The City of Springfield and its community partners have elevated housing to an urgent, communitywide priority that is foundational to the city’s future.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, 36% of Springfield’s renters and 17% of Springfield’s homeowners were housing cost burdened, and there was a shortage of safe, affordable housing for Springfield’s most vulnerable residents.
Since the pandemic began in spring 2020, there have been many first-time clients seeking housing assistance and the number of families and individuals facing imminent homelessness increased 300% over the previous year (e.g. 2021 to Spring 2022).
To preserve and create quality housing for all residents, the City of Springfield engaged the Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) to develop a strategic workplan to guide local policy development and pro-active strategies.
Quality Housing for All: A Four-Year Strategic Plan for Springfield. is a strategic plan (2022 - 2025) that provides a roadmap for the City of Springfield—in partnership with community organizations, the private sector, and philanthropy—to address Springfield's current housing needs and longer-term goals.
Quality Housing for All has four main pillars, which organizes more than a dozen recommendations for community leaders. The activities are sequenced over the four years to build momentum and increase impact. The four pillars are:
Protect Vulnerable Residents, especially housing cost-burdened renters and homeowners
Promote and Enhance Existing Neighborhoods
Produce Affordably Priced Housing
Lower Barriers to Development and Redevelopment
These pillars will help the City and partners deploy staff time, financial resources, and partnerships.