COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Homelessness in Franklin County is at an all-time high, but shelters say funding isn’t keeping pace. According to providers, the gap left by expired pandemic dollars, combined with years of flat funding, is putting critical services at risk.
The city of Columbus released its budget weeks ago, but the county’s budget is still pending. Together, those budgets determine how much the Community Shelter Board can distribute to local shelters. But even if funding increases, providers say it may not cover the longstanding shortfall that nonprofits have been absorbing for years.
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“The mayor’s budget, unfortunately, was close to pre-pandemic levels,” Lutheran Social Services president Rachel Lustig said.
Lutheran Social Services runs Faith Mission and CHOICES, which are two of Franklin County’s seven shelters. Its president, Rachel Lustig, said funding has been flat since 2010 and pandemic relief that temporarily helped has dried up…