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Notice/Advertisement Title: Housing, Homelessness, and Building Committee Budget Hearing Minutes
Contact Name: Jessica Clinger
Contact Telephone Number: 614-645-6354
Contact Email Address: Jnclinger@columbus.gov
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Columbus City Council
Housing, Homelessness, and Building Committee Hearing Minutes
Hosted by Council President Hardin and Councilmember Tiara Ross
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 5:30pm
Call to order: 5:32pm
In attendance: Council President Shannon Hardin, Councilmember Tiara Ross, Councilmember Nancy Day-Achauer, Councilmember Nick Bankston, Director Scott Messer, Deputy Director Hannah Jones, Deputy Director Erin Prosser, Mercedes Wiley, Mark Carter, Shannon Isom, Carlie Boos, Ian Labitue, Shelley Whalen, Mindy Justis, Glen Tuomaala, Niel Jurist, and Graham Bowman.
- Council President Hardin welcome and introduction. Council President Hardin discussed the nature of the housing market in Columbus and housing instability including homelessness. Discussed Council actions to protect tenants, zoning reform and voters approved affordable bond package.
- Councilmember Ross - Introduction, need to have an honest, transparent and tough conversation about our housing market and crisis. Housing is the foundation of safety. I am concerned about resources for housing. Want to understand needs and capacity of Departments.
- Deputy Director Hannah Jones - Presentation on budget for the Department. Budget is divided between the housing stability division and housing division. Department aim to maintain and build new units of housing. Impact of capital dollars and federal dollars. Need staff to deploy funding. $22M operating fund budget that leverages more than $100M in other funds.
- Deputy Director Prosser - our overall approach is to address the whole spectrum of needs. Rent or mortgage payment. Families are experiencing less choice due to our housing crisis. There is housing scarcity. Limit ability to when families pay more than 30% of their incom...
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