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Proponent Testimony of Tracie Hawes — House Bill 3, House Workforce and Economic Development Committee

Summary

Written proponent testimony dated March 21, 2023, from Tracie Hawes to the House Workforce and Economic Development Committee on House Bill 3. The testimony states that Hawes lives at Kent Place, an affordable housing community in the Driving Park Neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, and works full-time as a Director of Childcare Center. It says rent is paid every month without any kind of housing voucher and that the home carries an option to purchase after 15 years. It closes by saying that the bill would help build more affordable homes, such as Kent Place, and asking the committee to consider passing HB 3.

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“Proponent Testimony of Tracie Hawes — House Bill 3, House Workforce and Economic Development Committee.” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2023-03-21-econ-workforce-dev-testimony-testimony-1433-e8db443c4e/, SHA-256 c966db2508a6a044323515759474a8e4a38dbab1d220ee135d4a59ec52ddb995.

Full text

                                                Tracie Hawes
                                 719 Lilley Ave Columbus, Ohio 43205
                                               HB 3 Testimony
                                               March 21, 2023




Chairman Swearingen, Vice Chairman Santucci, Ranking Member Upchurch, and members of the House
Workforce and Economic Development Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide proponent
testimony on House Bill 3.


My name is Tracie Hawes. I live at Kent Place which is an affordable housing community in the Driving
Park Neighborhood on East Livingston Avenue here is Columbus.


I have lived at Kent Place in a four-bedroom home for the past five years. Prior to living here, I lived in a
very run-down single-family house, which was quite frankly run by a slumlord. It was not a good living
situation for me or my family, and I had to work very hard to find a better alternative.


When Kent Place was built, I was attracted to it because it was brand new in a neighborhood that is
becoming revitalized. I also liked that was a single-family home, unlike the more common multi-family
affordable apartments. Kent Place offered a much better quality of living for me and my family, and it
frankly gave me and my family a fresh start.


I’m a mother of seven children, ages 15 through 8, including two sets of twins. Like most moms, I will do
everything in my power to provide a good home for my kids so they can grow up in a safe, stable
environment.


Three of my children attend Columbus Public Schools and four of them are enrolled at Patriot
Preparatory Academy on the east side of town. Patriot Prep is considered one of the best public,
charter schools in Columbus and I’m really proud my children are students there.




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I work full-time as a Director of Childcare Center. I have been in the childcare field for 15 years and have
been the Director for the past seven years. Our childcare center serves about 50-60 children per day,
and they come from many families like mine where the cost and quality of housing are really important.


In my profession, and with seven children, I probably don’t have to tell you, but money can be tight. So,
I have to be careful and frugal. That’s also one of the reasons Kent Place was so attractive.


I pay rent every month and I do not receive any kind of housing voucher. But the rent is affordable, and
it has allowed me to put a good roof over our heads.


The other thing I really like about Kent Place is that I have an option to purchase my home after 15
years. I’m sure I’ll have to prove sufficient income and credit scores and maybe other factors when the
time comes, but the opportunity to own my own home is something I look forward to.


Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I’m not an expert on all the details that are in HB 3, but
from what I’ve understand, it would help build more affordable homes like Kent Place. And if that helps
more working families like mine, I’m all for it. I hope you will consider passing HB 3.


I am happy to answer any questions.


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