UCAN & AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY
When we talk about the economic health of our community, housing is often one of the first things that comes to mind and one of the clearest indicators of stability. Being able to afford a safe place to live makes it easier to hold a job, keep your children in the same school, stay connected to healthcare providers, and plan for the future. When housing isn’t stable, the effects ripple throughout the entire community.
Across Ohio, the challenge isn’t necessarily that there are no rental homes at all. The bigger issue is that there simply aren’t enough homes that hard-working, low-income families can afford. In fact, there are only about 37 affordable homes available for every 100 extremely low-income households in the state. To close this gap, Ohio would need to create approximately 266,000 additional affordable homes for renters with the lowest incomes.
According to the ALICE Household Survival Budget, a family in Lorain County with one adult, one preschooler, and one school-aged child needs to earn about $68,000 per year just to cover basic necessities like housing, childcare, food, transportation, and healthcare. As of 2023, approximately 25% of households in our county are considered ALICE, meaning they earn above the federal poverty line but still struggle to afford the basic cost of living. Another 12% of households live below the federal poverty level.
The pressure of rising costs shows up clearly in the calls for help our community receives, demonstrating the growing number of working families who cannot afford stability. In the first two months of 2026 alone, 242 households contacted 2-1-1 First Call for Help seeking assistance with rent payments. Programs like UCAN and PRC are working to fill these gaps and help families avoid eviction but rent itself is only part of the challenge.
Move-in costs remain one of the biggest barriers to housing stability. During that same time, 44 families reached out for help with security deposit payments and 100% of those requests went unmet. With assistance programs already at capacity, there simply aren’t enough resources available to help families cover deposits.
Since Ohio law does not cap security deposits for landlords outside of Section 8 housing, families are often required to pay first month’s rent, last month’s rent, and a security deposit equal to one or more months of rent. That can mean thousands of dollars upfront, making it nearly impossible for many households to move into available housing even when units exist.
At first glance, the scale of the housing challenge can feel overwhelming. But the roadmap for improving housing stability already exists. Expanding federal investments that build and preserve affordable housing, strengthening rental assistance programs, and supporting eviction prevention efforts are strategies housing experts consistently recommend.
Advocacy matters, too. When our community raises its voice to share experiences and perspectives, policymakers gain a clearer understanding of the challenges families face and can prioritize legislation that strengthens housing stability.
If you’d like to stay informed about issues like affordable housing and receive opportunities to speak up when it matters most, sign up for our Advocacy Blast.