Amelia White
What I know is, I was very blessed growing up. I was raised with six siblings in a stable middle-class family, and I have been in the same house for 20 years now. Here and there the house requires repairs or upgrades but whose doesn’t? I know that I have grown up in a stable environment and was never really exposed to any neighborhood that was not like my own. Now, however, I am learning from college and the people around me that not everyone has lived like have. It took 20 years for me to learn about the people who are gradually losing their home and community to the city, and this is all happening not even ten minutes away from my own home! Throughout my childhood I had of course heard of the Over-The-Rhine area of downtown Cincinnati, and I knew from hearing other conversations that there were unfair things happening in OTR, but it took me 20 years and one Honors Intermediate Composition course at UC Blue Ash to truly see the full extent of the issues invading OTR.
In 2003, a company by the name of The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp, or 3CDC, was founded with the intention of revitalizing and connecting the Central Business District and OTR in downtown Cincinnati. It was not until 2004 that 3CDC completely took up this responsibility with the help of the city providing them resources free of tax. This tax-exemption alone allows 3CDC to introduce and implement new projects all the time. I will admit that the first time I saw one of 3CDC’s ideas to remodel a house or area I thought it was going to be amazing. It looked promising and they even mentioned making these newly remodeled buildings more affordable for the residents of OTR. After learning of many of the statistics surrounding affordable housing in OTR I realized that these prices were never lowered with the current residents of OTR in mind. These prices and locations were meant to attract the attention of the middle and higher classes and encourage them to move downtown. This plan does coincide with the idea of revitalization and bring life and community to downtown Cincinnati but, in doing so, 3CDC is intentionally and forcefully removing the already existing community that had been there for decades prior. These individuals are not able to relocate so easily and are then forced into experiencing homelessness. These people who have their homes ripped from under them now either begin to experience homelessness where they can’t even lay down on a public bench due to harmful design or are made to fight for a spot in a shelter every night.
At this point I began to look more into the shelters or programs meant to assist victims of unjust housing projects. These places were developed and operated with the intention of helping individuals experiencing homelessness. There is one program that I learned of. CoC, or the Continuum of Care program, dedicates itself to the assistance of individuals experiencing homelessness as well as families experiencing homelessness. I, like many others, had assumed that when there was a program or company that ensured assistance was given to those in need, it would be ensured equally for each person. However, CoC has habitually shown that they prefer to prioritize individuals in their efforts before anyone else. It is much easier to provide housing, finances, etc., for a single person rather than for a whole family. Which begs the question, what about the families? Naturally any program or shelter one would choose to talk to will always confidently proclaim that they help anyone and everyone who needs them but oftentimes shelters and programs will turn families away because there are too many people to provide for or they have no room. If they are not willing to actively help families, then who is? Turns out there are plenty of groups who, like CoC, claim to have the interest of families in mind. Is there a way to tell of this is true? Without interviewing both the companies and their residents there isn’t a great way to determine this as all we must go off is what that group or program states in their website.
To bring in one example, the Bethany House has always been known to open its doors wide to all who need them, but they give stress and importance and priority to families. They offer help to families in need of housing, obtaining jobs to support their families, and ultimately strive to support these families to be self-sufficient. From their websites and their actions, it would seem as though the families are genuinely getting the help they look for. On the other hand, there have been posts about the Bethany Housing moving a family into a home just for those reading about it to have many mixed opinions. Are these families finally in an affordable living space? Are they forced to accept what they’re given because they don’t have another option? Are they truly receiving the help they deserve? Is there a way we can help?
To return to the topic of affordability, the efforts of 3CDC may have seemed appealing and convinced many into supporting their attempts at revitalization but who exactly is it helping? I’ve said it earlier but I have only just begun to realize recently how these efforts to improve the city and lower the cost of living in these buildings was never aimed to help the residents currently living there but it was meant to appeal to those individuals, couples, and families outside of the neighborhood who are financially stable enough to afford it. In turn, the residents of OTR are further pushed out of their homes and communities with no compensation and nowhere else to turn. Individuals now experiencing homelessness face the fear of not being able to find a space to call home every single day. Granted, there are those programs and companies that are willing to assist them, but those same companies will turn away families. Speaking of what happens to the families? They are not simply individuals who only look out for themselves. These families often have children to consider in every decision they make. If they are constantly turned away from receiving help or shelter, where do they go? They can’t claim a spot in a public place, that’s for sure. The benches are designed to not allow a person to lie down so they can’t sleep there. The doorways of abandoned buildings are boarded up so they can’t find shelter from harsh weather. Most don’t have the financial footing to even hope to find an affordable space without assistance but where does that leave them?
As I mentioned in the beginning, I was never too exposed to situations such as these as a child. I had no clue something like this was happening to my own city until just a few years ago. It wasn’t until I was 20 years old that I was fully informed of what consequences followed the promises made by 3CDC. It is my hope that our city can become more involved in helping these people experiencing homelessness. By helping I mean going out to prepare places for these people to call home, not just giving the occasional $5 to someone in need. It was never a path I initially saw myself going down but if I can make a difference in this city and the issue of housing injustice in downtown Cincinnati, I would be interested in at least trying. That attempt starts with my voice. It starts by writing about what I see and hoping my words catch the attention of more. I want to be able to help these parents provide for their families and be able to see them relieved at the fact that they have done their best and succeeded. I couldn’t imagine living every day possibly feeling like I’m not doing enough for the people I love or that I am letting them down. The injustice in OTR needs to be more widely spread to all who are willing to listen and help. 3CDC and the city need to see that, while revitalizing the downtown area is a wonderful idea, they are choosing to help the wrong people.
“Mission: Vision: Values.” Bethany House Services, bethanyhouseservices.org/mission-vision-values/. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
“WCPO 9.” Facebook, www.facebook.com/100064439001229/posts/10158483532213445/. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
“About.” 3CDC, www.3cdc.org/about-3cdc/#:~:text=3CDC%20was%20formed%20in%20July,in%20the%20City%20of%20Cincinnati. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.