If Cincinnati's Walls Could Talk

S3E9: Conclusion: The Challenges We Face and Reasons to Hope

Guest Interviewee: Kathy Schwab Hosted By: Logan Price, Arthur Schmid Written By: Logan Price   Produced By: Teddy Morgan-Jablonski Edited By: Harris Eidelman Researched By: Asmita Gurung, Samiha Tasnima   Episode Description: Welcome to the concluding episode of the third series of If Cincinnati’s Walls Could Talk, a podcast collaboratively produced by our Housing Systems class, taught by Doctor Hayden Shelby. This series has focused on the financing of affordable housing, exploring the complexities and opportunities in addressing the housing crisis.   In this final episode, our hosts revisit the fundamental questions: What is housing, and why is it so important? They reflect on insights from a veteran housing advocate Kathy Schwab, whom our team got a chance to interview, discussing the challenges and aspirations for Cincinnati’s affordable housing landscape. Key topics include: The findings of the Housing Our Future report, which sets an ambitious goal to build 20,000 affordable units by 2030 yet highlights the struggle with only 3,329 units completed to date. Persistent challenges like Hamilton County’s limited success in securing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), the complexities of “Baklava Financing” and the absence of well-funded “Super CDC” similar to those in Columbus or Cleveland.   Despite these challenges, the episode ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing growing public awareness of the housing crisis. The hosts urge listeners to recognize housing as a fundamental human right and advocate for meaningful change.   Episode Timeline:   ·     Why it Matters- 00:00 ·     Affordable Housing in Cincinnati- 02:15 ·     Challenges We Still Face- 03:21 ·     Reason to Hope- 05:55    References: Housing Our Future Summary of Progress 2020 -2023, (2023). LISC Greater Cincinnati. https://www.lisc.org/media/filer_public/b4/13/b413c178-735a-43c9-8ec9f375d23571b7/hof_summary_of_progress.pdf   Housing Our Future Strategies for Cincinnati and Hamilton County, (2020, May). Greater Cincinnati Foundation. https://www.gcfdn.org/wp content/uploads/2020/07/housing_our_future_-_5-27 2020.pdf   Housing Affordability in Hamilton County, (2017, February). LISC Greater Cincinnati. https://www.lisc.org/media/filer_public/a1/16/a116fbab 4be3-4704-98e6 83f633b7d893/asset_upload_file30_13212.pdf   Cincinnati’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund Available for Use Four Years after Being Established, (2022, October 3). National Low Income Housing Coalition. https://nlihc.org/resource/cincinnatis-affordable-housing-trust-fund-available-use-four-years-after-being-established   Costello, B. (2023, May 23). Just one project in Hamilton County will get a low-income housing tax credit this year. 91.7 WVXU News. https://www.wvxu.org/local-news/2023-05-23/hamilton-county-low-income-housing-tax-credit-spaeth-kelly-hall   Thank you to our Professor Hayden Shelby and Guest interviewee Kathy Schwab. Written by Logan Price Hosted by Logan Price and Arthur Schmid Produced by Teddy Morgan-Jablonski Edited by Harris Eidelman Researched by Asmita Gurung and Samiha Tasnima   Additional resources:  Interviewee: Kathy Schwab Local Initiatives Support Corporation: LISC Greater Cincinnati Low Income Housing Tax Credit: LIHTC Ohio Low Income Housing Tax Credit: OHLITC News Article on LIHTC deals in Hamilton County  Super CDC: Ohio CDC Super CDC in Columbus: Community Development Collaborative of Greater Columbus

S3E8: The Role of the Cincinnati Development Fund

In this episode of If Cincinnati’s walls could talk listeners will learn about all things CDFIs. This includes what CDFIs are, how they work, and the impact they have on affordable housing projects. Special thanks to Luke Blocher who spoke with us about the way Cincinnati development fund operates as a CDFI. Without his insights, this episode would not have been possible. Key Takeaways: ·     What a CDFI is ·     How CDFIs get funding ·     The role of CDFIs in affordable housing ·     How funds are managed and distributed ·     Challenges in affordable housing financing ·     CDFIs supporting diverse developers Featured Guest: ·     Luke Blocher – General Counsel and Chief Strategy Officer, Cincinnati Development Fund (CDF) Resources & Links: ·     What is a CDFI? This Opportunity finance network page provides a description of CDFIs and explains how and who they operate for.   ·     Cincinnati development fund’s page on lending shares information on their role as a lender for low to moderate income communities.   ·     Cincinnati development fund Explains the affordable housing leverage fund and Cincinnati development fund’s role in managing and distributing funds.   Podcast Credits: Thank you to Tyler Cole, Avery Keller, Celeste Leonard, Kevin Schenkel, and Makenzie Stewart for their contributions to this episode.  

S3E7: Affordable Homeownership with HURC and the Port

Homesteading and Urban Redevelopment Corporation. Homesteading & Urban Redevelopment Corporation. (n.d.). https://hurccincy.org/ Mercado, A. (2024, August 2). Defining community development in order to fund it. Shelterforce. https://shelterforce.org/2024/06/14/defining-community-development-in-order-to-fund-it/ Who we are. FHLB Cincinnati. (n.d.). https://www.fhlbcin.com/who-we-are/ Woodruff, F. (2023, December 6). What is a community development corporation? - non profit news: Nonprofit quarterly. Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly. https://nonprofitquarterly.org/what-is-a-community-development-corporation/ Special thanks to Deborah Robb, Director of Real Estate Development for HURC (Homesteading & Redevelopment Corporation) and Eric Hunn, general contractor and founder/owner of Hunn’s Construction Special thanks to Hayden Shelby for making this season possible

S3E6: The Hollywood Apartments Transformation and the Role of CDCs

Introduction: ​ This episode focuses on College Hill, a neighborhood in Cincinnati, and the transformation of the Hollywood Apartments from disrepair to a model of affordable housing. Key Takeaways:    The Hollywood Apartments project is a case study in leveraging local support and multiple funding sources for affordable housing. ​ CDCs play a crucial role in bridging the gap between financial challenges and community needs. ​ Community involvement and trust are essential for the success of affordable housing projects. For more information about the College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, visit CHCURC website. We would like to thank Kate Greene, former CEO of College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CHCURC), and Emmanuel Karikari current CHRCURC CEO, for their time and expertise.

S3E5: The Role of the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority

Thank you for joining us for Episode 5 of this season of If Cincinnati’s Walls Could Talk. We would like to extend our appreciation to our interviewee, Gary Boeres, Director of Housing Development at the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, for sharing his insights with us. We also wish to acknowledge the contributions of our team, whose efforts made this episode possible: Research: Kylee Arvidson Interviews: Sean Kidd Scriptwriting: Ben Sizemore Narration: Sam Leeman and Sean Kidd Audio Editing: Alysse Aylor Thank you all for your fantastic work!   Citations: Boeres, Gary. Interview. Conducted by Sean Kidd. 22 November 2024. Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority. Development. Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority. Accessed 26 November 2024, from https://cintimha.com/development/ Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority. RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration). Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority. Accessed 26 November 2024, from https://cintimha.com/RAD/ Urban Sites. Bennett Point 532 and 600 East 12th. Urban Sites. Accessed 26 November 2024, from https://urbansites.com/project/bennett-point-532-and-600-east-12th