Columbus invests in new eviction prevention programs

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority had a record-breaking year for investments, joining Columbus City Council in increased efforts to protect and promote affordable housing this week.

On Tuesday, CMHA announced a combined $78.9 million purchase of the Residences at Eden Park in northeast Columbus and The Orchards near Rickenbacker International Airport, two existing apartment complexes that will now offer affordable housing options for working families. The announcement followed a Monday City Council meeting where legislators passed three ordinances to help protect Columbus residents from eviction.

Council passed a measure regulating residential wholesalers, which will require property investors who buy up homes and neighborhoods to register with the city and follow a new code of conduct. The measure was introduced by Council President Shannon Hardin, who said the new practices will offer increased transparency and protections for residents.

Council also approved a bill that gives residents who are at risk for eviction access to legal counsel for their eviction hearings. That bill was sponsored by outgoing councilmember Shayla Favor, who also sponsored the third housing ordinance Council approved Monday evening, which involved rent increase notifications. Under the third new ordinance, landlords must notify tenants of a rent increase at least 60 days in advance.

All three measures were introduced to prevent eviction, which has dramatically increased in Columbus since 2020 and the onset of COVID-19.

CMHA said its two new complexes will add 426 units for workforce housing, or affordable housing for families who may be middle-income and who serve in essential roles like police, firefighters, educators, food service, retail and healthcare workers. CMHA said rent will range from $1,100 to $1,900 monthly for the one-, two- and three-bedroom units, and the complexes will include clubhouses, resident lounges, cardio centers, business centers, private patios and balconies, walk-in closets, coffee bars and a dog park.

Both CMHA and Council said the efforts were investments into the people of Columbus, expressing that if people work in the city, they should be able to afford to live in the city. Economists found home prices have increased substantially in Columbus in response to new growth and increased demand, but income has not followed suit.

Don Leonard, a professional practice assistant professor with Ohio State's architecture program, said wages in central Ohio have gone up around 54% since 2000, whereas lower-tier housing costs have gone up 254% in the same period.

"If you're not increasing supply of housing, all you do when you put more money in homebuyers pockets is put them in a bidding war against their fellow neighbors," Leonard said. "And I think that's exactly what we see here in central Ohio."

"We called it Housing for All because at Columbus City Council, we believe housing is a human right. Period. It’s a commitment to the idea that every individual deserves a safe, secure, and dignified place to live,” Favor said.