Effort to help Columbus-area residents find stable housing has assisted more than 100 families | WOSU Public Media
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
Effort to help Columbus-area residents find stable housing has assisted more than 100 families | WOSU Public Media
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Effort to help Columbus-area residents find stable housing has assisted more than 100 families
WOSU 89.7 NPR News |
By
Mark Ferenchik
Published April 10, 2026 at 10:28 AM EDT
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Debbie Holmes
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WOSU
Tehani Mesa-Morales stands outside her Dublin townhouse with daughter Nathalia and dog Blitz. Mesa-Morales took part in the Families Flourish program.
A program that helps low-income families secure good housing in the Columbus area is celebrating 10 years since its founders met to hatch their idea.
The
nonprofit Families Flourish program has helped 130 families
find stable housing and economic security since that time. The program also provides families with career and financial coaching.
The program says it has helped raise family incomes by an average of 58% or $17,000.
Rachel Kleit is the associate dean for faculty affairs at Ohio State University's College of Engineering and professor of city and regional planning.
Kleit said the Families Flourish program is needed in Columbus.
"It provides housing in neighborhoods of opportunity, which means there are good schools and are safe. That allows families to reduce their stress and actually think about the future so they're not living hand to mouth," Kleit said.
She said the program helps families overcome entrenched hurdles in Columbus.
"We have highly economically segregated neighborhoods. We are behind in the affordable housing we need to build. And we are not taking care of that next generation in creating more housing which is what Families Flourish does," Kleit said.
Kleit said other Ohio communities are interested in expanding the program to their areas, including Dayton.
On Saturday, the Families Flourish community will gather at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Upper Arlington to hear stories from its founders, including Kleit and Amy Klaben, the group's president and CEO.
The group was first known as Move To Prosper.
Families Flourish will also celebrate four teens in the program who will be graduating from high schools in Dublin and Gahanna.
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Affordable Housing
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Mark Ferenchik
Mark Ferenchik is news director at WOSU 89.7 NPR News.
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© 2026 WOSU Public Media
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Next Up:
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News
Effort to help Columbus-area residents find stable housing has assisted more than 100 families
WOSU 89.7 NPR News |
By
Mark Ferenchik
Published April 10, 2026 at 10:28 AM EDT
Debbie Holmes
/
WOSU
Tehani Mesa-Morales stands outside her Dublin townhouse with daughter Nathalia and dog Blitz. Mesa-Morales took part in the Families Flourish program.
A program that helps low-income families secure good housing in the Columbus area is celebrating 10 years since its founders met to hatch their idea.
The
nonprofit Families Flourish program has helped 130 families
find stable housing and economic security since that time. The program also provides families with career and financial coaching.
The program says it has helped raise family incomes by an average of 58% or $17,000.
Rachel Kleit is the associate dean for faculty affairs at Ohio State University's College of Engineering and professor of city and regional planning.
Kleit said the Families Flourish program is needed in Columbus.
"It provides housing in neighborhoods of opportunity, which means there are good schools and are safe. That allows families to reduce their stress and actually think about the future so they're not living hand to mouth," Kleit said.
She said the program helps families overcome entrenched hurdles in Columbus.
"We have highly economically segregated neighborhoods. We are behind in the affordable housing we need to build. And we are not taking care of that next generation in creating more housing which is what Families Flourish does," Kleit said.
Kleit said other Ohio communities are interested in expanding the program to their areas, including Dayton.
On Saturday, the Families Flourish community will gather at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Upper Arlington to hear stories from its founders, including Kleit and Amy Klaben, the group's president and CEO.
The group was first known as Move To Prosper.
Families Flourish will also celebrate four teens in the program who will be graduating from high schools in Dublin and Gahanna.
Tags
News
Affordable Housing
Mark Ferenchik
Mark Ferenchik is news director at WOSU 89.7 NPR News.
See stories by Mark Ferenchik
Related Content
Nora Igelnik
/
WOSU
Columbus, Upper Arlington high school students team up, present housing solutions to city leaders
Nora Igelnik
Upper Arlington and Columbus Alternative High School students researched issues related to affordable housing and discussed solutions with city leaders on Tuesday.
MA Design
/
Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio
Habitat for Humanity to develop multi-family housing in Near East Side neighborhood
Nora Igelnik
Habitat for Humanity will construct multi-family housing for the first time with its near Near East Side Devon Triangle development project.
Andy Dean Photography
/
Shutterstock
Affordable housing advocates doubt 50-year mortgages will help many Ohioans
Jo Ingles
President Trump has suggested 50-year mortgages as one way to help more people be able to afford home ownership.
George Shillcock
/
WOSU
Downtown Columbus YMCA affordable housing project aiming for 2028 opening
George Shillcock
The historic 1922 building is in need of some major TLC after going decades without any major renovations.