homeless

Cincinnati Council could vote Wednesday to withdraw support for a controversial housing project in Avondale.  National Church Residences wants to build up to 100 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless and disabled individuals. 

City Council approved a resolution in February supporting the group's effort to get low income housing tax credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.  Those credits have since been approved. 

Cincinnati Council is asking city administrators to find $30,000 for the emergency winter shelter for this season.  

Various groups operate the program including the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition.  Executive Director Josh Spring addressed Council's Budget and Finance Committee Thursday.

“Last year 600 different people came through the winter shelter’s doors,” Spring said.

Spring said this year the groups are having trouble raising money for the program.

The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition is suing the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department over a policy to remove the homeless from the courthouse steps. Commission executive director Josh Spring says Sheriff Jim Neil's department will start threatening arrest this week. Spring wants to wait until after the winter shelters open in a month and a half.

The Sheriff and Major Charmaine McGuffey were guests on Cincinnati Edition today where the sheriff's homeless strategy was one of the topics. McGuffey said the department  has been patient.