Since, 2009, I’ve served the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County in one capacity or another, but last year marked a pivotal milestone in my journey as I stepped into the role of President & CEO. For the last year, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to lead this organization as we grow in our mission to create and preserve affordable housing throughout Central Ohio. As I reflect on this first year, I remain inspired by our work and eager to continue this forward momentum.

Last October, AHT celebrated its 20^th anniversary with friends and community partners. We honored our commitment to increasing affordable housing by highlighting over $255 million in closed loans, and over 200 successful projects that have created or preserved more than 13,000 housing units. That work deepened this year with the Housing Action Fund approving $36 million in loans before September 30, supporting significant projects like Harriet’s Hope that will provide stable housing for survivors of human trafficking. I’m encouraged by efforts such as this that will help provide stability for some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and grateful for our investors who understand and support this work.

In addition to our traditional lending, in this first year we’ve expanded our body of work by introducing two new programs. The AHT Center for Housing Innovation Grant Program was started to support the existing housing infrastructure of our community. Grants were awarded to the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Lifecare Alliance to help support eligible homeowners for exterior and interior home repairs that address health and safety, accessibility, and code violations. Additional grants to Creative Living, Homeport, Huckleberry House and Star House were awarded to support non-production projects including site security updates, fencing replacement, ADA compliance improvements, and more.

Early in 2022, I introduced the concept of the Emerging Developers Accelerator Program as a conduit to increasing our housing supply through the cultivation of upcoming developers who are women and people of color. With the generous support of Franklin County, the City of Columbus, JP Morgan Chase, and the local development community, the EDAP officially started classroom work in September. After completing 6 months of educational courses, technical assistance, and project development, the first EDAP cohort will graduate in March 2023.

Finally, we’ve moved offices in this first year to create space for our growing staff. I’ve hired 5 new employees who are committed to our mission and making important contributions to the organization. The entire AHT team, including our Board of Trustees, shares a collective vision for increasing affordable housing in our community, and I’m proud to have each of them on board.

As I contemplate what’s next, I’m in awe of all that has been accomplished in year one. With that said, there is still great work to be done in order to influence the trajectory of housing in Central Ohio. With the expedited growth of our region, innovative affordable housing solutions must remain a top priority. I look forward to bringing to fruition new ideas and expanding our reach to ensure AHT continues to be responsive to the urgent housing needs of our region.