Project Overview

Evictions represent a critical social and economic crisis across the United States, highlighting a significant gap in affordable housing and a steady rise in housing instability. Central Ohio, and specifically Franklin County, has been hit particularly hard; in 2016, the city of Columbus recorded more total evictions than Chicago. By the end of 2024, 25,329 evictions had been filed in the county—nearly 2 filings for every 100 residents. Despite the scale of this crisis, eviction data is often fragmented and difficult to access, leaving a major gap in local, up-to-date numbers and a lack of comprehensive visualization tools.

To bridge these gaps, the Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA), in collaboration with JusticeTech at The Ohio State University, is developing the Eviction Data Response Network (EDRN). This project builds upon the groundwork laid by Jeff Bihl, whose efforts in developing the Eviction Monitor provided essential visibility into the frequency and location of filings. By centralizing these data efforts, the EDRN aims to address the current lack of understanding regarding how specific policy interventions directly impact eviction rates and tenant outcomes.