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COLUMBUS

Clearing the Path to Homeownership

Dominique Wallace never imagined how far $462 could take her. In March of 2001, she moved from a low-income apartment to a two-story house complete with a garage, three bedrooms, natural woodwork, and—most important—a mortgage.

Wallace, a single mother with a five-year-old son, is among the growing number of low- and moderate-income Columbus, Ohio, residents to become homeowners with assistance from the Columbus Housing Partnership. The private, nonprofit organization added $1,900 to Wallace’s $462 contribution, enough to qualify her for a fixed-rate mortgage on a $63,000 home on the city’s West Side.

Established in 1987, the Columbus Housing Partnership has joined with businesses, government entities, faith-based organizations, and not- for-profit organizations such as The Enterprise Foundation and is committed to providing quality, affordable housing to low and moderate income families in the Columbus area. CHP was the first orgainzation in Columbus to receive Living Cities money through Enterprise.It has become one the largest producers of affordable housing in central Ohio, assisting 2,500 families pursuing rental or homeownership opportunities, down payment assistance, and housing counseling as well as increasing the Columbus housing market by over 3,200 affordable homes.

As advocates for affordable housing, leaders at the Columbus Housing Partnership understand that often the main obstacle to homeownership isn’t money—but misinformation. That’s why this past October, the group launched the Let the Truth Move You program, which aims to educate low- and middle-income people about possibilities for owning a home. Supported by $25,000 in investment from mortgage lender Freddie Mac, the program sponsors informational classes as well as public-service announcements on minority radio stations. Brochures, including some in Spanish, are distributed throughout the city.

“It’s no walk in the park, but it’s doable,” says Walker of her mortgage payments. “And it’s worth it. I wanted to get up on my own two feet. I wanted a home.”

For the past 15 years, the Columbus Housing Partnership (CHP) has improved the quality of life and physical condition of its communities and addressed the underlying social and economic needs facing individuals and families by helping thousands buy or rent affordable homes and adding over 3,200 affordable homes to the Columbus housing market.