History

Since it was established to help the people of Central Ohio counter the impact of the Great Depression, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) has not wavered from its mission of community, commitment and collaboration.

CMHA traces its origins to 1934, when the Ohio Legislature passed the Ohio Housing Law. The legislation established the Ohio State Board of Housing, which, in turn, formed CMHA. Three years later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Federal Housing Act, making funds available for CMHA to begin construction on its first development, Poindexter Village.

Today, CMHA owns more than 5,100 units in 51 communities serving more than 160,000 residents in Ohio and Washington, D.C. across our various programs. We house more than 40,000 residents of Franklin County through the 5,300 units in our own portfolio and more than 13,500 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) we have issued to families in the county. Through all of our programs, we serve families, veterans, seniors, transition-aged youth, formerly homeless and other individuals.

Throughout its history, CMHA has worked to create access to affordable housing, strengthen neighborhoods, provide stability and improve the quality of life for the residents and communities it serves.

We have accomplished this through partnerships with investors, developers, landlords, nonprofits and for-profit businesses, higher education and other government agencies that have helped CMHA create innovative programming and gain national recognition for excellence and innovation. Examples include projects such as “The Collaborative,” which in 2023 created CMHA’s first-ever affordable housing internship program. This partnership with CGI Federal and Central State University, a historically Black college and university, provides experiential learning opportunities to CSU students that improve access to housing while helping Greater Columbus thrive.

Other unique projects include Harriet’s Hope and the Broadleigh Apartments. Harriet’s Hope — named for abolitionist Harriet Tubman — is a 52-unit housing community that opened in 2024. The property is a first of its kind for Columbus and among the nation’s first service-enriched housing communities exclusive to human trafficking survivors. Another widely heralded CMHA development scheduled to break ground in 2024 is Broadleigh Apartments, which upon completion will provide affordable housing and support services for military veterans.

CMHA understands it takes more than brick and mortar “to make a house a home.” Our team is committed to helping families, veterans, seniors, transition-aged foster youth, formerly homeless and other individuals at risk of homelessness. Together with our partners, we strive to empower our residents, build healthy communities and provide safe, high-quality and affordable housing to all.