Today, we released the Community Action Distribution of Home Relief Funds 2020-2023 and Technical Appendix during a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse. To provide critical rental assistance and avert the eviction crisis facing millions of low-income individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress approved Home Relief Funds, commonly referred to as ERA1 and ERA2. Through these initiatives, Ohio’s Community Action Network successfully disbursed nearly $660 million to qualified households. To gauge the efficacy and outcomes of these funds, the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA) collaborated with Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service to produce this report.
The report dissects the Social Return on Investment (SROI) for various stakeholders, encompassing homeowners, tenants, utility companies, taxpayers, and others. Initial assessments suggest that the programs have a value ranging from $3.4 to $4.4 billion, with numerous areas experiencing a positive impact. These impacts extend to improved family dynamics and prevention of increased use of the foster care system.
To assist the Ohio Community Action Network in distributing the evaluation findings, we have generated a simple social media toolkit with customizable posts featuring key report findings. Download the toolkit today.