Housing Security

housing security

Complex Problems Require Collaborative Solutions.


At the Athens County Foundation (ACF), we are proud to be part of the Athens County Housing Security Co-Create Group, a coalition of over 60 concerned organizations and individuals working collaboratively to address housing insecurity in our community. Our collective goal is to design and implement solutions to housing insecurity in Athens County by sharing our resources, fundraising, and engaging in collaborative problem-solving. Together, we are working towards long-term, sustainable solutions while addressing immediate gaps and opportunities.

Housing Insecurity in our Community

Housing insecurity has been increasing since the pandemic, due to decades of under-investment in affordable housing, healthcare, and community-based services[1]. In our region, this is exacerbated by an inadequate housing stock and a lack of living wage jobs[2]. This crisis doesn’t just affect those experiencing homelessness; it has serious consequences for the entire community.

  29% of those experiencing homelessness are families with children[3]

39% of people who are homeless are unsheltered[4]

40-60% of those experiencing homelessness have jobs[5]

We believe the most effective way to end housing insecurity is to ensure access to stable, affordable housing, along with essential wrap-around services like case management, voluntary mental health and substance use treatment, and employment services, all of which support individuals in achieving a better quality of life.

Coalition-wide Initiatives

As part of the coalition, we support several initiatives that are designed to tackle housing insecurity from multiple angles. These include:

  • Conestoga Hut Project

    Led and implemented by The Gathering Place, the Conestoga Hut Project aims to provide temporary micro-shelters to eligible individuals in need of emergency shelter. A Conestoga hut is a micro-shelter that provides a person with roughly sixty square feet of lockable, dry, and safe space to temporarily live while working to improve their life situation and establish permanent housing. A prototype exists at The Gathering Place, 5 North Congress Street. More sites in Athens and Athens County are being identified to expand this project. Learn More

    Learn More

  • Sunset Shelter Project

    The Sunset Motel on Columbus Road will be renovated into a shelter with private spaces for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness. The future shelter is slated to open in 2026 and will provide safe, temporary shelter where professional supportive services will empower people to rebuild their lives with dignity and support. This project is led and coordinated by the Hocking Athens Perry Community Action (HAPCAP).

    Learn More

  • Emergency Motel Voucher Program

    Led by My Sister’s Place (MSP) with support from Integrated Services for Behavioral Health, this project is a pilot initiative streamlining referral process and operations to providing temporary, safe shelter for individuals and families in immediate need of shelter. Leveraging MSP’s established 24/7 hotline and referral network, this program connects those experiencing housing crises with accommodations in participating hotels and motels. Through this trial, the program aims to bridge immediate shelter gaps in the community by utilizing existing resources and networks effectively.


  • Safe Parking Spaces

    Safe space communities are places where people experiencing homelessness can park overnight at a site that provides security plus access to basic services like restrooms and water. Ideally, safe space communities also provide supportive services to help individuals and families transition into permanent housing. We are working with local faith-based organizations to identify and pursue safe parking spaces.

  • Housing Security Fund

    ACF established the Athens County Housing Security Fund, a fund to support key housing initiatives and projects in Athens County. Through an initial investment of $50,000 from the Athens County Foundation, individuals, and key funding partners, the fund was established to support emerging projects from the co-create group.

  • Supportive Services

    A housing first model allows people to address their housing crisis first in order to be stable enough to access supportive services. Supportive services include mental health counseling, addiction recovery services, and support accessing permanent housing, jobs, and health care.

    To better help people in need of emergency shelter, we are working to build existing capacity in our community. This can include: case management, transportation, personal hygiene, a resource directory, frontline worker training (police, health care workers, librarians), and more.

Our Role in the Coalition

The Athens County Foundation is committed to building a system where changemakers can maximize their impact on the community through collaborations. Through our role in the Housing Security Co-create Group, ACF acts as a convener, funder, and champion for inclusive, community-driven solutions to housing insecurity.

  •    Convener: Project Co-Create is our commitment to participatory changemaking in Athens County, convening diverse voices to address complex issues collaboratively. The Housing Security Co-Create Group is one impactful outcome of this initiative, focusing on local housing needs. While housing is a key priority now, the Co-Create model is designed to be flexible and evolving, empowering us to address future challenges together.
  •    Funder: ACF established the Athens County Housing Security Fund, a fund to support key housing initiatives and projects in Athens County. Through an initial investment of $50,000 from the Athens County Foundation, individuals, and key funding partners, the fund was established to support emerging projects from the co-create group.
  •    Nonprofit Support Services: Recognizing the challenges faced by local organizations, especially grassroots initiatives, ACF provides a robust support system for nonprofits involved in housing security. This includes sharing ACF’s network to increase awareness and engagement, along with providing critical communications and operational support.


The Foundation is committed to actively participating in this group and fully supporting efforts to address the full spectrum of housing security. We will continue to leverage our resources and strengths, fostering participation and collaboration, to ensure a healthy, inclusive, and thriving Athens County for all.

 

How You Can Help

We believe that housing security is a community-wide responsibility. And that solutions are better when they reflect the diverse perspectives of our community. Here’s how you can get involved:

  • Engage: Tell us what you think! The Sunset Shelter Project team wants to ensure the shelter is built not just FOR the community, but BY the community. To learn more about this project, visit HAPCAP’s project page and don’t forget to take the community survey. Your response to the survey will help shape the shelter plans and community outreach, ensuring that the shelter reflect our community’s compassion and strength.
  • Give. Your gift to the  Athens County Housing Security Fund supports housing initiatives and projects in Athens County, from hotel vouchers to safe space communities to a shelter. Give today and join the movement to create lasting, community-led solutions to housing insecurity.
  • Volunteer. Explore this list of local nonprofits providing direct support to the unhoused community—whether you choose to volunteer, donate, pledge future support, or simply reach out, every action strengthens our local service providers and helps those in need.
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