This morning, the commissioners approved a $60,700 contract with a local public relations firm to create a communications plan and effort to educate Franklin County residents about resources that are available to them if they’re struggling to pay their rent or mortgage. The commissioners invest more than $23 million in affordable housing and other homelessness prevention efforts each year, and in the past year and a half, they’ve added millions more in eviction and foreclosure prevention supports.
Even before the pandemic, the housing market in Central Ohio was tight, with many residents struggling to find or afford a safe, stable place to live close to jobs, schools, shopping, transportation, and other amenities. The pandemic has only made it harder for many Franklin County families to afford their rent or mortgages, and recovery will take years for some families. Help is available, however, and the commissioners have invested millions in rental and mortgage assistance, legal aid to tenants, for tenant/landlord mediation, to assist Columbus State Community College students, and more. This contract will support a communications plan to include a new website, social and traditional media, and other efforts all aimed at connecting struggling residents with the supports that are available to them.
This funding is being made available with funds from the American Rescue Plan. You can read the full text of the resolution
here and learn more about how the commissioners are using the American Rescue Plan to help our community recover from the pandemic and its economic effects at
Recovery.FranklinCountyOhio.gov.