City of Columbus' Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice/Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Plan
Please join us for a focus group to gather local insights into policy barriers to affordable housing in Columbus. Light refreshments provided.
When: Tuesday, Dec. 16 from 2-3:30P
Where: Columbus Metropolitan Library - Driving Park, 1422 E Livingston Ave
Learn more at: https://www.wixforms.com/f/7396289256953480223
Learn About the Housing Development Gap Financing Program
The Housing Development Gap Financing (HDGF) program provides gap financing for affordable housing proposals that do not include the use of Low-Income Housing Credits (LIHTC). Many times, the HDGF is utilized by smaller-scale affordable housing projects which often lack financing options. Learn more about the program with OHFA and OCDCA as the 2026 application period approaches.
Learn more at: https://web.ohiocdc.org/atlas/events/learn-about-the-housing-development-gap-financing-program-80/details
Unlocking Black Prosperity: Advancing Wealth through Small Businesses, Asset Development, and Community Investment
Across the country, local leaders are driving bold, data-driven strategies to build inclusive economies and advance Black prosperity. A key pillar of this work is supporting Black-owned small businesses through expanded access to capital, increased capacity, and targeted policy changes. This virtual convening will explore innovative policies, community-driven initiatives, and cross-sector strategies that cities can implement to foster Black wealth creation, support asset building, and ensure long-term economic equity and prosperity.
Through insights from the field, demonstrations of innovative data tools, and examples of promising practices already making an impact, this webinar offers a road map for turning data into action. It’s more than a conversation—it’s a call to reimagine how cities invest in Black futures. Whether you’re a city official, a policy advocate, or a community changemaker, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to make data-driven decisions that foster lasting impact.
Columbus Coalition for the Homeless: Memorial Service
Learn more at: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1215755777256666&set=a.609550081210575
Rent Escrow Brief Advice Clinics
As maintenance requests pile up, some renters may be tempted to stop paying rent to their landlords.
Whether they feel it's unfair to pay money for substandard living conditions or want to use the money to make the repairs on their own, it doesn't matter. Ohio law requires they must pay rent.
But, that rent doesn't have to be paid to the landlord if there are outstanding repairs.
Instead, renters can take advantage of a process called rent escrow, which allows those who are current on their payments to pay their rent to court instead of to their landlord in hopes of forcing the landlord to make needed repairs.
Renters who simply withhold payment without creating an escrow and putting the money in that account can face the possibility of eviction.
Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) is hosting a series of clinics on the third floor of the Franklin County Municipal Court, 375 S. High St., to help area renters understand the process and how to navigate it.
The Rent Escrow Brief Advice Clinics will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 2, Sept. 30, Oct. 31, Dec. 1 and Dec. 31.
"The clinics came about because LASCO wanted to meet rent escrow litigants where they are and to set rent escrow cases up for success," Melissa Lenz, a supervising attorney on the organization's housing team, said in an email.
Legal Aid has allowed eligible Franklin County tenants to reach out for more information and provide help filing the cases for years, but realized it was missing some people in need, Lenz said. For instance, last year 215 escrow cases were filed, Lenz said, compared against 25,329 evictions filed.
Tenants often make mistakes in escrow cases, she said, as they may forget steps like giving written notice before filing or not waiting the needed "reasonable amount of time" required by law.
"If tenants file an escrow case improperly, they are at risk of eviction and still won't have the necessary repairs made," Lenz said. "This clinic is intended for anyone who wants to get their landlord to make repairs."
Source:: https://www.lasco.org/
Volunteer at the 2026 "PIT" Count
Save the Date: 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count – Volunteer Opportunities Coming Soon
Please save the date for the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of people experiencing homelessness in Columbus and Franklin County. Please find the following flyer for you to share with your networks.
Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Time: Early morning shifts and afternoon volunteer opportunities available
Location: Various sites throughout Franklin County
Each year, the PIT Count provides critical data that helps our community understand homelessness and shape solutions. Volunteers play an essential role by helping collect information, distribute supplies, and connect with individuals experiencing homelessness.
Volunteer registration and training details will be shared in December. Whether you’re a returning volunteer or new to the count, your participation makes a real difference.
Thank You!
ULI Columbus Emerging Trends 2026
ULI Columbus's Emerging Trends event is a real estate trends and forecast program covering project updates, trends and more in Central Ohio. The program will be an interactive, fast-paced and include some of the profession's most noteworthy thought-leaders.
All registrants will receive a digital copy of the ULI and PWC annual publication, Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2026. The report, released at the ULI Fall Meeting, includes proprietary data and insights from more than 2,000 leading real estate industry experts, exploring shifts in the property sector since the pandemic, changing investor sentiment toward climate risks, the emergence of impact investing, and other real estate issues within the United States and Canada.
AGENDA
11:30 AM - Registration and Networking Lunch
12:00 PM - Program
1:30 pm - Conclusion
Whetstone Library: Free "United" Screening
Join the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio to watch the original short film "United: the Hidden Story of the Humble Duplex".
We'll discuss how redlining, segregation and other forces targeted this architectural icon, and how a new generation is reclaiming the duplex as a tool for growth, wealth, individuality and community development. Light refreshments will be provided.
Evict Private Equity Info Session
Evict Private Equity Information Session
Hey Columbus! Tired of your rent skyrocketing? Worried you’ll never be able to afford a home? We’ve got a plan!
Join us February 4th, 2026 from 6–7pm at the Columbus Main Library for a public information session hosted by Evict Private Equity Columbus—a community-driven effort to take our neighborhoods back from Wall Street and billionaires. We’ll break down how private equity firms and corporate landlords are inflating rents and home prices, pushing families out, and reshaping the Columbus housing market for their profit.
You’ll learn what’s at stake and, more importantly, how you can help convince Columbus City Council to pass an ordinance limiting the number of single-family homes corporate and private equity firms can own in the city.
Columbus homes should be for Columbus families. If you care about affordable and stable housing for our city, this is the place to start.
2026 Data Day: People + Data = Inspired Futures
Data Day is an opportunity to learn more about what our region is doing to promote data-driven decision-making.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission will host Data Day on February 10, 2026 at the Center for Workforce Development at Columbus State Community College.
Data Day is an opportunity to learn more about what our region is doing to promote data-driven decision-making, and how various communities are using data, securing and governing data, and visualizing data.
Attendees will be able to walk away from data day with new connections in the Central Ohio data community and have actionable items that they can take back to their communities to improve the ways they're currently using data.
Program Details:
The day will feature keynote speakers and breakout sessions on a range of data-centric topics from methodology and tools to research and data storytelling.
Breakout sessions will be tailored to a range of attendees from data and GIS professionals to heavy data users and decision makers. Presentations will cover a variety of topics of local and regional significance. Breakfast and lunch will be provided during the event. Please be sure to note any dietary restrictions on your registration form.
DATA DAY 2026Morning Keynote:
Selema Rice (IntelliCon Global, CDO Today)
Lunch Keynote Panel: "The Future of Transit & Mobility"
Stevie Pasamonte (Transit Columbus)
Sophia Mohr (COTA)
Matt Allison (Licking County Transit)
Andy Volenik (Delaware Country Transit)
For program details visit www.morpc.org/event/dataday.
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For questions regarding the program reach out to Jordan Inskeep at jinskeep@morpc.org. If you are interested in sponsorship, email Amanda McEldowney at amceldowney@morpc.org.
Dr. Michael Lens - Book Talk: Where the Hood At? Fifty Years of Change in Black Neighborhoods
Kirwan Institute Forum Series: February 11, 2026
Dr. Michael Lens - Book Talk: Where the Hood At? Fifty Years of Change in Black Neighborhoods
Hip hop music was born out of Black neighborhoods in the 1970s and has evolved alongside them. In Where the Hood At? Lens uses rap’s growth and influence across the country to frame discussions about the development and conditions of Black neighborhoods. Lens finds that social and economic improvement in Black neighborhoods since the 1970s has been slow. However, how well Black neighborhoods are doing varies substantially by region. Overall, Black neighborhoods in the South are doing well and growing quickly. Black neighborhoods in the Midwest and the Rust Belt, on the other hand, are particularly disadvantaged. The welfare of Black neighborhoods is related not only to factors within neighborhoods, such as the unemployment rate, but also to characteristics of the larger metropolitan area, such as overall income inequality. Lens finds that while gentrification is increasingly prevalent, it is growing slowly, and is not as pressing an issue as public discourse would make it seem. Instead, concentrated disadvantage is by far the most common and pressing problem in Black neighborhoods. Where the Hood At? is a remarkable and comprehensive account of Black neighborhoods that helps us to better understand the places and conditions that allow them flourish or impedes their advancement.
Learn more at: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3yLBzoNvgCGcauG
Driving Park Library: Free "United" Screening
Join the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio to watch the original short film "United: the Hidden Story of the Humble Duplex".
We'll discuss how redlining, segregation and other forces targeted this architectural icon, and how a new generation is reclaiming the duplex as a tool for growth, wealth, individuality and community development. Light refreshments will be provided.
Source: https://events.columbuslibrary.org/event/14386680
Reynoldsburg Library: Free "United" Screening
Join the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio to watch the original short film "United: the Hidden Story of the Humble Duplex".
We'll discuss how redlining, segregation and other forces targeted this architectural icon, and how a new generation is reclaiming the duplex as a tool for growth, wealth, individuality and community development. Light refreshments will be provided.
Source: https://events.columbuslibrary.org/event/14386727
Homeownership for All
The housing market may be challenging, but you are not powerless. Join the nonprofit Bloom614 and Columbus City Council's Housing for All for this end of year event for homebuyers and long-time homeowners.
Come learn how to re-strategize and get your homeownership journey back on the road to success. Meet and mingle with your coaches—Legal Aid, non profit housing counselors, Franklin County Auditor's Office, home repair resources, lenders and more. Plus learn what homebuyer protections exist in the City of Columbus. Start 2026 on the right track!
Short-Term Rental Hearing
Short-Term Rental Hearing
Councilmember Emmanuel V. Remy will hold a public hearing to discuss and review potential updates to the City’s ordinances and procedures relating to short-term rentals, helping to further his Columbus Forward Safer City Initiative by enhancing regulations for these properties. The hearing will include a presentation from the License Section of the Department of Building and Zoning Services.
Those interested in testifying in-person or submitting written testimony should email their remarks to Pedro Mejia at pdmejia@columbus.gov with the subject line “Short-Term Rental Testimony” by noon on Dec. 9. Remarks will be limited to three minutes per speaker.
When and Where:
Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m.
Columbus City Hall
Council Chambers (second floor)
90 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Power of Opportunity Fundraiser
Mark your calendar for this year's Power of Opportunity Fundraiser on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 6:30-9 p.m. The theme is "Beyond 100: Celebrating the Power of Us."
If you've been to a Power of Opportunity in the past, be ready for a WHOLE NEW program. We are adding all kinds of opportunities for you to talk with families, coaches, landlords and each other! The program will be shorter and will feature a Families Flourish youth.
Watch our summerlong preview of new things to look forward to on our social media sites. We are on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
One new feature this year is a silent auction. Would you, or someone you know, like to donate a gift card? A vacation home? An experience? Email Stephanie Stover Trenton.
Would you company join PNC, GBQ, Community Strategy Partners and more in sponsoring the event? Here are details.
Source: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/familiesflourishinc/event/2025powerofopportunity/
2025 Enterprise Faith-Based Development InitiativeSM Summit
Getting it Done: Projects, Policy and Perspectives from the Field
Heading into its 20th year, the Enterprise Faith-Based Development InitiativeSM continues to harness the power of faith communities to create and preserve affordable housing and community assets nationwide. This year’s summit brings together developers, clergy, policymakers, academics, training and capital providers to spotlight real-world lessons from faith-based development projects, while offering tools, insights, and inspiration to strengthen this growing movement.
Summit sessions include:
State and local policy updates exploring the latest opportunities and challenges for faith-based development.
In-depth case studies from California and South Florida, where faith-based organizations are building housing and community facilities that respond to urgent local needs.
A discussion with two national stakeholders sharing perspectives on the growth of the faith-based development movement nationally.
Join us to celebrate progress, learn directly from teams leading transformative projects, and explore what it takes to “get it done” on the ground. In addition, get updates on policy efforts and perspectives on the growth of the national faith-based development.
Learn more at: https://web.cvent.com/event/b9ec61fa-4695-4add-96ac-66e44fe2e452/summary
Keep Families Together: HUD Housing Teach in
About this event
Trump wants to displace immigrant families from public housing and Section 8.
WE WILL NOT ALLOW THIS.
We must protect our neighbors, keep families together, and prevent more people from becoming homeless.
Trump quiere desalojar a las familias inmigrantes de la vivienda pública y Sección 8. ¡No lo permitiremos!
Debemos proteger a nuestros vecinos, mantener unidas a las familias y evitar que más sobre lo que está pasando y qué podemos hacer
Learn more at: https://www.mobilize.us/peoplesactioninstitute/event/871967/?utm_source=POWER
Franklinton Library: Free "United" Screening
Join the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio to watch the original short film "United: the Hidden Story of the Humble Duplex".
We'll discuss how redlining, segregation and other forces targeted this architectural icon, and how a new generation is reclaiming the duplex as a tool for growth, wealth, individuality and community development. Light refreshments will be provided.
Source: https://events.columbuslibrary.org/event/14311816
Contingency Planning Toolkit
Please join the National Alliance to End Homelessness from 3-4:30pm EST on December 2 for a discussion on the recently released Contingency Planning Toolkit to help you navigate difficult decisions when responding to the NOFO. *Please note that this webinar will not provide a breakdown of the NOFO. The Contingency Planning Toolkit includes three components: the Landscape Assessment, the Decision Support Tool, and the Project Consideration Checklist. Together, they give communities a structured way to hold fact-based conversations grounded in information from local agencies.
Communities need an accurate, shared understanding of how funding realignments will affect housing and other safety-net programs. The impact of the latest NOFO will undoubtedly cause further disproportionate harm to certain groups. Ending homelessness comprehensively requires addressing and reducing these inequities (including on the basis of disability, race, gender identity, age, and location) by making services more responsive to diverse community needs and centering the experience, concerns, and ideas of people with living and lived experience of homelessness in local planning efforts.
Rent Escrow Brief Advice Clinics
As maintenance requests pile up, some renters may be tempted to stop paying rent to their landlords.
Whether they feel it's unfair to pay money for substandard living conditions or want to use the money to make the repairs on their own, it doesn't matter. Ohio law requires they must pay rent.
But, that rent doesn't have to be paid to the landlord if there are outstanding repairs.
Instead, renters can take advantage of a process called rent escrow, which allows those who are current on their payments to pay their rent to court instead of to their landlord in hopes of forcing the landlord to make needed repairs.
Renters who simply withhold payment without creating an escrow and putting the money in that account can face the possibility of eviction.
Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) is hosting a series of clinics on the third floor of the Franklin County Municipal Court, 375 S. High St., to help area renters understand the process and how to navigate it.
The Rent Escrow Brief Advice Clinics will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 2, Sept. 30, Oct. 31, Dec. 1 and Dec. 31.
"The clinics came about because LASCO wanted to meet rent escrow litigants where they are and to set rent escrow cases up for success," Melissa Lenz, a supervising attorney on the organization's housing team, said in an email.
Legal Aid has allowed eligible Franklin County tenants to reach out for more information and provide help filing the cases for years, but realized it was missing some people in need, Lenz said. For instance, last year 215 escrow cases were filed, Lenz said, compared against 25,329 evictions filed.
Tenants often make mistakes in escrow cases, she said, as they may forget steps like giving written notice before filing or not waiting the needed "reasonable amount of time" required by law.
"If tenants file an escrow case improperly, they are at risk of eviction and still won't have the necessary repairs made," Lenz said. "This clinic is intended for anyone who wants to get their landlord to make repairs."
Source:: https://www.lasco.org/
JFS Night at the Giving Machine!
JOIN US FOR JFS NIGHT AT THE GIVING MACHINE!
We would love to see you and your family at our special community night:
📅, November 20
⏰6:00–8:00 p.m
📍 Giving Machine at Polaris Fashion Place
Stop by to meet JFS staff, learn more about our work, take photos, and make a difference together.
This holiday season, you can help create real and immediate change for individuals and families in our community — one simple act of giving at a time. Jewish Family Services is honored to be featured in the Light the World Giving Machine, now open at Polaris Fashion Place (upper level near JCPenney) from November 14 – December 6.
This unique, interactive vending machine lets you purchase meaningful items that go directly to local nonprofits like JFS - making giving joyful, tangible, and impactful.
When you visit, you can choose to donate items that directly support those we serve, such as:
Fresh produce for a senior
A refugee care kit with everyday essentials
Transportation assistance for someone traveling to work or appointments
Crisis counseling for someone navigating hardship
Emergency shelter and aid for a family in crisis
Every item represents real help — and 100% of your donation goes directly to the charity you choose.
Community Development for All People 2025 Annual Celebration
Join us as we celebrate the continued transformation of the South Side!
Date: November 20th, 2025
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Nationwide Children's Hospital Stecker Auditorium
555 18th St. Columbus, Ohio 43205
Transportation will leave 946 Parsons Avenue at 4:30 pm and will return following the event.
Learn more at: https://4allpeople.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F26895
Columbus Barriers to Fair Housing Workshop (Copy)
The City of Columbus is developing an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing, which examines patterns of segregation, poverty, economic development, and neighborhood changes. We are engaging stakeholders from all elements of the community to deliberate on fair housing concerns and voice ideas. We are holding two workshops to gather public input:
November 18, 5:30 – 7:30 PM at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Hilltop Branch at 511 S. Hague Avenue
November 20, 3:00 – 5:00 PM at the Linden Community Center at 1350 Briarwood Avenue
The workshop will include a presentation on fair housing issues in Columbus and group discussion regarding segregation, housing affordability, and neighborhood improvements.
Please see the attached flier to register for one of the workshops. Recordings of the workshops will be available on the Grants Management webpage following the meeting: https://www.columbus.gov/Government/Departments/Finance-and-Management/Grants-Management
Please email grantsmgmt@columbus.gov in advance of the workshops to request accommodations.
We look forward to seeing you then!
Park National Homebuyer Seminar
Join us for our November Homebuyer Seminar
We are holding our last of Homebuyer Seminar of this year! This session aims to provide credit and financial education; inform prospective borrowers of our products and services; and to encourage them on the path to homeownership. Light refreshments will be provided along with door prizes* for attendees at each session.
Please share our flyers with anyone you think may be interested and want to attend:
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Our Lady of Guadalupe: 3631 Soldano Boulevard, Columbus
Learn more at: https://t.e2ma.net/click/ifptwn/q5m7cz1d/q52br8b
Columbus Growth Strategy Hearing
Columbus Growth Strategy Hearing
Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans, chair of the Zoning Committee, will hold a public hearing to discuss proposed legislation for the Columbus Growth Strategy, an initiative to modernize Columbus' 70-year-old zoning code and create the first citywide land use plan. As part of Zone In, this strategy will define where and how growth should occur and will create the foundation for continued zoning reforms.
When and Where:
Wednesday, Nov. 19
5 to 7 p.m.
Columbus City Hall
Council Chambers (second floor)
90 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Families Flourish: Scioto Analysis Discussion Hosted by Bonnie Milenthal
You are warmly invited to join us at a house party hosted by Families Flourish Board Member Bonnie Milenthal. Drinks and light appetizers will be provided. This gathering will provide an opportunity to connect with fellow supporters and friends, hear an update on our work, and engage in conversation around the recently-released study by Scioto Analysis, which quantifies the powerful long-term benefits generated when families move into higher-opportunity neighborhoods. Together we’ll explore how this evidence reinforces our mission and how we can build on it to drive real change for families.
When: Tuesday, November 19, from 5:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.
Where: 1 Miranova Pl, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Parking Details: Parking is located at 2 Miranova Place, accessed from Mound Street (don't turn into the high-rises). Drive past the Miranova driveway to find the parking garage on your right. Pedestrian exits will lead you to the 1 Miranova entrance.
To view the full Scioto Analysis report, follow this link: https://www.sciotoanalysis.com/news/2025/9/8/scioto-analysis-releases-cost-benefit-analysis-of-moving-to-opportunity-programs
Columbus Barriers to Fair Housing Workshop
The City of Columbus is developing an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing, which examines patterns of segregation, poverty, economic development, and neighborhood changes. We are engaging stakeholders from all elements of the community to deliberate on fair housing concerns and voice ideas. We are holding two workshops to gather public input:
November 18, 5:30 – 7:30 PM at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Hilltop Branch at 511 S. Hague Avenue
November 20, 3:00 – 5:00 PM at the Linden Community Center at 1350 Briarwood Avenue
The workshop will include a presentation on fair housing issues in Columbus and group discussion regarding segregation, housing affordability, and neighborhood improvements.
Please see the attached flier to register for one of the workshops. Recordings of the workshops will be available on the Grants Management webpage following the meeting: https://www.columbus.gov/Government/Departments/Finance-and-Management/Grants-Management
Please email grantsmgmt@columbus.gov in advance of the workshops to request accommodations.
We look forward to seeing you then!
Rental Registry Hearing
Rental Registry Hearing
Councilmember Nicholas J. Bankston will host the second public hearing to discuss a proposed amendment to the Columbus City Code that would create a registry of all residential rental property within the corporate limits of the city.
Those interested in testifying should complete this form. Remarks will be limited to three minutes. Those interested in submitting written remarks can do so by emailing them to Jonathan Brown at JBBrown@columbus.gov with "November 18 Hearing Testimony" in the subject line. All testimony is due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 17.
When and Where:
Tuesday, Nov. 18
4 to 6 p.m.
Columbus City Hall
Council Chambers (second floor)
90 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Learn more at: https://us.openforms.com/Form/8a746076-35c8-40e7-a786-79bd2c7e0244
30 at 3:00
We are facing a grave threat to Ohio's homeless response system and the homes of over 10,000 formerly homeless Ohioans. Last night HUD issued last-minute changes to the federal Continuum of Care program would divert about $3.5 billion away from supportive housing and rapid rehousing programs. In Ohio, this would result in a shift of about $80 million that will destabilize the housing of about 10,000 formerly homeless Ohioans.
Join us in advocating for HUD to protect CoC funding to house homeless Ohioans!
Attend our next "30 at 3:00" webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 18 to learn how we can advocate against HUD's last-minute defunding of CoC grants for permanent housing. (Register for 30 at 3:00)
Call and email your members of Congress to ask them to support language in an upcoming appropriations bill to require HUD to renew all CoC grants expiring in calendar year 2026 for a full year. This is especially important if you are in or near Rep. Dave Joyce's (R-Chagrin Falls) district - he is a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (Download talking points)
For more information and background on the CoC program and potential cuts to housing:
HUD's FY 2025 CoC Program NOFO
COHHIO's Nov. 14 Press Release
COHHIO’s CoC Program Fact Sheet
National Alliance to End Homelessness’s Advocacy Tool
Eliminating Minimum Parking Requirements: A Mini-Symposium
Eliminating Minimum Parking Requirements
A Mini-Symposium
In 2005, UCLA Professor Donald Shoup changed how cities think about parking.
His groundbreaking book The High Cost of Free Parking revealed the hidden costs of mandatory parking requirements — and inspired cities nationwide to rethink their approach.
Now, more than 100 U.S. cities have eliminated minimum parking requirements. Join us for an online mini-symposium where planners, public officials, researchers, and advocates will share how they did it, what’s happened since, and what others can learn from their experience.
Learn more at: https://mailchi.mp/its/what-happens-when-cities-eliminate-parking-minimums?e=462032ebde
Building the Future Forum: A Jazzy Brunch on Real Estate & Construction Innovation.
Please Join us Saturday, November 15th 2025
Against the backdrop of live jazz and an upscale brunch, we’ll dive into conversations shaping the future of housing and develop.
Learn more at: https://centralcontractorsredevelopmen.ticketspice.com/building-the-future-forum-a-jazzy-brunch-on-real-estate-construction-innovation
Downtown Development Panel
Downtown Development Panel
Athletic Club of Columbus
What You’ll Learn
This panel will explore the future of downtown Columbus through the lenses of economic development, public private partnerships, real estate redevelopment, civic leadership, and social equity. Attendees will gain insights into how large-scale projects are shaping the city’s growth, how public policy and private investment intersect, and how community leaders are tackling issues like housing, business attraction, and downtown vibrancy.
Date: November 13, 2025
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Location: The Athletic Club of Columbus
Space is limited, please register if you would like to attend.
Moderator
Mark Lundine
Economic Development Administrator, City of Columbus
Mark leads the City’s Economic Development Division, overseeing business expansion, job creation, infrastructure investments, and small business programs. His team has supported 70,000+ new and retained jobs and facilitated $7.4B in private investment over the past decade. He is also a leader in public private partnerships and sustainability initiatives, including launching Columbus’ regional C-PACE program.
Panelists
Amy Edwards Taylor
President, Downtown Columbus, Inc.
Amy has spearheaded nationally recognized projects including the Scioto Mile, Columbus Commons, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, and The Peninsula. With more than $500M in public private partnerships catalyzed under her leadership, she has transformed the heart of Columbus into a vibrant downtown. She also lectures at OSU’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs.
Zachary Woodruff
Chief Real Estate Development Officer, Columbus State Community College
Zachary directs campus and community redevelopment projects while leading Columbus State Community Partners. Previously, as Whitehall’s City Administrator and Economic Development Director, he oversaw $350M in new private investment and thousands of new jobs. Recognized among Columbus Business First’s 40 Under 40 and CEO’s Future 50, he is a proven development leader.
Shannon Isom
President & CEO, Community Shelter Board
Shannon leads communitywide strategies to prevent and end homelessness in Columbus and Franklin County. She previously served as CEO of YWCA Dayton and held leadership roles in healthcare strategy with CareSource and Miami Valley Hospital. With an MBA in Healthcare Administration and a strong record of nonprofit leadership, she is a champion for equity and sustainable community impact.
Council Member Nicholas J. Bankston
Columbus City Council
Nicholas J. Bankston serves on Columbus City Council, where he focuses on equitable neighborhood development, affordable housing, and community investment. A lifelong Columbus resident with experience in public policy and civic engagement, he has championed initiatives that connect growth with opportunity for all residents. Council Member Bankston brings a policymaker’s perspective to how development decisions shape the city’s future.
Source:: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/downtown-development-panel-tickets-1739117078999
What Solves Homelessness?
As housing and living costs rise, communities across the country feel increasing economic stress. People struggle to find affordable housing and more people experience homelessness. More than ever, it is important for everyone to understand why people experience homelessness, who experiences homelessness and what communities can do to help end it.
The Alliance’s Homelessness Research Institute will summarize foundational research and data about homelessness into three, 30-minute webinars. Each webinar will briefly discuss critical topics about the state of homelessness in the United States in 2025.
These include: Webinar 1: How did we get here? Why Do People Experience Homelessness? - October 28, 3pm-3:30pm EST -
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xisYMD9jTyuyCCu0_EZtoQ Webinar 2: Who Experiences Homelessness? - November 4, 3pm-3:30pm EST -
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MqwBU-EBSxW83dP3jTsSwQ Webinar 3: Looking Toward Solutions: How do we end homelessness? - November 13, 3pm-3:30pm EST -
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6OWeHHf1SY2mmftZ1cU4gw
Untangling Heirs’ Property: Practical Strategies for Housing Practitioners
Heirs’ property continues to be a significant barrier to generational wealth and housing stability, particularly in communities of color and rural areas. This webinar will bring together researchers and practitioners to explore the complexities of heirs’ property and strategies for supporting families affected by it.
Panelists will include representatives from the Housing Assistance Council (HAC), sharing recent research on heirs’ property, and Affordable Homes of South Texas, a housing counseling agency actively helping families navigate these challenges.
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of heirs’ property issues and practical tools for assisting clients.
Learn More: https://www.addevent.com/event/JB26963900?utm_campaign=NTA&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--r91AEdewaSzLs0HoCPGi7ouz8H2eIlnW7xdY12YbBP83h-MeXaWCI3ifhwOkd8yovpcyPb9NFRq0crvTPZ4YNB0yh9Q&_hsmi=387471501&utm_content=387471501&utm_source=hs_email
Spark! 2025
Join Jewish Family Services for an inspiring evening as we celebrate the power of community and the impact we’ve made together! SPARK! brings together friends and supporters of Jewish Family Services for a night filled with powerful stories, delicious food, and live entertainment.
Discover how your support changes lives and helps create opportunities for individuals and families across Central Ohio. Together, we’ll celebrate resilience, connection, and the spirit of giving back.
Location provided upon registration.
Source:: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spark-2025-tickets-1368977812489
Pickle & Party
We’re back at Pickle & Chill in Columbus on Monday, November 11, 2025 — and you’re invited! Join us after the Ohio Housing Conference Welcome Reception for an evening of networking, pickleball, food, and fun.
Getting there is easy! A FREE shuttle will run directly from the Columbus Convention Center to Pickle & Chill following the reception.
Shuttle service will be available from the Columbus Convention Center starting at 6:45 PM, making it easy to head over right after the OHC Welcome Reception
Source:: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/pickle-party
Ohio Housing Conference
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency and OCCH invite you to the 2025 Ohio Housing Conference this November 12 and 13 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center!
Learn about affordable housing industry trends and solutions through our conference sessions and network with other professionals from 30+ states.
Whether you're a developer, property manager, investor, architect, real estate pro, lender, or nonprofit leader, these sessions are packed with valuable insights to help you shape the future of affordable housing.
Early bird registration is $425 until October 10; the fee increases to $550 after October 10, 2025.
source: https://ohiohome.org/ohiohousingconference.aspx
The Royal Affair Installation & Awards Gala!
Welcome to The Royal Affair Installation & Awards Gala!
Join us at The Gallery at Champions for an unforgettable evening of elegance, recognition, and celebration. This premier event will feature the installation of the 2026 Officers and Directors, the induction of members into the One to Twenty-Five Million Dollar Sales Clubs, and the presentation of our prestigious awards honoring excellence and leadership.
The evening also includes a 50/50 raffle and a Silent Auction featuring Black-owned vendors, with proceeds benefiting the Columbus Realtist® Foundation Scholarship Fund.
Enjoy networking, live entertainment, and an atmosphere of true glamour as we celebrate the power of community and the success of our Realtist® family.
Learn more at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-royal-affair-installation-and-awards-gala-tickets-1633166738679
Transit-Oriented Incentives and Multifamily Housing: Evidence from Los Angeles
Date: Friday, November 7, 2025Time: 12:15 pm ET
Location: Virtual
Spurred by rising housing costs, many US cities and states have adopted policies that make it easier to build new housing, often by allowing denser, multifamily units in areas previously limited to lower-density single-family and small multifamily homes.
In this presentation, Meyer Fellow Stephanie Kestelman, the incoming Director of Housing at Arnold Ventures, will discuss her research examining how the Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Incentive Program in Los Angeles has affected the quantity, type, and timing of new housing since its adoption in 2017.