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A coalition of housing and homelessness advocates is urging Ohio lawmakers to retain statewide oversight of the Ohio Housing Trust Fund amid proposed changes in the state budget that could shift control to a county-level system.
Members of the Home Matters to Ohio coalition on Thursday asked the Ohio Senate to remove a House amendment to House Bill 96 that would eliminate the Trust Fund's current structure as the primary source of state support for affordable housing, emergency home repairs, and homelessness prevention services.
Advocates warned that decentralizing the fund's administration could disrupt services, particularly in rural and multi-county areas, and reduce the fund's effectiveness. The coalition is recommending the formation of a legislative study committee to evaluate the potential impact of the proposal and consider input from stakeholders across the state.
"Overhauling such a vital source of funding for affordable housing could have drastic consequences for real people," said Amy Riegel, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio. "We welcome an open, careful, and thorough study of the Trust Fund, which could lead to improvements that help more Ohioans stay safely housed."
Ryan Miller, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Ohio, said that local affiliates rely on the Trust Fund to provide critical home repairs and accessibility improvements. Replacing a centralized fund with a county-by-county process could make access to resources inconsistent and burdensome, he said.
"The Trust Fund helps people remain in their homes. Without it, many would be forced into institutional care for issues like broken furnaces or inaccessible entryways," Miller said.
Robert Bender, CEO of The Provident Companies, emphasized that affordable housing developments require a mix of funding sources. He said removing statewide coordination would make it harder to finance projects in less populated areas.
"The Trust Fund provides gap financing that makes housing affordable for low-income Ohioans. Fragmenting that support could stifle development outside major cities," Bender said.
Becky Eddy, chief community development officer of Integrated Services for Behavioral Health, noted the importance of a regional approach in underserved areas, especially those without shelters or homelessness infrastructure.
"The Trust Fund supports essential services like rapid rehousing and prevention efforts that serve entire regions, including Appalachia," she said.
Established in 2003, the Trust Fund is currently managed by the state and funded through a dedicated fee. Advocates argue that the existing model allows for efficient resource distribution and accountability.
"A study committee could help generate fresh ideas to stabilize and improve the Housing Trust Fund," Riegel said.
The Ohio Senate is expected to continue budget deliberations in the coming weeks.