Coalition On Homeless And Housing In Ohio

COHHIO IS A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS COMMITTED TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS AND PROMOTING DECENT, SAFE, FAIR, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL, WITH A FOCUS ON ASSISTING LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

SUPPORT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS COHHIO'S TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) GRANT CONTINUED TO SUPPORT RAPID RE-HOUSING AND HOMELESS PREVENTION. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TANF ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS INCLUDED RENTAL ASSISTANCE, SECURITY AND UTILITY DEPOSITS, CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION, AND MOVING EXPENSES. AT THE END OF YEAR, OVER $11 MILLION OF THESE FUNDS WAS SPENT ASSISTING FAMILIES.

OHIO BALANCE OF STATE CONTINUUM OF CAREON BEHALF OF OHIO, COHHIO PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND PRIMARY STAFF SUPPORT TO THE OHIO BALANCE OF STATE CONTINUUM OF CARE (BOSCOC), A REGIONAL HOMELESS SERVICES PLANNING AND COORDINATION BODY COMPRISED OF 80 COUNTIES. IN THIS ROLE, COHHIO MANAGES THE BOSCOC PROGRAM AND SYSTEMS-LEVEL PERFORMANCE, LEADS STRATEGIC PLANNING EFFORTS, LEADS THE COORDINATED ENTRY PROCESS, AND FACILITATES THE ANNUAL APPLICATION PROCESS FOR FEDERAL HOMELESS DOLLARS. IN 2021, COHHIO HELPED SECURE MORE THAN $20 MILLION IN FEDERAL HOMELESS PROGRAM FUNDS FOR THE BOSCOC TO SUPPORT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, RAPID RE-HOUSING, AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS. AS PART OF THE BOSCOC, THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (HMIS) UNIT COLLECTS AND MAINTAINS DATA ON HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN HOMELESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CONTINUUM OF CARE. THE DATA IS USED TO HELP DETERMINE THE EFFICACY OF THESE PROGRAMS AND TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL SYSTEM RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS. THE HMIS UNIT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING THE HOUSING INVENTORY CHART AND POINT IN TIME COUNT DATA DURING 2021. THE HMIS TEAM OFFERED MULTIPLE USER TRAININGS FOR SCORES OF AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE, HELPING ENSURE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE DATABASE. IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARD ACTIVITIES, OHIO BOSCOC AND HMIS TEAMS PROVIDED INTENSIVE AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDERS REGARDING PANDEMIC RESPONSES. THIS INCLUDED PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND TRAININGS ON OPERATING CONGREGATE FACILITIES DURING THE PANDEMIC, CREATING AND OPERATING ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE UNITS, CREATING AND OPERATING NON-CONGREGATE SHELTER UNITS, AND REVISING PROVISION OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN HOUSING PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE COC AND HMIS TEAMS CREATED CUSTOM FORMS AND WORKFLOWS TO COLLECT KEY PANDEMIC RELATED DATA IN HMIS INCLUDING, REPORTING DATA ABOUT COVID-19 SYMPTOMS, HEALTH RISKS, POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS AND REPORTING DATA ON VACCINATIONS. THE COC AND HMIS TEAMS HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH KEY PARTNERS TO HELP PROVIDERS ACCESS TO VACCINES FOR THEIR CLIENTS AND HAVE SUPPORTED PROVIDERS TO HELP ADVOCATE FOR VACCINE ACCEPTANCE AMONG THEIR CLIENTS.

ADVOCACYCOHHIO'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS SEEK TO END HOMELESSNESS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL OHIO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. COHHIO ESPECIALLY TARGETS OHIO'S MOST CHALLENGED POPULATIONS EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND OHIOANS WITH DISABILITIES.ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN IN 2021 INCLUDE:YOUTH HOMELESSNESS - SECURED A $5 MILLION APPROPRIATION IN THE STATE BIENNIAL BUDGET FOR THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO SERVE TRANSITION AGE HOMELESS YOUTH.HEALTHY BEGINNINGS AT HOME - SECURED $2.25 MILLION IN THE STATE BUDGET TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND THIS COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT AIMED AT REDUCING INFANT MORTALITY THROUGH HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES.PROPERTY TAXES - BLOCKED AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE BUDGET THAT WOULD DRAMATICALLY INCREASE TAXES ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROPERTIES, JEOPARDIZING THE HOMES OF 100,000S OF VULNERABLE, LOW-INCOME OHIOANS.AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN - ADVOCATED FOR OHIO'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT THE ADDITION OF CRITICAL HOUSING COMPONENTS IN THIS PANDEMIC RECOVERY LEGISLATION, INCLUDING $5 BILLION FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS, $5 BILLION FOR THE HOME-ARPA PROGRAM, $10 BILLION TO HELP HOMEOWNERS AVOID FORECLOSURE, AND $21.5 BILLION FOR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS - RALLIED SUPPORT FROM OVER 200 ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES FOR A PROPOSAL TO INVEST $308 MILLION OF OHIO'S FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.OHIO HOUSING TRUST FUND - ADVOCATED FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE OHTF, THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF STATE FUNDING FOR LOCAL HOMELESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS.EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE - ADVOCATED FOR FOR THE STATE TO IMPROVE ADMINISTRATION OF OHIO'S ERA ALLOCATION AND REDUCE BUREAUCRATIC BARRIERS THAT HINDER DISTRIBUTION OF RENT RELIEF TO HELP AT-RISK TENANTS AVOID EVICTION.FEDERAL BUDGET - COHHIO CONTINUED WORKING WITH NATIONAL AND STATE PARTNERS TO INCREASE FEDERAL FUNDING TO EXPAND THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM, THE NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND, AND PUBLIC HOUSING THAT HELP MAKE HOME A REALITY FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE OHIOANS.SUPPORTIVE HOUSING - ADVOCATED FOR LEGISLATION (SB 57) TO PROTECT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS FROM EFFORTS TO APPLY PROPERTY TAXES THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE THEIR FINANCIAL VIABILITY.

TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:EACH YEAR, COHHIO'S TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DELIVERS TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO MORE THAN 400 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. THIS INCLUDES TRAININGS AND SEMINARS, PHONE/EMAIL CONSULTATIONS, SITE VISITS, WORKSHOPS, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, MEETINGS WITH STATE POLICY MAKERS, PEER TO PEER LEARNING EVENTS, DISTRIBUTING PRINTED MATERIALS, GUIDANCE, TARGETED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND HOSTING AN ANNUAL RESOURCE-RICH STATEWIDE CONFERENCE FEATURING STATE AND NATIONAL EXPERTS IN THE HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING ARENA. IN MARCH, 500 PROVIDERS REGISTERED FOR COHHIO'S ANNUAL STATEWIDE CONFERENCE THAT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CANCELED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. DURING THE PANDEMIC THE MAJORITY OF TRAININGS WERE VIRTUAL, AND INCLUDED OVER 40 STATEWIDE EVENTS. THIS COMBINATION OF IN-PERSON BUT MOSTLY VIRTUAL TRAINING WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 3,500 PROFESSIONALS. THESE TRAININGS PROMOTED THE UTILIZATION OF BEST PRACTICES FOR SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, EXPERIENCING, AND/OR WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS IN EACH OF THE 88 COUNTIES IN OHIO. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, TARGETED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOCUSED ON ENSURING THE HOMELESS SYSTEM ACCESSED RESOURCES, CDC GUIDANCE, UTILIZED BEST PRACTICES, AND MORE. THIS LED TO AN INCREASE OF TRAININGS IN ORDER TO MEET THESE NEEDS.SOAR OHIO:LAUNCHED IN 2008, COHHIO'S SOAR OHIO PROJECT HELPS EXPEDITE THE SSI (SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME) AND SSDI (SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INCOME) APPLICATION PROCESS AND REDUCE BARRIERS FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS (THOSE WITH A PHYSICAL DISABILITY AND/OR SERIOUS AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS) WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS OR ARE PREPARING TO EXIT AN INSTITUTION. DURING THE 2021 YEAR 162 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED AND COLLECTIVELY AWARDED $2.7 MILLION $90,552.00 IN DISABILITY BENEFITS AND NEARLY $243,000.00 IN BACK AWARD PAYMENTS.DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC STAFF ASSISTED 307 CALLERS AND 511 EMAILS REQUESTS WITH SOAR RELATED QUESTIONS AND REFERRALS. STAFF ALSO ADVOCATED WITH FEDERAL SOCIAL SECURITY ON PROVIDING ACCESS TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS ON BEHALF OF OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT OHIO. THIS ADVOCACY WORK WAS INVALUABLE WHILE THE SSA FIELD OFFICES WERE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.TO DATE, THIS PROGRAM HAS ASSISTED 9,656 OHIOANS GAIN THE BENEFITS THEY WERE ELIGIBLE FOR, HELPING TO STABILIZE THEIR LIVES, AND THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH THE AWARD OF $35 MILLION IN ANNUAL INCOME. TENANT HOUSING INFORMATION/FAIR HOUSING:STABILIZING AT-RISK RENTAL HOUSEHOLDS, EXPANDING HOUSING CHOICE, PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EMPOWERING TENANT COMMUNITIES, AND ADVOCATING FOR TENANT'S RIGHTS ARE THE CORE ACTIVITIES OF THIS PROGRAM. STAFF PROVIDE TRAINING AND DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO TENANTS AND LANDLORDS, AS WELL AS HOUSING AND SERVICE PROVIDERS AROUND THE STATE. COHHIO'S AFFORDABLE AND FAIR HOUSING COORDINATOR, SERVES AS A RESOURCE ON HOUSING LAW FOR VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, OHIO MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, OHIO HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY, OHIO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGENCY, AND THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL.THE HOUSING INFORMATION LINE OFFERS FREE LEGAL ADVICE TO ANYONE WHO HAS A QUESTION RELATED TO HOUSING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LANDLORD/TENANT ISSUES. THE INFORMATION LINE HELPS KEEP FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR HOMES BY PROVIDING ADVICE TO BOTH TENANTS AND LANDLORDS TO PREVENT MISTAKES THAT LEAD TO UNNECESSARY AND/OR ILLEGAL EVICTIONS. THIS INCLUDES WORKING WITH SUBSIDIZED HOUSING PROVIDERS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TENANTS THERE.DURING THE COURSE OF 2021, THERE WERE MORE THAN 2,000 CONTACTS WITH TENANTS, LANDLORDS AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS THROUGH PHONE CALLS, AND EMAILS, AS WELL AS ANOTHER 1,300 PERSONS ATTENDING TRAININGS AND WEBINARS. COHHIO ALSO CONDUCTS QUARTERLY MEETINGS OF THE OHIO PRESERVATION NETWORK (OPN) AS WELL AS PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE 180 OPN MEMBERS THROUGH THE LISTSERV (AS STARTED IN 2020, ALL MEETINGS WERE HELD VIRTUALLY, BUT WE ARE CONTEMPLATING A RETURN TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS IN THE 2ND HALF OF 2022). COHHIO HAS BEGUN RETURNING TO IN-PERSON TRAININGS AND PRESENTATIONS AS THE WORLD EMERGES FROM THE PANDEMIC, AND EXPECTS TO RAMP UP IN-PERSON TRAININGS (ASSUMING THERE IS NOT A NEW VARIANT WITH A NEW SURGE). COVID 19 INFORMATION, ALONG WITH EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE CONTINUED TO BE THE HOT TOPICS IN 2021 AS COHHIO TRIED TO KEEP UP WITH A FLUID SITUATION WHERE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES, STATE DECISION-MAKERS, AND COURTS WERE CONSTANTLY CHANGING RULES TO ADAPT TO AN EVER CHANGING ENVIRONMENT. COVID-19 ALSO BECAME A HOT TOPIC FOR PRESENTATIONS. COHHIO CONTINUES TO DO TRAINING ON THE APPLICATION OF LANDLORD-TENANT LAW TO RECOVERY HOUSING PROVIDERS FOR OHIO RECOVERY HOUSING (ORH). YOUTH HOUSING INITIATIVE:THIS PROGRAM, WHICH ADVOCATES FOR HOMELESS YOUTH, INCLUDING ABUSED AND NEGLECTED YOUTH, PARTNERS WITH YOUTH PROVIDERS, STATE AGENCIES, SCHOOLS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT OHIO.DURING THE YEAR, STAFF PROVIDED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DETAILING BEST PRACTICES IN SERVICE DELIVERY AND THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF TRANSITION AGE YOUTH (TAY) EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE YOUTH INITIATIVE DIRECTOR CONDUCTED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH OVER 80 PROVIDER AGENCIES, SCHOOLS AND PARTNERS ACROSS OHIO. THE PROGRAM PARTNERED WITH VARIOUS GROUPS TO CONDUCT SIX STATE-WIDE WEBINARS ATTENDED BY OVER 100 PEOPLE AT EACH SESSION. A NETWORK OF RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH PROVIDERS WAS CONVENED FOUR TIMES VIRTUALLY TO DISCUSS, PLAN AND COORDINATE ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION. THE YOUTH HOUSING INITIATIVE DIRECTOR PARTNERED WITH CHAPIN HALL, WESTAT AND ABT ASSOCIATES TO FACILITATE RESEARCH PROJECTS AND BRIEFS AIMED AT INVESTIGATING THE NEEDS OF RURAL TAY ENDURING HOMELESSNESS AND INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS.COMPREHENSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTS ARE PROVIDED TO ALL YOUTH HOMELESSNESS DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS (YHDP) IN OHIO IN COORDINATION WITH THE BALANCE OF STATE CONTINUUM OF CARE COC STAFF, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.