Seed Grant Supports Housing Stability Research

She and her research team, which includes doctoral candidate Brandon Frye and Rebecca C.E. Brown, the Columbus housing resilience program manager, who is earning a Glenn College MA in Public Policy and Management, are evaluating the Resilient Housing Initiative, a new pilot program led by the City of Columbus.

“The Resilient Housing Initiative program is novel in its collaborative implementation with nonprofit partners, use of housing stability action plans and period of study, when there is significant excess demand for housing and eviction prevention,” Orr said.

Orr is leading research that investigates how to efficiently and effectively increase housing stability among low-income renters at risk of eviction and/or homelessness. The study will be in partnership with representatives from the City of Columbus, the Columbus Community Shelter Board, and Housing Resilience Service Providers including YMCA of Central Ohio, St. Stephens Community House, Jewish Family Services, Home for Families, Gladden Community House, COMPASS and the Columbus Literary Council.

The $10,000 seed grant will provide financial support for Frye in his work with the team.

Learning about what is most effective to prevent homelessness and eviction is critical to ensure the efficient use of public funds, Orr said, so the pilot uses random assignment to distribute financial assistance and case management to those with risk of eviction; set out, which is final physical removal of a tenant and their belongings from a rental unit; and literal homelessness. 

The pilot program began in November and will run through spring, serving more than 500 people. The research results will inform future program iterations and could assist Columbus and other communities in implementing or expanding similar initiatives.