Clinton County Homeless Shelter Concerned That State Legislation May Reduce Rural Funds
- Real Change Wilmington
- 15 minutes ago
- 2 min read
In April of 2025, the Ohio House of Representatives passed a state budget proposal that would no longer require counties to send a portion of their recorder fees to the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF). Instead, county commissioners would keep those funds to distribute themselves. Sydney Murtland, Assistant Director of the Clinton County Homeless Shelter, expressed concerns that this would greatly reduce local funds, as money from wealthier counties would no longer be distributed from the statewide fund to rural areas, like Clinton County.
The budget proposal is currently being reviewed by the Ohio Senate. The Ohio House and Senate must then pass the revised budget, and Governor DeWine must sign it by June 30th, 2025. As it stands, fifty percent of the money counties collect stays within their county, and the other fifty goes to the OHTF to be redistributed throughout the state.
Sydney stated that leaving the money distribution up to county commissioners is a “major concern” for the homeless shelter. Regarding the funds, Sydney stated, “It's vital for rural counties to have the support of the OHTF. [Rural] areas often lack the infrastructure and resources found in urban centers, making state support essential.” Sydney continued, “The trust fund provides critical assistance, from emergency shelter to home repair programs, that help keep people housed and communities stable. Without it, many rural Ohioans would be left without a safety net.”
The program funds support diverse uses, including housing development, emergency home repair, handicapped accessibility modifications, housing counseling, rental assistance, new construction, and other services related to homelessness and housing. Local communities are able to apply for money from the fund. Sydney stated that the projects are "more times than not" awarded more funding than what the county requests.
According to the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, state law requires that fifty percent of the OHTF collected must be awarded to rural communities. In 2024, the Clinton County Homeless Services received $234,000. According to Sydney, the Clinton County Homeless Shelter receives money from the fund every two years.
To learn more about the status of the state budget, visit legislature.ohio.gov
