Old South End Partnership Launches $1 Million Housing Pilot

Coalition of housing, philanthropic, and community partners aim to improve coordination of services and strengthen housing infrastructure in Toledo's Old South End neighborhood.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:03pm

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The newly formed Old South End Partnership (OSE Partnership) has announced the launch of a coordinated housing pilot in Toledo's Old South End, backed by a $1 million initial investment from the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation and The Stranahan Supporting Organization of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation. The partnership includes six founding partners who will align their efforts around shared goals of improving service coordination, strengthening housing infrastructure, and using data to guide long-term decision-making in the neighborhood.

Why it matters

The Old South End has faced challenges with housing stability and community development, and this coordinated effort aims to address those issues through strategic investment and a data-driven approach. By aligning existing critical home repair, new home construction, and developer gap financing programs, the partnership hopes to create a more comprehensive and effective housing strategy for the neighborhood.

The details

The pilot will focus on strengthening neighborhood-level data collection and analysis, coordinating critical home repair, rehabilitation, and new construction, providing developer gap project funding, and establishing shared metrics to measure impact and guide future investment. The Lucas County Land Bank has also designated the Old South End as a RISE (Rebuild, Invest, Stabilize, and Engage) neighborhood, which prioritizes targeted investment, property stabilization, and strategic redevelopment.

  • The OSE Partnership announced the launch of the coordinated housing pilot on March 19, 2026.
  • The initial $1 million investment from the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation and The Stranahan Supporting Organization of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation will support the early phase of the pilot.

The players

Old South End Partnership (OSE Partnership)

A coalition of housing, philanthropic, and community partners committed to improving coordination of services, strengthening housing infrastructure, and using reliable data to guide long-term decision-making in Toledo's Old South End neighborhood.

John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation

A foundation that funds nonprofits in Northwest Ohio dedicated to addressing critical aspects of society, such as food security, housing stability, and youth education, as well as libraries in rural communities throughout the United States.

The Stranahan Supporting Organization of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation

A supporting organization of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation that provides funding and support for initiatives in the Toledo area.

Lucas County Land Bank

A government agency that works to address vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties in Lucas County, Ohio, including by designating the Old South End as a RISE (Rebuild, Invest, Stabilize, and Engage) neighborhood.

Mike Deetsch

The executive director of the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation and co-chair of the OSE Partnership steering committee.

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What they’re saying

“The Old South End has extraordinary history, culture, and resilience. By aligning our efforts, listening to residents, and investing strategically, we can be more effective and more responsive to the needs of the Old South End over the long term.”

— Mike Deetsch, Executive Director, John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation; Co-Chair, OSE Partnership Steering Committee

What’s next

The OSE Partnership plans to continue its coordinated efforts, focusing on building the systems, partnerships, and data needed to support sustainable housing outcomes in the Old South End over the long term.

The takeaway

This comprehensive, aligned housing initiative in Toledo's Old South End represents a promising model for how community partners can come together to address complex housing challenges through strategic investment, data-driven decision-making, and a shared commitment to supporting the long-term resilience of the neighborhood.