Columbus is addressing rising housing instability that disproportionately impacts BIPOC communities, recent immigrants, and residents in underserved neighborhoods. The Columbus Department of Development is engaging FUSE Executive Fellow Nicole Jackson to develop a data-driven early warning system that identifies key factors contributing to housing insecurity, such as rising rents, predatory investors, and expiring subsidies. This project aims to provide the city with actionable insights to strategically allocate resources, strengthen tenant protections, and prevent displacement, ultimately increasing housing stability for vulnerable residents.
Jackson will conduct a cross-sector listening tour, engage with community leaders, and collect data on housing trends and socioeconomic factors to build a centralized data repository. This repository will power a dynamic dashboard with neighborhood-level geo-mapping to highlight areas with the most acute needs. Working closely with the Department of Development and the Department of Technology, the fellow will develop a multi-year action plan, recommending targeted interventions such as tenant protections, affordable housing preservation, and wealth-building initiatives. The project will culminate in a sustainable, collaborative framework to ensure Columbus can proactively address housing instability and protect at-risk communities over the long term.
