COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two organizations based in Columbiana County have secured more than $630,000 in combined state funding to maintain emergency shelters and support services for residents facing housing instability.

The Ohio Department of Development announced the awards as part of an $18.7 million statewide package designed to support homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing initiatives. The funding comes from the Ohio Housing Trust Fund and the federal Emergency Solutions Grant program, administered through the state’s Homeless Crisis Response Program.

The Community Action Agency of Columbiana County, Inc. will receive a larger portion of the local funding, securing a $552,000 grant. According to state officials, this funding is designated to operate an 11-bed emergency shelter within Columbiana County, as well as a 22-bed emergency shelter in neighboring Jefferson County.

The grant targets support for a broad demographic, including homeless single men, single women, and households with children. The Community Action Agency will use the funds to cover administrative costs, data collection, and day-to-day shelter operations. Beyond providing a bed, the agency is tasked with providing housing-focused case management. This involves actively helping guests search for and secure permanent housing placements and connecting them with mainstream resources such as healthcare, food assistance, and employment services.

Projections indicate the Community Action Agency’s program will serve approximately 180 individuals in Columbiana County and 260 individuals in Jefferson County over the two-year grant period. The state’s performance goals anticipate that 40 percent of these guests will transition into permanent housing after an average shelter stay of 40 days.

In a separate award, the Columbiana County Mental Health Clinic will receive $78,700. This grant supports the operation of a six-bed emergency shelter designed to serve homeless single men and women across a five-county region. While based in Columbiana County, the facility serves residents from Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, and Tuscarawas counties as well.

Like the Community Action Agency grant, the funding for the Mental Health Clinic covers shelter operations and case management services. The program aims to serve 100 people over the two years. It shares the same performance benchmark, with expectations that 40 percent of guests will secure permanent housing following an average stay of 40 days.

Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development, emphasized that emergency shelters are often the first step toward long-term stability for vulnerable Ohioans.

“Emergency shelters play such a critical role in the long-term health of our communities,” Mihalik said. “We know when people have a safe place to turn to in times of need, they have the foundation to get back on their feet. That’s what makes the work these agencies are doing so important, and we’re proud to have the opportunity to support that.”

The Homeless Crisis Response Program divides its support into two primary components: emergency shelter operations and housing stability. The shelter component focuses on the immediate logistics of keeping facilities open and safe, including administration and data evaluation. The housing stability component funds efforts to prevent homelessness before it occurs and to rapidly re-house those who have lost their homes.

Allocation of these funds is determined by region. Ohio’s 88 counties are organized into 25 homeless planning regions. The state awards grants annually, with approximately half of these regions receiving funding every other year for a two-year operational period.

Across Ohio, the $18.7 million in grants will support 52 nonprofit and local government agencies. These funds will facilitate operations for 41 emergency shelters run by 40 different agencies and support 12 housing stability programs. State officials estimate these combined efforts will benefit more than 25,000 Ohioans currently facing homelessness or housing insecurity.

The Department of Development stated that these investments are part of a broader strategy to empower communities by investing in people and places. By stabilizing housing situations, the state aims to create a foundation for economic participation and personal well-being for residents in the Mahoning Valley and beyond.