State Issues
HB 408 - 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.
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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Why Vote in the March 6 primary?
The most recent state budget included a $1 billion cut to local governments that historically funded counties, communities and local services. This reduction in state support translated into thousands of cuts to services ranging from street lighting, sewer districts, and parks to children’s services, senior services, health and mental health services.
As a result, there are many ballot issues of importance to local communities in the March 6 primary. Some are renewals, which have added importance or some are new. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight just seven issues important to local communities in our Ballot Briefs series. So far, we have highlighted:
The Health and Human Services Levy, Issue 15 in Cuyahoga County
Paint Valley ADAM Board Replacement Levy
Ashtabula County Children's Services Board Renewal
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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
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.
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.