LVL With Us

For the first episode of season 2 and the new year, I am joined by Twyla Wellmaker, outreach and youth system manager at the Community Shelter Board, and Steve Skovensky, their chief program effectiveness officer. Together they were able to give me a broad view of our unhoused and unsheltered, who they are, the factors contributing to their homelessness, and what can be done by the city, and by us as individuals, to help those experiencing homelessness. Join us in February for a deeper dive on youth homelessness, its causes and factors, and potential solutions.Sources for this episode:https://www.csb.org/news-and-publications/publicationsRegister for Community Shelter Board's point-in-time count:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNy_nRVNOMnjRpcbjq7uEYe3zQRodbghezmPP9eUwXioPaYg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0Learn how to get involved with Homeport:https://www.homeportohio.org/action/volunteer

Today I am with Vincent Coleman, government affairs director with Columbus REALTORS, to discuss the state of our housing market, how recent election results will impact it, and the policies being considered on the local, state, and federal levels. Sources:https://www.npr.org/2024/10/08/nx-s1-5134070/have-trumps-opportunity-zones-achieved-their-goal-in-detroithttps://www.columbusrealtors.com/housing-reports/https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/ohio/columbus

There’s a new Central Ohio Transit Authority (or COTA) levy coming up on the November ballot this year that, if passed, will transform Central Ohio’s transportation network: it's called LinkUs. Here on LVL With Us for episode 11 Aslyne Rodriguez, senior director of regional strategic partnerships at COTA, as well as Gayle Saunders of the LinkUs engagement team. Together, they share more about what LinkUs is, how the city, county, and COTA have collaborated to bring it to life, and what it could accomplish if voters give their support.

For today’s episode, I’m excited to welcome Lark Mallory, former president and CEO of Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County and founder of the new Mallory Economic Development Advisors LLC. Lark is also the honoree for our 10th annual Voice & Vision celebration, taking place on October 16 at COSI this year. The theme for our event this year is “building for an equitable future,” and we knew there was no one who exemplifies that idea better than Lark Mallory.In this episode we take a look at her accomplishments at AHT, hear her insight on Central Ohio’s growth, and talk about the steps we need to take to build for a more equitable future.Learn more about Voice & Vision 2024: https://www.homeportohio.org/voiceandvision

In part two of our conversation, we welcome back Catherine Girves and Tobi Otulana of Toole Design Group, as well as Leah Evans, Homeport president and CEO. Together, we explore how we can use the data we gather to inform a more collaborative response that crosses jurisdictional lines and answers our growing community’s present and future needs.

The City has released some proposed changes to Columbus' 70-year-old zoning code, looking to increase density in our urban core, enable construction of taller buildings, and reuse older buildings. The changes have a projected outcome of 88,000 new units of housing, a big step toward addressing our housing shortage and preparing for an unforeseen population increase. With Erin Prosser, Deputy Director of Housing Strategies, we take a closer look at the zoning code and what it could mean for the growth of our region.Sources: https://cohhio.org/report-ohios-affordable-housing-gap-shrinks-slightly/ https://columbusunderground.com/two-mile-bike-and-pedestrian-loop-planned-for-downtown-bw1/https://columbusunderground.com/cota-board-votes-to-advance-linkus-transit-plans-bw1/https://columbusunderground.com/mayor-says-linkus-transit-vote-planned-for-fall-2024-bw1/https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/real-estate/2024/03/12/columbus-home-building-fell-to-five-year-low-despite-shortage/72931508007/https://www.ahaco.org/findinghomehttps://cohhio.org/report-ohios-affordable-housing-gap-shrinks-slightly/ Link to Zone-In website: https://zone-in-columbus.hub.arcgis.com/

From workforce shortages to stagnating government funding to worker burnout, the nonprofit sector has its share of challenges meeting the increasing demand for services in the last four years. Individuals and families are trying to navigate the continuously rising cost of living and the aftermath of the pandemic, and nonprofits are doing what they can with what they have to lend support.We sat down with Michael Corey, CEO of the Human Service Chamber, and Jill Guinan, Resident Services Program Manager for Homeport. Together, they provide the full scope of the issue, from the individuals in need of help, to the systems in place governing the movement of resources and funding.

In this episode, we sat down with Carlie Boos, president and CEO of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (AHACO), and Leah F. Evans, president and CEO of Homeport. Together, we discussed what affordable housing is, the challenges to creating more of it, and the solutions organizations like AHACO and Homeport are bringing to the table.LVL With Us is recorded, edited, and produced by Lauren Sega, Homeport's Manager of Communications. For more information about Homeport, or to support our mission, visit us at homeportohio.org.Sources include:https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/09/05/columbus-officials-say-expected-population-surge-and-housing-shortage-driving-zoning-changes/70646477007/https://www.ahaco.org/tools