By Stephanie Duprey, The CW
A local non-profit that focuses on addressing community problems, including the cost of living met Monday night.
Bulk of the conversation was about keeping renters safe across Central Ohio. WSYX has been following development in our area for months.
More recently, out of state investors are looking to develop a series of single-family home subdivisions around the area.
The non profit, BREAD doesn’t want that to happen and is calling on city leaders to do more.
“BREAD” Building responsibility, equality, and dignity, is a non profit that has been around for decades.
It’s made up of dozens of churches from across the area. 44 to be exact.
Monday the group met with a few things on the agenda, including its continued push to help Columbus area renters, highlighting its recent work on fighting crime, including its work with the Columbus Police Department.
“We learned that chief Elaine Bryant has taken BREAD seriously as we challenged her to change the violent and racist culture of the Columbus Police Department. This training prepares officers to successfully intervene and creates a culture that supports pier intervention. We’re told Columbus Police are integrating that in the coming months,” a rep from BREAD said.
During the meeting the non profit also talked about renters in substandard housing, and how it believes people are reluctant to report code violations because they don’t have anywhere else to go and fear retaliation from landlords.
WSYX has been following the housing crisis in Central Ohio for months.
Within the last several months there’s been talk about corporate investors out of Nevada that are looking to develop a series of single-family home subdivisions in Central Ohio with communities ranging to 300 homes.
In each proposal, AMH Development would own the properties and collect rents averaging $2,500 a month. But that could go up from there.
BREAD says its pushing Columbus City Council to dedicate funds from the American Rescue Plan for affordable housing.
“Columbus City Council has not utilized American Rescue Plan money for housing only for Band-Aids, and what do I mean, they have dedicated over $30 million dollars for shelters and food pantry,” another rep from BREAD added.
And while BREAD says, it thinks that is a great use of funding, its calling on city council to meet with them.
“We have been following up with council president Shannon Hardin there’s been a lot of back and forth about a meeting over the last six months money is still on the table and families are still struggling,” another BREAD member said.
Bread says it sent a certified letter to city council.
And if they don’t hear back , they plan to voice concerns at city hall on May 13th.
Columbus City Council provided ABC 6 with the following statement:
“City Council continues to engage with the Mayor on how best to use ARP dollars. Columbus City Council takes affordable housing seriously as evidenced by our own housing initiatives.
We are also pushing full steam ahead with the Zone-In Initiative to overhaul our outdated zoning could so that more dense, affordable housing can be built. Part of the tax bonds that were approved by voters in 2022 were approved to be sold last night. Those proceeds will result in $50M being allocated for housing preservation, affordable housing funds, critical home repair, and the Community Land Trust.”
View the original story here.
