The cash can’t come fast enough for Stacy Brown, who hopes to open a warming center/ residential facility at 3761 Lovers Lane in Ravenna.
Executive director of Neighborhood Development Services, Brown’s agency is partnering with Townhall II Integrated Health Network to open Serenity House, a new option for people struggling with mental health issues and homelessness.
“Serenity House will fulfill a need for additional residential facilities offering housing for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis,” Brown said. “This crisis may be homelessness, recovery, mental health or other barriers to assistance.”
Service providers associated with Serenity House will help residents address their complex mental health needs without the fear of impending homelessness.
“The combination of NDS’ housing expertise, coupled with the clinical expertise of Townhall II, will provide the community and Serenity House residents with vital resources to improve their mental health and stabilize their housing situation,” said Townhall II CEO Tammy Hunter.
NDS has secured a $700,000 state grant and plans to seek additional funding to rehab and retrofit the building.
And on Dec. 16, Ravenna city leaders eyed earmarking $125,000 for renovations at the soon-to-be established eight-bed residential facility. City leaders also discussed earmarking $35,000 annually for Serenity House operating costs for a decade, with rediscussion at year 10.
The measure easily passed through the city’s community and economic development committee on Dec. 16 and will appear on city council’s Dec. 23 committee of the whole agenda. Council President Rob Kairis said he and his colleagues expect to vote on it Jan. 6.
“I can pretty much guarantee it’s going to pass. The administration is in favor of it, and everyone on council is in favor,” Kairis said.
The council president also expressed his hope that the center may offer people who are newly released from the Portage County Jail at least temporary respite. Having ended its practice of transporting newly released prisoners who have no ride to the center of Ravenna, the sheriff’s office is now reportedly opening the doors of the justice center and sending them out to walk along Infirmary Road.
NDS staff are approaching other government officials, as well.
Portage County’s Board of Commissioners has committed $225,000 for operations and renovations and another $35,000 a year for 10 years. The larger sum will flow from the county’s revolving loan fund and the smaller amount will be drawn from the county’s share of OneOhio funds, which the state receives from the pharmaceutical industry for its role in the national opioid epidemic.
“It’s a win-win,” Commissioner Sabrina Christian-Bennett said. “It helps with the safety of those less fortunate who are out in the cold and have limitations to going to homeless shelters.”
Expediting the cash infusions will allow Neighborhood Development Services to open the building as a warming center as soon as possible, Brown said.
No opening date is set at this time. Regardless of NDS’ ability to open Serenity House as a warming center this year, Brown said renovations are expected to begin in the spring.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.