11 Columbus, Ohio Programs That Help With Rent, Mortgage, and Utilities

If you live in Columbus or Franklin County and you're behind on your mortgage, rent, or utilities, you don't have to rely on a single hotline. Central Ohio has a patchwork of city, county, and nonprofit programs that can pay landlords, mortgage servicers, and utility companies directly. Here are 11 to know about.

City and County Programs

1. City of Columbus Housing & Assistance Programs. Columbus maintains a central hub that routes residents to rent, mortgage, and utility relief, including the Utility Discount Program for income-eligible households. Start at columbus.gov and search "Housing Assistance."

2. Franklin County Department of Job & Family Services Emergency Assistance. FCDJFS offers one-time aid of up to $2,500 for overdue rent or mortgage payments, past-due utility bills, and related emergencies for low-income Franklin County families. Call (614) 233-2000.

3. Stable Housing Initiative (Homeless Families Foundation ERA 2). Administered by the City of Columbus, this program helps renters facing eviction or utility shutoff. Apply through columbus.applyforhope.org.

Nonprofit Rent and Mortgage Help

4. IMPACT Community Action. IMPACT provides emergency financial assistance up to $2,000 to prevent homelessness for Columbus and Franklin County residents. The program currently prioritizes tenants with active eviction court cases. Visit impactca.org.

5. Columbus Urban League Emergency Rental Assistance. The Urban League supports households struggling to pay rent or mortgage, though available funding fluctuates. Check cul.org for current intake status before applying.

6. Gladden Community House. Serving zip codes 43222, 43223, and 43215, Gladden distributes rent help as funds allow. Call (614) 227-1600.

7. Greater Columbus Community House. Covers zip codes 43081, 43201, 43211, 43219, 43224, 43229, 43230, and 43231. Applications are in-person and income-eligible. Call (614) 294-6347.

8. Jewish Family Services. Open to Central Ohio residents regardless of faith, JFS offers rent assistance based on funding availability. Call (614) 231-1890.

Neighborhood and Suburban Options

9. Broad Street Presbyterian COMPASS Program. Provides rent and utility assistance to households in 43203, 43205, 43209, 43213, and 43215. Call (614) 429-5979.

10. Canal Winchester Human Services. Covers residents of Canal Winchester, the Canal Winchester and Bloom Carroll school districts, and Lithopolis with rent, mortgage, and utility help. Call (614) 834-4700.

11. Salvation Army Central Ohio. Offers emergency utility and rent assistance across Franklin County as funds allow. Call (614) 341-2282 or look up a caseworker by zip code at salvationarmyusa.org.

How to Apply Without Wasting Time

Most Columbus-area programs share three requirements, so gather these before you start calling:

• A photo ID and Social Security cards for everyone in the household
• Proof of income for the last 30 to 60 days (pay stubs, benefits letters, or a zero-income statement)
• A current lease or mortgage statement, plus the shutoff notice, eviction filing, or past-due bill

Many programs cap assistance at one award per 12 months and require the delinquency to be documented in writing. If you're a homeowner, ask specifically whether the program pays mortgage principal and interest or only escrowed taxes and insurance; some nonprofits only cover the latter.

If You're a Homeowner Facing Foreclosure

Homeowners in danger of foreclosure should also contact a HUD-approved housing counselor before exhausting emergency funds. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency maintains a statewide counselor directory at ohiohome.org, and counseling is free. A counselor can negotiate a loan modification or forbearance that outlasts a one-time grant and may pair with one of the 11 programs above for maximum relief.

Funding levels change month to month, so call ahead, confirm the program is still accepting applications, and ask for the current turnaround time before submitting documents.