Housing Resources

Affordable Housing Assistance

• The Ohio Housing Finance Agency -- offers down payment assistance, career-related interest rate discounts and other loan products to make buying a home or condo easier.
• Ohio Housing Finance Agency – Down Payment Assistance -- Helps buyers with down payment and closing costs through offering of 30-year fixed rate conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA-RD government loans with wide income and purchase price limits. Designed to help homebuyers with low- and moderate-incomes.
• Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s “What to Expect Video” - Process overview: This video covers the steps that lead to homeownership when you use the Ohio Housing Finance Agency

Ohio Treasurer Financial Assistance Programs

• Ohio Homebuyer Plus - A specialized tax-advantaged savings account for Ohioans purchasing a home that benefits from an enhanced interest rate. Contributions by the homebuyer may be eligible tax deductions from the contributor's Ohio Income Tax.
• Agricultural Linked Deposit Program - Interest rate reduction on new or existing operating loans for the agricultural community.
• STABLE Account - Specialized savings and investment accounts for individuals diagnosed with a disability. Eligibility requires disability to be diagnosed when individual is between 0 to 26 years of age. Starting 2026 - age eligibility range extends to 0 to 46 years of age. 

Utility Assistance

• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) – Provides financial assistance to eligible Ohioans who need help with their home energy bills.
• Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP) – Helps eligible Ohioans manage energy bills year-round by basing consistent payments on percentage of household income.
  • Call (800) 282-0880 to be directed to local PIPP provider
• Impact Community Action – Home Weatherization Assistance Program -- Year-round program for eligible Franklin County homeowners/renters/mobile home households that provides home energy conservation assistance to help lower energy costs and reduce environmental pollutants

Emergency Assistance

• Franklin County - Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) – Emergency one-time assistance and services available to eligible individuals facing unexpected challenges. A major focus of this program is to help stabilize families and promote self-sufficiency.    

Emergency Shelter

• Community Shelter Board
  365 E. Campus View Blvd., Suite 250
  Columbus, OH 43235
  (614) 221-9195
  (614) 221-9199 (fax)
  Info@csb.org
  Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
  • Experiencing homelessness and/or need shelter?
    Call the Homeless Hotline at (614) 274-7000 (Open 24/7)
• Star House – Social service agency and drop-in center for Central Ohio youth ages 14-24
  • For shelter, call: (614) 274-7000
  • Open every day 10:30 pm – 2:00 pm
• Huckleberry House – Crisis shelter for teens
  1421 Hamlet St.
  Columbus, OH 43201
  • 24 hour crisis line (614) 294-5553
  • Crisis shelter (614) 294-8097
• YMCA of Central Ohio
  • Franklin Station
    (Adult Men and Women)
    524 West Broad St.
    Columbus, Ohio 43215
    614 662-1020
    614 662-1023 FAX
  • Van Buren Center
    (Adult Men, Women and Family)
    595 Van Buren Dr.
    Columbus, Ohio 43223
    614 715-2030
    614 221-2842 FAX