The Latest on HOME, Fair Housing, and Community Support!
FAIR HOUSING
Summer 2025 Newsletter
HOME HIGHLIGHTS
Congrats Denese!
We’re so proud to share that Denese Benn, HOME’s Director of Finance and Operations, was appointed to the Women’s Fund Leadership Council Academy! This is an incredible achievement that recognizes her dedication, leadership, and commitment to empowering women in our community. We’re lucky to have her on our team and can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make in this new role!!
HOME Celebrated Juneteenth & Pride!
This June, HOME celebrated both Juneteenth and Pride by tabling at community events, sharing resources, and standing alongside our neighbors.
Partnering for Housing Security: HOME + United Way
United Way of Greater Cincinnati is investing $15.5 million in 125 community organizations, and HOME is proud to be one of them. Through this partnership, we’ll continue advancing housing security, advocating for fair housing, and supporting families across our region.
Read HOME's Impact Stories
HOME has published new impact stories that shine a light on the real journeys of tenants and homebuyers navigating housing discrimination and landlord-tenant challenges. These stories highlight how HOME steps in to support, advocate, and ensure fair housing rights are upheld every step of the way.
HOME’s NEW Environmental Hazards & Protected Classes Report
Environmental hazards don’t impact everyone equally. By analyzing where environmental risks, like air pollution, energy insecurity, and flooding, are most concentrated, and comparing that to where members of protected classes live, HOME’s latest report shows a clear and troubling overlap. The data highlights how systemic inequality and discrimination continue to shape who bears the greatest burden of environmental harm.
National origin and religion are protected classes under fair housing law, but discrimination still happens far too often. HOME’s new fact sheets break down what these protections mean, what housing discrimination can look like, and how individuals can advocate for their rights.
The National Fair Housing Alliance released its State of Equitable Homeownership 2025 report, analyzing recent housing and lending trends, highlighting policies needed to sustain progress and close racial and ethnic homeownership gaps. It explores access to housing and credit, the impact of homeownership, and solutions to long-standing barriers in historically underserved communities.
Highlighting inspiring stories and positive updates that uplift our community.
NEW Veteran Housing Resource Guide
Legal Aid has created a helpful resource guide specifically for veterans, connecting them with local and national organizations that offer support with housing, career planning, addiction treatment, and mental health services. It’s a powerful tool for those who’ve served and are looking for stability and support.
City of Oxford Receives Grant to Support Housing Stability
The City of Oxford has been awarded an Eviction Diversion and Housing Stability grant from Interact for Health. As part of this effort, Oxford is launching an educational campaign in partnership with Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) to raise awareness about tenant rights and connect residents with vital housing resources.
The OwnCincy Homeownership Conference is dedicated to making affordable housing more accessible by providing a comprehensive, one-stop event that connects families with essential resources.Held at the Cintas Center on August 9, 2025, this community-wide open house aims to inspire homeownership and empower attendees with the tools needed to achieve their housing goals.The conference brings together trusted realtors, housing counselors, and community partners to guide families through the homebuying process.
Hamilton County Invests Millions in Affordable Housing
Hamilton County is dedicating $3.1 million in federal HOME-ARP funds to support affordable rental housing projects, including new construction, rehab, or converting non-residential buildings. The funding specifically targets housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, survivors of domestic violence, and other vulnerable groups. Pre-applications open July 21, with full applications accepted starting August 14. The goal is to expand access to affordable and supportive housing across the county.
Three Cincinnati Affordable Housing Projects Secure LIHTC
Three Cincinnati projects won 2025 Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), adding 142 affordable units to Cincinnati neighborhoods. Thanks to a new funding partnership, half of this year’s proposals advanced to construction. This will help address the city’s affordable housing shortage by increasing available units and providing more stable homes for low-income residents throughout 2025 and beyond.
HOME’s mission is to eliminate unlawful discrimination in housing in the Greater Cincinnati area. HOME advocates and enforces housing regulations for all protected classes and promotes stable, integrated communities.
HOME Staff
Elisabeth Risch
Executive Director
LaTonya Springs
Assistant Director
Rebecca Griffin
Director of Education
Janet Brown
Director of Tenant Advocacy
Denese Benn
Director of Finance & Operations
Clementine Deck
Policy & Research Coordinator
Ayat Bell
Fair Housing Case Specialist
Teresita Lewis
Fair Housing Case Specialist
Chad Siekman
Testing Coordinator
Sarah Law
Tenant Advocate
Maya Bere
Communications Specialist
HOME Board
Harold Jones
President
Frank Bowen Jr.
Vice President
Julieta Simms
Secretary
Kyria Graves
Treasurer
Robert Hall
Larry Pauly
Deborah Jackson
Eric Barrett
Erica Parker
Shawn Jeffers
Val T. Davis
Dottie Lewis
Lydia Morgan
Gina Ruffin Moore
Stephanie Moes
Michael Cureton
Amy Goodman
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The work behind this publication was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. HOME is solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.
HOME of Greater Cincinnati | 2400 Reading Rd. Suite 118 | Cincinnati, OH 45202 US
