Commissioners putting funds to good use

Lorain County commissioners are committed to helping some of the most vulnerable people in the community. On Sept. 22, the three-member board voted to allocate up to $750,000 for Lorain County veterans organizations and recovery housing for women with children.

The funding, which tackles two key priorities for the county, comes from its $60 million share of the federal American Rescue Plan passed by Congress in January.

During their weekly meeting, the commissioners heard compassionate stories from leaders in the veterans community as well as from supporters and champions of recovery housing for women and children.

Jacob Smith, executive director of Lorain County Veterans Service Commission, and Jeff Kamm, executive director of Road to Hope, told the commissioners what the funds will mean for their clients.

The commissioners then unanimously approved two resolutions that will provide up to $250,000 in funding for Lorain County veterans posts that have gone through unprecedented struggles.

Commissioners awarded $108,589 for 17 grant applications already given the green light by the Veterans Service Commission, and a second resolution will open a second round of grant applications.

In this process, the Veterans Service Commission identified potential grantees and the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office will sign off on each potential grant to comply with state law.

Commissioner Matt Lundy was on point that with many veterans struggling during the coronavirus pandemic with homelessness, unemployment, mental health and substance abuse issues, helping them is putting the American Rescue Plan funds to good use.

The funding will assist some of Lorain County’s more than 30 veterans service posts that are struggling to make ends meet, with many facing the threat of closing their doors.

Posts rely heavily on fundraisers like fish fries to cover operating expenses.

With the pandemic shutting down many in-person events, losing those fundraising opportunities has threatened their financial positions.

The Veterans Service Commission wants to see those posts survive as well as the men and women who support them.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, many Lorain County veterans posts sustained property damage, saw aging equipment such as refrigerators and stoves fail, and are facing the difficult decision of doing whatever they can to keep the lights on to continue serving the community.

So, the funds will help the posts with repairs or even new equipment.

And the funds will help Road to Hope

The commissioners voted 2-1 to grant $500,000 to Road to Hope for a new recovery housing project in Vermilion.

The Village — A Road to Hope Community, is a $3 million project to convert a former hotel at 1863 Liberty Ave. into a recovery house for women with children, and pregnant women.

The project began construction in August and is expected to open in May 2022 with eight two-bedroom and six one-bedroom units with the capacity to house 20 women and their children.

The project will add an administration building and event center with space developed for a daycare.

Road to Hope serves 400 to 500 people each year, and The Village is expected to help between 40 and 60 women, adding much needed services to tackle Northeast Ohio’s opioid crisis.

Keeping women together with their children during their recovery journey, Kamm noted, has an impact on multiple individuals.

If able, women must be with their children, even while trying to get their lives in order.

And, The Village will offer programs and services for women to get substance abuse treatment and receive the tools to continue operating as a family.

Commission Board President Michelle Hung praised Road to Hope, saying the agency works tirelessly to help Lorain County residents overcome the ravaging effects of addiction.

Hung is impressed with Road to Hope’s plan and encouraged the community to help where they can in making projects like this possible.

Lundy supports the project and asked the public to look at the big picture in this investment.

The commissioners are doling out a substantial sum of money to help the veterans, and these women and children.

The funds from the commissioners are a sound investment for the betterment of the community.