COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced the formation of the Regional Housing Coalition during a press conference on Tuesday. The initiative aims to tackle the area's growing housing crisis.
The coalition brings together leaders from across central Ohio to address the critical shortage of affordable housing in the region. This collaborative effort comes as a response to alarming projections that suggest central Ohio could face a housing deficit by 2030, with demand outpacing supply.
Ginther emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "If you work in central Ohio, you should be able to live in central Ohio." He added that this initiative is "critical to our region's competitive advantage and to making sure that we remain accessible and affordable to all.”
The housing crunch has reached a critical point, with recent data indicating that a central Ohio homebuyer now needs an annual income of at least $90,000 to afford a home. This figure starkly contrasts with the region's median household income of $76,000.
The coalition's formation follows a series of task forces established in 2021, which engaged over 150 community stakeholders to develop comprehensive strategies for addressing supply, affordability, equity and coordination in housing.
Reynoldsburg Mayor Joe Begeny, who hosted the announcement, used his city’s soon-to-be affordable housing project across the street from City Hall, as an example of what other cities can build.
The 100-unit project, which will be built by the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority is expected to break ground sometime next year. It will be a mixture of affordable housing (housing where no more than 30% of someone’s gross monthly income will be spent on rent), workforce housing and market-rate housing.
“These are places people can live safely,” he said.
Organizers admit that building affordable housing is a challenge on many fronts. There’s acquiring the land in a location that has access to reliable transportation, there’s changing community pre-conceived ideas about what affordable housing looks like, as well as having the proper zoning in place to build projects when a developer presents a plan.
The goal of the coalition is to build 200,000 units in central Ohio by 2030.
“This is going to be one of the most ambitious housing goals in all of America,” said Ginther.