Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO)

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.

COHHIO Advocacy

Click here for the Ohio Legislative and Government Directory - 128th General Assembly 2009-2010

A new coalition is forming to address the foreclosure crisis in Ohio through legislative action. Join today! Email cathyjohnston@cohhio.org to join the listserv and receive regular updates. To Download an endorsement form, complete and fax back 614.463.1060, click here for a Word doc or here for a PDF

What's News

COHHIO's most recent successes include:

  • November 4, 2008: State Issue 5, the payday lending rate cap issue, passes. Issue 5 was ballot initiative brought on by the payday lending industry to overturn a rate cap law COHHIO helped pass earlier in the year. Despite a $20 million campaign mounted by industry, COHHIO and the Yes on Issue 5 Committee won by a margin of nearly two to one.
  • May, 2008: House Bill 545, the Short Term Lender Law, passes. Among other consumer protection measures, HB 545 reduces payday lending interest rates from 391 percent annualized interest to 28 percent and limits the number of payday loans allowed in a year. Industry responded with a referendum aimed at overturning the rate cap portion of the new law and lost by a wide margin.
  • May, 2006: Senate Bill 185, the Ohio Homebuyers’ Protection Act, passes. For six years, COHHIO warned the Ohio legislature of the dangers of unregulated mortgage lending. SB 185 places mortgage lending under the purview of the Consumer Sales Practices Act in the office of the Attorney General and more effectively protects Ohio homebuyers from predatory lending practices.
  • May, 2004: The Ohio Housing Trust Fund Fee is established. Following a long struggle for adequate, consistent funding to support the expansion and improvement of housing opportunities, a dedicated funding stream of $50 million is finally established. COHHIO advocated for additional funding for the 2006-2007 biennium, bringing the total to $53 million.

The actions taken by people like you have been the staples of our advocacy efforts. We urge you to get involved, know the issues and advocate! Together we can set the wheel in motion and bring about positive changes in Ohio.

  • Join Our Advocacy Network PDF — We are gearing up for next year's challenges, and we need your help. A cooperative grassroots effort can help bring homelessness and housing issues to the attention of policymakers and bring a better future for our constituents. Remember, we are most effective as a team! Please download and sign up today!