County will lead application for Continuum of Care funding

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County will serve as the collaborative applicant to secure funds for the Mahoning County Continuum of Care for the first time this year.

Since its inception in the late ’90s, the Youngstown Health Department has played that role.

The continuum, which is one of nine in the state, disburses about $1.8 million in U.S. Housing and Urban Development funding to providers that help provide housing for homeless county residents.

Member organizations include Help Network of Northeast Ohio, Catholic Charities Regional Agency and the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.

“We have no clue how many homeless families there are out there,” Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti said. “Some people you see out and about every day are part of that population.”

“Giving someone that opportunity to have a roof over their head, especially at this time of year with Easter is a blessing,” Commissioner Anthony Traficanti added.

City Health Commissioner Erin Bishop said she had discussed making the county the collaborative applicant, which serves administrative functions, with Anna DeAscentis, who handles grants for the county.

Rimedio-Righetti said she expects things to run smoothly.