MISSION
HOME’s mission is to eliminate unlawful discrimination in housing in the Greater Cincinnati area. HOME advocates and enforces housing regulations for all protected classes and promotes stable, integrated communities.
HOME Remains Steadfast in 3 Core Commitments
Eliminating unlawful discrimination in housing in Greater Cincinnati
Enforcing housing regulations and ensuring everyone has equal access to safe and fair housing opportunities
Promoting stable, integrated communities
Who We Serve
We work with tenants, homeowners, home seekers, and a diverse range of housing-related professionals, companies, and social service agencies, including landlords, realtors, lending institutions, insurance agents, and more.
Where We Serve
We serve communities in FOUR Cincinnati Counties:
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Butler County
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Hamilton County
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Warren County
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Clermont County
1959
HOME was started in 1959 as the Greater Cincinnati Committee for Equal Opportunities in Housing.
1968
When the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968, the organization was incorporated as Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. (HOME). With housing discrimination now illegal, HOME’s mission was to eliminate illegal discrimination.
1982
HOME counseled home seekers, gathered evidence, and worked with cooperating attorneys. With the Supreme Court Havens decision in 1982, HOME had standing to bring cases in its own name when it found evidence of illegal discrimination. In addition to enforcement, HOME had an active education program and worked with Realtors and landlords to help them understand the law.
1984
HOME began its Mobility Program in 1984 after receiving six years of funding from a consent decree from the Hutchins v. Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority case. The program later ended in 2015.
1988
In 1988, when the Fair Housing Act was amended to add protections for people with disabilities and families with children, HOME responded with additional training, outreach, and client services. HOME joined with the Apartment Association to sponsor a free Housing Mediation Service to resolve disputes without going to court.
2007
People know to call HOME when they have housing questions or problems. During the foreclosure crisis, 2007-2012, HOME offered a foreclosure prevention program.
2008
In 2008, Dr. Charles F. Casey-Leininger and his students from the Department of History at the University of Cincinnati researched and wrote a historical account of housing segregation in Greater Cincinnati. Read or download a PDF of their report here Going Home: The Struggle for Fair Housing in Cincinnati 1900 to 2007.
2009
In 2009, we added a Tenant Advocacy program to help stabilize families and neighborhoods by helping tenants stay in their homes.
2013
In 2013, with a grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation we began working with one inner city elementary school to provide targeted Tenant Advocacy to prevent the constant moves that reduce a child’s ability to learn.
2022
HOME and Partners Publish the Roadmap for Increasing Black Homeownership to Address the 40% Gap in Black Homeownership in Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
**This timeline is a work in progress & will be updated regularly.
From 1977 to 2004, Karla Irvine served as the passionate director of HOME. Throughout her tenure, she was a leader in the fight against illegal housing discrimination in Cincinnati. To read a bit of her story, click Karla Irvine Remembered.
HOME’s services are free of charge. If you have questions or concerns, call us at 513-721-4663 to discuss your situation.