State Issues
HB 408 & SB 280 - Opposed by COHHIO & Fair Housing Advocates
HB 408 would increase the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority Board from five to seven members. The new board members would be prohibited from residing in Cincinnati.
COHHIO joins many Cincinnati area fair housing partners in opposition to HB 408, including the League of Women Voters of Ohio, Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition, Affordable Housing Advocates and the Public Housing Resident Councils in Cincinnati.
SB 280 is the Senate version of HB 408.
SB 280 is pending in the Senate State & Local Government and Veteran's Affairs Committee. Another hearing and possible vote is scheduled for Wednesday, May 2 at 3:30.
Senator Bill Seitz (R-8) is the sole sponsor of SB 280. COHHIO's Bill Faith testified in opposition to the bill on Wednesday, April 18. Eight Cincinatti and Hamilton County housing advocates made the trip to Columbus to also provide opponent testimony. The bill's next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 25 at 3:30 or after session. All testimony will be heard, with a possible vote. If you have any questions about this hearing, contact cathyjohnston@cohhio.org
HB 408 Update, March 26:
While HB 408 passed out ot commitee last week, it is not scheduled for a floor vote this week. The General Assembly will be in Easter recess from April 2 to April 16.
The Ohio Senate's State and Local Government and Veterans Committee heard proponent testimony on SB 280 (the Senate version of HB 408) on Wednesday, March 28. There will be additional hearings before the vote is called.
For members of the State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee, click here.
HB 408 Update, March 22:
HB 408 (Tehar, R-30) passed the House Financial Institutions, Housing & Urban Development Committee, much to the disappointment of housing advocates and concerned residents from Columbus and Cincinnati. HB 408 was both unbalanced and unwarranted. Today’s decision will make local problems worse, not better.
We appreciate the efforts of the many people who spoke in passionate opposition to the bill, including Robert Newman, a private attorney from Cincinnati. An excerpt from his 3/22 testimony:
“This bill is racist. We struggled for decades to get public housing out of the inner city. This bill has nothing to do with property values; nothing to do with tenant behavior. . . This bill is not going to help us get over our racism.”
As HB 408 continues through the legislative process (first heard in the Senate Financial Institutions Housing and Urban Development Committee on March 21), we will do our best to oppose it in every way possible.
HB 408 - Opposition Testimony by John Schrider, Jr.
Cincinnati Enquirer Editorial, 1/21/12 titled "Public Housing Helps Community"
Sign the Online Petition
Resolution Opposing HB 408 & SB 280 passed by Cincinnati City Council on January 30, 2012
Hearing Announcement - Thursday, February 16
House Financial Institutions, Housing and Urban Development Committee Hearing Announcement
SB 172 - Opposed by COHHIO & Tenant Advocates
Will enable landlords to sue the state of Ohio to receive tenant's state income tax refund to cover unpaid rent or other judgments. Under current Ohio law, no other private entity has this privilege.
Senate Bill 172 - Bill Analysis and Text
Opponent Testimony by Paul Wilkins, Ohio Student Legal Services
Opponent Testimony by Kelan Craig, COHHIO
Opponent Testimony by Mike Piepsny, Cleveland Tenants Organization
Opponent Testimony by Joe Maskovyak, Ohio Poverty Law Center
Asset Acceptance, LLC., a collections company, requests broadening scope to include ALL creditors:
Proponent Testimony from Asset Acceptance, LLC.
January 26 - Proponent Testimony from Michelle Wells, Ohio Real Estate Investors Association
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SB 251 - Digging Debtors in Deeper Act
SB 251 a bill co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Sawyer (D-Akron) and Bill Beagle (R-Troy). We call it the “Digging Debtors in Deeper Act,” despite sponsor testimony November 16 suggesting that the bill passed muster with COHHIO and other consumer protection groups.
SB 251 was brought forward by a national association that represents 36 debt settlement companies, only one of which is Ohio based. It purports to be consumer protection-friendly -- necessary now, according to the bill’s sponsors, because our current statutes are “no longer sufficient.” We disagree on both counts.
On January 25th, no action was taken on the bill by the Senate Financial Institutions committee.
Click here to learn more about the current and proposed laws, how the FTC and the Better Business Bureau view debt settlement companies, and to sign the support letter. Click here to read SB 251 sponsor testimony.
Foreclosure Front
Overview: State-by-State Spending of $25 Billion in National Mortgage Settlement
How the Foreclosure Crisis is Damaging Urban Areas
Ohio Properties Redevelopment Institute -- Transforming Problem Properties in Opportunity Conference, April 4 & 5
Homeless Advocates Brace for More Demand, Less Funding
Listen to Bill Faith and Tina Patterson of Dayton's Homefull program talk about the state of homelessness in Ohio from a press conference held 11/16/11.
COHHIO Partner Advocacy organizations:
works to maintain vital public services – health, human services, and early care & education – at a level that meets people's basic needs and protects our state's most vulnerable populations. Advocates monitors, reports and advocates on health and human service issues on both the state and national level.
For more information visit www.advocatesforohio.org
Advocates for Ohio's Future, in collaboration with COHHIO and other partners, recently launched the OhioSPEAKS project. We are collecting stories highlighting the ways that publicly funded health and human serice programs and early care and education programs successfully build economic security and help children, families, seniors and people with disabilities in need. Click HERE to learn more about OhioSPEAKS from representatives of partner organizations.
One Ohio Now
Supports a balanced approach to balancing Ohio's budget. By investing in our families, communities, natural resources, and existing assets, we all share the potential to guide our state to renewed prosperity.
Looking for Factsheets and Reports? Visit COHHIO's Online Library where you will be able to find fact sheets, reports and more information on many of our advocacy topics.