Increasing Access to Safe, Affordable Housing—A Community Collaboration Rooted in Prevention
Media Feature
June 11, 2024
In a recent Facebook update, the Athens County Land Reutilization Corporation (Land Bank) proudly announced a major milestone: full funding approval under the Welcome Home Ohio (WHO) program to construct 13 new homes in Athens County.
While the post shared celebratory news of the funding win, it also revealed a much deeper purpose—building housing as a form of prevention and empowerment.
The new homes will be built across the county, targeting some of the region’s most vulnerable communities. The initiative is part of a broader vision—one that recognizes housing access as a pillar of both public safety and personal freedom.
“We know that one of the main contributors to domestic violence is economic instability which coincides with economic dependence. Having access to safe, affordable housing increases financial stability, increases financial independence, and reduces the risk of violence.”— Jennifer Seifert, via Athens County Land Bank on Facebook