In 2025 Columbus was #1 for the number of homeless deaths in the state of Ohio.

The number of homeless deaths was twice that of the Columbus murder rate. The city is quickly catching up to the rest of the nation as poverty has become America’s 4th leading cause of death.

The elected leaders in Columbus City Hall appear determined to maintain that #1 ranking for 2026 by ignoring homelessness. Their time and energy is focused on building luxury apartments and using your tax dollars to support for-profit Women’s Volleyball.

January for Columbus homeless:

• 14 homeless deaths for January 2026.
• 13 male and 1 female.
• 8 White and 7 African American / Black
• Manner of death: 3 homicide, 7 accidents, and 4 natural causes

Ben Sears, Executive Director of the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, explained that these January numbers may need to be updated. Columbus homeless living in tents covered in snow may have already died, but just have not been found yet. Once the snow melts we may find more deceased.

Yes, the Community Shelter Board exists to address the symptoms of homelessness, but it doesn’t solve the problem. Columbus still lacks any comprehensive plan to solve housing insecurity long-term. City Council has a committee focused on housing and homelessness, but it lacks the leadership to plan any city-wide program to solve the challenge. Zone-In is the most important priority for City Hall and their political futures.

Unfortunately, until the homeless in Columbus start to vote (or give tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to our politicians) their need to survive will continue to be ignored. But, at least we can brag to Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Dayton that our city is working hard at staying #1 in something.

Special thanks to the Franklin County Forensic Science Center for their data. The Columbus Free Press hopes to keep you updated during the year with the hope that someone will take this seriously enough to solve this problem.

Columbus Budget Update

In its current form, the 2026 city proposed budget cuts $1 million dollars from Elevate Grants, cuts $2.3 million to Federally Qualified Health Centers, and also cuts $5.3 million dollars to the Community Shelter Board. Contact Columbus City Council to learn more about how cutting funding will reduce the number of homeless deaths.