Today’s #GOPCThread recaps some of the themes explored in our webinar series focused on n'hood stability in the time of COVID. This series was produced in partnership with @landpolicy. If you missed any of the webinars, they can be found below https://www.greaterohio.org/webinars-1 

Philanthropy is responding to COVID in many ways. The Wean Foundation in Warren, formed a new partnership w/2 other local foundations to create a joint application called the Mahoning Valley COVID-19 Response & Stabilization Application #GOPCThread https://www.cfmv.org/response-fund/ 

The joint application allows nonprofit organizations to submit applications to all three of the foundations at once and fast-tracks funding. #GOPCThread

In Findlay Co, the Findlay Hancock Community Foundation convened local community partners to discuss how to best leverage available funding to meet COVID-related housing instability... #GOPCThread

This conversation led to the formation of an eviction prevention task force and $225,000 eviction prevention fund #GOPCThread

It also resulted in a partnership between the Foundation, Affordable Housing Alliance, & Hope House to create a Housing Help Line to centralize the patchwork of funds available #GOPCThread

The helpline connects residents w/ services such as rental & utility relief, case management support, health & food services, & legal aid #GOPCThread

The Columbus, OH Housing Action Fund is a $100 million fund to provide low-interest loans for affordable housing development and is an example of philanthropy joining public and private partners to respond to long-term housing needs in a community #GOPCThread

This effort started before COVID & addresses concerns w/ affordable housing supply that were a problem before the pandemic & will continue to increase during & after #GOPCThread

This fund is managed by the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County w/ help from
@colsfoundation, @AffordHouse_OH, @Huntington_Bank,
@FifthThird, @hbtbank, @PNCBank, @NiSourceInc,
@L_Brands, @ParkNationalBnk #GOPCThread

Mission-driven developers are also facing new challenges as a result of COVID & are adapting many of their core operations to respond. @OCCHstrong, an affordable housing lender described several pivots they are making to accommodate borrowers… #GOPCThread

Including creating a resident emergency impact fund, allowing adjusted construction schedules & modifications to accommodate COVID guidelines, granting loan accommodations, reallocating funds, & addressing the digital divide by providing equipment & education. #GOPCThread

. @OCCHstrong also shared pivots they have observed service providers & management companies making to adapt to COVID realities #GOPCThread

. @PriceHillWill, a community development corporation in Cincinnati, is working hard to maintain trust with the community during COVID & connect residents to services despite COVID-related obstacles. #GOPCThread

They trained residents on how to use zoom, conducted device drives, & helped get Wi-Fi to residents who didn’t have it. This technology helped host free community yoga class, a community festival & youth orchestra program #GOPCThread

To encourage community & spread cheer, sunflower seeds were passed-out around the n’hood. @MyCinci also became a new platform for funneling service delivery to families. They started #PriceHillPorchPics as an effort to take socially-distant family & graduation photos #GOPCThread

. @TTownLISC @ToledoLISC Core City Program, which started before the pandemic, addresses existing single-family homes for acquisition & rehab & is designed to help increase property values & neighborhood stability. #GOPCThread

N’hoods of color where other partners & @thelandbank are already working to address blight are targeted for this program. property values can help attract new residents to the core n’hoods & also benefit legacy homeowners by restoring the equity in their homes #GOPCThread

Renter protection ordinances are another strategy being employed to address housing instability in general but are especially relevant during COVID. #GOPCTHread

. @ABLELawInc shared recent examples in Ohio include Dayton, OH’s Rent Receipt Ordinance which requires landlords provide a receipt for rent paid & then shifts the burden of proof of payment from the renter to the landlord if a receipt is not provided… #GOPCThread

...and Dayton’s Late Fee Ordinance which puts limits on how much a landlord can charge for late fees. @ABLELawInc #GOPCThread

Source of Income Ordinances can protect renters against discrimination based on the source of the income they use to pay rent. @AmyKlaben discussed how these ordinances are increasingly being adopted around Central Ohio & how advocates can promote them in their community.

. @LegalAidCLE spoke about #CLE’s Right to Counsel Ordinance, which became effective last summer & guarantees the right to legal representation for tenants facing eviction with at least one child in the household & living at or below 100% of Federal Poverty Guidelines #GOPCThread

In the first six months of the program, 93% of clients were able to avoid eviction or an involuntary move. #GOPCThread

Local government efforts to address COVID-19 were also discussed in this webinar series. In @Springfield_OH planners are working to conduct socially distant community engagement to advance community planning #GOPCThread

They discovered that despite COVID’s obstacles, they could still get planning input by reaching out to youth attending socially distant summer camps #GOPCThread

They also engaged the community with a street painting project that safely brought people together #GOPCThread

Preservation Compact, part of the Community Investment Corporation of Chicago, discussed a proposal devised in partnership with a diversity of stakeholders aimed at maintaining the affordability of naturally occurring affordable rental housing. #GOPCThread

The plan as currently envisioned, proposes the reduction of property tax assessments in exchange for investment in the property & an agreement to keep rents affordable. This program was designed to address strong & weak markets… #GOPCThread

Offering owners the opportunity to self-select into two tiers based on what works best for them. Both tiers incentivize investment & maintain affordability for renters. #GOPCThread

Lima shared their work establishing a Housing Task Force to address n’hood stability & reinvestment. The Task Force is working to identify solutions to improve quality, quantity & availability of housing… #GOPThread

Stabilize & increase population; reduce blight; improve property values; & attract private investment. The housing task force consists of 50 members from banking, economic development, city staff, residents, council members & is divided into 3 subcommittees. #GOPCThread

GOPC wants to thank all our partners who made this webinar series possible. Especially @landpolicy & @CProgressNews. Please find recordings from all these webinars on our website #GOPCThread https://www.greaterohio.org/webinars-1