Longtime Ohio Nonprofit Health Center Shuttered Amid Eviction

Columbus Speech and Hearing closed suddenly in February, leaving clients in the dark about the closure.

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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The nonprofit Columbus Speech and Hearing, which had served the Columbus community since 1923, abruptly closed all of its locations on February 13, 2026, leaving thousands of clients without notice. Legal filings reveal the organization failed to pay thousands of dollars in rent and was facing eviction from its Clintonville location by the property owner, Tain Investments, LLC.

Why it matters

The sudden closure of this long-standing nonprofit health provider has left many vulnerable clients, including children and adults with communication disorders, without access to critical services like audiology, hearing aids, and speech therapy. The eviction proceedings also highlight the financial challenges the organization was facing, including higher operating costs, stagnant reimbursement rates, and fundraising difficulties.

The details

According to the complaint filed by Tain Investments, Columbus Speech and Hearing owed over $240,000 in unpaid rent under a lease signed in 2022. The property owner said it denied the nonprofit's request to defer two months of rent in January 2026, totaling over $42,000, as the organization did not agree to sign a promissory note. When the rent went unpaid, Tain Investments moved to evict Columbus Speech and Hearing, posting a notice on the door on February 9, just days before the nonprofit abruptly closed all of its locations.

  • Columbus Speech and Hearing closed all of its locations on February 13, 2026.
  • Tain Investments posted an eviction notice on the nonprofit's door on February 9, 2026.
  • In January 2026, the former CEO of Columbus Speech and Hearing requested a deferral on two months of rent, totaling over $42,000.

The players

Tain Investments, LLC

The property owner of the Clintonville location where Columbus Speech and Hearing was based, which filed an eviction complaint against the nonprofit for failure to pay rent.

James O. Dye

The former CEO of Columbus Speech and Hearing, who requested a rent deferral in January 2026 that was denied by Tain Investments.

Diane Hurd

The former board chair of Columbus Speech and Hearing, who did not respond to requests for comment on the closure and eviction.

Columbus Speech and Hearing

A nonprofit organization that provided audiology, hearing aid, and speech therapy services in Columbus, Ohio since 1923, which abruptly closed all of its locations on February 13, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The abrupt closure of this long-standing nonprofit health provider has left many vulnerable clients without access to critical services, highlighting the financial challenges facing similar organizations, including higher operating costs, stagnant reimbursement rates, and fundraising difficulties. The eviction proceedings also raise questions about the nonprofit's financial management and transparency in the lead-up to the shutdown.