OHIO — As rent prices continue to rise, the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio is aiming to call on political leaders for funds to build new housing options.

What You Need To Know

  • Over the last two years, rent has increased by 21.4%, according to Apartment List

  • The U.S. Census Bureau says over 100,000 Ohioans have seen their rent increase by more than $250 in the last year

  • You have to make over $35,000 a year in Ohio to have a decent two-bedroom apartment, according to the 2022 Out of Reach report

Making minimum wage while working a full-time job isn’t enough to be able to afford even a modest two-bedroom apartment said Amy Riegel, Executive Director for the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio.

“There's not even a place where you could afford a one-bedroom apartment,” said Riegel. “The wage in order to afford a modest apartment in the state of Ohio is $17.05.”

While that’s the case now, those in the industry believe that number could change significantly. 

Those in urban and suburban areas are seeing higher housing wages as people who may make more money choose to skip buying a home and rent luxury apartments instead, especially in places like Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland explained Riegel.

She said in rural areas, the gap between rent and wages is bigger. The wage that a person earns traditionally is lower, making the gap more significant.

Therefore, COHHIO is calling on Gov. Mike DeWine and legislators to provide “funding to help build more housing," according to Riegel. 

"What we know is these prices are going up due to the scarcity of units," said Riegel. "So we need to build more housing now. And so an investment of the recovery dollars that came during the pandemic into housing is critical and we must do that now."