increasing Housing Solutions

Logan Commons rendering

CLPHA National Conference

2023 Property Owners' Appreciation

CMHA Increasing Housing Solutions

Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority continues efforts to preserve and produce affordable housing in our community with the most recent announcement from Cincinnati Development Fund and the Hamilton County Commissioners. The first group of projects to receive funding to build and restore affordable housing was announced during a press conference. CMHA will get $1 million for the new Over-the-Rhine development Logan Commons. Thirty applications were submitted and 17 were selected for the unprecedented amount in funding. The County and Cincinnati Development Fund put $31.8 million toward creating affordable housing. This funding allows CMHA to further expand housing solutions for some of our most vulnerable neighbors. Logan Commons will provide high quality housing for seniors, as well as a new senior center.

Also, I had the honor of speaking on a panel at the national conference of the Council of Large Public Housing Agencies (CLPHA) in Cleveland, Ohio. Council of Large Public Housing Agencies is a national group made up of large public housing authorities around the country. CLPHA held sessions that included remarks from Ohio elected officials, panels on topics important to public housing officials, and a visit from the Secretary of HUD Marcia Fudge. I represented our agency on the panel titled “The Heart of It All” Good News from Ohio PHAs roundtable discussion. This panel was centered on what leaders thought are the new challenges faced by housing authorities and what effective changes can be made so PHAs can make a larger impact on affordable housing in their communities. As panelists, we also shared the impactful initiatives that are being worked on in our respective communities. Details were shared on how Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority is reimagining affordable housing and what we are doing to increase housing for the families of Hamilton County. CEOs and Executive Directors from Lucas, Akron and Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authorities were also part of the discussion.

The CMHA team continuously strives to carry out the Vision statement. One particular part says that we develop quality affordable housing solutions in partnership with community stakeholders. We have established partnerships with several organizations such as The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, the Homeless Coalition, Cincinnati VA, Strategies to End Homelessness and hundreds of property owners and property management companies. On June 29, Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority hosted the first Property Owners’ Appreciation banquet since the pandemic and the theme was Shining Stars. CMHA operates one of the largest voucher programs in the country, providing housing solutions to more than 26,000 people across Hamilton County. We are able to achieve this because of our Shining Star Partners. The evening was excellent, was well attended and included Ms. LaVerne Mitchell, Lincoln Heights Council Member and CMHA Board Vice Chairman, Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michelle Kearney who was the keynote speaker and Cincinnati Council Member Seth Walsh. During her speech, Vice Mayor Kearney said, “I am so proud of the work that CMHA is doing for Greater Cincinnati. CMHA is collaborating with Strategies to End Homelessness and other partners on emergency housing vouchers to help those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. CMHA also expanded its partnerships with Cincinnati Public Schools and Lighthouse Youth Services to help our students and their families who are experiencing homelessness and need a stable, affordable place to live. I’m also excited about CMHA’s voluntary program for our families receiving housing choice vouchers, to help them to become economically self-sufficient. None of these life transforming initiatives would be possible without you providing housing for our residents.” I thank everyone who made the event a success. Congratulations to the award winners and all of the partners who joined us. Click here for a video highlighting the event.

Kind regards,

Gregory D. Johnson, MS, EDEP, PHM

Chief Executive Officer

CPS & Project Connect

CMHA has many partners that help advance the Mission and Vision of the agency. One of the partners that helps advance the Housing Choice Voucher Program among its clients is Cincinnati Public Schools. Did you know the average age of a homeless person is 9 years old and families make up to 40% of the homeless population? CPS’ Project Connect pairs advocacy and specialized educational services for nearly 35 hundred children experiencing homelessness. Project Connect clears obstacles to enrollment and attendance, supplies uniforms/clothing, immediate access to the free lunch program, and housing referrals to CMHA. Click here to watch a video on this partnership.

Spectacular Senior Building

A much needed new high-quality housing apartment building for seniors is heading to the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority will develop Logan Commons, a building that will offer three stories of new housing designed specifically for seniors. Specific care will be taken to ensure bathrooms, kitchens and common spaces have senior accessibility as a top priority. Logan Commons will have 34 one-bedroom and 8 two-bedroom apartments and programming space on the first floor. The space will include a library, technology rooms and consultation rooms for health care screenings and meetings with service providers. It will be an energy efficient, green building with LEED Silver certification. Stay connected to CMHA for the latest information on this development.

An Inside Look

The construction of Bennett Point is moving along. Two new affordable housing buildings are being constructed in the Pendleton neighborhood. The first building will open in the Fall. Some of the CMHA staff took a tour of the units.

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