Franklin County's homeless population is at a record high, increasing by 24% over the past two years amid an affordable housing crisis.

Threat level: New housing takes time to develop and the trend is projected to keep worsening as our region's population booms.

• A recent report forecasts a 68% spike in unsheltered homelessness by 2028 without "substantial intervention."

By the numbers: There were 2,380 people experiencing homelessness in Columbus and Franklin County in January.

• The local Community Shelter Board conducts annual point-in-time counts in coordination with the federal government.
• Black residents are disproportionately impacted — representing 53% of those counted, despite making up only 26% of the local population.

Caveat: Such counts may not illustrate the full scope of the problem if people are missed.

Stunning stats: The lack of affordable housing in our region is a primary factor. Median gross rent increased from $887 to $1,186 between 2017-2022, per census data.

• Rental vacancy rates fell to below 4% in that timeframe.
• As of this spring, only 26 housing units were available per 100 extremely low-income households, per the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Context: All these figures are graver than national trends, the report notes.

What they're saying: "If we go much further, we won't be able to reel it back in … we're at that tipping point," Community Shelter Board chief programs officer Steve Skovensky tells Axios.

• "It's critical we make some adjustments in the next 1-3 years."

Zoom in: Researchers say more independent housing options are needed beyond shelters to address anticipated demand.

• They also recommend more preventative support, such as deposit and moving cost assistance.
• Help for single adults, who represented 95% of people living outside this year, is currently less available compared to families.

Flashback: Columbus voters approved bond issues to support affordable housing in 2019 and 2022.

• The city also updated its zoning code this year to encourage more development.

What we're watching: Local leaders announced yesterday the creation of a Regional Housing Coalition to increase the speed and scale of new housing projects.

There are a variety of ways to support initiatives helping Central Ohioans at risk of homelessness.

💰 Donate to organizations like the Community Shelter Board, which coordinates strategy, collaboration and resources to support unhoused people and those at risk.

• The Mid-Ohio Food Collective, which stocks local food pantries, can leverage donated funds to buy goods in bulk.

❤️ Volunteer with organizations that provide help, from housing to health care and everything in between.

Zoom in: The Anthem Welcome Center at 1006 N. High St. is accepting winter gear donations from 9am-2:30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays.

• The space offers on-site health care and housing assistance to those facing homelessness and is a partnership between the Short North Alliance, Southeast Healthcare and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

By the numbers: The center assisted about 1,200 people last year and has already surpassed 2,400 this year, Short North Alliance executive director Betsy Pandora tells Axios.

What they're saying: Pandora says "the need is great" in the densely populated neighborhood and she hopes the project will spur people to help in other ways.

• "What needs to happen is a broader understanding of the circumstances that individuals find themselves in, which is highly complex."
• "The work of supporting people through these moments — whether through the crisis of losing your home, battling addiction or a mental health challenge — requires an interconnected set of interventions."

🖊 Columbus City Council created a 15-member Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, which will advise the city on immigrants' challenges. (Dispatch)

👀 Attorney General Dave Yost hinted at a run for governor in a social media video that ends as he approaches Gov. Mike DeWine's office. (WCMH-TV)

🏛 Meanwhile, Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) announced he will not seek another leadership term. (AP)

• Rep. Tim Barhorst (R-Fort Laramie) is jumping into the race for speaker. (Statehouse News Bureau)

🏫 Olentangy Orange principal Monica Asher is back to work after the district placed her on leave for a post-election message to staff referencing "pain, uncertainty and division." (WCMH-TV)

💸 A vast amount of vacant office space is costing Columbus building owners an estimated $189 million per year, comparable to Cincinnati and Cleveland. (Columbus Business First 🔒)

The Dispatch recently published an investigative series examining how Ohio police departments handle reports of missing people.

• The newspaper reviewed over 1,200 cases spanning 96 years to determine that law enforcement agencies "exacerbated the missing persons crisis and have failed hundreds of Ohioans who have vanished."

Some stunning stats from the series:

📈 22,374: Ohio's number of missing people reported in 2023, a nearly 18% increase over the previous three years.

• That includes 3,917 reports in Columbus. Nearly 78% of Ohio cases involved children.

🔎 43.2%: The percentage of missing Ohioans who are Black, despite making up just 12.5% of the state population.

😳 400+: The average annual caseload for Columbus' eight detectives who investigate reports of missing people. 

Worthy of your time: Vanished: A Dispatch investigation into how police handle missing persons cases

Yesterday, we asked readers to identify the location of this unique sculpture.

✅ You're correct if you guessed it's in front of the Ohio Craft Museum at 1665 W. 5th Ave., just north of Grandview.

• Tyler recently stopped by the Gifts of the Craftsmen sale to find Christmas presents and support Ohio artists. A win-win!

Stop by: 10am-5pm Monday-Saturday and 1-4pm Sunday, through Dec. 23.

👏 Congrats to Sara O. for winning Axios swag!