Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati

Photo courtesy of here.

So what is the truth about Section 8 density in Cincinnati neighborhoods?  Is it true that areas like Westwood have been inundated with Section 8 at a rate that is dramatically different from other neighborhoods?  We asked CMHA for those very details, and the population density accurate as of this past February may have details you don’t expect!

This spreadsheet shows a breakdown of assisted rental and housing units by each Cincinnati neighborhood, as well as including information about the percentage of total available rental and housing units. 

Notice that columns D and F (you’ll need to count yourself from the left) indicate numbers claiming to be a percentage of available units.  To make sure I was completely clear, I asked Kelly Kramer from CMHA the following question:  “Am I correct in thinking that columns D and F indicate the percentage of rentals and houses that are section 8 as compared to the neighborhood’s total stock of rental and housing units?”

Her response:  “Yes your thinking on columns D and F is correct.” She also said:  “We only update our list of assisted housing divided by neighborhood twice a year.  The last one was completed in February.”

So look at the data for Westwood.  Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals:  11.10% | Assisted Units as % of Total Units:  6.27%

How does that compare with other areas?  Take Mt. Airy, for example.  Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals:  24.45% | Assisted Units as % of Total Units:  14.36%

Kennedy Heights— Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals:  18.13% | Assisted Units as % of Total Units:  6.59%

Northside—Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals:  14.77% | Assisted Units as % of Total Units:  6.60%

College Hill—Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals:  22.78% | Assisted Units as % of total Units:  9.08%

So when we hear Westwood activists talking about how their single neighborhood is awash in Section 8, what are they talking about?  They certainly do not have more Section 8 than other neighborhoods that are not complaining, like Mt. Airy, Northside, College Hill, and Kennedy Heights.  And even a neighborhood like Oakley is pretty comparable to Westwood—Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals:  9.84% | Assisted Units as % of total Units:  5.19%

Westwood is also well below the City average—Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals:  21.60% | Assisted Units as % of total Units:  11.76%

If anything, the fact that Melva Gweyn and her demolition derby are using City funds to tear down buildings is sending Section 8 to neighborhoods that already have more than them!

Thank you for reading (and printing from) The Cincinnati Beacon.