Central Ohio is growing the careers of the future and a mobile, skilled workforce is essential for our region’s success. For low-wage workers to build a stable career and achieve financial independence, they need employment credentials in these high-mobility fields. But too many families lack the housing security needed to access those training programs.

The Bridge Model closes that divide by blending affordable housing, career development, and targeted wrap-around supports to help motivated workers gain entry to high-demand, downturn-resistant sectors. By aligning existing human service delivery systems, it maximizes the impact of these short-term interventions to provide long-term financial autonomy.

The Bridge Model

Five people standing on a stage in front of a large screen displaying a housing program event, with a flag on the left and a potted plant on the right.

Success Bridge

Success Bridge was a three-year, pilot program to increase college completion for 500 housing insecure Columbus State students by stabilizing their housing and providing rental assistance, student support services, career development, and employment counseling.
In 2019, the HOPE Center found that 50% of community college students were experiencing housing insecurity with 17% of students experiencing the most severe form of insecurity, homelessness. Students cited that inability to pay rent was the most common cause for housing insecurity. As an institutional participant in the recent #RealCollege survey, we confirmed that Columbus State students are experiencing housing insecurity at similar rates to the alarming national averages. One of these students was Andrew Crowley.
Success Bridge was created through an innovative partnership among Columbus State Community College (CSCC), the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (AHACO), Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), Home for Families (HFF), and the Community Shelter Board (CSB).
Start-up funding support came from the Fifth Third Foundation, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, and Columbus State Community College.
During its original deployment, Success Bridge was instrumental in expanding college attainment. Independent evaluation found that the housing supports resulted in higher grade point averages, credit attainment rates, graduation rates, college retention rates, and good academic standing for participating students.
Success Bridge was the first iteration of the Bridge Model. The learnings gained from this pilot program informed and advanced future versions. Columbus State Community College continues to provide students with resource referrals, housing navigation, and support through the Scholar House partnership.

Two women sitting at a table, smiling at the camera inside a room with a kitchen background and several other people in the background.

Resiliency Bridge

For low-wage workers to build a stable career and achieve financial independence, they need employment credentials in high-mobility fields. But too many families lack the housing security needed to access those training programs. Resiliency Bridge closes that divide by blending affordable housing, worker development, and wrap-around supports to help motivated individuals gain entry to high-demand, downturn-resistant sectors. This initiative supports career transitions during the pandemic recovery while remaining responsive to our systemic housing needs, bolstering our state’s economic competitiveness and moving our local community closer to eliminating the 54,000-household affordability gap.
The first phase of the Resiliency Bridge program provided short-term housing assistance to our first cohort of workers while they receive career training in stable, high-paying fields. All graduates are projected to grow their income by at least 75 percent during the program and be equipped with the tools for long-term career success.
In addition to affordable housing and no-cost career education, participants are connected to personalized supports like counseling, transportation assistance, reliable internet access, childcare, and food security to support their academic progress.
The Resiliency Bridge initiative is a public-private partnership between local leaders, including program operators from Home for Families and OhioMeansJobs Columbus-Franklin County. We also recognize the incredible contributions JPMorgan Chase, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority for their foundational investment in the program’s success.
Other critical partners include the Community Shelter Board, the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio, Columbus State Community College, ColumbusWorks, the Columbus Partnership, Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio, Homeport, IMPACT Community Action, and Action for Children. Resiliency Bridge taps into a proven framework for quick deployment and rapid scaling.
Resiliency Bridge proved to be a powerful and rapid driver of economic mobility. The average participant experienced a 900% increase in income in approximately ten months. Read the full third-party evaluation for additional outcomes.
Two cohorts of the Resiliency Bridge program were successfully completed. The administrator, Home for Families, is currently seeking grants to launch the third class.

A diverse group of people attending a conference or workshop in a large classroom or conference room, sitting at tables, with two large screens displaying a presentation titled 'Reflection + Break'.

Newcomer Bridge

In Central Ohio, low-wage earners are often unable to complete advanced training programs in high-demand fields due to housing instability. Two existing programs (Resiliency Bridge and Success Bridge) are successfully closing this access gap for workers seeking a community college degree or a workforce certification. But unique challenges remain for newcomer households who face additional language, culture, and navigational barriers that are not addressed by existing initiatives. As a result, our community’s employment needs grow despite a pool of qualified and motivated individuals ready to serve. Newcomer Bridge builds on those proven models to provide a rapid on-boarding path for households that have followed all the rules but need extra support to bring their full skills into the region’s workforce, creating a stronger economy for us all.
Newcomer Bridge is a concept that was proposed during a community conversation of Central Ohio leaders that brought together over fifty organizations to discuss the workforce and housing needs of new American populations. During that convening, lived experts shared their journey to stability and success, researchers and data scientists educated on current workforce gaps, and stakeholders mapped out strategies and expectations for future programming.
Newcomer Bridge is a design project being guided by a team that includes Jewish Family Services, Riverview International, the Columbus Foundation, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, the Columbus Chamber, Vineyard Columbus, Columbus Metro Housing Authority, Ohio Means Jobs/Aspyr Workforce Innovation, Festa, and with the guidance of more than 30 local organizations.
The project is currently in the design phase. Fundraising is anticipated in late 2025. If successful, programming is expected to begin in 2026.
A design team was assembled in early 2025 and is meeting frequently to identify and refine the parameters of the program. Those with specialized expertise or an interest in participating in this design project may contact AHACO.