Toledo, Ohio – The affordable housing crisis continues to be a pressing issue in Toledo, mirroring a broader national trend. Local leaders are sounding alarms over the growing number of individuals and families struggling to secure safe and affordable housing, with many calling it a looming housing crisis.
“We are in the middle of what I would consider a housing crisis,” said Toledo City Council Member Nick Komives. “We are on the brink of a real unhoused problem that could be quite pervasive, and something has to be done about it.”
The need for action is supported by data from the United Way of Greater Toledo, which reveals that 40% of individuals who contacted the organization’s 211 service this year were seeking help with housing and shelter needs. This statistic underscores the urgent demand for resources to assist the city’s unhoused population.
Local organizations, including shelters, food pantries, and affordable housing units, are working tirelessly to address the needs of Toledo’s most vulnerable. However, city leaders argue that these efforts need additional funding and support to meet the growing demand.
“How do we get our state lawmakers to consider the proper funding to make sure that cities can actually house the people that live there?” Komives questioned during a recent council meeting.
In an effort to address these concerns, five Toledo City Council members—Komives, Carrie Hartman, Adam Martinez, Dr. Brittany Jones, and Theresa Morris—presented a resolution in support of the “Home Matters to Ohio” platform. This initiative, spearheaded by affordable housing advocates and business leaders, calls on state lawmakers to prioritize the development and preservation of affordable housing throughout Ohio.
The resolution, which had its first reading on Tuesday, aims to send a message to state leaders that more support is needed. Council President Hartman shared her hope that Toledo’s resolution would inspire similar efforts in other Ohio cities. She noted that Cincinnati’s City Council is already considering a similar resolution, and Hartman believes that if the four largest cities in Ohio push for the cause, the state may take more significant action.
“With the idea that perhaps if the four largest cities are asking for this, then the state will pay a little more attention,” Hartman stated.
The call for additional funding is especially important given the uncertainty surrounding federal housing support. With President Donald Trump’s executive order to pause federal funding currently being challenged in court, Toledo’s Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding may be at risk. Hartman expressed concerns about the mixed messages coming from the federal government, further complicating efforts to address housing issues in the city.
In addition to the city council’s resolution, the Lucas County Commissioners have also thrown their support behind the Home Matters to Ohio initiative. The commissioners passed a resolution during their Tuesday meeting, further solidifying the region’s commitment to advocating for affordable housing resources.
County and city leaders are scheduled to discuss the Home Matters to Ohio platform in more detail during a press conference set for Wednesday morning in the Commissioner’s Hearing Room at One Government Center.
As Toledo grapples with its affordable housing challenges, city officials remain focused on securing additional support from both the state and federal levels to ensure that everyone in the community has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.