The Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio completed a member survey to identify how COVID-19 is currently impacting the local affordable housing environment. The results are highly concerning and show significant negative impacts across all affordable housing sectors, including the homelessness system, rental operations, home ownership, and construction.
The two-page report linked above provides a data-informed foundation for policy solutions to relieve individual household strain and enhance the capacity for housing professionals to respond to these unprecedented emergency conditions:
- HOMELESS SYSTEM OVERLOAD. There is an immediate impact on the homeless service system. Expanded space is being provided to safely accommodate shelter residents. More will be needed as shelter demand and illness grows.
- SEARCH FOR SCARCE SUPPLIES. Housing and shelter providers are dangerously low on personal protective equipment and paper and cleaning supplies.
- INCREASING THE GAP. The central Ohio housing gap will get worse as affordable housing construction slows and vulnerable households lose income to pay for housing.
- OPERATIONS IMPACTED. There will be a ripple effect on the operations and finances of affordable housing providers as residents begin to miss rent payments beginning tomorrow.
- EVICTION BACKLOG. The action of local courts to suspend eviction actions is commendable, but filings continue, only postponing a housing catastrophe. Rent assistance is needed to keep people in their homes.
The Affordable Housing Alliance continues to monitor the situation and will release additional information as it becomes available. Follow us on Twitter
@AffordHouse_OH for the latest updates.
