Ohio Senate Housing Committee - 6-2-2026

housing committee to order. Will the clerk please call the roll?

Okay, we will proceed as a quorum is present and as a full committee. We will now be led in prayer by

Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Move on to the appointment.

Yes. Right. Yes. Better prayer. Better surrender. Better problem. Yes. Yes. Okay.

Hello. Good afternoon, Chair Reynolds, Ranking Member Craig, and members of the Senate Housing Committee. If we can start on slide two, that would be great. Thank you so much. My name is Taylor Ucker-Latterman, and I'm the Chief Engagement Officer for the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak with you today about OAESV's housing services and the growing housing needs facing survivors of sexual violence across Ohio. Survivors of sexual violence frequently experience housing instability as a direct consequence of violence. In fact, Ohio's rape crisis centers reported housing insecurity as the most urgent unmet need in fiscal year 2025. OASV is the federally designated state coalition supporting Ohio's 32 rape crisis centers and allied organizations working to prevent sexual violence and respond to survivors. In addition to our coalition work OASV is one of the few sexual violence coalitions in the country that provides direct services to survivors and their families Our organization operates a free legal clinic a statewide housing program and facilitates the Survivor Empowerment and Advisory Council which creates opportunities for survivors to engage in awareness building and systems change efforts. If you can go to the next slide, please. OAESV is the first and only sexual violence coalition in the nation to provide dedicated housing services. We launched this work after seeing a growing number of survivors unable to access safe housing because existing services did not recognize or adequately respond to their experiences. For example, a survivor disclosed that she was sexually assaulted by her landlord and no longer felt safe returning to her apartment. Because the perpetrator was not an intimate partner, she did not qualify for domestic violence shelter services. In this case, she was left couch surfing, staying in unsafe environments, and facing homelessness while trying to recover from trauma. Next slide, please. This gap is especially significant for survivors harmed by nonpartners who often fall outside the eligibility requirements of domestic violence shelters. While general housing or homelessness programs may be available locally, they often have age or income-related restrictions that most survivors do not meet. Housing is foundational, and we focus on providing survivor-centered and trauma-informed support that empowers individuals to make decisions that are best for themselves and their families. Next slide, please. Today, OASV operates three housing programs serving survivors across Ohio. So first, we have our Meaningful Access Housing Program, which provides immediate emergency housing support through short-term hotel stays. Survivors are referred through local rape crisis centers, and OASV either books accommodations directly or reimburses the local program. And our next slide shows the remaining two programs. We also operate a transitional housing program that provides up to 24 months of rental assistance and limited utility support for survivors in need of longer-term stability. This program receives referrals from across the state, and we work closely with local landlords to secure housing opportunities. And then finally, our rental assistance program offers shorter-term rental assistance, up to 12 months, and utility support to help survivors either relocate to safety or maintain their current housing when possible. So as we continue this work, we see several areas of opportunity. Survivors of sexual violence often face stigma that creates additional barriers to housing access. Flexible funding remains critically important because survivors' needs are rarely one-size-fits-all. and many existing systems were not designed with sexual violence survivors in mind. We know there is a need for greater awareness and training across Ohio to help housing providers, systems partners, and communities better understand the housing challenges experienced by survivors of sexual violence and respond more effectively. So we appreciate the committee's interest in learning more about this issue and the opportunity to share how OASV is working to address these critical gaps in housing access and survivor support across our state. I can answer any questions now, or we can send questions to my colleague, Emily Gamar.

How are you all funded? How do you kind of put all this together?

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you very much for your presentation today. How many people are you serving currently? How many families?

Okay. And follow?

And what is the, I don't want to say typical, but what is the length of stay for the survivors?

If you could provide it to the Chair.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Yes, likewise.

So as, thank you, Chair Reynolds, so as the statewide coalition, We serve all 88 counties. We have member programs that are qualified rape crisis centers, and they serve, unfortunately, not all 88 counties. So right now there are 31 rape crisis centers, and I think it changes, unfortunately, week to week due to funding and other uncertainties. I think we're covering 70 of 88 counties right now. So that does leave 18 counties that have no sexual violence services at all, except for the 24-7 statewide helpline that's provided, the Ohio Sexual Violence Helpline.

I will find out. Thank you. Ohio Housing Trust Fund.

Appreciate the time. Thanks. You're welcome.

Good afternoon. Vice Chair Timken, Ranking Member Craig, all members of the Ohio Senate Housing Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 428 also known as the Build Smart Act As all of you know Ohio is facing a housing shortage Across our state working families young professionals and our seniors are struggling to find housing that is attainable, available, and close to where they work. While demand continues to grow, many of our regulations have failed to keep pace with modern housing needs. And one of the barriers is how Ohio's building code treats four family dwellings. Today, a fourplex is often subject to commercial building requirements that do not apply to one, two, or three-family homes. That regulatory jump increases costs, creates additional hurdles, and discourages the development of the very housing options many communities most need. At the same time, Ohio law limits innovative building designs that are safely used throughout the country and around the world. These restrictions drive up construction costs, which ultimately mean higher rents and higher housing prices for Ohioans. Senate Bill 428 offers a practical solution. The Build Smart Act reclassifies four-family dwellings under Ohio's residential building code, creating consistency between three-family and four-family housing. It also permits certain multifamily buildings to utilize a single stairway design when they meet prescribed safety standards established through the code process. These changes will encourage the construction of missing middle housing, fourplexes, and small multifamily developments that fit naturally into an existing neighborhood while expanding housing opportunities. This bill reduces unnecessary regulatory burdens without sacrificing safety, helping builders deliver more housing options at a lower cost. Importantly, Senate Bill 428 does not eliminate oversight. The legislation directs the Ohio Board of Building Standards to implement these changes through Ohio's existing building code framework. Local building departments will continue to review plans, conduct inspections, and enforce all applicable safety requirements. Fire protection standards, life safety measures, and code enforcement remain fully intact. Single stairway buildings are already permitted in many jurisdictions and have demonstrated strong safety outcomes when paired with modern building standards. standards. Likewise, four plexes have long been a part of Ohio's housing landscape and provide an important pathway for increasing housing supply without dramatically changing neighborhood character. At its core, Senate Bill 428 is about building more housing, reducing unnecessary costs, and giving Ohio communities additional tools to address a growing housing shortage. It's common sense, market-driven approach that modernizes our building code while maintaining Ohio's commitments of public safety. I respectfully ask for your favorable consideration of Senate Bill 428 and would be happy to answer any questions at this time.

I do just have one quick question. Do you know how common four-family dwellings are in Ohio? To the chair, to the senator. Multifamilies are pretty common. I know we have a lot of multifamily housing, three plexes, some are four plexes. So I think it really does depend on the neighborhood where it's zoned for multifamily. multifamily. However, I think the distinction that I'm making is that when we go, sometimes it's actually the same property, but when you go to a four-family, it automatically considers it commercial. But it's still in the character of a residential neighborhood. So that's where, once you put a commercial brand on it, it becomes expensive instantly.