Columbus Mayor Unveils $500M Housing Bond Plan

Funds to be used for land acquisition, homeless shelters, and affordable housing construction.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has announced plans to use the $500 million in affordable housing bonds that voters approved in November to pursue an unprecedented level of city land acquisition, expand the homeless shelter system, and continue investing in the construction of affordable apartment units.

Why it matters

The housing bond represents a major investment in addressing Columbus' affordable housing crisis and homelessness issues. The city's plan to directly acquire land for future affordable development is an ambitious approach compared to typical affordable housing programs.

The details

The $500 million housing bond will fund several key initiatives, including the city directly purchasing land for future affordable housing projects, expanding and upgrading the city's homeless shelter system, and continuing to support the construction of new affordable apartment units.

  • Voters approved the $500 million housing bond in November 2025.
  • Mayor Ginther unveiled the city's plans for the bond funds on February 11, 2026.

The players

Andrew Ginther

The mayor of Columbus, Ohio, who is spearheading the city's $500 million affordable housing bond initiative.

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What they’re saying

“This housing bond represents an unprecedented investment in addressing Columbus' affordable housing and homelessness challenges.”

— Andrew Ginther, Mayor of Columbus (The Dispatch)

What’s next

The Columbus City Council will need to approve the specific spending plans for the $500 million housing bond funds in the coming months.

The takeaway

Columbus is taking an ambitious, multi-pronged approach to using a major housing bond to directly acquire land, expand homeless services, and build more affordable housing units - a model that other cities may look to emulate in addressing their own affordable housing crises.