The pervasive issue of homelessness continues to be a priority in the City of Ravenna. Townhall II Integrated Health Services and Neighborhood Development Services hosted the grand opening of Tommy’s Place, the first low-barrier homeless shelter last Thursday morning at 3761 Lovers Lane in Ravenna.
Townhall II Chief Executive Officer Tamera Hunter welcomed a large audience to celebrate the shelter’s official opening.
Hunter offered some opening remarks recognizing the efforts of former State Representative Gail Pavliga, Portage County Commissioner Sabrina Christian-Bennett and NDS Executive Director Stacy Brown for their roles in completing the project.
Pavliga spoke of how the idea of creating a low-barrier homeless shelter came to be six years ago to address the ongoing battle against mental illnesses
She noted that it began with her championing legislation while she served in the State Legislature to fund $36 million toward creating nineteen 988 crisis call centers across the State of Ohio.
Following finding the funding to build the 988 crisis call centers, Pavliga said that the next step was steering $2.5 million in state funding to Portage County, and Coleman Health Services used that money to build a crisis stabilization center.
Pavliga said that having a crisis stabilization center which provided for a maximum of a 72-hour hold for residents was beneficial, but more was needed, such as creating a homeless shelter, as the issue of homelessness overlapped with mental health.
“The stigma of homelessness is almost as bad as mental health,” she acknowledged. “Go get a job, don’t be lazy, don’t live on the corner, don’t do these types of things, but we never offered the ability to be able to do that.”
She credited Brown for reaching out and informing her of NDS and Townhall II’s plans to create a low-barrier homeless shelter.
“This place is all that we had hoped for so no other families or other people may have to deal with homelessness, and it is part of the continuum of care,” she added. “We get them to a quiet place, we get them to a homeless shelter or even one that will be able to take them no matter what the circumstances, that is what it takes as a community to be able to respond to the needs.”
Christian-Bennett talked about the strong partnerships that occurred, such as the one between Townhall II and NDS, to address the complex issue of homelessness by creating a homeless shelter.
She said that her role in the project was rallying support with the then-Portage County Commissioners Mike Tinlen and Tony Badalamenti to support the project.
According to Christian-Bennett, the Portage County Board of Commissioners agreed to an annual payment of $35,000 over the next 10 years to cover the expenses of operating costs with an opportunity to revisit that funding after the 10-year period expires. She added that the $35,000 will be paid from the Portage County’s annual opiate use fund.
She noted that that the Portage County Board of Commissioners made a start-up payment of $225,000, which came from the revolving loan funds.
“This investment not only invests in this facility but the people of Portage County, that is who I represent, the people of Portage County and I especially love the strategic location of Tommy’s Place being located within Coleman’s Professional & Service Trauma Center,” she said.
Christian-Bennett said that a shelter was more than a roof over someone’s head, it was a place where an individual can get connected to resources, find encouragement, and receive support to believe that their circumstances can change.
“It is about opening the door literally and figuratively for people in our community who need a second chance and a helping hand,” she added. “We are committed to not only supporting this now but in the future, we look forward to the success of this program.”
District Outreach Representative River Kale of Congressman David Joyce’s Office was in attendance to present a Certificate of Recognition and Achievement to Hunter and Brown for their collaborative efforts in creating the shelter.
Brown spoke of her personal connection to this project, as her son, Tommy, endured a seven-year struggle with mental illness. She said there were nights he slept in his front yard because he believed that there was someone in his house who would hurt him, and she reached out to mental health advocates to find answers.
“None of you turned your backs on me, but you did not know how to help me because your hands were tied because we have to change some of the laws, our work here is far from over,” she added.
Seeing her son’s mental illness affect his ability to sleep peacefully with a roof over his head has spurred Brown to continue to be a staunch advocate in the fight against homelessness and mental illnesses.
“When I say if one person sleeps on the streets then we have failed. Our most vulnerable population because any homeless individual who ends up on the street, they are in a mental health crisis, the second they become homeless, we are all in this together,” she said.
Although it was the grand opening, Tommy’s Place is already filled to maximum capacity.
One of the shelter’s residents, Tina, said that she has been staying at the shelter since January.
According to Tina, she had slept in the street, a tent, and a car before finding suitable residence at Tommy’s Place.
“They saved my life,” she noted. “When I got in here in January, I had been assaulted by another homeless person. I had double pneumonia, I was in bad shape, so they saved my life.”
Since arriving, Tina has found a full-time job and is saving up to purchase a vehicle, as she still gets around on her bike, and will then find a permanent residence.
“As my story will tell you. I don’t know how to give up but they did save me, and it means everything to me to be able to sleep and not worry if someone is going to attack me again, or am I going to freeze to death in the middle of the night,” she said.
