Commissioners proclaim Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week; discuss Imagination Library, planned MAT unit

Highland County commissioners Brad Roades, Terry Britton and David Daniels met with several guests during their Wednesday, Nov. 12 meeting, which included issuing a proclamation recognizing Nov. 16-22 as Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in Highland County.

Accepting the proclamation were Highland County Homeless Shelter executive director Greg Hawkins and board chair Amatha Farrens.

The Highland County Homeless Shelter is open 365 days a year and offers 28 beds for local men, women and children for a maximum of 90 days. If you are in need of the Homeless Shelter’s services, you can call (937) 393-0634 or (937) 402-4433.

The shelter is located at 145 Homestead Avenue in Hillsboro. The shelter also accepts monetary donations, which can be done directly at the shelter’s website at https://www.highlandcountyhomelessshelter.com.

Hawkins told commissioners that while “the shelter is doing well this year,” recent federal funding cuts are impacting their funding for 2026.

“We are facing a $48,000 deficit next year,” Hawkins said. “Our Emergency Solutions Grant [through the Department of Housing and Urban Development] was cut, as many grants across the board have been cut for homeless programs. 

“We're looking into ways to save money next year, and we're always looking for community support. We definitely need matching funds to go with our grants.”

Hawkins added that of their 28 beds, the shelter is “close to capacity” as of Wednesday.

“Currently, we have about two beds left,” Hawkins said. “We're continuing to keep our services. We haven't cut anything.

“SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits, of course, thankfully, will be back online again, so that helps us with our budgetary restraints in that. Having so many people at the shelter, three meals a day, it definitely puts a toll on things, but we're working through it. We're going to go into next year with just the same goals we go into every year, just hard work and faith. We’ve been through harder times at the shelter, so we'll get through this.”

On a related note, Highland County Job and Family Services Director Jeremy Ratcliff said that SNAP benefits should be loaded onto cards “in the coming days.

“The most recent official guidance that I have is they expect to issue partial payments this week sometime,” Ratcliff said. “They shut down the state systems Monday through Wednesday to make the adjustments, all of which may be a moot point as a result of the agreement that's coming out in D.C. 

“We have not heard what that will do in terms of fully funding and benefits, but we expect and anticipate partial November payments to be issued in the coming days, after the software system adjustments have been made.”

After hearing from Hawkins, Roades read the proclamation recognizing Nov. 16-22 as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week with a “purpose … to educate the public about the many reasons people are hungry and homeless, due to shortage of affordable housing in Highland County for very low-income residents, and to encourage the support for homelessness assistance service providers as well as community service opportunities.”

In other discussion:

• Daniels recapped a recent meeting with Ohio first lady Fran DeWine and other community partners to review the county’s participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. According to Daniels, the county is looking for someone to run the program/fundraise, as well as individuals willing to donate. Any families with children 5 years old or younger are also encouraged to sign up if they have not already done so.

“Several years ago, Highland County had a sponsor,” Daniels said. “That sponsor has dropped out, and they are looking for somebody to sponsor the program.”

As previously reported, first lady DeWine unveiled the program in Highland County during a ceremony at the Hillsboro Public Library March 6, 2020. The program, which is free to children from birth to age 5, gives children the opportunity to receive a book in the mail each month at no cost to their families.

With the total number of participating children (currently 1,611), the cost is approximately $25,000, Daniels said.

“What makes a lot of sense is if we can find somebody to coordinate the program and have multiple sponsorships,” Daniels said. “We are one of only four counties in the state that do not have currently a local sponsor.

“My ask to the greater community out there is if there's somebody that's willing to take on that coordination effort, somebody that's willing to step up and do a little fundraising and put the money together it takes to fund that. Currently, the legislature and the program is making up for Highland County, but that can change at any time. I would hate for 1,611 kids — and it's available to anybody, more kids can be a part of this, it’s completely free — I would hate for those kids not to be able to participate in this simply because didn’t have a local coordinator or local sponsor.”

Daniels asked anyone interested in helping with the program, either with coordination or sponsorship, to contact the commissioners’ office. 

Highland County economic development director Julie Bolender added that 61 percent of 0-5-year-olds in the county are enrolled in the program. For the sponsors, she said the cost is $1.30 per book, which are then distributed to the children at no charge. Donors will be recognized with their names on the mailing label to the child. 

“We’d just like to have a community champion,” Bolender said. “You would have many helpers. There would be folks that will help you raise the money that we can send to the foundation to make sure our kids don't miss out on this.” 

• Outreach coordinator and substance abuse counselor Joshua Thacker and clinic director Jody Wilson of Anchor Addiction and Wellness Center met with commissioners to revisit conversations of potential placement for a new new mobile Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) unit they are offering in the area.

Thacker spoke with commissioners about the program in September. According to Anchor’s website, “Utilizing Suboxone and Subutex, our MAT program provides essential support in managing withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings” to assist those with substance use disorder to “maintain sobriety.” Thacker explained that the MMUs “are the size of RVs” and are similar to mobile mammography units or other “mobile health care units” seen around the community.

Thacker told commissioners Wednesday that they believe the Rocky Fork Lake area would be the best location, due to its proximity to several local municipalities, and asked if commissioners felt that would be a possibility. 

Daniels asked about the “timing” of the vehicle setup and whether the Anchor representatives had spoken with the state about using the North Beach parking lot. Thacker said that they would set up during certain hours on a set day of the week and that they had not reached out to the state park staff. Wilson added that the goal is to have “a regular time” so clients will know the service is available from week to week.

“The county-owed property [the animal shelter] is small,” Daniels said. “It's out of the way. It's not near as noticeable or not near as accessible as what that land in and around the state might be.”

Thacker also asked if commissioners would permit them to place signage on public property around the county to promote the mobile unit. Commissioners indicated they would be OK with a reasonable number of signs that do not impact drivers’ visibility. Thacker said they would also be interested in hosting an informational meeting for the public to become more familiar with their services.

In the event the group is permitted to set up at Rocky Fork Lake, Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders asked what Anchor would do if it is determined that is not “the place that would help the most” clients.

“We plan on evaluating it every 30 days,” Thacker said. “If it's not, we'll come back to the drawing board.”

Ratcliff also asked if Anchor would “be providing the treatment aspect of the medication assistance,” and Wilson said they will, but due to their regulations, the counseling aspect has to be done by telehealth.

• At the start of the meeting, Roades welcomed everyone in attendance but called particular attention to former commission president Jeff Duncan, who was present for his first meeting in commissioners’ newly renovated space.

Commissioners also made the following approvals, each by a 3-0 vote:

• A motion to award the county’s 2026 snow removal bid to Lawton Parry.

• A budget modification within the (2665) Specialized Docket Subs Fund in the amount of $2,000 from Program Expense to PERS.

• A budget modification within (2295) Common Pleas Criminal/Civil in the amount of $500 from Repair and Maintenance to Other Expense.

• A budget modification within the General Fund, County Misc, in the amount of $3,000 from Group and Liability to Examinations.

• A budget modification within the General Fund, in the amount of $834 from Unemployment Compensation to PA Grant Examination.

• A resolution to authorize Highland County Job and Family Services Director Jeremy Ratcliff the authority to release and accept funds per OAC 5101:9-6-82, for intercounty adjustment of allocations through the calendar year 2026.

• A resolution stating commissioners' desire to authorize any active member of the Highland County Airport Authority to submit an application for funding and execute the grant contract and any related documents for the FY 2026 Grant Program.

• A budget modification within the (2115) Children’s Services Fund in the amount of $3,000 from FAC Other Expense to PERS FAC Children Services.

• A budget modification within the (2050) Public Assistance Fund in the amount of $30,000 from Unemployment Compensation Overflow to Health Insurance Overflow ($10,000) and from Unemployment Compensation to Health Insurance ($20,000).

• A budget modification within the (2015) Child Support Enforcement Fund in the amount of $17,000 from Workers Compensation to PERS CSEA ($10,000) and from Unemployment Compensation to Health Insurance ($13,000).

• A budget modification within the Board of Elections, General Fund in the amount of $8,000 from Supplies to PERS ($7,000) and from Advertising and Printing to Board Travel ($1,000).

• A resolution to grant authorization for listed “Then and Now” purchase orders from Nov. 12, 2025, and authorizing the County Auditor to issue warrants for their payment.

• A central services cost allocation plan service agreement contract with Maximus.

• A lease agreement with Robert Kiser for the crop land at the Highland County Airport. 

• A change order submitted by Mechanical Construction Company for phase II improvements at the Rocky Fork Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant. According to Daniels, the contractor has requested “an additional $18,837 due to unforeseen tariff costs for material coming in.”

For more from Wednesday's meeting, see the story at https://highlandcountypress.com/proposed-highland-solar-expansion-revie….

Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 26 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.