A Letter to Our Partners

The year 2020 will be forever etched in our minds as a year of challenges for our nation, impacting us on seemingly every aspect of our lives. Health, work, schools, politics, and family relationships all were strained as we faced so many uncertainties during that tough year. And as I write this letter, we continue to face uncertainties as we slowly emerge from the global nightmare of COVID-19.

OCCH, our partners and residents experienced our own set of challenges. Our partners instituted new safety protocols including remote work where possible, dealt with staffing issues caused by illness or childcare availability, experienced supply chain disruptions on construction materials and slowed government approvals, and addressed rent collection issues amidst constantly evolving sets of federal mandates and availability of rent assistance dollars. Residents losing their jobs struggled to make ends meet while others juggled work, childcare and school schedules for their children.

At OCCH we faced our own set of challenges as we worked to assist partners and residents. We mourned the passing of our long term and beloved Board Chair, Dan Slane. We saw changes in executive leadership as we thanked Peg Moertl for her contributions, welcomed back Hal Keller as Interim President and onboarded our new CEO and longtime friend of OCCH’s, Catherine Cawthon.

However, despite all the uncertainties and obstacles, I am pleased to report that OCCH had a very strong year of performance and pursuit of our mission. As an intermediary, this is evidence of the hard work, resiliency, and commitment of our investors, developers, property managers, public sector partners and OCCH staff. In a snapshot:

• OCCH raised $302M in investor capital and closed 48 projects with 3,710 units of affordable housing.

• Our portfolio continued to perform with an occupancy rate of 96.6%.

• With philanthropic support from investors, as well as OCCH dollars, we capitalized a $1.8 million Resident Emergency Impact Fund to assist residents unable to pay rent and to provide relief to partners and tenants affected by the pandemic. In addition, along with OHFA and others, we supported the work of COHHIO in addressing homelessness and providing rent assistance.

• As detailed in this report, our affiliates, OCFC, OCIC and CPO continued to grow and support our mission through lending, philanthropic, property management and resident services work.

Throughout 2020 we were continually inspired by the dedication and loyalty of our investors and development partners in keeping the flow of capital moving, getting deals under construction and leased up and meeting the needs of residents going through tough times.

On behalf of the OCCH Board and Staff, thank you for your past, present and future partnership with us!

Best,

Susan Weaver, Chair
OCCH Board of Directors

Catherine Cawthon
President and CEO