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Local News

Friday, March 14, 2008

Mental health agency to build housing

Findlay Inn & Conference Center -Downtown Findlay
By MICHELLE REITER

STAFF WRITER

A $1.2 million project to build housing on Findlay's East Melrose Avenue for adults with mental illness and substance abuse problems is slated to begin this year.

It's a project the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board has been planning for about two years.

The apartment complex will house people, many of whom are already living in the community, who suffer from mental illnesses. Precia Stuby, director of the mental health services board, said mental illnesses are often linked with substance abuse.

These people often have trouble finding housing, she said, and some are homeless.

The apartment complex, which will be constructed on a lot where North Blanchard Street dead-ends at East Melrose Avenue, will provide 15 efficiency apartments for residents and a one-bedroom apartment for the live-in property manager.

Residents will live in the building with the full support of Century Health and other community services, and all are to be employed, Stuby said.

While the plan for the apartment complex has been established, funding the project will be a challenge, Stuby said.

The mental health services board has already spent $36,000 from board reserves to buy the land, Stuby said Thursday, and received a $5,851 donation back from the company that sold the property, KVA & Associates.

The board received $679,000 from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation that must be paid back, and a $400,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health.

Stuby said she doesn't yet know exactly how much the project will cost.

"The $1.2 million figure is based on what I think I can raise," Stuby said.

Stuby said she wants no mortgages and is seeking all the grants she can to help pay for the building.

Stuby sought financial help Thursday from the Hancock County Revolving Loan Fund Committee, in order to install 750 feet of sewer line to the property.

The revolving loan fund is money that can be loaned to businesses for projects or expansion. If the money is paid back, it can be loaned to other businesses. Grants can also be made from the fund.

Stuby asked the committee for a grant for the sewer extension, but the committee approved a $75,000 loan, interest-free, for two years.

In two years, the committee said, the mental health services board could come back and renegotiate the loan, if it's still needed, or ask for it to be turned into a grant.

The Revolving Loan Fund Committee normally awards grants to projects that create jobs, and the housing project will only create one: a full-time property manager.

Also, committee member and County Commissioner Ed Ingold said grants are made sparingly because grant money depletes the fund without any ready way to replenish it.

But Stuby said the project will add to stable employment in Findlay.

"The most critical thing in anyone's recovery is housing," Stuby said. "If you don't have a place to sleep at night, you don't go to work and you don't make a stable employee.

"We're talking about 15 residents who will be employed in this community."

Stuby hopes to accept bids on the project in April, and have residents moved in by early 2009.

Contact Staff Writer Michelle Reiter at:

(419) 427-8497

Send an e-mail to Michelle Reiter
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1 Comment

SHERIN wrote:
MENTALHEALTH
“ The most severe problem in India is the addiction. It may with drug or drink mith etc...This is very painful situation. Overcome from this is very difficult. So you must try to avoid this situation.
sherin
[url="http://www.addictionrecovery.net/ohio"]Addiction Recovery Ohio[/url] ”
Monday, July 21, 2008 8:08:18 AM
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Benton Ridge Shooting

This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
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Bennett's Furniture Town
News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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