Count finds homelessness on the rise in Franklin County
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — More people are experiencing homelessness than ever before in Franklin County.
Almost half are in the workforce; the Columbus non-profit Community Shelter Board (CSB) said many make between $14 and $20 per hour. The problem stems from a lack of housing.
Columbus financial social media influencer defrauded investors of $11 million, prosecutors say
CSB says this year, it saw a rise in sheltered homelessness, with more people staying in emergency shelters. This data comes from a Point-In-Time count: a count of people experiencing homelessness on one day in January.
'It also tells us overall what the umbrella of homelessness looks like,' CSB President and CEO Shannon TL Isom said.
Now, CSB is sharing that data.
'This is a structural issue,' Isom said. 'Forty percent of our community members that are in our homeless shelter have jobs.'
The count identified a 7.4% increase in people experiencing homelessness compared with last year.
Meet the three candidates running for Columbus City Council's District 7 seat
There were some positive trends: the number of people who reported experiencing mental health concerns, chronic homelessness and domestic violence decreased. However, there was an increase in the number of veterans experiencing homelessness.
'It is a glimpse of the unseen folks in our community,' Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said. 'Our population growth and these good things that are happening is also coming with a side effect that more of our community is being pushed out into homelessness.'
The number of people in emergency shelters grew by 13%. One of those shelters is run by Jasmine Franklin.
'It's about immediate service, the smaller barriers,' said Franklin, founder and CEO of 3rd Shift Warming Cooling Center.
She's using her own experience with homelessness to push for change.
Whitehall residents rally to take tax breaks for high-end development to citizen vote
'It took me again, like I said, a week or two before I was able to see a case manager,' Franklin said. 'When you come into my shelter within that same day, if not by that next morning, you'll be able to start talking to a case manager, start working through the barriers immediately.'
The data shows that more people are using warming shelters. There was a 95% increase in people who used Winter Warming Centers and non-congregate shelters.
Before the coldest temperatures, the City of Columbus conducted camp sweeps, which sent many people into the shelters. Shortly after the count, some emergency shelters closed and many people had to go back outside. Isom said the increase while they were open shows the emergency shelter method is working.
'What we have found in the number is that the unsheltered population actually went down by 11%, and we know then, in the winter, warming centers are working because we saw the increase of 11% there,' Isom said.
However, CSB needs funding to keep those going and right now, many of the programs, like for those facing eviction, are at risk due to federal cuts. Nonprofits share that they are worried that if there are no alternatives to this funding by the end of the year, housing issues could get a lot worse.
Columbus dispensary issued product alert for 'edible glitter' in cannabis gummies
'We are having those conversations right now,' Hardin said. 'We are talking about how, in Columbus, we can stack and how we can look at new funding streams. These are big conversations and you really have to be really thoughtful about it, and so I think that over the next coming months, we will have to come up with a big, bold solution.'
Hardin pointed to Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther's proposed $500 million bond package on the ballot this November as one potential solution.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lego retailer in Lewis Center shuts down after five years in business
LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WCMH) – A Lego retailer in Lewis Center has closed its doors after five years in business. Bedlam Bricks, located at 1230 E. Powell Road, permanently shut down after its final day on Sunday. The business specialized in the resale of new, retired and rare Lego sets. What's new for 2025 at Ohio theme parks Cedar Point, Kings Island 'We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all of you—our loyal customers and community—for your unwavering support over the years,' a Facebook post announcing the closure reads. 'Your enthusiasm, creativity, and patronage have meant the world to us, and we are truly thankful for the memories we've built together.' Owner Kelly Casto told NBC4 the decision to close was primarily due to 'rising overhead costs' and an increased difficulty in sourcing new Lego products at a price that allowed the business to run profitably. Casto is a former banking IT specialist who collected thousands of Lego sets before opening his store, according to Destination Delaware County Ohio, an organization dedicated to promoting tourism in the area. He ran the store alongside his wife and daughter, offering Star Wars, NASCAR, Super Mario and Marvel Lego sets, alongside a variety of other products. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ohio bill would give counties the power to cut property taxes
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A new Ohio proposal would give counties the authority to lower property taxes if they determine the amount collected is more than needed. Every county in the state has a budget commission, made up of the county auditor, treasurer and prosecutor, which is tasked with overseeing the taxation process for local governments. As Fort Rapids sale looms, Columbus church eyes plan to redevelop waterpark House Bill 309, introduced by David Thomas (R-Jefferson) in May, would require the panels to review the budgets of taxing authorities annually. If a local government is collecting more money than a public entity — such as a school or law enforcement agency — needs, the legislation gives budget commissions the power to suspend or reduce tax rates. 'If the local government doesn't actually need the full amount of that revenue, or if they're providing the service for less, or can, why should the taxpayers still be charged a much higher tax rate?' Thomas said. Christopher Galloway, the Lake County auditor, testified in support of the bill at its first hearing. He said county prosecutors' different interpretations of legal precedents have resulted in budget commissions' responsibilities being unclear and varying across counties. Galloway claimed that while the Lake County budget commission has 'been a rubber stamp' on tax budgets for decades due to its prosecutors' legal opinions, its neighboring county of Geauga rolls back rates when an entity's budget does not require the full amount of taxes. He said he wants all 88 counties to have that ability. Chillicothe paper mill will close in August after stating it would remain open 'HB309 won't be talked about around kitchen tables like a statewide initiative to eliminate property taxes, but it is in fact a REAL and effective means of controlling property taxes in the State of Ohio,' he said in written testimony. The legislation comes as many Ohioans are expressing frustrations with the costs of property taxes, including a group of citizens who recently started collecting signatures to amend Ohio's constitution and eliminate property taxes altogether. 'Clearly, our taxpayers are telling us across Ohio that the current status quo is not working,' Thomas said. However, not everyone is in support of the bill, with some claiming it is an attempt to undermine the will of voters. The nonprofit League of Women Voters is among those who have criticized the legislation. 'House Bill 309 is just another example of this gerrymandered state legislature's effort to take power away from local governments and voters,' a spokesperson said in a statement. 'Slowly but surely, corrupt politicians in the Ohio Statehouse are trying to end local control and reduce the rights of Ohio citizens. What Ohioans need are real solutions to real problems, not this.' Dispensary reacts to Ohio marijuana limit changes Thomas disagreed with such concerns, stating if the legislation passed, voters would still have the 'full authority and say over the services they want.' The provision has also been folded into a larger property tax relief overhaul, House Bill 335, which combines multiple bills and would deliver $3.5 billion in property tax relief, according to Thomas. House Bill 309's second hearing will take place on Wednesday, when opponents of the measure will have the chance to testify. House Bill 335 was introduced last week and awaits its first hearing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
More than 400,000 Ohioans see driver's license suspensions lifted under new law
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — More than 400,000 Ohioans have seen their driver's license suspensions lifted in just one month since a new law was implemented, according to Sen. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati). Ingram said as of Tuesday, 429,501 Ohioans have had total suspensions or blocks removed, and more than $8.3 million in reinstatement fees have been forgiven; 201,024 eligible drivers have been sent notifications. Chillicothe paper mill will close in August after stating it would remain open 'These aren't just numbers,' Ingram said. 'These are lives of workers, parents, and students who now have one less barrier standing in their way.' The bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Louis W. Blessing III (R-Colerain Township) and became law on April 9. It fully went into effect at the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles on May 9. Watch previous coverage in the player above. The law ends the practice of suspending driver's licenses for failure to pay court fines or fees, along with some other minor offenses. The law does not apply to any 'drug abuse offense' in which a vehicle was used 'to further the commission of the offense.' The law also allows those who have had their license suspended for being in default on child support payments to prove that a suspended license prevents them from making the payments, and they could be granted 'limited driving privileges.' As Fort Rapids sale looms, Columbus church eyes plan to redevelop waterpark A 2022 report from the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland found that 60% of driver's licenses suspended in Ohio were suspended due to reasons not related to driving. Drivers are encouraged to make sure their information is current with the BMV so that if they're eligible for reinstatement, they can be notified. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio applauded the law, which makes Ohio the 25th state to shift away from debt-related penalties. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
