This self-guided, open-house-style event features five interactive stations where you can learn about the Zone In initiative and share your feedback on project goals, priorities and draft land use maps.

Depending on your level of engagement, your visit may take as little as 20 minutes or up to the full two hours. All are welcome to drop in at any time during the workshop.

Join Columbus City Councilmembers Otto Beatty and Rob Dorans, together with CONVERGENCE Columbus, for a screening of United: The Hidden Story of the Humble Duplex, a film by Anita Kwan that explores how the duplex rose as a symbol of Columbus’ middle-class mobility, was nearly outlawed in the era of segregationist zoning, and is now an architectural icon being reclaimed by a new generation as a tool for growth, wealth, and individuality.

Afterwards, join a conversation on the future of housing, exploring parallels between duplexes and Columbus’ history of carriage homes and in-law suites.

Celebrate National Peach Ice Cream Day with the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio!

Join us for a film screening of the new documentary, “United: the Hidden History of the Humble Duplex.” This is a powerful story of how the duplex rose as a symbol of Columbus’ middle-class mobility, was nearly outlawed in the era of segregationist zoning, and is now reemerging as a tool for growth, wealth, and individuality.

Meet us at the Community Impact Center at 215 North Front Street Doors open at 5:45 PM. We’ll bring the ice cream!

The just-enacted reconciliation bill makes sweeping changes to the tax code impacting investment in housing and community development, including the largest expansion of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit resources in a generation.

During this July 16 members-only webinar, NCSHA and key affordable housing industry partners will break down modifications to tax law that will impact how our nation finances affordable rental housing with the Housing Credit, revitalizes Opportunity Zones, and invests in community and economic development with the New Markets Tax Credit.

Registration is complimentary and open to all NCSHA members: HFAs, Associates, and Affiliates. Preregistration is required by July 14. On July 15, each registrant will be emailed a unique Zoom link to access the broadcast. Please contact sromanoff@ncsha.org if you do not receive that link by COB on July 15.

he City of Columbus, Department of Finance and Management is holding a public meeting on July 10, 2025 at 3:00PM to present and collect public input on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project applications received by the City and anticipated allocations for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants.

The meeting will be held at the Columbus Metropolitan Library – Hilltop Branch at 511 S. Hague Avenue, in Meeting Room 1. There will be an opportunity at the end of the meeting to provide public comment on project applications and anticipated allocations. For those who are unable to attend, a recording will be available on our webpage following the meeting: www.columbus.gov/grants-management.

A summary of project proposals is also available on our webpage. We are accepting public comments on this document until July 31, 2025. Comments should be sent to grantsmgmt@columbus.gov.

If you are in need of any reasonable accommodations or modifications in order to access this meeting, please email grantsmgmt@columbus.gov in advance of the meeting to ensure we can best serve you.

Want to learn more about Ohio’s LIHTC programs available for your organization to utilize? Ohio CDC Association, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, and the Ohio Housing Finance Agency are co-hosting a Webinar to go over the basics of the Ohio Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program and the 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program.

Our country has the resources to ensure that all of us have the freedom to live where we want and take care of our families, without fear of being evicted. But some lawmakers point the finger at immigrants to divide, distract, and disempower us. Join the National Housing Law Project for a webinar to learn how to protect immigrants and keep immigrant families whole and housed. The 90-minute webinar will feature a range of speakers from NHLP and the Housing Justice Network covering critical topics including immigrant eligibility in subsidized housing, fair housing issues impacting immigrants such as language access and national origin discrimination claims, as well as key insights and practical tips for representing immigrants in housing cases in today’s challenging environment.

Join the Housing Solutions Lab for a free, 45-minute lunchtime webinar, the ninth of our Data Talks series. This episode will focus on how cities can use local data sources to identify, analyze, and address tangled title issues in their communities.

Join us on Thursday, July 10, starting at 12 p.m. Ryan Brenner, Research Analyst at the NYU Furman Center, will provide an overview on tangled titles, from the causes of title issues to the risks they pose to residents and cities alike. A fireside chat will follow with Vinita Wagh, Project Manager at Detroit Future City. She will share her approach to tracking heirs’ properties in Detroit and how other localities can learn from her experiences. Register below for Session 9 of Data Talks: Navigating Tangled Titles to join the live session, where you will be able to ask the panelists your questions.

The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), the federal law passed by Congress in 1977 as a response to redlining, is an important tool that we can use to help the communities we serve. CRA requires banks to meet the lending, investment, and banking services needs of the entire community, including low- and moderate-income (LMI) people.

While there is still much work to be done, over the years, banks working to comply with CRA regulations have made huge strides in their work to finance affordable housing, provide home and business loans, community development investments to affordable homes, and financial services that meet the needs of the entire community, especially LMI people and neighborhoods.

But in recent months, opponents have managed to prevent needed updates to CRA. Join CRA experts Kevin Hill, Senior Policy Advisor at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and Bethany Sanchez, Senior Administrator for Fair Lending at the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council to learn more about how CRA can help us with our work to increase affordable housing. We can work together to not only protect it against attacks, but strengthen this important tool for our work!

Spotlight Innovators from the Valuing Homes in Black Communities Challenge, hosted by Economic Architecture and the Brookings Institution, will share new innovations and strategies in the housing equity space. Hear from Doug Ryan of Grounded Solutions Network and Tamara Knox of Frolic on how new approaches to sustainable homeownership are creating impact at the local, state and national level to advance fairness in the housing market. 

Key Topics: Models for shared equity, cooperative ownership, community control 

Speakers: Doug Ryan of Grounded Solutions Network, Tamara Knox of Frolic, and other Spotlight Innovators from the Valuing Homes in Black Communities Challenge by Economic Architecture and the Brookings Institution 

Join YWCA Columbus on Monday, June 30, at the Coleman Garage Conference Room (141 North Front Street) from 2 to 4 p.m. for a public FRAC meeting on housing and homelessness. Your attendance will help the committee and the broader community understand the critical importance of funding for shelter.

Every day, we see how access to shelter can mean the difference between folks getting back on their feet or falling through the cracks. But, right now, that lifeline is under threat.

Overall homelessness in Franklin County rose by more than 7% in 2025, outpacing population growth six times over. Without a change, unsheltered homelessness is predicted to surge by 68% by 2028, per the Community Shelter Board’s 2025 Point-in-Time Count Report.

And, dually, the shelter system that our neighbors rely on is facing a $25 million funding gap this year. For the last several decades, the YWCA Family Center and other emergency shelters have faced an absence of meaningful, systemic investment in shelter infrastructure. At the national level, homelessness is regarded as a local problem; yet the cost of shelter far exceeds what local governments like the city of Columbus and Franklin County can sustain through their general revenue funds.

We have an opportunity to turn the ship -- but we need your help.

As you may have heard during YWCA Columbus' advocacy call on May 28, we are deploying a comprehensive strategy to secure long-term funding for emergency shelter, which currently includes an assessment from the Funding Review Advisory Committee (FRAC) on public revenue options to identify sustainable funding models and apply those directly to shelters for people experiencing homelessness.

Come tour the new Franklinton Condominiums created by the Central Ohio Community Land Trust.

Learn the skills needed to assist tenants and landlords in preventing evictions and their harmful effects on a community.

What You Will Learn

• How best to help tenants and landlords reduce their risk of involvement in an eviction.

• Top 10 tenant mistakes that often lead to eviction and how to prevent them.

• Common eviction-related vocabulary used by the Court.

• Community resources available to help tenants during a housing crisis.

• Ways to help tenants with past evictions or poor credit access decent housing.

Continuing Education Credit

Lawyers: 3.25 CE hours
Social Workers, Counselors, & Marriage and Family Therapists: 3.25 CE hours (Accepted by the OH CSWMFTB based on approval from the Ohio Chemical Dependency Board.)
Nurses: Ohio Board of Nursing accepts CEUs approved for Counselors, Social Workers & Marriage and Family Therapists for CNEs, RNs and LPNs.
Chemical Dependency Professionals: 3.25 CE hours (RCHs)

Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025Time: 2:00 – 5:30 pm ET

Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

This year, the US housing market is shrouded in uncertainty and unease. High home prices and interest rates have pushed sales to their lowest level in 30 years; insurance premiums and property taxes are on the rise; high rents have left record numbers with cost burdens; and wildfires have highlighted the growing dangers of climate disasters. Meanwhile, households find diminished federal support, with the possibility of an economic downturn that would only exacerbate these challenges.

Join us at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (or online) for the release of The State of the Nation's Housing 2025.

Speakers:

• Susan Collins, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

• Chris Herbert, Managing Director, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies

• The Hon. Lydia Edwards, Massachusetts State Senator

• Eric Belsky, Director, Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, Federal Reserve Board of Governors

• Prabal Chakrabarti, Executive Vice President & Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

• John Barros, Managing Principal, Civitas Builders

• Andrew Brinker, Housing Reporter, The Boston Globe

• Clark Ziegler, Executive Director, Massachusetts Housing Partnership

• Other speakers to be announced

Join this virtual informational session to learn more about ULI Columbus's REDI program and ask questions about the program and application process. Register for free, in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the zoom details.

ULI Columbus's Real Estate Diversity Initiative(REDI) is a comprehensive, 12-session curriculum designed to advance the real estate careers of traditionally underrepresented groups. Participants step into the role of a real estate developer, gaining direct knowledge and experience working in teams to produce a development plan, pro-forma, and marketing plan for a real project. REDI meets weekly from September 2- November 18 (Tuesdays, 5:30-8:00pm). Additional time outside of class is expected to successfully complete individual readings and group work activities. Participants are taught by a volunteer faculty of experienced, multidisciplinary, top-tier practicing real estate professionals serving as instructors, mentors and facilitators who share market-based knowledge and the wisdom from their experience.

Families across Cuyahoga County are struggling to pay the rent and there are simply not enough affordable places to live. Houses of worship, many of whom provide spiritual guidance to these families, can also help transform lives through affordable housing. During this 60-minute webinar, you'll hear from Enterprise Community Partners and local affordable housing leaders about the need for affordable housing in Cleveland, what Enterprise’s Faith Based Development Initiative is, and begin to understand how faith leaders can become champions for affordable housing in their communities.

You are cordially invited to the world premiere of "United: the Hidden History of the Humble Duplex", an original short film from Director Anita Kwan and the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio.

United tells the powerful story of how the modest duplex emerged as a symbol of middle-class strength and mobility at Columbus’ turn of the century. As segregation divided the country, the duplex was targeted and often outlawed throughout the region. But today, a new generation is reclaiming this architectural icon and reviving it as a tool for growth, wealth, and individuality. 

Join us at Studio35 Cinema & Drafthouse on Sunday, June 8th to be the first to see this compelling work. Doors open at 12:30 PM and the film begins at 1:00 PM. The screening will be preceded by remarks from the Director and followed by a panel discussion among community leader about the role the duplex is posed to play in our future.

This is a family friendly, all-ages event. Red carpet attire is certainly not required, but never discouraged! Photography will be captured during the event.

Let’s build together

Join us for Columbus Cooperates - Expanding the Solidarity Economy in Central Ohio, June 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM.

Solidarity is more than a value - it’s a strategy for building a more just and sustainable future. As challenges in housing, food, and economic inequality grow, the need for shared solutions has never been more important.

Join us at The Maroon, a cooperatively-owned arts and community space, for a gathering of people working to strengthen the solidarity economy in Central Ohio. We’ll explore what’s already happening locally and throughout Ohio, hear from changemakers advancing cooperative models, and learn what's possible when vision meets action.

Click here to learn more and register

Featured Speakers & Partners:

• Maroon Arts Group

• Black Men Build Columbus 

• Cleveland Owns 

• Co-op Dayton 

This event is dedicated to our brother and comrade Ernest Levert Jr., co-founder of Co-op Columbus. Ernest left us too soon but not before he planted the seed that continues to grow today. Ernest blessed us with his unwavering belief that a better world is possible, and that together we can build it.

We’ll be sharing more about our origin story and Ernest’s role in shaping this work in a future issue. In the meantime, learn more about Ernest's incredible impact and the people he touched.

Get helpful resources, meet mortgage lenders and counselors to start your pathway to homeownership!

PROVIDING HELP AND HOPE BY CONNECTING

TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES ON THE FIRST

FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

Over the past five decades, gentrification has fundamentally reshaped America’s urban neighborhoods, creating complex dynamics of revitalization and displacement. Our recently released comprehensive analysis, Displaced By Design, reveals that gentrification, once confined to small parts of some cities, is on the rise across many housing markets.

The human cost is staggering. 

In gentrifying neighborhoods, populations typically decline for two decades before gentrification begins, followed by rapid demographic shifts. White, Asian and Hispanic populations grow while Black populations decrease. The process often involves developer-driven changes that prioritize profit over community preservation. Several factors drive this acceleration; housing supply shortages create scarcity and rising prices, construction costs push developers toward high-value projects, and social preferences have shifted from suburban to urban living, especially among young professionals seeking downtown amenities and cultural access.

The challenge lies in balancing revitalization benefits – improved infrastructure, services and economic opportunities – with preserving affordability and cultural identity. Gentrification can bring positive changes: better schools, increased safety, new businesses and rising property values for homeowners. However, these benefits disproportionately favor wealthier, often White newcomers while displacing lower-income residents and people of color.

Join NCRC’s Research team on June 5 at 1 pm ET as they comb over the report’s key findings and discuss its implications, as well as potential solutions. Without intentional intervention, gentrification risks deepening inequality and erasing neighborhood cultural fabric. As urban America continues evolving, understanding these patterns becomes crucial for policymakers, community leaders and residents working to create inclusive neighborhoods that honor both revitalization and cultural preservation.

It is exceedingly difficult to get by in the US economy without participating in the credit system. Rent reporting—providing data on tenant rental payments to at least one of the major consumer credit bureaus—has seen significant growth in recent years. The major credit scoring companies have begun adjusting scoring algorithms to include reported rental payments. Nonprofit housing providers, and public housing authorities have incorporated rent reporting, and several states and municipalities have encouraged the adoption of rent reporting.

Join us as we share findings from new research—results from the first randomized controlled trial that tests the impact of rent reporting on credit visibility and credit scores. Experts will also discuss the growth of rent reporting, and policy developments.

Join us for an engaging morning of data-driven insights and discussion at The Columbus Foundation. This special event will feature a presentation of the Giving USA 2025 report’s top takeaways by Dr. Una Osili, Associate Dean for Research and International Programs at the Indiana University Lily School of Philanthropy, and Christina Daniken, Editor-in-Chief of Giving USA.  

Following the presentation, we will explore the implications of these findings in the context of 2024-2025 philanthropic trends and include a funder panel with insights from three local funders on how giving behaviors are shifting in the current environment. RSVP below to reserve your spot! 

Spotlight Innovators from the Valuing Homes in Black Communities Challenge, hosted by Economic Architecture and the Brookings Institution, will share new innovations and strategies in the housing equity space. Hear from Ashon Nesbitt from the Florida Housing Coalition, Cat Goughnour from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and Gabe Ewing del Rio from the Homeownership Council of America on how new restorative efforts creating impact at the local, state and national level to advance fairness in the housing market.

The future of emergency shelter is at risk—your voice can help keep the doors open.

Emergency shelters across Central Ohio, like the YWCA Family Center, are losing critical funding in 2025. Without creating and investing in a new funding solution, shelters may have to close their doors, pushing thousands of families deeper into crisis. You can make a difference by joining YWCA Columbus virtually on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, to learn more about establishing a dedicated, sustainable funding source for our community's emergency shelter system. 

Supporters will learn more about the region’s homelessness crisis directly from residents of the YWCA Family Center and Family Center staff. They will also receive an advocacy toolkit with resources for urging elected officials to act now. 

Why You Should Attend

This substantive training provides a basic overview of the federal housing programs, recent changes, current trends, and issues facing practitioners. The training is designed for advocates with limited housing experience, but practitioners at all levels should benefit from this training. The panelists are experts in housing law who will cover a broad-range of topics in federally-assisted housing with real-world examples.

What You Will Learn

After completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Compare different types of federally assisted housing including the various HUD housing programs, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program, and USDA’s rural housing programs.

• Define the key features of the various federally assisted housing programs including admissions, rents, and terminations/evictions.

• Apply substantive knowledge of tenants’ rights in the federal programs to a legal housing practice.

• Identify emerging issues in the field.

Who Should Attend

Practitioners who want to gain a deeper understanding of subsidized housing, as well as housing attorneys looking for tools to represent their clients in federally-assisted housing. The sessions will address issues pertinent to those new to federally-subsidized housing practice as well as experienced practitioners. 

Strong communities are the key to lasting fair housing solutions. Whether you're a housing counselor, advocate, or industry professional, you’ll leave with practical tools to support clients, strengthen neighborhoods, and drive real change — even in today’s challenging environment.
In this dynamic session, you’ll learn how to:

• Map and mobilize local networks to expand housing opportunities

• Partner with grassroots organizations to boost outreach and impact

• Turn community strengths into sustainable housing strategies

Let’s move from theory to action — and open more doors for the communities we serve.