Across Ohio, people are working hard but falling behind – spending more and more of their paycheck just to keep a roof over their heads. The system that’s supposed to help isn’t working: waiting lists are years long, rents keep rising, and there simply aren’t enough homes. My plan tackles both problems at once – helping families afford housing right now while building thousands of new, energy-efficient homes across the state using Ohio workers. And it’s built on what works: direct housing assistance programs like the one tested in Philadelphia kept people in their homes at significantly higher rates than traditional programs. It’s about making sure that if you’re working, you can afford to live, and stay, in your community.
Full Policy Details
The Problem
Ohio’s housing crisis is hitting families across the state.
- Over 3 million Ohioans struggle with housing costs
- More than 100,000 eviction filings each year
- Rent has risen sharply in major cities
- Young families and workers are being priced out of their communities
At the same time, the current system meant to help, especially Section 8, is slow, complicated, and often ineffective.
This plan addresses two things at once:
- Lower housing costs immediately
- Build enough homes to bring costs down long-term
Lower Housing Costs Now
Direct Rental Assistance
The current system delays help and puts up barriers:
- Families wait years for assistance
- Landlords often refuse vouchers
- Bureaucracy slows down move-ins
This plan replaces that approach with something simpler and more effective: direct support to renters.
How it works:
- Monthly housing assistance goes directly to eligible renters
- Families find housing on their own, like any renter
- No complex landlord contracts or long delays
- Support adjusts based on income
Proven Results:
Programs using this model are already working.
- In Philadelphia, a direct housing assistance pilot kept people in their homes at significantly higher rates—79% better than traditional programs
- Faster access to housing reduces eviction risk
- Families make decisions that fit their real lives
Why this matters:
- Immediate relief for families under pressure
- Less stigma and fewer barriers
- A system that treats people like adults, not case numbers
This addresses the crisis now – while we build long-term solutions.
Build More Affordable Homes
We cannot solve the housing crisis without increasing supply.
A. Ohio Modular Housing Initiative
Ohio can build more homes faster and more efficiently by using modern factory construction. This mode, used successfully in countries like Sweden, builds high-quality housing at scale.
What this does:
- Builds homes 30–50% faster than traditional construction
- Reduces costs
- Improves quality and energy efficiency
Workforce Opportunity:
This program also creates jobs.
Workers displaced by automation can:
- Build homes in advanced manufacturing settings
- Enter skilled trades and apprenticeships
- Move into project management roles
Program goals:
- 8,000–10,000 new homes per year
- Strong union labor participation
- High energy-efficiency standards
State Partnership Model
This program is designed to expand beyond Ohio.
- Structured as a state-federal partnership, similar to programs like Medicaid expansion
- States can opt in to receive support for housing production and workforce training
- Allows flexibility for state leadership while maintaining national scale
In Ohio, where housing affordability is already a priority, this creates a clear path to rapid implementation.
B. Converting Empty Retail into Housing
Ohio has thousands of vacant malls and commercial properties. Instead of letting them decay, we turn them into housing.
What this does:
- Converts unused buildings into homes
- Revitalizes communities
- Uses existing infrastructure like roads and utilities
Benefits:
- Faster than new construction
- Reduces blight
- Creates housing where people already live and work
Target:
- 2,000–3,000 homes per year through conversion
How This Plan Works Together
Most housing plans only address one side of the problem.
This plan does both:
- Immediate help → lowers costs now
- New construction → brings costs down over time
At full scale:
- 12,000–14,000 new homes per year
- 10,000+ families supported annually
Jobs and Economic Impact
This is also a jobs and economic growth plan.
- Thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs
- New career paths for displaced workers
- Stronger local economies
Stable housing leads to:
- Better health outcomes
- More stable employment
- Stronger communities
How It’s Funded
The plan is primarily funded through revenue from the American Dividend Plan, which captures a portion of the economic gains from automation.
Additional support includes:
- Federal housing programs
- Public-private partnerships
- Increased property tax base from new development
The Bottom Line
Housing is the foundation of economic security.
When people can afford to live:
- They can keep a job
- Raise a family
- Stay in their community
Right now, too many Ohioans are doing everything right and still falling behind. This plan fixes that by lowering costs now and building the homes we need for the future.
