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COAAA outlines home‑support caseloads and asks council to fund a $100,000 housing assistance match to pull down state dollars
Summary
Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging reported rising housing calls and rent burdens among older adults and asked the city to fund $100,000 that would leverage approximately $400,000 in state funding to expand a one‑time housing assistance program that helps older adults avoid displacement.
Grant Ames, government and community relations manager at COAAA, told the committee the agency case‑manages about 12,000–14,000 people annually across its eight‑county region and conducts roughly 47,000 home visits per year. He said calls for housing assistance have risen to roughly 1,500–1,600 in the prior year and described the program as a small but effective lifeline to keep older adults housed.
Program details: COAAA’s housing assistance provides one‑time payments for emergencies (security deposit/first month’s rent, past‑due rent, utility arrears, identity‑theft recovery) and includes wraparound services such as payee setup and financial navigation. Ames said the program’s average outcomes show roughly 80% of recipients maintain housing at six months and about 76% remain housed at one year.
Funding request: COAAA asked council to increase its city earmark from $75,000 (prior ask) to $100,000 for 2025. Ames said the $100,000 local match would enable COAAA to draw nearly $400,000 more from the Ohio Department of Aging and expand program reach across the region as demand grows.
Why it matters: Ames said the median Social Security payment (~$940/month) is often insufficient to cover local housing costs and that 50% of people experiencing homelessness nationwide are aged 50 and older. Council members expressed support and discussed connections to utility assistance and extreme‑weather preparedness programs.
No formal vote took place at the hearing.
