Cuts to fair housing funds from HUD, DOGE impact Columbus residents
In February, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cut $425,000 in local funding for fair housing initiatives.
- Health Impact Ohio’s Central Ohio Pathways HUB has distributed over $5 million to local nonprofits since 2019.
- The HUB connects vulnerable populations in central Ohio with health and social services.
- In 2024, the HUB facilitated the completion of numerous pathways related to pregnancy, behavioral health, housing and employment.
Health Impact Ohio (HIO) announced its Central Ohio Pathways HUB (the HUB) surpassed the milestone of over $5 million distributed to local nonprofit organizations for community care since its inception in 2019.
The HUB has worked alongside central Ohio nonprofits and health care providers to connect its most vulnerable populations to essential health and social services.
Currently, this includes 10 partnering Care Coordination agencies that employ 40 community health workers across nine central Ohio counties.
Carrie Baker, HIO’s president and CEO, explained the $5 million is a reflection of the actual work being done in the community, as the payment is only authorized when the referral to a health or social service provider actually happens.
“The $5 million is a reflection of the amazing work that community health workers are doing with their clients in and around central Ohio,” Baker said.
“Payment is only made in the model when an outcome is achieved.”
In 2024 alone, HIO administered $850,100 to 10 HUB Care Coordination agencies to serve individuals in the community through finding successful care “pathways,” which are holistic plans to meet clients’ needs.
Pathways to success
According to a press release, a HUB client must maintain employment for 30 days before a community health worker can consider that pathway successfully completed.
Last year, the funding allowed community health workers to complete 83 pregnancy pathways, 64 behavioral health pathways, 61 housing pathways and 77 employment pathways.
Celebrating six years of the Central Ohio Pathways HUB last month, Baker said the team at HIO is proud of the model and the ability to serve
“Regardless of any political environment or what’s happening in the world, our vulnerable friends and neighbors need supportive services,” Baker said.
“We’re excited that through the work of community health workers and the partnership with all of our Care Coordination agencies in the community that we’re able to share this good news story.”
Sophia Veneziano is a Columbus Dispatch reporter supported by the Center for HumanKindness at The Columbus Foundation. She may be reached at sveneziano@dispatch.com. The Dispatch retains full editorial independence for all content.