Beatty & Brown Lead Ohio Dems in Demanding HUD Reverse Ohio Field Office Cuts

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03) and Shontel Brown (OH-11) led Ohio’s Democratic delegation – Representatives Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Greg Landsman (OH-01), and Emilia Sykes (OH-13) – in a letter urging U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner to reverse the Trump Administration’s disastrous efforts to cut staff and close HUD’s Regional and Field Offices in Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio.

HUD Field Offices help enforce fair housing policies, respond to local housing crises, and promote access to affordable and safe housing for hard working Americans. In addition to underwriting mortgage loans, addressing fair housing claims, and providing guidance to landlords, tenants, and municipalities, the Cleveland and Columbus Field Offices manage and distribute the millions of dollars in federal funds that HUD sends to Ohio annually. More than 422,000 Ohioans - 71% of whom are seniors, children, or people with disabilities - rely on federal rental assistance to afford housing. The planned local staff reductions and office closures would significantly weaken the effective administration of these housing assistance programs on the ground, leaving only a handful of civil servants to carry out a slate of essential services that keep Ohio workers and families housed.

“At a time when the cost of housing continues to rise, homelessness has reached historic levels, and communities face increasing economic uncertainty, HUD must remain a fully staffed and functioning agency,” Brown and Beatty wrote in the letter. “According to the latest gap report, Ohio is facing a shortage of 264,083 rental homes that are affordable and available to extremely low income households. The closure of field offices and mass staff reductions will create service gaps that disproportionately harm vulnerable populations, including low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities.”

The letter urges Secretary Turner to reconsider harmful reductions to HUD Field Offices, particularly in Ohio, and demands full transparency regarding the decision-making process for these closures.

“HUD staff carry out the bipartisan laws that Congress enacted to fight homelessness, housing discrimination, and make the American Dream a reality for more Americans,” said Amy Riegel, Executive Director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO). “Without enough personnel to implement these laws, they become broken promises, and more people will lose their housing and wind up homeless. HUD has opportunities for improvement, but recklessly gutting the agency harms a lot of people who are just trying to keep a roof over their heads.”

“Habitat for Humanity of Ohio applauds the steadfast leadership of Representatives Beatty and Brown amidst the growing housing crisis here in Ohio and across the nation,” said Ryan Miller, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Ohio. “They continue to emphasize the need for housing solutions, not barriers. Now is certainly not the time to shutter HUD’s programs and remove critical public servants responsible for providing life-saving services to the most vulnerable among us. HUD field staff ensure basic housing services are attainable and serve as a core component of Ohio’s communities.”

“The Department of Housing and Urban Development is an essential partner for Ohio’s community development nonprofits, providing vital resources that strengthen neighborhoods and create homeownership opportunities across our state,” said Torey Hollingsworth, Executive Director of the Ohio Community Development Corporation Association. “Cutting HUD staff and field offices puts these crucial resources at risk, and we appreciate members of the Ohio delegation urging the administration to ensure continuity of HUD’s important services in our state.” 

“HUD’s regional and field offices and the staff that work there are essential to keeping everyday Ohioans housed and stable,” said Ayonna Blue Donald, Vice President of the Ohio Market at Enterprise Community Partners. “Abrupt reductions and closures will cause real harm—not just to programs on paper, but to hardworking families increasingly burdened by rising housing costs. Enterprise is committed to working with the Administration and Congress to improve efficiency and accountability and identify commonsense solutions that meet the needs of our local communities.”

Ohio’s Democratic delegation remains committed to ensuring Ohio families have access to safe, affordable housing. The Members will continue to monitor HUD’s actions and hold the administration accountable so Ohio communities can access the resources and services they deserve.

Read the full letter here.

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