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Franklin County approves millions for housing, homelessness and poverty-reduction programs
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved grant and funding agreements totaling millions for the Rise Together Innovation Institute ($2.5M), Affordable Housing Trust ($4M), Community Shelter Board ($6.26M) and Legal Aid’s Tenant Advocacy Project ($300K), with staff outlining program goals and several votes recorded unanimously or with Commissioner Boyce abstaining on some items.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on March 2026 approved several major funding agreements and grants aimed at housing, homelessness response and anti-poverty initiatives.
The board approved a $2.5 million grant to the Rise Together Innovation Institute (resolution 126-26) to finalize a strategic roadmap and strengthen a pipeline of solutions aligned with the county’s poverty-reduction blueprint. Sonia Nelson, interim CEO of Rise Together, said the grant will support governance, reporting, and coordination with county partners.
Commissioners also approved a $4 million funding agreement with the Affordable Housing Trust (resolution 139-26) intended to increase affordable rental and ownership housing countywide; procurement staff said the funds come from the permissive conveyance fee. The vote was recorded with Commissioner Boyce abstaining.
On homelessness, resolution 140-26 authorized $6,260,364 to the Community Shelter Board to support emergency shelter services, permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, prevention and winter warming centers. Adam Rowan of the Community Shelter Board described the allocation as foundational to the local homeless response system.
The board approved $300,000 to Legal Aid of Southeastern and Central Ohio for the Tenant Advocacy Project (resolution 141-26). Kate McGarvey, Legal Aid’s executive director, said eviction representation markedly increases tenants’ chances of remaining housed and cited the Stout report and program outcomes: TAP served 1,539 clients in 2025, with 62% identifying as Black and an average of 2.3 children per household among those served.
Several grants and subgrants for juvenile justice, opioid-settlement programming and workforce activities were also approved (see actions). Where recorded, votes were unanimous; in several funding votes Commissioner Boyce was recorded as abstaining. These approvals follow staff presentations that included service counts, proposed deliverables and timeline expectations; most actions provide for regular reporting or specified project periods.
What happens next: County staff and partner organizations will carry out program work under the terms of the grant agreements and return to the board as required for reporting and future budget considerations.
