Housing
Having one’s own home — whether it is an apartment, a furnished room, or a house — is the cornerstone of independence for people. Obtaining independent housing with access to services in the community is a primary goal and value shared by people with mental illnesses. When they have stable, permanent housing, they have the opportunity to achieve other important life goals, including improved health, education, job training and employment (Source: NAMI Housing Toolkit). The Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) is committed to ensuring that an array of safe, decent and affordable housing options are available for Ohioans experiencing mental illness.
Especially for Consumers
Consumer Housing Information
This document, published by ODMH, contains the answers to various questions that consumers may have regarding housing.
Ohio Housing Locator
Visit the Ohio Housing Locator to search for affordable, accessible rental housing located throughout the state.
NAMI Housing Toolkit
Published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), this toolkit provides information to help the public mental health community meet the housing needs of people with mental illnesses.
ODMH Housing and Homeless Resources
Adult Care Facility (ACF) Grants
The Ohio General Assembly awards ODMH with general revenue funds to distribute to ACFs for capital improvements. These grants can not exceed $30,000. For more information, contact Deborah Givens, (614) 466-1323 or visit our ACF Grants page.
Community Capital for Housing
In even state fiscal years, ODMH receives community capital funds that can be used for capital costs related to housing. ODMH partners with boards, who in accordance with their local capital plans, can use these funds to purchase, renovate and/or construct housing for people with mental illness and their families. ODMH can participate up to 75% of the total cost of a housing project and places a forgivable mortgage on each capital project. For more information, contact Jeannette Welsh, (614) 466-5157.
Housing Assistance Program (HAP)
HAP assists people with mental illness obtain permanent community housing. Often, it takes the form of a short-term subsidy for rental housing. It can also take the form of a loan for start-up costs related to housing; therefore, HAP can be used to support home ownership. Local alcohol, drug addition and mental health (ADAMH) boards contract with a local provider to administer the HAP program. For more information, contact Mario DeSantis, (614) 466-1204.
Match Funding for Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) Homeless Assistance Grant
ODMH offers match funding to local providers applying to ODOD for direct housing, permanent supportive housing and transitional housing, through the Homeless Assistance Grant. To qualify for ODMH match money, the program must target people with severe mental illness and must have local mental health board support. Due to funding limitations, applicants can not request more than one-half of the ODOD local match requirement and no applicant can receive greater than $50,000 in match funding. For more information, contact Jeannette Welsh, (614) 466-5157.
- Memo regarding match funds for ODOD 2009 Homeless Assistance Grant
- Pre-application for ODMH local match funding
Match Funding for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) Grant
ODMH offers match funding for HUD CoC programs with capital costs up to $300,000. To qualify for ODMH match money, the program must target people with severe mental illness and must have local mental health board support. Additionally, all such requests must be written into the local mental health board’s capital plan for the biennium in which the funding is being requested. For more information, contact Jeannette Welsh, (614) 466-5157.
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
ODMH administers the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) PATH program - a formula grant program that seeks to eliminate homelessness for people with serious mental illness by connecting people otherwise unknown to the mental health system to mental health services. Twelve counties in Ohio have PATH programs that provide outreach services to this population. Most PATH programs are located in urban communities within the state. For more information, contact Deborah Givens, (614) 466-1323.
Links Related to Housing and Homelessness
Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio
Statewide policy and advocacy organization; training and technical assistance provider.
Corporation for Supportive Housing
National policy and advocacy organization; training and technical assistance provider; funding available for supportive housing.
Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati
FHLBank plays an important role in supporting the affordable housing and economic development initiatives of member institutions and community lending partners throughout the fifth district - Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee; funding available in the form of discounted loans and grants.
National Alliance to End Homelessness
National homeless policy and advocacy organization.
National Low-Income Housing Coalition
National affordable housing policy and advocacy organization.
Ohio Department of Development
The Office of Housing and Community Partnerships (OHCP) provides financial and technical assistance to units of local government and nonprofit organizations in Ohio for project activities that benefit low- and moderate-income citizens.
Ohio Housing Finance Agency
Offers affordable housing opportunities for Ohioans, including first-time homebuyers, renters, senior citizens and other populations with special needs who otherwise might not be able to afford quality housing.
U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Offers a multitude of homelessness and housing programs.
Housing and Homelessness and the Transformation State Incentive Grant
The Interagency Council on Homelessness and Affordable Housing, a multi-system Content Working Group of the Transformation State Incentive Grant, is charged with creating a plan to both prevent and end homelessness. Its mission statement is that “Homelessness will not be an Ohio experience." Through increased collaboration and coordination, the council aims to improve the availability of homeless and housing resources, improve discharge planning for people leaving state institutions and hospitals, improve planning for youth leaving foster care, further the state’s work around Olmstead planning and eliminate barriers to mainstream resources.
For more information, visit the Transformation State Incentive Grant page.