COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released its annual homelessness assessment report, showing homelessness is on the rise across Ohio and is above the national average.
Carlie Boos, who serves as the executive director of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, noted homelessness is directly linked to housing policy. Boos explained the report shows instability for many in the community and that there is a solution.
“The number of people who woke up in a homeless shelter this morning, took a shower and got dressed and went to work will shock you,” Boos said. “What concerns me about homelessness besides the humanitarian element, is the fact that this is going to become and probably already is a hindrance for our economic development.”
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The HUD department’s report shows that more than 12,000 Ohioans were homeless on one night in January 2025. Over the past year, homelessness in Ohio increased by 3.7% while it decreased nationally by 3.3%…