Housing Resource Guide

The Housing Resource Guide offers the following information:

Resources for Ohioans Housing Data Resources

Key Housing Terms Affordable Housing Programs

A safe, affordable place to live is an essential part of a strong quality of life. The state of Ohio has many resources to help its residents access housing. It also has resources for communities that want to improve or increase access to housing in their areas. The information below provides an overview of the state resources and links to additional information about each program.

All programs listed may include additional, program-specific eligibility criteria that applicants must meet to qualify for services, programs, and supports. For example, recovery housing residences are designed to support individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. While these programs may serve individuals who also have a mental illness, eligibility and service capacity will vary by program. Additionally, definitions of "homelessness" differ among programs, and certain criteria may exclude individuals based on their specific circumstances or living situations.

This resource guide was developed in collaboration with the Housing Committee of the Attorney General's Task Force on Mental Illness and Criminal Justice.

Resources for Ohioans

Resources for Ohioans in need are provided below, including extremely low-income individuals suffering from severe and persistent illness and justice system involvement.

Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS): a free service that provides immediate help for youth aged 20 and under who are experiencing overwhelming mental, emotional, or behavioral distress or trauma that is impacting their ability to function within their family, school, or community.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: provides access to free, quality, one-on-one assistance from counselors. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, 988 counselors are here for you.

Ohio Housing Locator: This is a free, statewide service. List and search for Ohio rental housing, including units that are affordable, accessible, serve seniors, lead safe, and more. For help searching or listing, call 1-877-428-8844 (toll free) Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Dial 7-1-1 for TTY.

Adult Care Facilities Housing Locator: operated by the Ohio Adult Care Facilities Association, this housing locator can help those living with severe and persistent mental illness find housing throughout the state of Ohio.

Recovery Housing Locator: allows Ohioans to search a list of recovery housing residences in Ohio that are accredited or actively engaged in efforts to obtain the needed accreditation. Individuals can search by city, zip code, county, property name, and population served. Ohio defines recovery housing as housing for individuals recovering from drug addiction that provides an alcohol and drug-free living environment, peer support, assistance with obtaining drug addiction services and other drug addiction recovery assistance.

Housing Services and Resources by County: operated by Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, this database provides resources including hotlines and homeless services by county.

Residential State Supplement: administered by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, it provides financial and Medicaid assistance to adults with disabilities who want to live in the community. People who enroll in RSS have increased needs, but do not require long-term care in an institution, such as a nursing home or hospital. Enrollees combine the RSS benefit with their income to pay the monthly Allowable Fee (or "rent") to eligible living arrangements in the community, i.e., Class Two Residential Facilities (RF2's). RSS helps people by supporting sustainable, person-centered transitions so they can live and recover within integrated communities.

U.S Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Resources: provides links to federal programs to help with homeownership, finding an affordable place to live, finding a HUD-certified counselor, and more.

Ohio 811 Program: administered by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) allows extremely low-income households comprised of one or more adults with a disability to live in an integrated setting through rental subsidy and access to supportive services. Contact County Developmental Disability Boards to be connected to a referral agent. Applicants must work with an approved referral agent to be placed into a participating project. The process could take several months for a vacant unit to become available.

Ohio 211: connects residents to food, housing, utilities, health care, and other community resources. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

County Community Action Agencies: provide Ohioans with the tools they need to move from poverty to self-sufficiency. Depending on the needs in the counties it serves, a community action agency can provide resources for food assistance, education, workforce training, and housing.

County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board Locator

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Reentry Resources

Upon release, formerly incarcerated individuals can use a variety of state, county, and local programs to aid their transition.

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction, Office of Reentry connects individuals with communities, programs, and services to help them reintegrate into their community. The website has a variety of resources, including housing.

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Housing Data Resources for Community and Government Leaders

Ohio Department of Behavioral Health

Crisis Services Dashboard – provides data for community and government leaders on the crisis services provided by county. This information is for community planning purposes and not for finding a crisis provider.

Ohio Housing Finance Agency

Ohio Housing Needs Assessments – use a wide range of data to identify the scope and scale of Ohio's Housing Challenges. A statewide assessment as well as regional assessments are available on the Ohio Housing Finance Agency's website.

Ohio Housing Data Insights – uses a mix of data sources to monitor trends and analyze key metrics in Ohio's housing market. Data is updated on a quarterly basis and can be found on the Ohio Housing Finance Agency's website.

Ohio Affordable Housing Development Map – includes all developments the Ohio Housing Finance Agency has financially supported. The map is available on the Ohio Housing Finance Agency's website. The data can be filtered by funding year, legislative district, municipality, school district, development type, or award category.

Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO)

National Low-Income Housing Coalition Gap Report – provides information on the number of affordable housing units available to renters in the United States. Data can be reviewed by state and county. A link to the report can be found on COHHIO's website.

HUD-HMIS Data – is available to the Continuum of Care organizations and provides the annual point in time homelessness count data from HUD.

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Key Housing Terms

Emergency Shelter – an immediate, temporary housing facility for individuals and families in crisis. It is designed to provide a safe refuge, protecting occupants from adverse environmental conditions or physical violence, and offer short-term stabilization.

Transitional Housing – temporary housing with supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness with the goal of interim stability and support to successfully move to and maintain permanent housing. Transitional Housing developments can cover housing costs and accompanying supportive services for program participants for up to 24 months.

Residential Facility Class 2, also known as Adult Care Facility – a congregate or shared living setting that includes room, board, and personal care as part of resident fees. Depending on a resident's level of functioning and personal care needs, this setting may have 24/7 staffing, and assistance with activities of daily living. Services are included and delivered as defined by license. Residential Care facilities are licensed by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, and may be operated by private owner or provider agency. They may or may not be long term, more permanent housing depending on level of care needed for the individual. This type of housing is not subject to tenant landlord law but does require a resident agreement.

Recovery Housing – a residence for individuals recovery form alcohol use disorder or drug addiction that provides an alcohol-free and drug-free living environment, peer support, assistance with obtaining alcohol and drug addiction services, and other recovery assistance for alcohol use disorder and drug addiction as specified under Ohio law (O.R.C. 5119.01)

Permanent Supportive Housing – permanent housing in which housing assistance (e.g., long-term leasing or rental assistance) and supportive services are provided to assist households with at least one member (adult or child) with a disability in achieving housing stability.

Public Housing – government-subsidized rental housing provided to income-eligible families, the elderly, and people with disabilities. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and managed locally by Public Housing Authorities (PHAs). A significant number of public housing developments in Ohio have been redeveloped and converted into LIHTC developments or other uses. Tenant rents are based on the household incomes as determined by the PHA.

Project-based Section 8 Housing – government-subsidized rental housing provided to extremely low-income families and individuals. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Unlike Public Housing, is owned and managed locally by private landlords. Residents pay only 30% of their monthly income on rent and the remainder of the rent is subsidized through the federal assistance. No new contracts have been awarded since 1983.

Section 202 Housing – is government-subsidized rental housing that serves eligible low-income older adults age 62 years or older. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is owned and managed locally by private landlords. Residents pay only 30% of their monthly income on rent and the remainder of the rent is subsidized through the federal assistance.

Section 811 Housing – Prior to the 811 program's conversion into a project-based rental assistance program, the program provided grants for the construction of subsidized housing for people with extremely low incomes and a disability.

USDA Rural Development 515 Subsidized Housing – is a low-interest loan program designed to finance affordable rental housing for persons with extremely low-incomes in eligible rural areas. Some of the projects also received rental assistance to assist persons with extremely low-incomes who would only need to pay 30% of their monthly income for rent. Currently the program is focusing on preserving existing properties instead of funding for new projects.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Financed Housing – is housing for individuals at or below 60% of the County Area Median Income that has been financially supported through an allocation of either 4% or 9%. Housing developments that receive LIHTC funding have 30-year income and rent restrictions. Unless there is a source of rental assistance provided, residents are required to pay rent based on percentage of the annual median income for the county. These properties must accept Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher holders. The LIHTC programs are administered by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.

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Affordable Housing Programs

These programs serve individuals with extremely low incomes including those with severe and persistent mental illness with justice system involvement.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers provides assistance to eligible low- and moderate-income families to rent housing in the private market from approved landlords. Eligibility for this program is based on a family's gross annual income and family size. Generally, families with a Housing Choice Voucher pay 30 percent of their adjusted monthly income towards their rent. This payment to the owner is known as the Housing Assistance Payment. This program is managed by local Public Housing Authorities, which receive funding from HUD to pay the cost of the vouchers.

People seeking assistance must complete the application process with the local Public Housing Authority in the area in which they want to live.
Demand for the vouchers often exceeds the funding available and many PHAs have waiting lists and accept applications during limited windows of time.

Project-based Section 8 Assistance Project – provides rental assistance from HUD to a specific rental property. It covers the operating costs for the property and reduces the amount of rent need to be paid out of pocket by eligible households with very low incomes.

The assistance is tied to a property, unlike the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher.

Continuum of Care (CoC) Grant Program – The CoC Program is a competitive grant program provided through HUD that is designed to promote community-wide planning and strategic use of resources to address homelessness; improve coordination and integration with mainstream resources and other programs targeted to people experiencing homelessness; improve data collection and performance measurement; and allow each community to tailor its programs to the strengths and challenges in assisting homeless individuals and families within that community.

Grant funds can be used for the development costs of new housing, operating expenses, and supportive services costs. In 2025, HUD policy changed to favor transitional housing and a "services first" model over Permanent Support Housing and a "housing first" model.
This program is the federal government's signature program to address homelessness in the country, and is generally made available on an annual basis depending on funding from Congress for the fiscal year.

Rural Development 515 is a low-interest loan program designed to finance affordable rental housing for persons with very low incomes in eligible rural areas.

The properties are owned and operated by private landlords.
Some of the projects also received rental assistance to assist persons with extremely low-incomes who would only need to pay 30% of their monthly income for rent. After 1990 the focus of the program changed to preserving existing 515 properties in lieu of financing new loans and projects.

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Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) Programs

The Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF) is a flexible state funding source that provides affordable housing opportunities, expands housing services, and improves housing conditions for low-income Ohioans and families. The OHTF supports a wide range of housing activities, including housing development, emergency home repair, handicapped accessibility modifications, and services related to housing and homelessness. In addition, OHTF dollars may be used for predevelopment costs, rental assistance, housing counseling, rehabilitation, and new construction.

A broad range of organizations are eligible to apply for OHTF funding, including local governments, housing authorities, nonprofit organizations, private developers and private lenders.
OHTF dollars are allocated based on recommendations by a seven-member advisory committee representing various sectors of the housing and lending industry and local governments.

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Ohio Housing Trust Fund Programs

Homeless Crisis Response Program:

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, local governments, public housing authorities and consortia of eligible applicants that are currently funded through the HCRP.
Requests for funding must be for project-based emergency shelters, homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing activities that meet the housing needs of homeless families and individuals.

Supportive Housing Program:

Eligible applicants may include nonprofit agencies, units of local government, and public housing authorities that provide transitional housing to homeless persons and permanent supportive housing for homeless disabled persons.
Provides funding for operations (and limited funding for services) in permanent supportive housing and facility-based transitional housing programs.

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ODOD HUD-funded Programs

HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) provides grants to states and local governments to create affordable housing for low-income households. In Ohio, the funding is used in the Community Housing Impact Preservation Program (administered by the ODOD) and the Housing Development Assistance Program (administered by OHFA). Some cities and counties in Ohio receive this funding directly from HUD because they are considered a participating jurisdiction.

Recovery Housing Program provides funding to local ADAMH boards to provide stable, transitional housing for individual in recovery. The funding covers a period of not more than two years or until the individual secures permanent housing.

Disaster Recovery Program is a component of Community Development Block Grant funding that may be appropriated by Congress to address the needs of disaster-stricken areas. The funding helps cities, counties, and states recover from presidentially declared disasters. Funding is restricted to the communities included in the declaration.

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OHFA Programs

Housing Development Assistance Program (HDAP): provides gap financing for the development of new and preservation of existing affordable rental housing for low- to moderate-income households. Generally, this program is used in combination with LIHTC to create deeper rent and income targeted units, some of which could be permanent supportive housing.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC): are federal tax credits allocated and administered by OHFA to incentivize the use of private capital for the construction and preservation of affordable rental housing, some of which could be permanent supportive housing. There are two types of credit: 9% (competitive) and 4% (non-competitive). LIHTC allocations can be combined with Project-based Section 8, HUD 202, and RD515 funding.

Ohio Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Ohio LIHTC): is a state income tax credit that is administered by OHFA and used in conjunction with the federal 4% LIHTC to increase the number of newly constructed affordable rental communities. The program rules mirror those for the federal LIHTC. The program began in July 2023 and will sunset June 30, 2027.

National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF): is allocated to the Ohio Department of Development and then administered by OHFA. The annual allocation is granted to State of Ohio from HUD, and used to finance the development and rehabilitation of affordable rental properties.

Ohio 811: is a competitive grant program provided to the state of Ohio from HUD that provides rental assistance to individuals with extremely low-income and a disability to support independent living. The rental units are located in LIHTC properties. OHFA in collaboration with the Ohio Departments of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Medicaid received awards from HUD and allocates the rental contracts through the Ohio 811 Program. Mental Illness is an eligible disability. Applicants must work with an approved referral agent to be placed into a participating project.

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Ohio Department of Behavioral Health Programs

Residential State Supplement (RSS): is a state-funded program that provides financial and Medicaid assistance to adults with disabilities who wish to live in the community. Enrollees combine the RSS benefit with their income paying the monthly Allowable Fee (or "rent") to eligible living arrangements in the community, i.e., Class Two Residential Facilities. (RF2's). Individuals who enroll in RSS have increased needs, but do not require long-term care in an institution, such as a nursing home or hospital.

Landlord Mitigation Claims Fund: aims to retain existing landlords and operates like an insurance program for eligible landlords who rent to individuals and families with long histories of criminal justice involvement, have poor rental histories, and have mental illness and/or substance use disorder. Eligible landlords can contact participating county representatives to submit Landlord Mitigation claims and request approval for reimbursement of damages caused by the program's target population. In SFY 2026, 31 ADAMH Board areas are participating in the Landlord Mitigation Program.

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Other Financial Resources

Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Cincinnati Affordable Housing Program: is a competitive grant program that provides gap financing for affordable homeownership and rental projects, including permanent supportive housing developments.

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