Athens County Housing Coalition

Diane Pfaff, LISW, Planner

Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board Serving Athens, Hocking & Vinton Counties

Athens County

Population: 62,000

Athens County has the highest poverty rate in Ohio—27.4% are at or below the poverty line

Nearly half (48%) are working poor or in poverty

Challenges

•Homeless are Hidden

•Lack of affordable housing in the cities

•Rural Housing stock in poor condition

•No paid staff for Housing Coalition

•Athens City dominates

•Scale

Strengths:

•Supportive Community

•Service Options

•History of Coordination

•Ohio University

•Appalachia

Athens County Housing Coalition

•Began with a Shelter Plus Care Grant in 1998

•Meeting regularly since 2003

•Has brought in over 1.5 million in housing resources over the past ten years

Osteopathic Heritage Foundation

•Comprehensive PlanningComing Home

The Athens County Plan to End Homelessness

•New People to the Table

•Renewed Energy

•New Initiatives