Meet the resilient.
Community Housing Network meets each resident where they are, so we can help them get where they want to go. And while the journey is different for each person, it always starts with home.
These are the stories of just a few people who call a CHN property home:
Ossie moved into CHN housing in August 2022 after living in an extremely toxic and violent situation at a group home. The distressing conditions led to post-traumatic stress disorder. She was connected to CHN through her case manager, and now she is proud of her home and herself. Ossie says, “[CHN] brought out the best in me.”
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When Joey’s mom passed away, his security was stripped away. At just 22 years old, Joey lost the most important person in his life and his best friend. His mental health declined, and he found himself without a job, forcing him to lose his home and his beloved cats. As he tried to navigate the hardship of severe depression and grief in tandem, Joey ultimately found himself in a shelter. From there, he was connected to Community Housing Network and finally had stable, permanent supportive housing. But that was only step one, and Joey still needed help.
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Before connecting with CHN, Felita endured five months in a shelter and frequently moved between apartments. Hoping for a fresh start, she relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, but faced years of instability, a toxic relationship, and substance use disorder. After 15 years of unreliable housing, she returned to Columbus. Initially, she stayed on a friend’s couch, but this arrangement was short-lived, leading to homelessness. Felita’s situation began to improve when she connected with CHN and secured her own apartment.
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CHN resident Harbieh loves to decorate her home for Ramadan every year, turning her home into a beautiful, serene space for her to observe the holiday. She is an avid DIY-er, and enjoys turning thrift store and dollar store items into colorful decorations. We are honored at CHN to provide safe, stable housing for Harbieh, allowing her to practice her faith with family, peace, and community.
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Thomas has struggled for many years with insomnia and suicidal ideation after experiencing childhood trauma. He turned to drugs and alcohol to cope, and eventually lost both his housing, and his hope for the future. After experiencing homelessness for 6 years, Thomas was connected with a case manager and introduced to CHN.
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Pauline experienced homelessness throughout her life, and physical and mental health challenges made it difficult to maintain stability. She spent the two years before coming to CHN living in her car, working as many temporary jobs as she could and hoping one day, one of those jobs would become permanent. She struggled immensely during this time, saying of homelessness that “it gets to you, mentally and physically.”
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Lynn came to CHN in December 2022 when our newest building, Touchstone Field Place, was opened to residents. She had become homeless after losing her job, and sought help from a shelter where she stayed for nine months.
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Courtney and her children moved into their CHN apartment in 2017 and continue to thrive. The “mother hen” of the building, Courtney is always there to help her neighbors and even started a support group.
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Michael first experienced homelessness when he was abandoned by his family at 12 years old. Throughout his youth and into adulthood, he lacked stable housing.
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Ayaan was eager to fit in and got involved with a bad crowd, leading to a downward spiral. With support from her CHN Supportive Housing Coordinator, Simona, and NCMH, she has maintained sobriety and turned her life around.
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Our impact
In our 35+ years, Community Housing Network has built more than housing. We’ve built a model that affirms the resiliency and resourcefulness of each individual we serve. We’ve built a network of expert support providers ready to fill every need. And most of all, we’ve opened countless doors for residents to build meaningful, purposeful lives.
We know that what we do works. We see it in residents who call a CHN building home for many years—and in those who leave CHN ready to rent or buy on their own. We see it in those who’ve broken the cycle of domestic abuse—and in those who nurture healthy kids in our family units. We see it in everyone who stands a little taller because they know they have solid ground beneath their feet and support by their side.
Between 2015 and 2020, an average of 96% of CHN residents maintained permanent housing, and 98% of those who moved out did not return to homelessness.
