Homeless shelter receives grant for $53,200
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
This Thanksgiving, the organizers and residents of the Highland County Homeless Shelter have one more reason to be thankful.
The Ohio Department of Development has announced that the shelter is among 76 organizations that have received more than $20 million in grant funds from the Homeless Assistance Grant Program, with $53,200 going to the local shelter.
"We are ecstatic to get this money," shelter director Mike Ballentine told The Highland County Press. "This is a grant that we have applied for before and have received in the past. The reason we applied again is very simple. It will allow us to continue the programming and operations we have now."
Ballentine said that the funds will go toward continuing services at the shelter, such as gas for transportation, resumé building for patrons, and daily operations.
"This program is vital to the safety and health of thousands of Ohio families that struggle to stay off the streets and find shelter," said ODOD director Lisa Patt-McDaniel. "We want to ensure that our community organizations working directly with the homeless have the tools they need to help as many Ohioans as possible."
The Homeless Assistance Grant Program provides grants through a competitive application process to eligible organizations to provide housing and supportive services to homeless persons. Eligible organizations include local governments, nonprofit organizations, and public housing authorities The Homeless Assistance Grant Program is funded with Ohio Housing Trust Fund dollars and Emergency Shelter Grant Program dollars, according to a press release from the ODOD.
In surrounding counties, The Clinton County Services for the Homeless, Inc. received $190,000 from the grant, and the Pike County Outreach Council of Churches, Inc. received $91,300.
Ballentine said that receiving notice of the grant dollars the week of Thanksgiving helped remind the shelter's patrons of the blessings they have, especially since the holidays can be a difficult time.
"It's difficult for the people that we have here at times," Ballentine said. "We all want to have our own dinner at our own house at our own table. I am actually giving the majority of my staff Thanksgiving Day off, and I am going to be here all day as we - the people who are at the shelter - have a Thanksgiving dinner of our own, as a family.
Ballentine said that the residents at the shelter lean on each other for support in their efforts to get back on their feet, together.
"It's important because they are all family now," Ballentine said. "They are in similar situations, and we need to all learn from each other in order to pick ourselves up and get ourselves back to where we want to be, which is a good-standing member of our community."
This Thanksgiving, the organizers and residents of the Highland County Homeless Shelter have one more reason to be thankful.
The Ohio Department of Development has announced that the shelter is among 76 organizations that have received more than $20 million in grant funds from the Homeless Assistance Grant Program, with $53,200 going to the local shelter.
"We are ecstatic to get this money," shelter director Mike Ballentine told The Highland County Press. "This is a grant that we have applied for before and have received in the past. The reason we applied again is very simple. It will allow us to continue the programming and operations we have now."
Ballentine said that the funds will go toward continuing services at the shelter, such as gas for transportation, resumé building for patrons, and daily operations.
"This program is vital to the safety and health of thousands of Ohio families that struggle to stay off the streets and find shelter," said ODOD director Lisa Patt-McDaniel. "We want to ensure that our community organizations working directly with the homeless have the tools they need to help as many Ohioans as possible."
The Homeless Assistance Grant Program provides grants through a competitive application process to eligible organizations to provide housing and supportive services to homeless persons. Eligible organizations include local governments, nonprofit organizations, and public housing authorities The Homeless Assistance Grant Program is funded with Ohio Housing Trust Fund dollars and Emergency Shelter Grant Program dollars, according to a press release from the ODOD.
In surrounding counties, The Clinton County Services for the Homeless, Inc. received $190,000 from the grant, and the Pike County Outreach Council of Churches, Inc. received $91,300.
Ballentine said that receiving notice of the grant dollars the week of Thanksgiving helped remind the shelter's patrons of the blessings they have, especially since the holidays can be a difficult time.
"It's difficult for the people that we have here at times," Ballentine said. "We all want to have our own dinner at our own house at our own table. I am actually giving the majority of my staff Thanksgiving Day off, and I am going to be here all day as we - the people who are at the shelter - have a Thanksgiving dinner of our own, as a family.
Ballentine said that the residents at the shelter lean on each other for support in their efforts to get back on their feet, together.
"It's important because they are all family now," Ballentine said. "They are in similar situations, and we need to all learn from each other in order to pick ourselves up and get ourselves back to where we want to be, which is a good-standing member of our community."
[[In-content Ad]]