Skip to main content

Home for Families in the News

A Message for our Home for Families Community Partners from Beth Fetzer-Rice, CEO/President

February 28, 2023:  Home for Families announced its housing programs and administrative office relocation in early February. The move is a component of our organization’s strategic growth to meet families’ rising need for housing stability.

Founded in 1986 by a grassroots community group with the belief that it is unacceptable for children to be without a home, The Homeless Families Foundation dba Home for Families has devoted 37 years to providing strength-based services to secure housing, financial and educational stability for strong and resilient families.

The Board and Staff announced the relocation of the housing programs and administrative offices from our 33 N. Grubb Street building to a new leased space at 727 E. Main Street. The new office space sits within a beautiful brick building that resembles a home. It offers client services on the first floor with staff offices on the second and third floor.

Our Team is working tirelessly to find innovative and appropriate housing for our families in the Greater Columbus area. This move makes our housing programs accessible for families allowing staff to more readily provide services in areas where housing opportunities are emerging.

The move followed an evaluation of space needs during the planning process in 2022. Home for Families continues to offer educational programs at the Dowd Education Center at its 33 North Grubb Street location while it seeks to find a buyer for the location. The decision to sell our Franklinton office space, though difficult, stems from the organization’s need for a larger, more efficient space. Home for Families decided to issue a request for proposal rather than listing the property as a means of not only garnering the highest and best offer, but also as a means to identify a buyer who can offer the flexibility needed by HFF to continue providing all of its services.

Thank you for your continued and critical support as we move to serve families in the most efficient and effective ways possible.


HFF's Executive Director, Beth Fetzer-Rice, Featured in WSYX ABC 6 Story "'Affordable' Housing a Priority in Columbus"

March 15, 2022:  HFF's Executive Director, Beth Fetzer-Rice, was featured in WSYX ABC 6's piece "'Affordable' housing a priority in Columbus," focusing on Mayor Ginther's proposed bond package to support the expansion of affordable housing in Columbus. To watch or read the piece, please click here.


Cathy Stofac, HFF's Director of Advancement, Featured in WSYX ABC 6 Story "Rising Gas Prices Impacting the Work of Central Ohio Nonprofits"

March 10, 2022:  Cathy Stofac, HFF's Director of Advancement, was interviewed by WSYX ABC 6's Rodney Dunigan on the specific impact of rising gas prices on families already facing housing, economic, and educational instability.  To read or view the full piece, please click here.


HFF's Partnership in "Resiliency Bridge" Highlighted in Columbus Dispatch Story "New Initiative Helps Franklin County's Low Wage Workers Obtain Housing Stability"

February 16, 2022:  Melissa Humbert-Washington, Director of Programs & Services at Home for Families, was quoted at length in a Columbus Dispatch article about Resiliency Bridge, a new housing and economic stability program in Franklin County for which HFF is providing housing assistance and case management services.  Read the full piece here; subscription may be required.


Melissa Humbert-Washington, HFF's Director of Programs & Services, Quoted in Columbus Dispatch Story "Some Landlords Reject Section 8 Renters Despite Columbus Law Against Discrimination"

February 2, 2022:  Melissa Humbert-Washington, Director of Programs & Services at Home for Families, was quoted in a Columbus Dispatch article about the difficulty of obtaining housing with vouchers despite laws against discrimination.  An HFF client shares her personal story in the article as well.  Read the piece here; subscription may be required.


Home for Families Featured in Columbus CEO and Columbus Monthly Magazine's "Giving" Supplement

December 9, 2021: HFF friend and local author Jillian Boone was featured in the recent issue of "Giving," a supplement of Columbus Monthly Magazine and Columbus CEO. Home for Families (known as "The Homeless Families Foundation" until September 2021) and the book from which it receives proceeds, "Home Sweet Home," receive special mention!  To read the full article, click here.


The Homeless Families Foundation is now "Home for Families"

September 23, 2021:  Join Board of Trustees member and WSYX/Fox 29 anchor Adam Slinger as he and HFF Executive Director Beth Fetzer-Rice announce our agency's exciting name change!   To watch the announcement, please click here or here.


Closing Equity Gaps: Success Bridge

August 12, 2021:  HFF Director of Programs and Services, Melissa Humbert-Washington, is featured alongside students who benefitted from the "Success Bridge" program, a collaboration between Columbus State Community College, The Homeless Families Foundation, the Community Shelter Board, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority and the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio.  To hear these impactful stories, click here.


Dowd Education Center Associate Director Honored as Librarian of the Month

June 16, 2021:  Erin Priest, Associate Director of the Dowd Education Center, was honored by the Junior Library Guild as its June "Librarian of the Month."  Learn more about Erin, her nine years with the Dowd and the profound impact of Dowd programming in this in-depth interview.


HFF's Executive Director Featured on WOSU's "All Sides with Ann Fisher"

June 9, 2021:  HFF Executive Director Beth Fetzer-Rice was a featured guest on Ann Fisher's "Wellness Wednesday" program, on which she discussed the impact of the "Healthy Beginnings at Home" pilot program, a collaboration that also included CareSource, Nationwide Children's Hospital, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority and CelebrateOne.  The story, "Housing Stability's Role in Reducing Infant Mortality," begins at 16:37 here.


Opinion: Housing Stability Can Lead to Better Health for Pregnant Women and their Babies

May 29, 2021:  HFF Executive Director Beth Fetzer-Rice's guest column in The Columbus Dispatch examines the impact of the "Healthy Beginnings at Home" program - a collaboration that also included CareSource, Nationwide Children's Hospital, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority and CelebrateOne - and advocates for its expansion.  Subscription may be required.


HFF's Executive Director Quoted in WSYX ABC 6 Story "Around $1.5 Million Available for Utility Assistance in Columbus"

May 4, 2021:  Federal dollars from the CARES Act were recently shifted to the department of public utilities to help local residents behind on their utility bills as a result of the pandemic.  HFF's Executive Director Beth Fetzer-Rice spoke to Haley Nelson about the volume of need in our community.


Until Everyone Has a Place to Call Home: Cierra's Story

April 24, 2021:  Executive Director Beth Fetzer-Rice and HFF program participant Cierra were participants in the Community Shelter Board's "Under One Roof" special on NBC4i, in which Cierra shared her moving success story with Audrey Hasson.


HFF's Executive Director Quoted in WSYX ABC 6 Story "Columbus Council Members Say Yes to Three Reforms"

March 8, 2021:  HFF Executive Director Beth Fetzer-Rice provided expert insight to Haley Nelson on Columbus City Council's "Housing for All" reform as the CCC sought to have critical new protections established for renters.


HFF's Work Featured on 60 Minutes in "Inside the COVID-19 Recession, One of the Most Unequal in Modern History"

March 7, 2021:  HFF's was featured in this national news story as one of several central Ohio agencies playing a pivotal role in Courtney Yoder's journey through homelessness, particularly in securing stable housing for her.  


HFF's Executive Director Discusses Impact of $1.25 Million Grant from Day 1 Families Foundation in Columbus Dispatch Story "Grants Help Nonprofits that Ohioans Teetering on Edge of Homelessness"

December 20, 2020:  Shortly after learning that HFF had received a $1.25 million grant from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' Day 1 Families Fund, an organization launched to assist nonprofits that provide food and shelter to struggling young families, Beth Fetzer-Rice sat down with Joe Blundo to discuss the impact of HFF's work and the growth the grant would help fund.


HFF's Executive Director Discusses Impact of $1.25 Million Grant from Day 1 Families Foundation in WSYX ABC 6 Story "Organization Founded by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Donates Over $1 Million to Columbus Charity"

December 9, 2020:  Beth Fetzer-Rice spoke with Ciara Lucas about the impact of the Day 1 Families Fund grant, specifically noting that it allows charities that may be facing pandemic-induced donor fatigue to continue providing their critical services without interruption.


HFF Identified as One of Five Beneficiaries of Tanger Outlets and Delivering Good's 2020 Holiday Outreach


HFF Recognized as a Partner in New Columbus State Community College Initiative, "Success Bridge," in Columbus Business First Article "Columbus State Program Will Help with Rent, Provide Apartments for Homeless Students"

June 24, 2020:  HFF was recognized as part of the network of housing agencies partnering with Columbus State Community College on Success Bridge, a program seeking to eliminate housing instability as a barrier to continuing education.


No Show Mother's Day Gala 2020

HFF's "No Show Mother's Day Gala" received coverage from WSYX ABC 6's Adam Slinger and NBC4i's Catherine Ross in May 2020.  

May 7, WSYX ABC 6:  No Show Mother's Day Gala: Helping Mothers Thru The Homeless Families Foundation, Segment 1

May 10, WSYX ABC 6:  No Show Mother's Day Gala: Helping Mothers Thru The Homeless Families Foundation, Segment 2

May 10, NBC4i: No Show Mother's Day Gala Goes Virtual for Moms in Need


HFF Housing Partnership with Huckleberry House Highlighted in December 2019 Columbus Business First Article "Nonprofit Strikes Deals to Expand Homeless Youth Housing"


Three Families Assisted By HFF Featured on WSYX ABC 6's Good Day Columbus Segment "Columbus Organizations Granting Holiday Wishes to Homeless Families"

December 22, 2019:  Single moms Kristian and Bridgette and single dad Artico were granted special holiday wishes on air, with commentary from Executive Director Beth Fetzer-Rice about the increasing lack of affordable housing in central Ohio and its impact on the rising rate of homelessness in our community.  Some children who have benefitted from HFF's programs also helped anchors Maria Durant and Jackie Orozco create holiday crafts in this later segment.


Holiday Celebration with The Homeless Families Foundation

December 21, 2019:  WSYX ABC 6 anchor Bob Kendrick shared highlights of The Homeless Families Foundation's holiday celebration, hosted by Catering by Scott and featuring photos with Santa and a visit from the Columbus Crew!


"Hope Takes Flight" on WSYX ABC 6's Good Day Columbus

September 22, 2019:  Youth impacted by HFF's programming joined Good Day Columbus anchors Maria Durant and Jackie Orozco to discuss how the organization provides better paths for them as well as to help promote Hope Takes Flight, HFF's signature fundraising event.


HFF Recognized as Partner Agency in "Healthy Beginnings at Home" Program in August 2019 Columbus Dispatch Story, "Program to Reduce Infant Mortality Subsidizes Costs for Pregnant Women"


Heartland Woman: Beth Fetzer-Rice

November 2018:  This 90-minute podcast with HFF's Executive Director Beth Fetzer-Rice and host Martha Kovach features a layered and extensive discussion about the importance of having a place to call home, the barriers to safe and affordable housing so many in our community face, and common misconceptions and stereotypes about the families we serve. 

We are grateful for our Community Impact Partners!

Close Menu