Homelessness Prevention

Talk To A Professional To Stop Homelessness Before It Starts

 Attend Housing Problem Solving Training

Homelessness Prevention Network

CSB’s Homelessness Prevention Network (HPN) launched in the fall of 2020 with support from the Nationwide Foundation, Battelle, Cardinal Health, and Franklin County. This is a comprehensive approach to stabilize more families facing homelessness. The purpose was to meet families where they are, expanding the locations where families and expectant mothers at imminent risk of homelessness can be identified and supported before they need emergency shelter. HPN partners use a standardized screening protocol to identify high-risk families and immediately offer them problem-solving assistance focused on housing. The program has been highly successful in preventing homelessness.

Several stakeholders convened to reflect and build on efforts to stabilize housing for families, expectant mothers, and single adults. This included representatives from the City of Columbus, Franklin County, CSB, the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (AHACO), and key Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) implementation partners – IMPACT Community Action and COMPASS. Partners agreed in June 2023 to officially form a Central Ohio Stable Housing Network (COSHN) to provide a community-wide “network” approach to preventing evictions and homelessness and to promote housing security for all residents. CSB is a part of the COSHN core team in collaboration with the City of Columbus Department of Development and AHACO.  

Thanks to a landmark investment of ERA funding by the City of Columbus, twenty-eight central Ohio agencies now have dedicated Housing Resource Specialists in place to work with the public. These specialists engage with families, expectant mothers and single adults who are experiencing significant housing instability and at-risk of literal homelessness. Specialists provide housing problem solving, linkage for immediate needs, referrals for rental assistance, and assistance with identifying longer-term supports and resources. The goal is to reduce evictions and literal homelessness. CSB’s HPN Manager directly supports the Housing Resource Specialists with training opportunities, guidance, and resources.

Housing Problem Solving

"Housing problem solving" refers to a person-centered approach that aims to quickly resolve housing crises by exploring creative, safe, and cost-effective solutions to prevent or minimize homelessness, often by utilizing a strengths-based strategy to empower individuals to find housing options that fit their unique needs, rather than relying on standardized assessments or eligibility criteria; it focuses on actively listening to individuals and working with them to identify potential housing solutions like staying with family, returning to a previous residence, or securing new tenancy, all while leveraging community resources and support networks.