News GreenLight Fund Cincinnati Celebrates Investment in Eviction Prevention Dec 11, 2024 Cincinnati Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email GreenLight Fund Cincinnati hosted its annual celebration at Rhinegeist Brewery, spotlighting its investment that brought HomeStart’s Renew Collaborative to Cincinnati. The event showcased the collaborative’s innovative approach to preventing evictions and supporting families at risk of homelessness in Hamilton County. Launched in 2022, the Renew Collaborative addresses the far-reaching effects of eviction, which disrupt employment, mental health, and children’s education. By using a unique funding model that incentivizes landlords to pause evictions, the initiative has already helped prevent eviction for over 200 individuals. GreenLight Fund Executive Director, Erin Saul, shared why this program was so important for Cincinnati, stating, “Our selection method is unique in that we take the time to build relationships, conduct research, and work hand in hand with our neighbors to get tactical about what we can do to help folks thrive. What we heard loud and clear is that we needed a solution to non-payment eviction that had a dual benefit for both landlords and families—enter the Renew Collaborative, an innovative model that creates cost savings for landlords and helps families stay in their homes, even if they’ve struggled to pay rent in the past.” GreenLight Fund Cincinnati Executive Director, Erin Saul opens the event. 01/04 United Way of Greater Cincinnati is recognized with the Values in Action Award. L-R: GreenLight Fund CEO, Ali Knight; Renew Collaborative staff Jason Poland; GreenLight Executive Director, Erin Saul; United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Moira Weir; HomeStart’s President, Matthew Pritchard; United Way of Greater Cincinnati staff, Matthew Long and Amy Weber. 02/04 HomeStart’s President, Matthew Pritchard shares the story of bringing the Renew Collaborative eviction prevention program to Cincinnati. 03/04 Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority staff are recognized with the Values in Action Award. L-R: Dena Sullivan, Gregory Johnson, and Ridge Stroud. 04/04 GreenLight Fund CEO Ali Knight praised the partners for their unwavering commitment to the initiative. “These are the champions who work on the front lines every day to ensure that families in Cincinnati are connected to the Renew Collaborative instead of facing eviction. Without their dedication and commitment, the Renew Collaborative would still be merely an idea rather than a life-saving reality for so many families,” said Knight. GreenLight Fund’s investment in HomeStart’s Renew Collaborative ensures that this critical program will remain a permanent fixture in the Cincinnati community. By providing essential support to families on the brink of eviction, the initiative continues to help keep families housed, stabilize their financial futures, and promote long-term community well-being. In reflecting on the expansion to Cincinnati, Matt Pritchard, President of HomeStart said, , “I’m consistently impressed with how the Cincinnati community embraces innovation and works across systems and organizations to bring the right solutions to the people. I remember sitting down with Mr. Johnson at CMHA to discuss our eviction prevention work, and he said, ‘Yes, of course we should do this.’ That immediate support and shared commitment to solving this issue has been crucial in making the Renew Collaborative a success.” For more information on GreenLight Fund Cincinnati and its work with the Renew Collaborative, visit GreenLight Fund Cincinnati’s page. Thank you to our Fund I and Fund II Investors!
