A new study conducted by NCAHMA member Vogt Santer Insights assesses and provides recommendations for increasing the availability of affordable housing in the Appalachian region of Ohio. The analysis, titled “Affordable Housing Market Study of 32 Appalachian Ohio Counties”, was funded by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) and the Ohio Department of Development. Some key findings of the report include:

  • With the exception of Athens County, which has a large student population at Ohio University, the remaining 31 counties in Appalachian Ohio have lower shares of renter-occupied housing than the state of Ohio.
  • All 32 counties have lower shares of senior renter households than the state of Ohio as a whole. However, over the next five years, the region is projected to experience a higher increase (10 percent) in senior renter households than the state of Ohio.
  • The demand for affordable, government-subsidized conventional rental housing appears to be relatively strong in the region with occupancy rates of 98 percent or higher in 28 counties.

More information about the report is available here. Check back soon for the full report.