Helping residents cope with the impact of COVID-19

As the largest African American neighborhood in Cincinnati, Avondale residents and businesses are at significantly higher risk of the adverse health and financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. ADC is doing its part to help them cope.

Across the country, African Americans have died from the COVID-19 pandemic at a rate of 50.3 per 100,000 people, compared with 20.7 for whites, 22.9 for Latinos and 22.7 for Asian Americans. About 53% of African American households in Ohio have lost employment income since March 13 as a direct result of the pandemic and related business shutdowns, layoffs and furloughs – about 10% higher than whites.

For the residents and businesses of Avondale – the largest African American neighborhood in the City – these aren’t just numbers. They’re reality.

Avondale Development Corporation is working with a variety of community partners – including the City of Cincinnati, UC Health, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Fifth Third Bank, LISC, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Uptown Consortium, Inc., Hirsch Recreation Center, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Freestore Food Bank and others – to provide access to services and information to cope with the pandemic. We are deploying our digital media platforms to spread the news about testing, evictions and emergency funds. Even though we are working remotely, we continue to serve as a resource for residents and businesses for questions and concerns.

ADC has also modified the Avondale Economic Mobility Fund to be responsive to the immediate needs of our residents. You can read more about the EMF elsewhere in this e-newsletter.

As we have all learned over these past few weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, and its impact will last far longer than the virus itself. ADC is actively engaged with its current and potential funders to explore innovative, impactful ways to address the current and future needs of Avondale residents and businesses. They share our concerns, and we’re confident that new initiatives will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Avondale has weathered many storms. We plan to weather this one as well.

Russell Hairston, Executive Director