Columbus City Council approved a coordinated homelessness-response package that includes two related HOME-ARP ordinances and a separate $10 million affordable-housing bond allocation to the Central Ohio Community Land Trust (COCLT).

Ordinances 32-36 and 32-37 authorize HOME-ARP subrecipient contracts with Southeast Inc. and Mary Haven Inc. to create a Core Team pilot (Columbus Outreach and Resource Engagement Team). The pilot will deploy engagement specialists to expand outreach to unsheltered residents, operate seven days a week, and connect individuals to housing, physical and behavioral services. Director Stevens said the program is designed to build trust and improve connections to housing options with planned 2025–2029 funding.

Council also authorized a funding agreement of up to $10,000,000 with the Central Ohio Community Land Trust to develop permanently affordable homeownership opportunities, with the land-trust program focusing on infill and middle-housing for households at or below roughly 120% of area median income and designed to preserve affordability across future resales.

Public comment included support and suggestions for additional focus on vacant properties and long-vacant housing stock. Councilmembers praised the Core Team model as a promising, coordinated approach to outreach and supportive services.

Next steps: Departments will finalize subrecipient agreements and program operations; COCLT will work with Development and county partners to deploy funds toward identified projects and partnerships.