Residents press Cincinnati City Council to amend "Connected Communities" to protect affordable housing and prevent displacement

Dozens of residents told the Cincinnati City Council during public comment that the Connected Communities proposal must be changed to produce more deeply affordable units and block displacement.

John Calhoun, an organizer with Cincinnati Action for Housing Now, urged the council to bring citizen working‑group recommendations to a vote, specifically asking for mandatory inclusionary zoning and anti‑displacement policies. "Without mandatory inclusion and anti displacement policies, Connected Communities is a handout to developers," Calhoun said.

The demand for stronger protections was echoed across speakers with lived experience and neighborhood organizers. "We need Connected Communities to prohibit displacement that traumatizes families," said Jesse Heizer, an organizer with Cincinnati Undivided, who asked the council to require units at 30% area median income on new projects and to strengthen stormwater and neighborhood engagement rules. Sharon Smith of Cincinnati Undivided told the council she had been told that "over 2,000 children in our city are homeless," and urged immediate action on the working‑group recommendations.

Several residents described daily harm they link to the housing shortage. A 74‑year‑old grandmother told council members she and her grandchild are homeless after rents more than doubled, and Dahlia Gulley, a Vinebrook Home resident, said mold and repeated $500 court fees while on unpaid medical leave forced her out of work and remain unaddressed by management. "We as citizens deserve dignified housing and accountability," Gulley said.

Public‑safety concerns were raised alongside housing arguments. Susan Bills, speaking for Price Hill residents, asked the city to continue overtime foot patrols and warned that moving probation officers to a new address would lengthen response times. West Price Hill resident Landon Smith detailed alleged long‑term prostitution and an Oct. 7 kidnapping involving a minor and asked council to give police more manpower to stop recurring harm.

Speakers representing faith and neighborhood coalitions — including Danny Burrage of the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition and representatives from Communities United for Action — urged council to use available funding creatively to build housing and reduce homelessness. Pomona White, who identifies as having lived experience of homelessness, called for leadership accountability and community‑led responses.

A handful of commenters linked municipal decisions to foreign policy and called for divestment from entities they said support violence abroad; those speakers framed divestment as part of a broader request that city investments reflect community values.

The public comment period closed after roughly 30 speakers. Council members did not vote on Connected Communities at this meeting; the council moved into the business portion of the agenda following the comment period.