Across the country, responses to homelessness are shifting away from housing and healthcare and toward punishment and detention. In Utah, the governor has proposed defunding housing programs to build a large, remote, government-run detention camp for people experiencing homelessness, potentially using federal dollars. History shows that detention camps, forced treatment, and criminalization do not end homelessness—they cause harm, waste public resources, undermine human dignity, and deepen racial inequities. Housing and healthcare are the proven solutions. In response, advocates are launching the No Federal Funding for Homeless Detention Camps campaign. On January 29, the National Alliance to End Homelessness will host a webinar led by the National Homelessness Law Center that will examine Utah’s proposal, its federal funding implications, the impacts on people experience homelessness, and opportunities for coordinated advocacy to stop this approach from spreading. Join to: Understand how Utah’s proposal fits into a broader national push toward detention and forced treatment Hear from legal, mental health, service provider, and advocacy leaders Learn how to take action to prevent federal homelessness funding from being diverted into detention camps

Learn more at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wuBciTPkQDuJlpY5OL1skw#/registration

Join the Metropolitan Abundance Project (MAP) and the Welcoming Neighbors Network to learn about three new model housing bills as legislatures kick off their 2026 sessions, including: * The ROOM Act: The Restoring Options in Occupancy Models (ROOM) Act legalizes single-room occupancy (SRO) and co-living housing. * The PLUS Act: The Property & Land Use Stability (PLUS) Act prevents local governments from downzoning. * Housing on Faith-Based Land: This bill streamlines the process for faith-based organizations to build affordable housing on underutilized land. Policy leaders will review each model legislation and offer guidance to lawmakers and advocates considering legislation this year. The Welcoming Neighbors Network will also provide tools for messaging around housing and these bills to help build support for reforms. Panelists include: Sam Hooper – Institute for Justice (The ROOM Act) Jim Manley – Pacific Legal Foundation (PLUS Act) Eli Smith – Faith-Based Housing Initiative Kara Watkins-Chow – Welcoming Neighbors Network Abigail Doerr – Metropolitan Abundance Project (Moderator) Join us to explore new model housing legislation for building more homes at a statehouse near you!

Learn more: https://metroabundance-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/SoXz9A0vRQe02DzS_W8YMw#/registration

Attorneys will be available to give advice on rent escrow and will answer questions like: Is the case ready to file? What are the next steps after filing?

Franklin County Municipal Court 3 floor, outside of the rent escrow clerk window

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.

RSVP at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1974079456488440/?rdid=yLBqqTQJzYdGB4KO&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1G1aHi15up%2F#

AHIC recently released the industry’s first Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Underwriting Guidance. This webinar will provide a concise overview of the guidance, highlighting how it complements traditional LIHTC underwriting and addresses the unique risks and considerations of PSH transactions, with time for Q&A on practical application.

The second half of the session will feature the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) with an update from the field on current PSH conditions, emerging challenges, and key policy and funding developments to watch, including potential changes to HUD homelessness funding.

Learn more at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/l9MWqz5uQ1ephiUmRUw7Ug#/registration

Coffee & Whatever

First Fridays at Noon

Have a wild idea you want to soundboard? Looking to vent (fair, TBH)? Seeking a new nerdy housing friend? Want to give & get book recommendations? Just enjoy espresso and good company? Join AHACO’s Coffee & Whatever for unstructured fun.

We’ll meet on the first Friday of each month at noon at a local coffee shop. February 6th is at The Light Meeting House at 1485 Oak St, Columbus, OH 43205.

No gilded invites, no RSVPs, just swing by and grab a coffee. Conversations are always free, but drinks are on your own dime.

The Board of Revision mobile filing events are to help homeowners answer questions regarding property values and assist homeowners in filing a complaint if they believe their value is incorrect. 

At the Homestead Exemption application clinics, staff will be available to assist homeowners with the application process. The homestead exemption is a statewide program which allows qualified senior citizens and totally disabled homeowners, to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the auditor’s appraised value of their home from taxation. To see if you qualify for Homestead Exemption, visit https://franklincountyauditor.com/real-estate/homestead

Presented by your Franklin County Auditor’s Office

Learn from and connect with more than40 organizations at this free event!

EAST HIGH SCHOOL, 1500 E. BROAD ST.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 10am - 2pm

Learn more at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScO5PAUJO9luLGUy_f-I_sHBUJTYRqEgXRNONopd5q95vWwSA/viewform

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.

Join former Federal Reserve Vice Chairs Lael Brainard and Randal Quarles for the launch of the Urban Institute’s Center for Local Finance and Growth, which will equip leaders with evidence and tools to strengthen local economies.

The launch event will spark conversation on how communities can attract and deploy capital to drive growth. Through candid discussions with local and federal policymakers and mission finance leaders, attendees can expect an exploration of how to navigate the new opportunities created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, make communities investment ready, and ensure local growth delivers economic benefits for all.  

Convenings like this one represent the center’s mission—to serve as a trusted resource for the community economic development sector. Through data-driven analysis, strategic advising, and cross-sector convening, the center accelerates solutions that expand capital access and ensure more places have the resources to thrive. Join us as we help leaders in rural, suburban, and urban communities build affordable housing, grow small businesses, and meet residents’ needs.

Learn more at: https://www.urban.org/events/next-chapter-community-development-finance-and-place-based-investment?&utm_source=urban_events&utm_campaign=center_local_growth_finance_virtual&utm_id=HOCO&utm_content=general&utm_term=community_development

MARC is pleased to announce a 90-minute free, virtual forum exploring age-friendly and universal design for all ages and stages of life. 

The Kansas City area has a long history of diversity in age and ability. The 20th century witnessed a rise in the number of people with disabilities across all age groups, followed by this century's significant growth in the aging population. The region’s population of those over age 65 was 15.3% in 2020, or about 1 in 7 area residents. By 2050, this figure is projected to increase to 20.5%, or about 1 in 5 area residents. 

Many local jurisdictions are struggling with how to better accommodate their aging population in public facilities, housing, and transportation. This webinar will explore examples, models, and strategies for expanding universal access to all. 

• Updates on The Rocks project in Roeland Park, Kansas (71 accessible units classified as “universally designed” which will accommodate a wide range of residents regardless of age, ability or background, allowing renters to age in place) 

• Improved ordinance and incentive models for local governments 

• Implementation strategies for builders, developers and designers 

The target audience for this forum includes: 

• Local government elected officials and staff 

• Planners 

• Social service and community-based organizations 

• Home builders, developers, architects, home designers, interior designers, remodelers 

• Individuals interested in universal design 

Learn more at: https://member.marc.org/ap/Events/Register/AnFAyvEuVCdCN

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

Fit to Live In: From Ordinances to Outcomes in Habitability

This webinar wraps up our latest Under the Lens series, "Fit to Live in: Fixing Our Housing Stock." Join us as we discuss habitability best practices, what makes enforcement hard, and how localities are struggling—and succeeding—in improving local housing conditions. Shelterforce's Lara Heard facilitates a conversation with: —Matt Kreis, general counsel at the Center for Community Progress. —Y. Frank Southall, organizing and community engagement manager at Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative. —Ben Iness, coalition coordinator with the Nevada Housing Justice Alliance.

Learn more at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6Y1dwpq6Qym7hqq-K9LLhQ#/registration

The Board of Revision mobile filing events are to help homeowners answer questions regarding property values and assist homeowners in filing a complaint if they believe their value is incorrect. 

At the Homestead Exemption application clinics, staff will be available to assist homeowners with the application process. The homestead exemption is a statewide program which allows qualified senior citizens and totally disabled homeowners, to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the auditor’s appraised value of their home from taxation. To see if you qualify for Homestead Exemption, visit https://franklincountyauditor.com/real-estate/homestead

The Board of Revision mobile filing events are to help homeowners answer questions regarding property values and assist homeowners in filing a complaint if they believe their value is incorrect. 

At the Homestead Exemption application clinics, staff will be available to assist homeowners with the application process. The homestead exemption is a statewide program which allows qualified senior citizens and totally disabled homeowners, to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the auditor’s appraised value of their home from taxation. To see if you qualify for Homestead Exemption, visit https://franklincountyauditor.com/real-estate/homestead

The Board of Revision mobile filing events are to help homeowners answer questions regarding property values and assist homeowners in filing a complaint if they believe their value is incorrect. 

At the Homestead Exemption application clinics, staff will be available to assist homeowners with the application process. The homestead exemption is a statewide program which allows qualified senior citizens and totally disabled homeowners, to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the auditor’s appraised value of their home from taxation. To see if you qualify for Homestead Exemption, visit https://franklincountyauditor.com/real-estate/homestead

COHHIO is excited to welcome Marisol Bello, Executive Director of the The Housing Narrative Lab, to Columbus on Wed, Feb. 18 for an in-person training on narratives and storytelling. 

This event is for any housing advocate, direct service provider or community member interested in ending homelessness and advancing the conversation about affordable housing in their community.

There is a free training, with space for 75 people. Please register in advance. We look forward to joining in community and learning how to change public conversations about why everyone needs an affordable, safe home

learn more at: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=fDAY_CxD9U-NKwFi3b3RJ6ZOVweQgI9Bk2Sva9TMJodURTQwMElRN09FMzQyS00xQ1kxWERZVlFaTS4u

The Board of Revision mobile filing events are to help homeowners answer questions regarding property values and assist homeowners in filing a complaint if they believe their value is incorrect. 

At the Homestead Exemption application clinics, staff will be available to assist homeowners with the application process. The homestead exemption is a statewide program which allows qualified senior citizens and totally disabled homeowners, to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the auditor’s appraised value of their home from taxation. To see if you qualify for Homestead Exemption, visit https://franklincountyauditor.com/real-estate/homestead

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

Join COHHIO for a 1 hour virtual training on housing and homelessness with special focus on the Continuum of Care.

This training is specifically geared for local government staff and officials on the municipal or county level.

In this training we will cover:

• Housing and Homelessness: What local leaders want to know

• How does the CoC work and how can local leaders get involved

• Federal CoC funding update and how it might impact your community

• Why Congressional advocacy is important

Hear from CoC leaders, COHHIO executive director Amy Reigel, and others about the state of housing and homelessness in Ohio.

Learn more at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/OyiLF7hxQ0C2Bxm08g_buQ#/registration

This series will convene housing experts, business leaders, policymakers, and community partners for in-depth conversations on the opportunities and challenges shaping Ohio’s housing landscape. Participants will explore the factors affecting housing supply, accessibility, and affordability—and how these issues directly influence Ohio’s ability to attract and retain a growing workforce. Through collaborative discussions, case studies, and forward-looking insights, the series will highlight innovative approaches, policy considerations, and community-driven strategies aimed at strengthening Ohio’s housing market. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the interconnected needs of employers, workers, and local communities as Ohio continues to grow and compete for talent.

Learn more: https://www.ohiochamber.com/events/a2pQo000000mrzhIAA/

The Board of Revision mobile filing events are to help homeowners answer questions regarding property values and assist homeowners in filing a complaint if they believe their value is incorrect. 

At the Homestead Exemption application clinics, staff will be available to assist homeowners with the application process. The homestead exemption is a statewide program which allows qualified senior citizens and totally disabled homeowners, to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the auditor’s appraised value of their home from taxation. To see if you qualify for Homestead Exemption, visit https://franklincountyauditor.com/real-estate/homestead

Attorneys will be available to give advice on rent escrow and will answer questions like: Is the case ready to file? What are the next steps after filing?

Franklin County Municipal Court 3 floor, outside of the rent escrow clerk window

The Board of Revision mobile filing events are to help homeowners answer questions regarding property values and assist homeowners in filing a complaint if they believe their value is incorrect. 

At the Homestead Exemption application clinics, staff will be available to assist homeowners with the application process. The homestead exemption is a statewide program which allows qualified senior citizens and totally disabled homeowners, to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the auditor’s appraised value of their home from taxation. To see if you qualify for Homestead Exemption, visit https://franklincountyauditor.com/real-estate/homestead

From Prayers to Pro Formas

A Housing Crash Course for Central Ohio’s Faith Leaders

Join local religious leaders and affordable housing experts on March 4, 2026 at beginning at 9:30 AM at the King Arts Complex, for a day of learning and fellowship. Hear the latest in faith-based development and the “Yes In God’s Backyard” movement, discover best practices for advancing your community, network with housing professionals, and explore emerging tools for collaboration.

Learn more at: https://www.ahaco.org/prayers

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

The Board of Revision mobile filing events are to help homeowners answer questions regarding property values and assist homeowners in filing a complaint if they believe their value is incorrect. 

At the Homestead Exemption application clinics, staff will be available to assist homeowners with the application process. The homestead exemption is a statewide program which allows qualified senior citizens and totally disabled homeowners, to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the auditor’s appraised value of their home from taxation. To see if you qualify for Homestead Exemption, visit https://franklincountyauditor.com/real-estate/homestead

The Board of Revision mobile filing events are to help homeowners answer questions regarding property values and assist homeowners in filing a complaint if they believe their value is incorrect. 

At the Homestead Exemption application clinics, staff will be available to assist homeowners with the application process. The homestead exemption is a statewide program which allows qualified senior citizens and totally disabled homeowners, to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the auditor’s appraised value of their home from taxation. To see if you qualify for Homestead Exemption, visit https://franklincountyauditor.com/real-estate/homestead

The Board of Revision mobile filing events are to help homeowners answer questions regarding property values and assist homeowners in filing a complaint if they believe their value is incorrect. 

At the Homestead Exemption application clinics, staff will be available to assist homeowners with the application process. The homestead exemption is a statewide program which allows qualified senior citizens and totally disabled homeowners, to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the auditor’s appraised value of their home from taxation. To see if you qualify for Homestead Exemption, visit https://franklincountyauditor.com/real-estate/homestead

Attorneys will be available to give advice on rent escrow and will answer questions like: Is the case ready to file? What are the next steps after filing?

Franklin County Municipal Court 3 floor, outside of the rent escrow clerk window

Fair Housing training for Delaware County landlords. Learn what’s legal, reduce risk, and avoid costly complaints and violations.

Learn more at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fair-housing-training-for-delaware-county-landlords-tickets-1978932163372?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

For 40 years, YWCA Columbus has proudly celebrated extraordinary leaders who embody the essence of women’s empowerment. These individuals transform their professions, uplift their communities, challenge inequities, and inspire generations to fight for a more just and equitable future. Women of Achievement 2025 marked four decades of honoring the courage, compassion, and dedication of those driving meaningful change in our Columbus community and beyond.

Women of Achievement

Learn more at: https://www.ywcacolumbus.org/get-involved/attend-an-event/woa

Attorneys will be available to give advice on rent escrow and will answer questions like: Is the case ready to file? What are the next steps after filing?

Franklin County Municipal Court 3 floor, outside of the rent escrow clerk window

Huckleberry House is proud to announce its 2026 Sleep Out, its signature community awareness and fundraising event, in partnership with First Congregational Church, UCC, Columbus, through its Unsheltered Ministry. Taking place on Friday, May 29 on the church grounds located at 444 East Broad Street in downtown Columbus, Sleep Out centers on the theme, “We Are Community,” emphasizing our collective responsibility to ensure every young person has a safe place to sleep.

Sleep Out invites individuals, faith leaders, corporate partners, advocates, and supporters to spend one night outside in community and in solidarity with young people experiencing homelessness. Participants gain a deeper understanding of the realities faced by youth in crisis while raising critical funds to support Huckleberry House’s shelter, housing, and prevention programs.

“We are community is more than a theme – it is a call to action,” said Jennifer Sharma, CEO of Huckleberry House. “When young people experience homelessness, it is not just their burden to carry. It is ours. Our many partners in the community, including First Congregational Church, reflect the kind of shared commitment it takes to show up for youth, not just one night, but every day.

First Congregational Church, UCC, Columbus, joins the 2026 Sleep Out as a community partner, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to service, compassion, and justice. “At First Congregational Church, we believe faith is lived out through action,” said Interim Associate Pastor, Rev. Jess Young Chang.  “We are honored to partner with Huckleberry House and its event, Sleep Out, to stand alongside young people and advocate as part of a caring, responsive community.”

Also joining Sleep Out 2026 are host committee members: Julie Simono with Colliers International and a member of Huckleberry House’s Board of Directors, Arianny Damian, The Wilder Family, and C3 Church.

Each year, Huckleberry House serves thousands of young people and family’s across central Ohio who are experiencing homelessness, family crisis, or housing instability. Funds raised through Sleep Out directly support emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling, and prevention services, meeting youth where they are helping them move toward safety, stability, and independence.

Community members are encouraged to register (opening in March 2026), form teams, and fundraise for the event. No one sleeps out alone – participants are surrounded by a network of support, reflection, and shared purpose.

Learn more at: https://huckhouse.org/sleep-out-2026-partnership/