YWCA gets grant for housing program

Van Wert independent/ODOD information

COLUMBUS – The YWCA of Van Wert County was one of several organizations sharing a total of $588,800 through the Ohio Housing Trust Fund Supportive Housing Discretionary Grant Program. The program is administered by the Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Housing and Community Partnerships.

The YWCA will receive $78,400 to improve the transitional housing program for homeless women and children in Van Wert, Mercer and Paulding counties. Funds from the grant will go to make improvements to the YWCA building, built in 1914 with funds provided by philanthropist George Marsh. The money will be used to replace 34 windows, update a bathroom, repair a stairwell and walls, install 23 ceiling fans, make kitchen repairs by replacing cupboards, two refrigerators and three stoves, refinish wood floors and repair a sidewalk. The project will serve 29 households, a total of 42 people.

Overall, the state grants will improve 12 buildings and assist approximately 1,469 households, consisting of 2,686 people with incomes at or below 35 percent of the area median income.

“There are roughly 12,000 homeless Ohioans who depend on these organizations for shelter,” said Mark Kvamme, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “The repairs being made are critical in keeping shelters functioning efficiently for the good of those Ohioans in need.”

Three Lucas County entities also received funding through the grant program, including the Toledo Diocese of Toledo’s Catholic Charities.

The ODOD’s Office of Housing and Community Partnerships provides financial and technical assistance to units of government and nonprofit organizations in Ohio for project activities that benefit low- and moderate-income citizens.