The Columbus Foundation approved a $2 million emergency grant to the Community Shelter Board (CSB) on Thursday.
The funding is intended to address the increased need for shelter capacity for those experiencing homelessness in central Ohio.
The Columbus Foundation works as a charitable organization that connects donors and businesses with local nonprofits both in and outside of central Ohio.
Community Shelter Board President and CEO Shannon Isom said the pledged money has paused any proposed changes towards community resources or shelters that were to happen because of underfunding. She said CSB projected a 43% reduction in shelter capacity, with service reductions to begin in the next couple of weeks.
“These dollars and how the foundation has stepped up is going to allow a bit of a stop gap now that we have money within the system as we're working with the county that allows us not to make any changes,” Isom said. “These dollars allow us to pause, take a breath, work with our nonprofit partners who are doing this everyday work and keeping, at least for a moment, as we shore up those public dollars fully, keeping for a moment, a maintenance plan.”
Isom said half of the funds will allow for immediate continuation of shelters and housing organizations in central Ohio. The second half will be used to plan funding allocations for 2027.
“This is a model exactly of what privates, what corporations, how they invest into this community and how they, without thought, have responded to the Community Shelter Board,” Isom said.
The Columbus Foundation’s announcement follows concerns raised by Franklin County Commissioners John O’Grady and Erica Crawley who believed the private business community wasn’t stepping up enough to help fund programs for the homeless.
O’Grady said central Ohio has had a great working relationship with the business community, but saw charitable donations were not being properly made to the CSB. He explained that many community and corporate partners are investing money in the community, but are not identifying where it would be most effective.
“We see as our number one issue year in and year out is the Community Shelter Board. You know, making sure that those that are the most in need in our community are taken care of,” O’Grady said. “We would like for them to understand that that is our number one issue. We would like for them to put the Community Shelter Board at the top of their list every year as well.”
O’Grady said this is an indication that the business community will be more willing to show their helpfulness in Franklin County.
“This philanthropic announcement from the Columbus Foundation is very encouraging and welcomed news given all the discussions around supporting the Community Shelter Board. Hopefully, we continue to see the entire community lock arms and stack hands on behalf of our neighbors that are unhoused and the organizations that support them,” Crawley said in a written statement.
