Strategies to End Homelessness

Strategies to End Homelessness says several factors like increasing housing costs and the end of COVID-era funding are why.

The concept is to determine what situations put families at higher risk for losing housing, identify families in those situations, then intervene with financial and other support.

A collaborative of several local organizations is working to prevent homelessness in Cincinnati, and you could be part of it.

New federal data says the number of Ohioans experiencing homelessness grew almost 7% last year. But one local expert says the point-in-time count is often inaccurate.

A $2.1 million grant for family housing stabilization is part of the recommendations for Human Services funding in Cincinnati. Another $4.9 million is recommended for 68 other programs.

The funding comes from federal stimulus through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Strategies to End Homelessness President and CEO Kevin Finn says the plan's focus on prevention could make a big difference, if it's implemented.

The donation is the largest private grant in Strategies to End Homelessness' history.

"The family shelter system is always full and could probably fill up two or three times over if space was available," says CEO of Strategies to End Homelessness Kevin Finn.

Homelessness reached an eight-year low in 2021 while diversion shelter assistance reached an eight-year high in Hamilton County.