Columbus housing authority announces affordable housing coming to Columbus and Reynoldsburg

More affordable housing is coming to Reynoldsburg and Columbus, thanks to $38 million being invested in three properties by the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA).

The housing authority is making the investment as part of its goal to buy or develop as many as 500 units of multifamily housing each year.

It comes at a time when housing is becoming increasingly difficult for low-income or no-income residents to afford. Eviction filings in Franklin County are at a 20-year high and homelessness locally hit an all-time high for the second year in a row during the annual street count.

Columbus has a shortage of 52,694 rental units for people who need affordable housing, and 54,000 families spend more than half their income on housing, according to the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (AHACO) .

There are only 26 affordable units per 100 extremely low-income renters in Columbus, according to a report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO).

Where in Columbus, Reynoldsburg will new mixed-income apartments be?

The $38 million investment will bring 194 more multifamily, mixed-income apartment units in three locations, two in Columbus and one in Reynoldsburg:

• Reynoldsburg: CMHA is working with the city of Reynoldsburg to develop a 100-unit rental property at 7221 East Main St., across from City Hall. The authority is giving $25 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds to finance part of the development, which will include 25 units for residents with project-based Section 8 housing vouchers . People interested in those units must have an annual household income that is 30% of the area median income, or about $21,700 for individuals and $27,900 for a family of three. The rest of the apartments will serve people making up to 80% of the area's annual median income, or $55,600 for an individual or $63,520 for a two-person household.
• Columbus' South Side: CMHA is investing $10.9 million into a partnership with the Community Housing Network at Touchstone Field Place. Phase two of the 20-year contract will entail 44 construction of one-bedroom apartments at 2565 Lockbourne Road and will give project-based Section 8 vouchers to individuals with annual incomes of around $21,700. The project will be permanent supportive housing that offers residents many onsite social services and resources.
• Columbus' Near East Side: Another $2.1 million will go to Preston Pointe , a 20-year project in partnership with the Finance Fund that will include eight project-based Section 8 vouchers units and 42 units for residents earning up to 60% of the area median income, or about $43,400 annually for an individual. Preston Point is also permanent supportive housing with social services available on site.

What is Reynoldsburg saying about the investment?

Reynoldsburg Mayor Joe Begeny and the Reynoldsburg City Council approved the CMHA development earlier this month with the goal to bring more housing units to the city.

“It’s no secret there is a shortage of housing — affordable, market rate and otherwise — throughout the Greater Columbus area,” Begeny said in a prepared release. “The gap in Reynoldsburg and across central Ohio between housing supply and demand is widening, especially for housing that’s affordable to low- and middle-income wage-earners."

Reynoldsburg is proud to help try to solve housing challenges and offer housing opportunities for seniors, veterans, teachers, police officers and health care professionals, Begeny said.

Rents keep rising

CMHA provides rental assistance through Section 8 housing vouchers and owns more than 5,300 units of affordable housing. But rents have risen 14% nationally since 2021, much faster than wages, according to U.S. Census data.

“We are committed to addressing the critical need for housing for all in our community,” CMHA Board Chair James L. Ervin Jr. said in a prepared release.

“These significant investments are a testament to our dedication and strategic approach," Ervin said. "We are taking substantial steps toward providing secure, high-quality housing options for all residents. Our board's unanimous approval underscores our collective resolve to meet these ambitious goals.”"

CMHA also announced that an independent financial audit showed it was in compliance with federal requirements last year.

CMHA has been facing criticism for its decision to contract with another company , CGI Federal, Inc., to manage Section 8 housing choice vouchers for the past few years. In May, CMHA announced it won't continue working with the multinational corporation. Earlier this month, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development audit showed that CMHA, through CGI, failed to ensure the housing met quality standards.

The contract between CGI and CMHA doesn't expire until March 2025.

dking@dispatch.com

@DanaeKing

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus housing authority announces affordable housing coming to Columbus and Reynoldsburg