[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6583592,"mediaKeyId","3176109-234a484b11ee620f37260a90664d08f4","parentId",3176109,"title","Fair Housing Center presents Analysis of Impediments; recommends certificates, zoning changes and stronger enforcement","audioSeconds",1195,"startMs",1991000,"endMs",3186000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3176109-234a484b11ee620f37260a90664d08f4&start=1991&end=3186","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3176109-234a484b11ee620f37260a90664d08f4/thumbnail_1991000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6583592/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/Fair-Housing-Center-presents-Analysis-of-Impediments-recommends-certificates-zoning-changes-and-stronger-enforcement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583592-7f2c3d53a5be81c8b074dbe142e942b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152980&Signature=d6~pBTCW-wd~TYDAqnFl6sYaQJkjrNuRo5HCGy3N6JgerlDrwukOlwrN4LD1rxHQ~v9VF2TNZiuo8LiH3NFnejo47OgTZ45V2CfAdzCTt6wAbVHBEEyddWLYc62lW8PbQ~HWrTJ~0qJ6WipSdgZ45HcEi4tWhbjRS~Irs6b8OASq2b0LtSEA5a-OoOCtJn6ufezZ59flYNKDZmr1p1MR9oK5me-S-8tNC2H1~UItAxQn0sYmu~DfZ9zrYYqJEYKkYViB7Y6rle6tBLcqllkCmNDpby9V2JYONx1ZtRWg3j~OBZe2wSphgC51g3~zFrLo1Zc7y4JAnype2ZjqY04QXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Toledo","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","Noah Woods, a staff attorney at the Fair Housing Center, presented the organization’s Analysis of Impediments (AI) to fair housing, a companion document to the Consolidated Plan that identifies local barriers and recommends an action plan for the next five years.

Woods described the AI as the product of community outreach, public meetings at library branches, online surveys and analysis of demographic and lending data. He said the full AI is available on the Fair Housing Center’s website and on the city’s site.

The AI identifies 14 priority barriers. Among those Woods highlighted were:

- Criminal-history screening and reentry barriers: Woods said disparate outcomes in the criminal justice system can follow people into housing markets and cited disparities in arrest rates: “black men are arrested at 5 and a half times the rate as their white counterparts,” he said. The AI recommends using the Certificate of Qualification for Housing (CQH) program to reduce landlord liability concerns and expand housing access for people with prior records.

- Access to homeownership: The AI calls for more homeownership fairs, incentives to encourage banks to expand lending in underserved neighborhoods, and targeted programs to increase mortgage access in historically marginalized communities.

- Accessibility and ADA compliance: The city’s older housing stock predates some federal accessibility standards; the AI recommends stronger enforcement and compliance with state and federal accessibility requirements.

- Source-of-income discrimination and voucher mobility: Woods noted the City of Toledo has a local source-of-income protection ordinance; he said source-of-income discrimination (for example, against Housing Choice Voucher holders) continues to limit mobility and housing choice. The AI urges the city to work with Lucas Metropolitan Housing to increase voucher-holder mobility and address landlord practices that limit transfers.

- Zoning and infill development: The AI recommends updating zoning to enable sustainable infill housing development and adopting measures to incentivize healthier local retail options (e.g., limiting small-box stores in food deserts and encouraging urban agriculture) to improve neighborhood access to groceries.

- Other priorities: The AI calls for combating discrimination against LGBTQ+ residents, improving tenant access to code enforcement for substandard housing conditions, addressing transportation barriers and better policing of utilities reselling practices.

Woods emphasized enforcement and education: the AI pairs each identified impediment with concrete action steps and enforcement recommendations. He encouraged readers to review the AI’s executive summary and action plans and noted the full document is about 167 pages.

“The analysis of impediments…provides an action plan for identifying the key barriers,” Woods said. “We begin with doing community outreach through a variety of online surveys as well as public outreach meetings.”

The Fair Housing Center recommended the city incorporate the AI’s action steps into the Consolidated Plan and prioritize measures that expand voucher mobility, enforce accessibility and source-of-income protections, increase homeownership outreach and roll out CQH certificates in coordination with reentry partners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Toledo - SPECIAL RECORDED CONTENT on 2025-05-01 5:30 PM - May 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Noah Woods of the Fair Housing Center presented a 5‑year Analysis of Impediments identifying 14 barriers to fair housing choice in Toledo and a set of recommended actions, including use of Certificate of Qualification for Housing programs, zoning updates and stronger enforcement.","taxTitle","Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio","taxId",2665,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583597,"Toledo holds final public hearing on 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan; priorities: affordable housing, blight removal, infrastructure",1716,148000,1864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3176109-234a484b11ee620f37260a90664d08f4&start=148&end=1864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3176109-234a484b11ee620f37260a90664d08f4/thumbnail_148000.jpg","/articles/6583597/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/Toledo-holds-final-public-hearing-on-20252029-Consolidated-Plan-priorities-affordable-housing-blight-removal-infrastructure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583597-c450c2ee6208c8829de6be0433b35d29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152980&Signature=RZg51q2FGfH-dIrNvCIdezwIm7P9fk12cF9mMsBsf1CILORRFcfWcsBZg1~m15C5IKiOeayXNF5K-iaMPxPoTOxHT32urG7LpwL3QNSiEvVLWNnfo75F-JHFqhwWUUnLWtL4HypqLs1qXDgH5O9uroreNk1t8~8dFjrVjsFuOIM9-WBGsIarQdIMNP4QXbGdPCOCoNjsHHm2SB8TaH1sQPpsHzUsrTtsvoc~KhARIFukn~oPfbMYm7VvSLe3XJQanx9REso44yEyYW0sqBvnFM2~dkevWYRF9gDntEN1X5j00iJ3GsX8zpTOw5~YQDvMR3IE-2YkyxqcA8BvaDaBwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brian Hull, president of CEW Advisors, presented the City of Toledo’s draft 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan at the third and final public hearing, summarizing community-identified priorities and the funding the city expects from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The Consolidated Plan “is a framework for understanding what the housing, homelessness, and community development needs are in the city, and it helps the city think about allocating resources to meet those needs,” Hull said. The plan’s first-year Annual Action Plan and a draft strategic plan are posted on the city’s housing and community development webpage; public written comments must be received by May 23.

Why it matters: The Consolidated Plan sets the city’s priorities that guide allocation of federal HUD entitlement funds. CEW Advisors estimates Toledo will receive about $47.3 million total over the five-year period (roughly $9.7 million annually, subject to federal appropriations). The plan ties community engagement, data analysis and local priorities to recommended uses of three primary HUD funding streams: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG).

Key findings and priorities

- Community process: CEW Advisors reported an outreach process that included dozens of interviews, 11 community meetings, focus groups and an online survey that drew nearly 600 responses. That research informed the plan’s needs assessment and priority-setting.

- Demographics and housing stock: Hull said Toledo’s population is about 268,000 with roughly 118,000 households and about 33,000 housing units. The city has experienced long-term population decline; single-person households have grown while larger family household sizes have fallen. Hull noted a substantial rise in the 65–74 age group, which increased about 51% from 2010 to 2023.

- Cost burden and lead risk: Housing cost burden was the dominant problem identified across meetings; CEW reported roughly 32,000 households (renters and owners) are cost burdened or severely cost burdened. The consultant also estimated 14,840 households contain both lead hazards and children under age 6.

- Vacancy and blight: Vacancy in the city is near 12 percent. Hull described an ongoing municipal demolition program to address blight and to prepare lots for potential new construction and infill development.

- Priority needs: Affordable rental and ownership housing (including down-payment assistance and home-repair programs), homelessness interventions and supportive housing, public services (health, mental-health, child care, workforce and financial literacy), infrastructure and accessibility improvements (streets, sidewalks, stormwater, curb cuts), public facilities (senior centers, schools, childcare and grocery access), and targeted economic development and small-business support.

Funding overview provided in the presentation

- CDBG: CEW identified CDBG as the largest and most flexible funding source; the consultant projected approximately $7.0 million next year and about $35.0 million across five years for CDBG-eligible activities including affordable housing, infrastructure and public services.

- HOME: HOME investments were projected at roughly $1.9 million for the coming year and about $9.2 million over five years; HOME is focused on affordable housing development, rehabilitation, acquisition and homeownership assistance.

- ESG: Emergency Solutions Grant funding was estimated at about $650,000 annually and roughly $3.3 million across five years for homelessness response activities.

Public comment and local responses

Monica Brown, the city’s Community Planning and Development Grants Manager, opened the hearing and noted the draft strategic plan is posted online and that the city will respond to submitted comments and incorporate them into the final Consolidated Plan prior to submission to HUD.

During public comment, several attendees urged local policy changes. Glenn Ryan, a precinct committee member with the Lucas County Democratic Party and a housing advocate, suggested income-indexed rents and modular infill development to stabilize households: “If you do that, you’ve just solved housing vouchers. You just solved people who are low income.” Tom Naims, a West Toledo resident and candidate for Toledo City Council, urged stronger emphasis on homeownership and cautioned against concentrated rental development, saying he feared that large rental portfolios “are the future slums of Toledo” if residents lack long-term investment in neighborhoods.

Next steps and limitations

CEW’s draft strategic plan and the first-year action plan remain subject to public comment and final adjustment. Hull noted the city had not yet received its official HUD allocations at the time of the hearing; allocations are determined by federal appropriations and were expected in mid-May. Final plan submission to HUD is scheduled after the public comment period and internal revisions.

The public may submit written comments by email to neighborhoodstoledo@toledo.oh.gov or by mail to City of Toledo, Department of Housing and Community Development, 1 Government Center, Suite 1800, Toledo, OH 43604. Comments must be received by May 23 to be included in the current Consolidated Plan process.","Brian Hull, president of CEW Advisors, presented the City of Toledo’s draft 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan at the third public hearing, summarizing community priorities and an expected HUD funding forecast of about $47.3 million over five years.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583587,"Homelessness in Toledo rose sharply; board calls for permanent supportive housing, prevention and coordination",466,3174000,3640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3176109-234a484b11ee620f37260a90664d08f4&start=3174&end=3640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3176109-234a484b11ee620f37260a90664d08f4/thumbnail_3174000.jpg","/articles/6583587/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/Homelessness-in-Toledo-rose-sharply-board-calls-for-permanent-supportive-housing-prevention-and-coordination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583587-61054c6eb0fd07bf7324da826a38a743/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152980&Signature=HKLXD9PCHwKCwysk0M9zWmFryrQy3w6JOBnbpsKU3-JK2JCEY~Ik65lSYl5pj0haw1j-a99PS-Rd--jZQ7aqhMpW56Hdt3dIJfhbBDYTTYvCmbDGFHMkd-aGUfxmzAIu2tWwV7wxedWwmmHTxEtJ8ZJWvTd5vcIE5~RH1392TJnMwlSeWDdXsXti5FjJGBVIiLxWWp1xSAoFJTAhn02hYPXMXPEGpR4vgsJlPwAL7HCoIx8YbF1Qzszv6OHdePAzng9hJGDZisvLrfIZ4kKdb65-BzAeXb7Acb007eQERLZrH0dcs0KNpEHPg9hw8zl~nCq1U6tvttzoXX8JTzgOZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Julie Embry, representing the Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board, outlined the board’s assessment of homelessness in the city and recommended a set of programmatic and policy responses to reduce homelessness and prevent future housing loss.

The current picture and why it matters

Embry said homelessness in Toledo is increasing: “We are a city rich in resilience but we face a growing crisis,” she said, and cited nearly 3,400 individuals experiencing homelessness in 2024, a roughly 30–33 percent increase over the prior four years. She said more than half of those counted in 2024 were experiencing homelessness for the first time and that shelters are operating near capacity.

Board recommendations presented

- Expand permanent supportive housing and housing-problem-solving funds: The board advocated more long-term housing options and funds for staffing that provides individualized housing problem solving for families, veterans and seniors.

- Strengthen prevention and diversion strategies: Embry emphasized stopping homelessness “before it even starts” through improved prevention, eviction diversion resources and better coordination with behavioral health and recovery services.

- Improve system coordination and data use: The board supports better use of data, stronger evaluation frameworks and closer alignment among city departments, nonprofit providers and funders to reduce duplicative efforts and speed rehousing.

- Increase voucher access and landlord accountability: The board urged policy changes to expand access to Housing Choice Vouchers and to address discriminatory landlord practices that impede voucher holder mobility.

Existing efforts and gaps

Embry noted current investments and initiatives, including a $4.0 million HUD program grant to identify and remove barriers to affordable housing, Lucas Metropolitan Housing’s portfolio of about 2,500 units and the Home for Everyone Continuum of Care’s 2024 strategic plan. However, she said gaps remain in long-term placements, targeted services for vulnerable populations, shelter capacity and cross-system staffing to support housing problem solving.

Call to action

Embry framed the issue as both a policy and a human concern and urged residents and leaders to advocate for increased local, state and federal funding and to support frontline organizations. She closed the presentation with the board’s tagline: “Housing is not a privilege, it’s a right.”

Next steps

The Homelessness Board’s recommendations are part of the public record and will be considered alongside other comments as the City finalizes the Consolidated Plan. Embry and the board urged continued interagency collaboration, leveraging federal resources and community engagement to implement long-term solutions.","Julie Embry of the Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board told the public hearing that homelessness increased about 30% over four years with nearly 3,400 people homeless in 2024. The board recommended expanded permanent supportive housing, housing problem-solving funds, improved data systems and stronger cross-sector coordination.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fair Housing Center presents Analysis of Impediments; recommends certificates, zoning changes and stronger enforcement

Toledo holds final public hearing on 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan; priorities: affordable housing, blight removal, infrastructure

Homelessness in Toledo rose sharply; board calls for permanent supportive housing, prevention and coordination