ANNOUNCER: BRICK BY BRICK IS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO LEADING SUPPORT FROM: AND MANY MORE.

WE COULDN'T DO THIS WORK WITHOUT YOU.

THANK YOU.

THOMPSON: PRICES ARE STILL OUT OF REACH FOR MANY FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, BUT HERE'S A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE: DEVELOPERS ARE BUILDING SOMETHING SLIGHTLY MORE AFFORDABLE, TOWNHOMES.

SIMMS: COST IS DEFINITELY A MAJOR CONSIDERATION WHEN IT COMES TO PURCHASING A TOWNHOME.

I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT DATA ON WHERE WE ARE COMPARED TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD BE LOOKING AT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT'S DEFINITELY A SAVINGS.

THOMPSON: AND AFFORDABILITY UPDATE FOR BOTH HOMES AND RENTALS COMING UP, PLUS -- MOORE: RESEARCH THAT BEGAN HERE AT CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IS OFFERING NEIGHBORHOODS EVERYWHERE A NEW SET OF TOOLS AND PERSPECTIVE FOR BUILDING A THRIVING FUTURE.

WE'LL TELL YOU HOW.

THOMPSON: BUT FIRST, AN IDEA TO HELP KIDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

LAGUERRE: IN MOST CASES, ADULT SUCCESS REQUIRES EDUCATION, BUT HOUSING STABILITY CAN HOLD STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BACK.

COMING UP, THE BENEFITS BEING SEEN BY USING PARKING LOTS JUST LIKE THIS AS A SAFE ALTERNATIVE.

COLE: BEING ABLE TO BE SAFE AT ALL TIMES IS MY MAIN PRIORITY, ESPECIALLY FOR MY CHILDREN.

THOMPSON: LET'S GET INTO IT.

THIS IS BRICK BY BRICK: SOLUTIONS FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO BRICK BY BRICK WHERE WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING SOLUTIONS FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY IN SOUTHWEST OHIO.

I'M YOUR HOST, ANN THOMPSON.

WE START TODAY WITH THE PROBLEM OF STUDENT HOMELESSNESS.

IN THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR, PUBLIC SCHOOLS IDENTIFIED MORE THAN A MILLION AND A HALF KIDS WHO DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

THAT'S A 13% INCREASE FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

IN OHIO, IT'S MORE THAN 25,000.

STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS MISS A LOT OF CLASSES BECAUSE THEY MOVE AROUND A LOT, AND 30% OF THEM DIDN'T GRADUATE IN THE '22-'23 SCHOOL YEAR.

BEING UNHOUSED CAN ALSO INCREASE RISK OF PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH.

BECAUSE OF BARRIERS TO HOUSING AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, THE LIKELIHOOD OF EXPERIENCING IT TENDS TO BE HIGHER AMONG STUDENTS OF COLOR.

HOW CAN WE BETTER SET THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES UP FOR STABILITY AND SUCCESS?

AS BRICK BY BRICK'S HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR.

REPORTS, CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED A WAY TO KEEP FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT AND PROVIDE THEM WITH SERVICES THEY NEED NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.

COLE: WE'RE USUALLY PRETTY COMFORTABLE, NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE'RE IN A BED, BUT, UM, IT'S -- IT'S DOABLE FOR RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN MANAGE.

LAGUERRE: AJA COLE ISN'T LIVING IN HER CAR BY CHOICE.

BEFORE THIS CHAPTER OF HER LIFE, THE SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE TELLS US THAT SHE WAS DEALING WITH A LANDLORD WHO ALLEGEDLY IGNORED UNSANITARY LIVING CONDITIONS.

COLE: WE FACED HAVING TO LIVE WITH MICE, THEIR, YOU KNOW, FECES CAN BE DEADLY.

I HAVE A YOUNGER SON THAT PLAYS ON THE FLOOR AND HE CAN TOUCH SOMETHING, AND THEN HE GOES TO TOUCH HIS FACE AND NOW HE -- THAT'S A WHOLE 'NOTHER ISSUE I HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

LAGUERRE: AJA BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO HER LANDLORD, BUT AFTER NEARLY SIX MONTHS OF IT BEING UNRESOLVED, AJA FELT THAT HER RENT WASN'T BEING RESPECTED.

COLE: BEING THE HARD WORKING WOMAN THAT I AM.

I'M GOING TO PAY TO LIVE SOMEWHERE, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO FIX.

LAGUERRE: ONE DAY, AFTER SHE CAME HOME FROM WORK AS A HOME HEALTH AIDE, AJA WAS MET WITH AN EVICTION NOTICE.

SUDDENLY, SHE FOUND HERSELF AND HER KIDS IN AN UNBELIEVABLE SITUATION.

COLE: I EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, MOVED OUT.

I JUST, YOU KNOW, PARKED MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT OF A GROCERY STORE.

MY KIDS, YOU KNOW, HAD ENDED UP FALLING ASLEEP AT THE TIME.

SO I KIND OF JUST, YOU KNOW, PULLED OVER AND I WENT TO SLEEP AS WELL.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO SEE YOU, SO YOU KIND OF HAD TO SLEEP WITH ONE EYE OPEN.

LAGUERRE: SITUATIONS LIKE THESE ARE WHY CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION PROJECT CONNECT STARTED THEIR SAFE SLEEP LOT PROGRAM IN THE SPRING OF 2026.

BEACH: APRIL 30TH WAS OUR FIRST DAY OPENING, AND WE WERE CONCERNED THAT THE LOT WOULDN'T BE UTILIZED, AND IT'S BEEN NONSTOP.

LAGUERRE: REBEKA BEACH IS THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR PROJECT CONNECT.

THIS SAFE SLEEP LOT IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, FULLY RUN BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IT IS LOCATED AT WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT ELEMENTARY.

THE PROGRAM ALLOWS UNHOUSED FAMILIES WITH CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO SAFELY SLEEP IN A SECURED PARKING LOT AS THEY WAIT TO FIND OPEN SPACE IN THE SHELTER OR FIND PERMANENT HOUSING.

BEACH: WE WERE HEARING FROM A LOT OF PARENTS THAT, NUMBER ONE, THEY DIDN'T FEEL SAFE AT NIGHT, AND SO THEY WERE NOT GETTING SLEEP.

AND WE HAD A COUPLE OF FAMILIES WHO SHARED THAT THEY LOST THEIR POSITIONS AT WORK BECAUSE THEY WERE FALLING ASLEEP AT WORK.

LAGUERRE: THE SAFE SLEEP LOT GIVES PARENTS THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE FOR AND PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN.

COLE: AS A MOM, I FELT LIKE FOR A SECOND, LIKE I WAS -- I WAS FAILING AS A PARENT.

LAGUERRE: WHAT DID YOUR KIDS SAY DURING THIS PROCESS?

COLE: YES, THEY WERE, "MOMMY, WHAT ARE WE DOING?"

UM, I'M GOING TO GET EMOTIONAL.

THEY WERE ASKING ME LIKE LOTS OF QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, WHY DO WE HAVE TO SLEEP IN THE CAR?

I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP IN THE CAR.

I WANT TO SLEEP IN MY BED, YOU KNOW?

WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO?

ARE WE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO STAY SOMEWHERE ELSE?

UM, SORRY.

AND I KNOW THIS IS TEMPORARY.

I KNOW IT'S NOT PERMANENT, BUT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE ASKING YOU QUESTIONS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO RIGHT THEN AND THERE, IT'S HARD.

LAGUERRE: DETERMINED TO FIND HELP, AJA CALLED THE CINCINNATI SHELTER HOTLINE, WHERE THEY GOT CONNECTED WITH THE TEMPORARY SOLUTION OF THE SAFE SLEEP LOT.

COLE: COMING TO THE LOT, WHEN I PULLED IN, UM, IT KIND OF MADE ME -- IT DID MAKE ME FEEL SAFER BECAUSE IT WAS GATED.

I WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, GET SOME SLEEP AND HAVE A PEACE OF MIND FOR A SECOND.

BUT I ALLOWED MY KIDS TO, YOU KNOW, ALSO REST AS WELL.

LAGUERRE: THERE'S ABOUT 12 SPOTS HERE IN THE SAFE SLEEP LOT WHERE FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES HERE ON SITE.

THE PROGRAM IS OPEN BETWEEN MARCH AND NOVEMBER, BUT DURING THE OFF MONTHS, PROJECT CONNECT HAS PARTNERS SUCH AS CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL IN DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI THAT HOST THE FAMILIES THAT UTILIZE THE PROGRAM.

BUT THE ORGANIZATION IS LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL PARTNERS.

BEACH: WE'VE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT ON A DEEPER LEVEL WITH OUR FAMILIES AND PROVIDE REALLY WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR THEM.

LAGUERRE: THESE SERVICES INCLUDE AN ON SITE FACILITY EQUIPPED WITH A KITCHENETTE WITH SNACKS AND MEALS, BATHROOMS THAT INCLUDE SHOWERS.

ON TOP OF THAT, PROJECT CONNECT PROVIDES HYGIENE PRODUCTS, SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND HAVE A SYSTEM FOR USERS TO GET THEIR LAUNDRY DONE.

THESE EFFORTS FROM PROJECT CONNECT GIVE PARENTS LIKE AJA AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A BETTER FUTURE FOR HER KIDS BY FOLLOWING HER OWN DREAMS OF BECOMING A NURSE.

COLE: I'VE ALWAYS INSPIRED TO HELP PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

I BASICALLY DREAMED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO PEOPLE WHO MAY COME INTO THIS SITUATION.

LAGUERRE: AJA WANTS TO REMIND PEOPLE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS THAT DESPITE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE, THEIR OUTLOOK ON LIFE WILL PLAY A ROLE ON THEIR KIDS DEVELOPMENT.

COLE: IF WE'RE NOT 100%, OUR KIDS AREN'T GOING TO BE 100%.

THE SITUATION, YES, CAN BE DEPRESSING, BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S ALWAYS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND THIS IS NOT PERMANENT.

LAGUERRE: FOR BRICK BY BRICK.

I'M HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR.

THOMPSON: IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR DAYTON HAD 656 UNHOUSED STUDENTS.

BRICK BY BRICK ASKED SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR DAVID LAWRENCE IF THE DISTRICT HAD A SAFE SLEEP LOT, HE SAID NO, BUT HE SAYS HE'S EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY.

CINCINNATI FOLLOWED SAN DIEGO'S LEAD WITH THE IDEA.

THE CALIFORNIA CITY PARTNERED WITH JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE IN 2017 TO CONVERT WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST OF FOUR PARKING LOTS INTO SAFE ZONES, NOT ONLY FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, BUT FOR ANYONE WHO HAS A WORKING VEHICLE AND ENROLLS WITH A SERVICE PROVIDER.

ONE SAFE SLEEP LOT IS A FORMER SCHOOL.

AND RESEARCH SHOWS THE CONCEPT IS EFFECTIVE.

A 2024 STUDY FOUND 40% OF THOSE WHO SLEPT AT A SAFE LOT BETWEEN MARCH 2020 AND NOVEMBER 2021 WERE ABLE TO MOVE INTO MORE STABLE HOUSING.

THAT COMPARES TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF BELOW 34% FOR SHELTERS.

AND RESIDENTS IN THE SAFE SLEEP LOTS PREFERRED THEM OVER EMERGENCY SHELTERS.

HERE'S ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW A CLIENT NAMED JIM BENEFITED.

WHEN HE CAME TO THE LOT HE WAS UNEMPLOYED.

BUT OVER THE NEXT MONTH, HE GOT A JOB, SAVED MONEY FOR A DEPOSIT, AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO A STUDIO APARTMENT.

LIKE CINCINNATI, SAN DIEGO OFFERS A PARKING SPACE, RESTROOMS, AND ON SITE SECURITY.

IN ADDITION, IT HAS HOUSING, NAVIGATION, JOB TRAINING AND CONTACTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.

CLOSER TO HOME, SUBURBAN LEXINGTON FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS CONSIDERING STARTING A SAFE SLEEP LOT.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEACHERS UNION IS ASKING THE DISTRICT TO ESTABLISH ONE THAT MIRRORS CINCINNATI'S PROGRAM.

THE CINCINNATI SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

IT WAS ONE OF FIVE STUDIED BY THE NONPARTISAN NONPROFIT LEARNING POLICY INSTITUTE, WHICH SAID THE DISTRICT'S LEVERAGED PARTNERSHIPS TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL ITEMS: TRANSPORTATION, ACADEMIC SERVICES, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SPECIALIZED SUPPORT FOR UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH, AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES.

THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO THE HELP SCHOOLS CAN PROVIDE, INCLUDING MONEY.

THE LEARNING POLICY INSTITUTE REPORTED THAT STAFF FROM THE FIVE DISTRICTS WERE RESTRICTED ON HOW FEDERAL AND STATE EDUCATION FUNDING IS SPENT, PROHIBITING STAFF FROM USING THAT MONEY TO PAY UTILITY BILL OR RENT.

ONE COORDINATOR IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, TALKED ABOUT ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THE MONEY TO HELP FAMILIES BECOME HOUSED WAS AVAILABLE, BUT THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO.

OTHER LIMITATIONS INCLUDE FINDING STUDENTS WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS DISAPPEARED FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT NATIONWIDE DURING COVID.

SOME DISTRICTS CHECKED TEMPORARY RESIDENCES, IDENTIFY SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, AND REACH OUT TO HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO BUILD A BETTER PICTURE OF HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE STUDENTS WITH A PLACE TO LIVE DO BETTER IN SCHOOL.

FOR THAT, AND MANY OTHER REASONS, WE'LL BE KEEPING OUR EYE ON RESPONSES LIKE THE SAFE SLEEP LOT AS IT PROGRESSES.

WE SHIFT GEARS NOW TO A TOOLKIT THAT'S ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CINCINNATI NEIGHBORHOODS AND COULD HELP OTHERS IN SOUTHWEST OHIO AND BEYOND.

THE IDEA IS TO TACKLE COMPLEX SOCIETAL CHALLENGES THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD LED CHANGE.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

BRICK BY BRICK'S EMIKO MOORE SAT DOWN WITH ONE OF THE CREATORS TO FIND OUT.

MOORE: DR.

CARLEY RILEY IS A RESEARCHER AND PRACTICING PHYSICIAN AT CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WHO HELPED DESIGN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS SYSTEMS APPROACH.

DR.

RILEY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

DR.

RILEY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MOORE: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT BROKEN SYSTEMS IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN CINCINNATI AND DAYTON.

YOU'VE SPENT MORE THAN A DECADE RESEARCHING HOW TO FIX THESE BROKEN SYSTEMS.

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THEM AND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGE SYSTEMS THAT YOU'RE SEEING IN OUR AREA?

DR.

RILEY: ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE FOUND OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS IN WORKING DEEPLY WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS, IS THAT NEIGHBORHOODS BEHAVE AS SYSTEMS.

HOUSING, SAFETY, FOOD, BUSINESS ALL INTERACT TOGETHER.

EACH NEIGHBORHOOD IS COMPRISED OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WORKING DIFFERENTLY AND PRODUCING DIFFERENT OUTCOMES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE WITHIN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND SO, IN FACT, WE SAY SYSTEMS AREN'T BROKEN.

WE SAY THEY'RE PERFECTLY DESIGNED TO GET THE OUTCOMES THAT THEY'RE GETTING.

AND SO IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE RESIDENTS AREN'T EXPERIENCING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OUTCOMES THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE EXPERIENCING, THEN WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS ADDRESS THE SYSTEM, NOT FIX THE SYMPTOMS.

MOORE: WHAT ARE THE MOST CHALLENGED SYSTEMS THAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS?

DR.

RILEY: SO THERE'S BEEN A REALLY WONDERFUL FOUNDATION OF STUDY, LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE NEED IN ORDER TO REALLY ACHIEVE THEIR BEST POSSIBLE LIVES, TO REALLY THRIVE.

AND ONE OF THE PLACES I WOULD LOOK TO IS THE VITAL CONDITIONS FOR THRIVING.

AND THERE ARE SEVEN OF THEM, WITH BELONGING AND CIVIC MUSCLE AT THE CENTER.

AND SO IN NEIGHBORHOODS OR IN COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE REALLY HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF BELONGING AND ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO REALLY COME TOGETHER AND TO USE THEIR VOICE AND TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD OF THEIR OWN ACTIONS, THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS TEND TO HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES, MORE PEOPLE THRIVING.

WE ALSO SEE THAT HOUSING, AS WELL AS FOOD AND BASIC NEEDS FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY, ALONG WITH TRANSPORTATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING, ABILITY TO HAVE MEANINGFUL WORK AND WEALTH, THOSE ARE ALL REALLY ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS AS WELL.

IF THE PEOPLE WITHIN A NEIGHBORHOOD, THOUGH, HAVE THAT SENSE OF BELONGING AND ABILITY TO REALLY SHAPE AND TAKE ACTION TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN CONDITIONS, THEN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS TEND TO BE SEEING BETTER HOUSING, BETTER FOOD, BETTER OTHER VITAL CONDITIONS AS WELL.

MOORE: SO RESIDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

YOU'VE CREATED A TOOLKIT, GOT A LOT OF TOOLS IN THERE.

WHAT'S BEEN MOST EFFECTIVE?

DR.

RILEY: MM-HMM.

SO THE GUIDE THAT EMERGED OUT OF THE LAST TEN YEARS OF WORK REALLY PROVIDES A PATHWAY, A SIMPLE PATHWAY FOR RESIDENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES WITHIN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT'S A SIMPLE, SIMPLE PATHWAY: CONNECT, EXPLORE, TEST, SUSTAIN.

AND THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER, FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE PRIORITY THAT THEY WANT TO ADDRESS, HAVE A WAY TO FIND THE LEVERAGE POINTS TO ACTUALLY MAKE THINGS BETTER, TEST SMALL SOLUTIONS AND THEN SCALE WHAT WORKS.

MOORE: CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF KIND OF A WAY THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS MADE AN IMPROVEMENT OR MADE IT BETTER FOR THEMSELVES.

DR.

RILEY: SURE.

SO I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF AVONDALE.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH LEADERS AND RESIDENTS OF AVONDALE ACROSS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAT THEY HAVE.

ONE IS AROUND FOOD SECURITY AND ANOTHER IS AROUND CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION.

IN WORKING WITH THESE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEMSELVES HAS BEEN, UM, THEY CREATED THEIR OWN SOLUTIONS.

ONE OF THEM WAS TO WORK WITH LAST MILE, WHICH IS A FOOD RESCUE AGENCY HERE.

AND THEY TOGETHER DESIGNED THE FIRST LAST MILE MOBILE MARKET IN WHICH LAST MILE WOULD BRING FOOD DIRECTLY INTO NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEMSELVES DESIGNATED AS THE PLACES TO GO, AND THEN CREATED A MARKET IN WHICH PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN BEHAVE AS SHOPPERS AND ACCESS FREE FOODS, INCLUDING MEAT AND DAIRY, ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THEY NOW OPERATE 3 TO 4 TIMES A WEEK WITHIN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, ALL GUIDED BY NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS THEMSELVES.

ANOTHER IS THE AVONDALE RESPITE CENTER.

THAT IS A NEW, UM, A NEW NONPROFIT THAT EXISTS WITHIN AVONDALE TO PROVIDE CRISIS NURSERY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WITHIN THE AVONDALE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THAT IDEA WAS BORN OUT OF WOMEN COMING TOGETHER AT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT WAS NEEDED WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN ORDER TO SUPPORT FAMILIES.

AND THAT IS WHAT THEY'VE DESIGNED, AND THEY'VE NOW LAUNCHED IT.

IT'S CALLED ARC.

MOORE: THAT'S AMAZING.

WHAT DOES IT DO TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ONCE THEY START SEEING THAT THEIR VOICE ACTUALLY IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

DR.

RILEY: IT BEGETS MORE IDEAS AND MORE ACTION, AND IMPORTANTLY, NOT ALL ACTION PRODUCES IMPACT, RIGHT?

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS GUIDE HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IS, ARE THE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE TAKING ACTUALLY LEADING TO IMPROVEMENT IN THE OUTCOMES THAT WE CARE ABOUT?

SIMPLY BEING BUSY DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT WE'RE IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OTHER PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO TARGET THE LEVERAGE POINTS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A SYSTEM IN ORDER TO REALLY PRODUCE MEANINGFUL AND SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES.

MOORE: AND THIS TOOLKIT IS AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE, IS THAT CORRECT?

DR.

RILEY: NEIGHBORHOODTOOLKIT.ORG.

MOORE: OKAY.

SO ANYONE -- DR.

RILEY: ANYBODY CAN GO THERE FROM ANYWHERE AND USE THE TOOLKIT AND GUIDE.

MOORE: WELL DR.

CARLEY RILEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DR.

RILEY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THOMPSON: WE REALIZE THAT THE KEY TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD LED CHANGE TOOLKIT IS GETTING YOUR HANDS ON IT, SEEING WHAT IT CAN DO FOR YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS.

TO DIVE DEEPER, HEAD TO OUR WEB PAGE FOR LINKS TO START USING THE TOOLKIT RIGHT AWAY.

YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT OUR EXTENDED INTERVIEW WITH DR.

RILEY ONLINE, ON THE PBS APP, OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO THE POD.

HERE AT BRICK BY BRICK, WE COVER A LOT OF SOLUTIONS, BUT LIKE OUR CITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR FOUNDATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOUSING.

AND SO AS WE START SEASON THREE, WE WONDERED WHETHER THE PRICES HAD COME DOWN AND ARE THERE MORE HOMES TO CHOOSE FROM?

AND WHAT ABOUT RENT?

PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE TALKING ABOUT THEIR CONTINUED HOUSING CHALLENGES.

WOODY: IF YOU HAVE DIFFERENT STANDARDS, YOU WANT DIFFERENT PLACES TO LIVE, AND IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE WAGES THAT CAN AFFORD THOSE STANDARDS, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO GET THERE.

SHEA: BUT RIGHT NOW, IT FEELS LIKE IT'S MAYBE MORE CHALLENGING BECAUSE A LOT MORE PEOPLE WANT TO GET INTO HOUSING DUE TO THE CHALLENGES AND HOW THE HOUSING IS GETTING EXPENSIVE.

JOINER: I WANT TO BUY A HOME, BUT I FEEL LIKE IF IT'S TOO MUCH OF A STRESS, I MIGHT END UP HAVING TO RENT FOR A WHILE OR, I DON'T KNOW, IT'S JUST A BALANCE OF WHAT MAKES SENSE WITH MY KIDS AND EVERYTHING, SO.

THOMPSON: THE REASON THEY MIGHT BE FEELING THIS WAY IS BECAUSE HERE IN OHIO, PRICES REMAIN HIGH DESPITE MORE HOUSING BEING BUILT.

LET'S LOOK LOCALLY WHERE THE PRICE OF A HOME HAS GONE UP AND IS NOW MORE THAN $343,000 IN CINCINNATI AND UPWARDS OF $244,000 IN DAYTON.

DRIVING UP THE PRICE IS MORE EXPENSIVE LAND, INCREASED LABOR COSTS AND ZONING REQUIREMENTS.

IN THE PAST DECADE, BUILDING CODES ALONE HAVE INCREASED THE PRICE ABOUT $40,000.

WHAT COULD HELP?

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO THAT FROM THE BUILDERS PERSPECTIVE.

WHILE THERE'S BEEN A WAVE OF MULTIFAMILY CONSTRUCTION AND STEADY BUILDING OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, THE LEVEL OF SUPPLY ALONE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH TO DRIVE DOWN PRICES, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR BIGGER METROS.

BASED ON U.S.

CENSUS BUREAU ESTIMATES, SUBURBAN COUNTIES OUTPERFORMED MANY METRO AREAS IN HOUSING GROWTH FROM 2024 TO 2025.

AND WHILE YOU STILL MAY BE ABLE TO FIND FIXER UPPERS FOR A DEAL, NEW HOUSING DEVELOPERS, LIKE CHARLES SIMMS DEVELOPMENT, SEE TOWNHOMES AND SMALLER LOTS AS ADDITIONAL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO LOWER THE COST.

SIMMS: THERE'S A LOT OF COST SAVINGS, SO INSTEAD OF BUILDING ONE HOME AT A TIME, WE CAN BUILD SIX HOMES AT ONE TIME.

WE CAN SHARE SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GOES INTO THE HOME, SHARED COST ON BRICKWORK OR SIDING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO YOUR COSTS OR SAVINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT LESS, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT COSTS ARE LESS AS WELL.

SO IT ENDS UP BEING A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE HOME TO BUILD.

THOMPSON: BECAUSE OF THAT CONTINUED HIGH BARRIER TO HOME OWNERSHIP NATIONWIDE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE RENTING AN APARTMENT HIT A RECORD HIGH LAST YEAR, AND RENT CONTINUES TO RISE.

AVONDALE'S LARRY WOODY IS KEEPING TRACK.

WOODY: RENT HAS ACTUALLY INCREASED.

I'M PRETTY SURE LAST TIME I CHECKED IS A 2.9%.

THOMPSON: AND HE'S NOT FAR OFF.

ACCORDING TO RENT CAFE, THE AVERAGE CINCINNATI RENT IS MORE THAN $1400 A MONTH.

FOR DAYTON, IT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN $1,100.

AND AS WE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE NEW HOUSING, WE DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE MARKET CONTINUES TO LOSE LOW RENT UNITS AS THEY FALL INTO DISREPAIR, OR OWNERS CONVERT THEM INTO LUXURY HOUSING.

NATIONWIDE, THE GAP FOR LOW INCOME ALIGNED HOUSING IS 7 MILLION.

HERE IN OHIO, ACCORDING TO THE COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING, WE NEED 266,000 LOW INCOME UNITS.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BRIGHT SPOTS.

HERE'S ONE.

THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS RESEARCH TEAM FINDS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE UNDER AGE 35 WHO SECURED HOME LOANS IN CINCINNATI WAS THE EIGHTH HIGHEST IN THE NATION, SIGNIFYING IT'S EASIER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BUY A HOME HERE THAN IN MAYBE OTHER CITIES.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT THIS MAY COME WITH SOME HELP, LIKE THE BANK OF MOM AND DAD.

AND IF YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE PRICE OF A HOME TO COME DOWN, HERE'S SOMETHING: THE OHIO HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION IS LOBBYING FOR CUTS TO GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS, IT SAYS, HAVE ADDED $132,000 TO THE PRICE OF A NEW HOME.

OHIO HOUSE BILL 361 COULD BECOME A NATIONAL MODEL BY SETTING MANDATED TIME LIMITS FOR REVIEWING AND APPROVING ZONING PERMITS TO AROUND 30 DAYS.

WE'LL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS BILL TO SEE IF IT GAINS TRACTION.

IT'S AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL NOW.

WE MAY BE STARTING A WHOLE NEW SEASON OF SOLUTIONS, STORIES AND UPDATES, BUT YOU CAN EXPLORE PAST STORIES AND ACCESS EXTRA RESOURCES AND CONTENT AT CETCONNECT.ORG AND THINKTV.ORG.

IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO GET IN TOUCH ABOUT THE ISSUES YOU CARE ABOUT THE MOST.

TO DO THAT, CLICK ON THE BIG GREEN BUTTON TO SHARE FEEDBACK, IDEAS, OR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU'D LIKE US TO INVESTIGATE.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

THREE TOPICS, THREE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.

IT'S TIME FOR TAKEAWAYS AND WE WELCOME HERNZ AND EMIKO.

LAGUERRE: HELLO.

MOORE: HELLO.

THOMPSON: HERNZ, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR STORY.

YOU HAD THE LEAD STORY, SAFE SLEEP LOTS.

WHAT ARE YOUR TAKEAWAYS?

LAGUERRE: YEAH, THE FOLKS AT PROJECT CONNECT DIDN'T THINK ANYONE WAS GOING TO UTILIZE THEIR SERVICES.

BUT EVER SINCE THEY OPENED UP IN APRIL OF 2026, MULTIPLE FAMILIES HAVE USED THE LOT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD TO TURN ANYONE AWAY.

BUT I IMAGINE WITH THE INCREASING NUMBER OF HOMELESS FAMILIES AND, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE HOUSING INCREASINGLY BECOMING TOUGH TO COME BY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO EVENTUALLY HAVE TO LOOK TO, UM, YOU KNOW, BROADENING OUT THEIR PROGRAM.

RIGHT?

BUT THE ONE THING I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES IS THAT THIS IS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION.

THEY'RE HAPPY THEY'RE BRINGING FAMILIES TO A SAFE AREA, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY HOPE TO ONE DAY NOT BE NECESSARY AT ALL.

THE TRUE SOLUTION THAT THEY POINT TO IS, OF COURSE, BUILDING AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE HOUSING, MORE EVICTION PROTECTION.

SO MANY FAMILIES THAT COME TO A LOT SAY THAT THEY STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THEIR HOME IF THEY KNEW THEIR RIGHTS.

AND THEN OVERALL, JUST, YOU KNOW, INCREASING EDUCATION SO THAT THESE HARD WORKING FAMILIES KNOW WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THEM OUT THERE.

THOMPSON: EMIKO, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SAFE SLEEP LOT?

MOORE: I LIKE THAT IT IS A STEPPING STONE, THAT THEY ARE GIVING THEM SKILLS TO KIND OF FIND HOUSING OR JOB TRAINING SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE OUT TO OTHER HOUSING.

I THINK THAT FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, A SCHOOL MIGHT BE THE ONE STABLE PLACE IN THEIR LIFE.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMEWHERE THAT THEY CAN GO.

IT'S SAFE, THEY CAN LEARN, AND THEY REALLY CAN BUILD ON THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

YOU KNOW, WE SEE THE STATISTICS THAT SHOW THE ACADEMIC LEVELS FOR THOSE FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS REALLY LOW.

SO IF WE CAN GET THEM TO GET THAT KIND OF AREA OF STRENGTH, I REALLY THINK IT DOES HELP THEM WITH THEIR FUTURE.

IT REALLY GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, TOO.

THOMPSON: WITH STUDENT HOMELESSNESS INCREASING, IN SOME CASES, DOUBLE DIGITS, I'M GLAD THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

AND I KNOW IT IS A BAND AID APPROACH, BUT I'M ENCOURAGED THAT SUBURBAN LEXINGTON AND MAYBE EVEN DAYTON AND OTHERS MIGHT TRY THIS APPROACH AND THEN ULTIMATELY GET KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES STABLE HOUSING.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TOOLKIT.

YOU MIGHT THINK THIS IS KIND OF COMMON SENSE, BRINGING TOGETHER NEIGHBORS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS AND SOLVE THEM.

AND IN FACT, THERE IS A PLAYBOOK NOW ON HOW TO DO IT THANKS TO CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S.

AND I LIKE HOW DR.

RILEY EXPLAINED THAT RESIDENTS WHO HAD A STRONG SENSE OF BELONGING HAD THE BEST OUTCOMES.

EMIKO?

MOORE: THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I THINK WHAT THIS SYSTEM OR APPROACH DOES IS IT CREATES NEIGHBORHOOD AS SYSTEMS.

AND SO IT MAPS THEM OUT SO THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE HOW THE SYSTEM IS WORKING AND HOW WELL THEY'RE PLAYING TOGETHER.

LIKE ACCESS TO FOOD OR TRANSPORTATION.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER THEY'RE NONPROFITS OR GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS OR NEIGHBORS, THEY CAN REALLY ALL LOOK TOGETHER AND BRAINSTORM TOGETHER.

AND THIS ALSO TAPS INTO THE WISDOM OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE BEST REALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING AND THEY CAN GIVE OFTEN REALLY A GOOD INSIGHT INTO WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

LAGUERRE: YEAH, I THINK WE LEARNED FROM SEASON TWO THAT THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP WITH SOME OF THESE TOPICS, RIGHT?

WITH HOUSING, WITH TRANSPORTATION, WITH HEALTH.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, HAVING ALL THESE GROUPS WORK TOGETHER JUST LEADS TO A BETTER OUTPUT FOR THESE FAMILIES.

THOMPSON: NOW IN TERMS OF HOUSING, I KNOW THERE'S NOT A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.

HOME PRICES ARE STILL UP THERE.

SO IS RENT.

HOWEVER, IN TALKING TO GARY PAINTER, WE'VE INTERVIEWED HIM FOR VARIOUS SEGMENTS, HE IS THE ACADEMIC DIRECTOR AT UC'S REAL ESTATE CENTER.

HE SAID THAT HE THINKS THAT THERE IS SOME OPTIMISM, IN HAMILTON COUNTY AND CINCINNATI HE'S HEARD SOME TALK THAT HE THINKS THERE MORE HOUSING IS GOING TO BE BUILT.

BUT HE SAID KEY IS ONCE THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IS OVER, OHIO'S REALLY GOT TO GET IT TOGETHER AND MAYBE SHARE SUCCESS STORIES.

EMIKO?

MOORE: YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT SURPRISED ME WAS THAT THE OHIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION SAYS THAT GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS ADD UP TO $132,000 TO THE PRICE OF A HOME.

I MEAN, THAT IS HUGE.

THAT'S ALMOST THE PRICE OF A HOME.

AND I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING TO LOBBY SOME, TO CUT SOME OF THIS REGULATION, BUT I REALLY WANT TO KNOW, IS ALL OF THAT NECESSARY?

YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOME REGULATION, BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOT.

THOMPSON: HERNZ, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

LAGUERRE: YEAH, YOU KNOW GARY PAINTER, HE'S A RESEARCHER, SO HE'S CLOSE TO THE FACTS.

SO IF HE SAYS HE'S HOPEFUL, THAT THAT MAKES ME HOPEFUL.

WE KNOW THAT THESE HOUSING SOLUTIONS TAKE TIME, SO I THINK WE JUST GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT AND TO SEE HOW THEY DEVELOP OVER TIME.

THOMPSON: YEAH.

ALL TOPICS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

AND THANKS FOR YOUR REPORTING, GUYS.

LAGUERRE: NO PROBLEM.

THOMPSON: THAT'S OUR SHOW.

KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING WITH A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK BY SHARING FEEDBACK WITH US VIA THE WEB PAGE.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, FOR HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR.

AND EMIKO MOORE, I'M ANN THOMPSON.

WE'LL BE BACK SOON WITH MORE SOLUTIONS FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY.

TAKE CARE.