Columbus housing crisis: Surge in storage unit 'living' raises concerns and debate

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Reports of people living in storage units across Columbus have sparked social media debates, highlighting the city's deepening housing affordability crisis.

One Nextdoor post described the situation at a CubeSmart location on Nike Drive, where the writer said he found evidence of individuals residing in climate-controlled units.

“I was moving stuff, and a box disappeared,” the poster wrote. “I found my books at 1/2 Price Books Upper Arlington. I couldn’t make this up. Only in Columbus, Ohio.”

Comments flooded the post, with residents expressing frustration over the lack of affordable housing and rising property crime at storage facilities.

“Georgesville Road locations are real bad,” one commenter wrote, noting frequent break-ins.

Others shared personal anecdotes about the challenges of finding affordable places to rent in central Ohio.

“The apartments going up all over the place are more for a 1 bedroom than my mortgage of $1500,” one commenter wrote, going on to explain that her daughter and son-in-law, despite making “good money,” were priced out of apartments due to high deposits and additional pet fees.

“The cheapest one-bedroom in Columbus is $1,056, and you need to make $45,000 annually to afford it,” another person observed, citing information from Apartments.com. “Plus, you need $3,500 for the first, last, and deposit.”

The conversation quickly turned to systemic issues, including corporate ownership of rental properties, stringent income requirements, and the city’s reliance on tax abatements for luxury housing developments.

“There’s hardly enough affordable housing, and there are waiting lists for all of them,” one user commented.

Others debated whether political and corporate decisions were driving homelessness, with some pointing fingers at city leadership and others blaming investment firms and rising demand in the local housing market.

The Community Shelter Board (CSB), which coordinates the response to homelessness in Columbus and Franklin County, has observed trends. Steven Skovensky, CSB’s Chief Programs Officer, said in an email to NBC4 that homelessness has increased by 24% since 2022, with unsheltered homelessness rising by 46% in the same period. Skovensky noted significant increases in families experiencing homelessness, chronic homelessness, and seniors requiring emergency shelter. “Every quarter, the number of seniors in shelters is increasing,” he said.

A recent “Focus Strategies” assessment of Columbus’ crisis system projected a 68% rise in homelessness between 2023 and 2028, driven by skyrocketing rents and shrinking vacancy rates.

“Columbus is near the top in both, so we can expect to see increased homelessness without some major changes,” Skovensky explained.

CSB is addressing these challenges by enhancing diversion and prevention efforts, expanding “Rapid Rehousing” programs for single people, and increasing permanent “supportive” housing for families. New solutions include a “Direct Cash Transfer” program, which Skovensky said has helped families achieve long-term stability by providing “funds directly to families for them to self-resolve their episode of homelessness.”

Systemic issues, particularly the disproportionate impact of homelessness on people of color, remain a major concern. Skovensky emphasized that while people of color make up 24-28% of Franklin County’s population, they account for up to 75% of those experiencing homelessness.

“This is a community crisis we must stand against,” he said, calling for systemic changes to address racism and the root causes of inequality.

Despite the growing challenges, Skovensky said CSB continues to work with partners to secure funding, build landlord relationships, and develop sustainable solutions to combat homelessness in central Ohio.