Our Work - Home

Creating Safe Homes and Vibrant Neighborhoods

Safe homes and vibrant neighborhoods are at the heart of our community’s ability to thrive. Children who have stable homes are more likely to do well in school. Neighborhoods with residents who are engaged with each other are able to reduce violent crime and dropout rates. And in the wake of recent hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and terrorist threats, the security of central Ohio in general is more important than ever.

United Way of Central Ohio is focusing on the issues of home in three ways: ensuring that all citizens have decent housing; creating safer neighborhoods and preparing central Ohio to respond in the event of a community emergency.

Our Goal:

The community is prepared to respond to disasters and emergencies in a coordinated and comprehensive way.

Our Challenges:

Ohio met only half of the 10 indicators related to protecting the public from pandemic disease, disaster or bioterrorism.

Our Solutions:

United Way is partnering with local and federal government and other health and human service organizations to ensure that central Ohio is prepared for any future threat.

Our Goal:

For people to live in safe and decent housing.

Our Challenges:

Columbus lacks affordable housing: In 2004, there was a gap of 17,000 rental units affordable to low income households.

Central Ohio’s emergency shelters are still in high demand: Approximately 7,000 people utilized shelters last year, including 2,500 children.

Eviction rates continue to rise: In Franklin County, nearly 20,000 eviction cases were filed for rental properties in 2005, a 14% increase over 2003.

Our Solutions:

United Way is working to provide permanent affordable housing to low-income families and individuals by funding programs which create new, affordable housing. United Way has partnered with the Columbus Shelter Board to support Rebuilding Lives, an initiative that has created 800 units of permanent, supportive housing to end the cycle of homelessness for the chronically homeless. Since the launch of Rebuilding Lives, admissions to Columbus’ emergency homeless shelters have decreased by 20%.

Our Goal:

30% Reduction in crime in the five priority neighborhoods by 2018

Our Challenges:

Violent crime is increasing. From 2004-2005, the number of violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery) in the city of Columbus increased to more than 6,000 incidents. Most of the 4,500 vacant and abandoned properties in Columbus are found in older central city neighborhoods. Columbus is hollowing out. The inner ring lost nearly 10% of its population during the 1990s, while the outer ring grew by 41%.

Our Strategies:

United Way is committed to working with and advocating for neighborhood residents to increase safety within the city of Columbus. In 2008, United Way awarded 53 grants totaling 0,500 for neighborhood improvement projects, engaging over 1,500 volunteers in community-based projects. In 2007, United Way’s Neighborhood Training Academy completed 67 trainings for 739 participants on topics ranging from urban gardening to crime prevention strategies.