Holmes County housing coalition forms focus groups, plans 1,400 surveys

The Holmes County Housing Coalition has moved from talking about housing needs to lining up the next step: three focus groups, identified building sites and 1,400 surveys it plans to complete by late May.

That shift matters in a county where officials say housing shortages are making it harder for workers to stay put, for young families to buy or rent locally and for employers to hold on to employees. The coalition’s work is now aimed at finding where homes could actually go, including in Millersburg, the western villages and nearby unincorporated areas.

The countywide effort is meant to produce more than general concern. By collecting 1,400 surveys, the coalition is trying to build a clearer picture of demand before asking developers, nonprofits or public leaders to move ahead with larger housing plans. The surveys should give Holmes County a better read on what types of homes are most needed and where pressure is building fastest.

That effort is unfolding alongside a separate $20,000 Western Holmes County housing needs assessment that Holmes County commissioners agreed to support on Nov. 10, 2025, after Millersburg Mayor Kelly Hoffee requested county participation. Envision Group LLC of Cleveland is expected to complete the study, which local officials say could strengthen grant applications, attract developer interest and help lay the groundwork for a future land bank to repurpose vacant and underused property.

The numbers show why the county is paying closer attention. Holmes County has 44,223 residents, 13,395 households and 14,561 housing units, according to Census data. The county’s median household income is $76,140, and it has 1,413 employer establishments, a sign that housing availability is tied directly to the local job base.

Statewide, the pressure is no less real. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency said in its FY26 Ohio Housing Needs Assessment, released Sept. 30, 2025, that rents are rising faster than incomes, affordable rental units remain in short supply and more Ohioans are experiencing homelessness. The agency also said homeownership rates are rising even as higher prices, higher interest rates and declining home sales continue to squeeze buyers.

Local housing providers are already feeling that strain. Holmes County Habitat for Humanity says it has helped 31 families in the county, while the Wayne Metropolitan Housing Authority serves Holmes, Wayne and Ashland counties and works with local agencies on housing assistance and support services. The coalition’s surveys and focus groups now give Holmes County a clearer path from discussion to sites, data and, eventually, more attainable homes.