Columbus Business First: Columbus State's housing program in line for city funding boost

Bonnie Meibers, Columbus Business First

The city of Columbus plans to give $2 million to Columbus State Community College's housing program.

The city will help fund Columbus State's Success Bridge program, which provides students experiencing housing instability with housing counseling, success coaching and emergency rental assistance. The program's goal is to ensure students are stably housed while in school.

“In Columbus, housing should never hinder education or personal growth. By guaranteeing that college students have access to safe and stable housing, we are investing in their future and empowering them to focus on their studies and dreams without the stress and fear caused by housing instability,” Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a release.

Columbus City Council on Monday will consider using $400,000 from the city's federal emergency rental assistance fund for housing-focused case management positions at Columbus State.

There was another $1.6 million in available emergency rental assistance funding, which the council voted on earlier this year for the Success Bridge program. This funding will help pay rents and utility payments.

“Success Bridge has a proven record of helping our students continue their education without getting caught up in life circumstances that can take them off track,” Desiree Polk-Bland, Columbus State vice president of student affairs, said in the release.

Polk-Bland said the city's funding comes at a time of rapidly rising housing costs.

“This funding will enable us to continue the best practices in supporting housing security that we already know are successful in getting our students across the finish line to their credential, with the higher earning power and life stability that comes along with it," she said in the release.

If approved, this funding will expand the program, which was piloted in 2020.

The program started with $1.5 million from Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority and private philanthropy, including the Bath & Body Works Foundation, Fifth Third Foundation and the Beatrice I. and Alan R. Weiler Fund.

The expanded program will prioritize Columbus Promise students. The Columbus Promise, a joint initiative between the City of Columbus, Columbus City Schools, I Know I Can and Columbus State Community College, provides qualifying students free tuition and access to one-on-one academic advising, career counseling, social and wellness opportunities and essential support services.

Read the original article here.