2024 Impact Report
Our Vision
People thrive with equitable opportunities, support, and communities that value them.
Our Mission
We create homes that provide residents with the support, stability, and community connections they need to live and thive.
Dear friends,
It has been my great pleasure to get to know the entire CHN staff, our residents, and this incredible community over the last few months. When I joined Community Housing Network as the CEO back in March 2025, I knew that I was joining an incredible group of people fighting for an incredibly worthy cause. But the passion, tenacity, and dedication I have witnessed have exceeded all of my expectations.
Last year, the CHN team made incredible strides in our community with the ongoing development of more than 100 units of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for individuals who have experienced homelessness, mental illness, substance use disorder, and other trauma-related issues. We need your ongoing support to continue bringing this housing to Central Ohio as we face another record-breaking year for homelessness in Franklin County.
I am so grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received and the unwavering commitment of this community to our mission. As we look ahead, I am excited to expand our footprint, uplift our programs, and, most importantly, change more lives. I look forward to the journey ahead and to crossing paths with each of you as we work toward this shared vision.
Sincerely,
Annissa Lambirth-Garrett CEO
Samantha Shuler completes her final year as CEO of Community Housing Network
Samantha Shuler joined CHN in 2003 as the Real Estate Development Director and remained in that role until becoming the Property & Asset Management Director in 2014. Sam was then named CHN’s CEO in 2015 and remained in that position until March 2025.
The board congratulates Sam on her significant contributions in her time at CHN and thanks her for her extraordinary commitment to the organization’s mission and its residents.
Did you know that Sam...
• Worked with CHN as an attorney before joining the staff full-time in 2003 as the Development & Asset Management Director
• Held three different positions during her tenure at CHN
• Spearheaded the development of more than 900 affordable housing units in Franklin County
• Led the design and implementation of an improved supportive services model that allowed CHN to lower service coordinators’ caseloads from 200 to 50 clients, impacting more than 600 of CHN’s residents
I’m just grateful for CHN because they took me through counseling. They even helped put me in a program. And when I have mental issues, I have people to talk to, and they check on me, and they are just like my family.
– Pam, CHN resident
Creating Stability & Building Hope
Property Highlight: Touchstone Field Place II
44 units
YMCA of Central Ohio is our service partner
Touchstone II and Touchstone I (opened in 2022) are connected through a shared walkway
Opening in 2025
2024 in Review
• 2,234 individuals served
• 422 children served
• 117 locations in 28 zip codes
• 60 emotional support animals housed
• 92% of residents successfully maintained housing
• 100% of CHN’s residents had a disability
I slept basically outdoors in parking garages, park benches, I had a camp, and I went through the shelters. I was totally lost for 10 straight years. My life was in a daze. The day I moved in here, they moved me into my apartment, and I walked in and looked at it, and I cried. I bawled my eyes out because it had been so long since I had a roof over my head as someplace I could call my own.
– Timothy, CHN resident
Want to learn more about Permanent Supportive Housing and read stories from our staff and residents? Check out our blog by scanning the QR code.
October 10, 2024
For the first time, our CHN community gathered together on World Homeless Day to celebrate some of the most resilient members of our community. More than 150 of our supporters and community and service partners attended the inaugural event, and they all had the immense privilege of hearing from our residents.
Through recorded interviews, anecdotes, and speeches, our guests got a firsthand glimpse at the motivation behind why we do what we do, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—our residents.
Celebrate the Resilient raised $133,310 to support CHN’s mission.
Meet The Resilient: Senseera
Celebrate the Resilient Keynote Speaker
For 30 years, Senseera fought a silent battle. She struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol, unknowingly using them to self-medicate the deep pain she was carrying. Alongside her addiction, she was living with untreated bipolar disorder and PTSD, compounding her challenges and pushing her further into isolation.
She lost her home, and her sense of direction. At her lowest point, she lived out of her car, wandering aimlessly through life. Each night, she faced the daunting task of simply finding a safe place to park and sleep.
“I was abused, used, and lost,” she recalls. “I had no purpose or place.”
But in 2006, everything changed when Senseera was handed the keys to a CHN apartment. It was more than just a roof over her head – it was a lifeline.
“For the first time in 30 years, I wasn’t just fighting to survive. Without CHN, I would still be on the street – maybe even dead.”
CHN offered more than just housing; it provided access to the critical services she needed to reclaim her life. With CHN’s support, Senseera joined Alcoholics Anonymous, got into counseling, and, for the first time, began to find stability.
She speaks candidly about the transformation: “CHN helped me realize that it’s okay to talk openly about mental health. There’s no shame in seeking help. And when I hit rough patches, I learned that I don’t have to struggle alone –I have a community behind me.”
Senseera’s story is a powerful testament to CHN’s life-changing work. Today, she is 60 years old and proudly celebrates her recovery journey. She is free from addiction, her mental health is stable, and she is filled with happiness and purpose. She now has a job she loves within her community, attends church every Sunday, and dedicates herself to helping others.
“I’m proud of the work I’ve done to transform from the old Senseera into the person I am today. I believe that each of us has the power to make a difference, to uplift others who are struggling.”
Stay in the know! Sign up for our monthly e-news by scanning the QR code.
2024 Board Directory
JV Wulf, Board Chair
Executive Chairman, Spectra Medical Devices, LLC
Sanleda Morgan, Board Vice Chair
Quality Consultant, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Steve Ginnan, Board Treasurer
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Nationwide Financial
Lisa Whittaker, Board Secretary
Director & Managing Counsel, Employment & Labor Law, The J. M. Smucker Company
Paul Bloomfield
Executive Vice President/Partner, Kohr Royer Griffith, Inc.
Alex Crabtree
Director of Information Systems, Sur-Seal
Dushka Crane
Director of Behavioral Health, Ohio Colleges of Medicine, Government Resource Center Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Matthew Glover
Brandon Guisinger
Linda Janes
Chief Operating Officer, Alvis Inc.
Jo’el Jones
Vice President CRA Officer, Civista Bank
Connie Luck
Managing Director, MAD Global Strategy
2024 Donors and Sponsors
CORPORATE & FOUNDATION PARTNERS
($30,000+)
PATRONS
($15,000 - $19,999)
LEADERS
($10,000 - $14,999)
Robert and Suzanne Steensen
The Jeffrey Company Anonymous via
Columbus Foundation
The Harry C. Moores Foundation Anonymous via The Columbus Foundation
CHAMPIONS
($5,000 - $9,999)
Anonymous Aryes Staffing
Central Ohio Primary Care
First Merchants Bank
Irvin Public Relations
Kohr Royer Griffith, Inc.
Nationwide
Presper Family Fund of The Columbus Foundation
Ulrich Stengele
JV and Amy Wulf
AMBASSADORS
($2,500 - $4,999)
Anonymous Board Member
Civista Bank
Todd and Marsha Fentress
Steve and Julie Ginnan
KPMG
Microman, Inc.
Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing
PNC Bank
Quantum Health
The Grasscutters LLC
Samantha Shuler
BENEFACTORS
($1,500 - $2,499)
Action Pest Control, Inc.
BakerHostetler
Canal Service Corporation
Alex Crabtree
McKesson
Ohio REALTORS
Phil and Melissa Pennino
Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP
Stephen and Nancy Falk Family Fund of The Columbus Foundation
Chris and Amy Swank
T. Marzetti
2024 Donors and Sponsors
SUSTAINERS
($1,000 - $1,499)
Ann and Robert Oakley Family Fund
Anonymous
Gift of Kindness Fund of The Columbus Foundation
Eben Kent
Lardiere McNair & Stonebrook, Ltd. LPA
Anonymous
Matt and Kelli Beckstead
Sean and Wendy Brinker
Frank Blazewicz
Ken and Mary Lou Guillory
Alan and Sheila Harzman
Linda Janes
Tim and Cindy Kelley
Anonymous
Mark and Marti Abel
ALCA Associates
Charles Bauer
Benefactor Group Fund for the Common Good
Dominique and James Benson
Suzie Borowski
Ivory Brown
Jason and Erin Burchwell
Steve Falk
Adam Fazio
The Galiardi Family
Sarah-Grace Heller
James and Megan Hunter
Timothy Obarski
Kyle and Christine Rooney
Stacey and Stew Sickles
Turner Construction Company
Walmart
Providers
($500 - $999)
Ned and Susan Kerstetter
Marek Mutch
Omni Title LLC
Arlene Reitter
Brian and Cathy Swauger
Judy and Herb Weisberg
Keith and Bonnie Wild
ADVOCATES
($250 - $499)
Pamela Kahle
Hal Keller
Kroger Community Rewards
Ms. Cathy Levine and Dr. Jonathan Groner
Adam Luck
Kasey Miller
Sanleda Morgan
Melissa and Steve Peale
David and Cathy Presper
Jennifer and Micky Sharma
David Speth
Craig Sturtz
Wightman Family Fund of The Columbus Foundation
Anonymous
Russ Ballard
Michael Beekhuizen
Bierlein Family
Paul Bloomfield
Steve and Vicki Buchenroth
Chad and Beth Cantrell
Brittney Colvin
Sondra and John Downs
Chris Fackler
James and Jody Flynn
Christopher Frazzini
Brandie Hancock
Chris Igodan
Linda Jakes
Lisa Kathumbi-Culbreath
Leslie Knott
Lauren Larrick
FRIENDS
($100-249)
WB Lyons and Anne Carey
Jim and Kristin McChesney
Ray Norris
Stacey O’Stafy
Joe Pimmel
Michael Preston
Tiana Purvis
Kristie Rampe
Gabe Reitter
Craig and Lori Ryan
Tom and Connie Schmidt
Dan Sharpe
Cynthia Vermillion
Kaitlin Weber
Lisa Whittaker
Julia Williams
Paul Willison
SUPPORTERS (up
to $99)
Anonymous Board Member
Anonymous via the Columbus Foundation
Audrey Adair
Kevin Beerman
Kristin Boggs
Susan Brehm
Alan Coupland
Karen Davis
Adrienne Dawson
Deister Family
Virginia Fahys
Jane Federer
Chad Irwin
Jo’el Jones
Kathy Hatfield Grant Solutions & Consultation
Kevin and Lori Keefer
Karen A. Kirk
Brian and Carrie Klus
Michael Lemley
Michael and Lynne Luck
Dan Ludwig
Sam Makoski
Jack McEwan
Marianne McKinney
Tiffany Patterson
Gerald and Mary Jane Pletcher
David Plisga
Lori Robinson-Terry
Christina Rodas
George Schweitzer
Harry and Ronda Shamansky
Robert and Elizabeth Stanton
Michael and Anne Vosler
Paul West
Hassan Williams
Erica Wymer
Thomas and Karen Zelina
*Our apologies if we have omitted your name, as we are grateful for your generosity and commitment to CHN.
