TRUMBULL COUNTY Metropolitan housing agency changes location of its offices

Lifelines is also moving into the new building.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority's director hopes the agency's move to bigger quarters allows clients to be better served.
TMHA plans to move from its Niles Road office to a building at 4076 Youngstown Road this week. The agency bought the former Valley building for $2.1 million.
"We're out of space at the Niles Road building," said Donald Emerson, TMHA executive director.
The board had to decide whether to expand or move.
"The Valley building opportunity just fell into our lap," Emerson said. "It not only fits our needs now, but it probably fits our needs for the next 25 to 30 years. We took the plunge."
The money came from locally generated funds accumulated over many years, Emerson said. No U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development money was used for the building purchase.
Other agencies
The new building more than doubles the space of the Niles Road structure. TMHA is renting space on the new building's second floor to Trumbull Lifelines and is negotiating with another governmental entity which may rent additional space. Emerson declined to identify the entity until plans are finalized.
Lifelines, the county's alcohol, drug and mental health network, moved from the city's community services building. Nick Ceglia, Lifelines executive director, said the move will provide better accommodations for the agency. In the old building, employees had to negotiate around buckets in the office each time it rained.
Both Emerson and Ceglia also said that being in the same building will help when dealing with clients served by both agencies.
"It will enhance service to our clients and enhance communication with other social service agencies that we work with as well," Emerson said. "Having an organization like Lifelines, with their network of agencies, in the building is a plus for us."
TMHA's maintenance department will stay at the Niles Road facility, and the front space will be available for lease and possibly for sale when the agency moves out.
Community room
While the old building provided meeting space for staff, the new digs offers a community room that will be available for meetings of other area groups and organizations.
"We hope to market it and draw some income from it," Emerson said, adding that fees could be waived for groups that can't afford to pay.
The room, which will be used for training, will be equipped with large screens and other technology, he said.
Window-lined offices also are expected to create a better working environment for employees and hopefully increase productivity, the director said.
"People are anxious and just looking forward to it," Emerson said. "We want to bring better service to our clients and that's the whole purpose of [the move]."