Housing Resources

 

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  IMPACT Hope Fund

  Rental and utility assistance for households experiencing hardships caused by COVID-19
   
  Click here to find out more

Rental Assistance

• IMPACT Community Action’s Hope Fund Rental Assistance  – rental and utility assistance for households experiencing hardships caused by COVID-19.

• Franklin County's Prevention, Retention, and Contingency Plus (PRC Plus) Rental Assistance program – Temporary program that provides relief for eligible families impacted by COVID-19 public-health emergency and struggling to meet rent or are facing eviction.

  • In effect until 12/15/21
  • May be able to cover delinquent rent up to $1,500 and next month’s rent up to $1,500
  • Payments issued directly to landlords
  • Draws from federal CARES Act funding

• Franklin County’s One-Time or Short-Term Assistance – One-time financial assistance to help in emergency situations.

  • Must have at least one minor child (or pregnant and in third trimester or later) living in your household,
  • AND have a gross household income at or below 165% of federal poverty level.
  • Can apply for maximum of $1,500
  • Can request aid for more than one emerging need including:
  • Housing assistance (covering pas due rent or mortgage payments to avoid eviction)
  • Utility aid (except for home heating source utility during months that other aid programs are in operation)

Utility Assistance

• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) – Helps households prevent disruptions in energy service, restore disconnected services, and/or secure heating/cooling needs.

       Providers:

  • IMPACT Community Action                          (614) 246-0019
  • The Breathing Association                          (614) 969-0978

                    - HEAP Online Application from The Breathing Association

• HEAP Winter Crisis Program - Helps income eligible Ohioans that are threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected, or have less than 25% supply of bulk fuel in their tank to maintain their utility service. (Must be a member of PIPP if consumer of PUCO regulated utility)

         Providers:

  • The Breathing Association (Through March 31, 2021)

• HEAP Summer Crisis Program – Income eligible Ohioans who are, or a member of their household is, over 60 years old or have a qualifying medical condition and have a disconnection notice can apply for bill payment assistance and/or air conditioner during the summer. (Households served by non-regulated utility with disconnection notice are also eligible.)

         Providers:

  • IMPACT Community Action
  • The Breathing Association

• Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP) – Helps eligible Ohioans manage energy bills year-round by basing consistent payments on percentage of household income.

  • Call (800) 282-0880 to be directed to local PIPP provider

Emergency Assistance

• Impact Community Action – Emergency Assistance

  • Appliance Assistance
  • Furniture Bank Assistance (partnered with Furniture Bank of Central Ohio)
  • Transportation Assistance
  • Water Utility Assistance

• Franklin County Disaster-Related Assistance with PRC – assistance available for eligible individuals who have sustained damage or losses as a result of a state-declared natural disaster or personal disaster (i.e., house fire, flood)

  • For a state-declared natural disaster – and if Franklin County is declared a disaster county and is allocated federal disaster funds – then the Assistance Group must apply for federal disaster benefits at the local agency designated by the state to receive FEMA funding.

Emergency Shelter

• Community Shelter Board

  • Experiencing homelessness and/or need shelter?
    Call (614) 274-7000
    (Homeless hotline, open 24/7)
    365 E. Campus View Blvd., Suite 250, Columbus, OH 43235
  • (614) 221-9195  -  (614) 221-9199 (fax)   [email protected]     Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

• Star House – Social service agency and drop-in center for Central Ohio youth ages 14-24

  • For shelter, call: (614) 274-7000
  • Open every day 10:30 pm – 2:00 pm

•  Huckleberry House – Crisis shelter for teens

  • 24 hour crisis line (614) 294-5553
  • Crisis shelter (614) 294-8097
  • 1421 Hamlet St.
    Columbus, OH 43201

• YMCA

• Downtown YMCA (Adult Men)

  • 40 W. Long St.
    Columbus, OH 43215
    (614) 573-3616
    (614) 628-1660 (Fax)

• Franklin Station (Adult Men and Women)

  • 524 W. Broad St.
    Columbus, OH 43215
    (614) 662-1020
    (614) 662-1023 (Fax)

• Van Buren Center (Adult Men, Women and Family)

  • 595 Van Buren Dr.
    Columbus, OH 43223
    (614) 715-2030
    (614) 221-2842 (Fax)
     

Affordable Housing Assistance

• The Ohio Housing Finance Agency -- offers down payment assistance, career-related interest rate discounts and other loan products to make buying a home or condo easier.

  • Ohio Housing Finance Agency – Down Payment Assistance -- Helps buyers with down payment and closing costs through offering of 30-year fixed rate conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA-RD government loans with wide income and purchase price limits. Designed to help homebuyers with low- and moderate-incomes.
  • OHFA’s “What to Expect Video” - https://youtu.be/XvhtbIpT-94 -- Process overview: This video covers the steps that lead to homeownership when you use the Ohio Housing Finance Agency