The Franklin County Board of Commissioners is partnering with the City of Columbus and many other public and nonprofit partner agencies to launch a 100-Day Challenge to accelerate efforts to prevent and end youth homelessness in Central Ohio this summer. The effort, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by A Way Home America, the Rapid Results Institute, and HomeBase aims to significantly reduce the number of youth who are homeless in our community over the next 100 days by removing barriers in providing services, connecting youth with services already available, and through innovation and experimentation.
“We know that ending youth homelessness is not going to be easy, but we welcome the challenge because it’s the right thing to do,” said Commissioner John O’Grady. “Thank you to all of our partners in this important endeavor for joining the effort, and good luck to the other four communities in this challenge.”
Franklin County-Columbus is one of five communities from across the nation to take the 100-Day Challenge, joining Baltimore (MD), Hennepin County (MN), Louisville (KY) and Palm Beach County (FL). In the fall of 2016, in the first round of 100-Day Challenge, the communities of Austin, Cleveland and Los Angeles together housed nearly 450 young people in just 100 days.
“Housing stability is one of the basic needs of every person,” said Mayor Andrew Ginther. “We must be creative in our thinking when it comes to finding ways to end homelessness for our transition-age youth in Columbus.”
“Many young people become homeless through no fault of their own, for just being themselves,” said Commissioner Marilyn Brown. “It’s critically important that we find a way to quickly rehouse these young people and connect them to services and support to help them get on a path to prosperity.”
“I look forward to the convening of our local partners and gaining the outside perspective and expertise afforded to us by accepting this challenge,” said Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce. “Ending youth homelessness is a shared priority of this board and our community, and I look forward to the progress I am sure we will make during the next 100 days.”