affordable housing

Most respondents to a survey about how Cincinnati should spend federal stimulus identified affordable housing as a top priority. The survey from Council Member David Mann's office has received more than 1,100 responses so far.

Cincinnati officials will apply for $34 million to establish an affordable housing loan pool. Council voted Wednesday to approve a pair of ordinances that also establish an oversight board for the loan pool and the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

The Cincinnati City Manager's office wants to hire an independent group to analyze how much affordable housing the city needs. Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman says he's concerned the information currently available is outdated.

Cincinnati officials are exploring the possibility of limiting the amount of subsidized housing in neighborhoods. Council passed a motion Wednesday asking city administration to investigate legal options for limiting new development of subsidized units in areas where at least 50% of housing stock is already subsidized.

The ballot language for a Cincinnati charter amendment related to affordable housing has been finalized after the Hamilton County Board of Elections certified a revised summary in an emergency meeting Wednesday. The Ohio Supreme Court ordered the changes in response to a lawsuit filed by advocates who petitioned to put the amendment on the May ballot.

Cincinnati's administration is recommending a new housing advisory board to facilitate funding and public input on affordable housing, but doesn't want to mandate affordable units in future development projects, as advocates have asked. Council members requested a comprehensive report last month, as part of several ongoing efforts to address the estimated 28,000-unit gap.

A Cincinnati council member wants the city to consider putting federal money from the latest COVID-19 stimulus plan in the affordable housing trust fund.

Cincinnati is set to get more than $290 million from the American Rescue Plan, which President Joe Biden signed into law last week.

Updated: Monday 11:45 a.m.

The Hamilton County Board of Elections has certified an affordable housing charter amendment, but the language that will appear on the May ballot is still under dispute.

Cincinnati City Council has sent an affordable housing charter amendment approved by voter petitions to the May ballot with a new, longer summary. Council members voted 8-1 on the new ballot language Wednesday.

A charter amendment likely to be on the May ballot would require Cincinnati to spend at least $50 million a year on affordable housing. Advocates say it's long past time to act, while critics say the impact on the budget would be devastating.

A Cincinnati council member has moved away from a proposal to mandate affordable housing in most new development projects. 

Cincinnati City Council members started investigating affordable housing Wednesday in the first meeting of a new subcommittee. Local experts say the city needs at least 28,000 additional affordable units.

Hamilton County officials have approved a little over a million dollars in grants for affordable housing developments this year. The funds are going to four groups to build a total 146 affordable units.

Updated: Wednesday, 6 p.m.

Cincinnati City Council voted 5-4 Wednesday to advance a controversial development at Liberty and Elm in Over-the-Rhine.

Updated: Friday 10:30 a.m.

A major mixed-use development project at Liberty and Elm in Over-the-Rhine has been delayed for two weeks while City Council reviews the details and tries to work affordable housing into the project.

Community leaders gathered at the corner of Liberty and Elm in Over-the-Rhine on Tuesday to voice their displeasure on a development project that's up for a vote in Cincinnati City Council on Wednesday.

Prospective Cincinnati home buyers and those looking for help keeping their homes up to code may now have an easier time finding assistance. In September, members of City Council's Budget and Finance Committee asked for an analysis of city resources and how well they assist people.

Cincinnati's Metropolitan Housing Authority is extending a moratorium on evictions again. The first extension took it to Sept. 1, but now lasts until the end of October. Spokeswoman Lesley Wardlow says the board of commissioners approved the extensions because of continued financial distress for some renters caused by the pandemic.

Cincinnati City Council has approved an incentive package and development agreement for a $50 million project to bring more affordable housing to Over-the-Rhine.