State Representative Troy helps secure funding for homeless in Lake County
Project Hope for the Homeless will receive $15,328 from the recently passed State Capital Budget, State Rep. Daniel P. Troy announced.
According to a news release, since 1993, nearly 9,000 children and adults experiencing homelessness in Northeast Ohio have received shelter, care and guidance through Project Hope for the Homeless, the only emergency shelter in Lake County.
“It was important to me that Project Hope for the Homeless received state of Ohio funding,” said the Willowick Democrat. “The request was something the state can afford, and the impact would be substantial. I worked directly with the finance chairman so that this was in the budget. The money will buy necessary upgrades for an organization that works to alleviate the root causes of poverty.”
Shelter Executive Director Judy Burr expressed her gratitude for the funding.
“We are very grateful for Representative Troy’s efforts in acquiring the state funding which will help us purchase a new metal detector and case management software to help keep our shelter safe and efficient,” Burr said. “Many people are struggling and we want them to feel secure while they are here and help transition them as quickly as possible. These funds will help us to accomplish that goal.”
The $15,328 will be used for Case Management Software ($5,940), laptop computers with Office 360 ($1,700), Adobe Software ($1,824), walkthrough metal detector, including freight and installation ($5,128) and PD 240 rechargeable handheld wand ($736).
Project Hope for the Homeless provides shelter, food and connection to resources for up to 50 individuals without a home every night. Staff help guests determine the root cause of homelessness, establish goals, send referrals to resource agencies and maintain accountability for achieving the goals, according to the release.
Currently, this is all managed through paper charting which is challenging due to the volume and the complexity of the referrals. Case Management software will allow tracking of referrals, improved staff communication, and sharing of medical information.
Most shelter staff are part time; therefore, share cases. Coordination of services is critical to facilitate access to services in a timely manner, as well as maintaining up-to-date medical information.
Affordable housing is so limited that delays in processing referrals or providing requested information can result in lost opportunities. This software would increase efficiency and enable staff to spend more time with the people who are in trauma, making them feel more comfortable and supported during this time of homelessness.
When adults enter Project Hope for the Homeless each night, they empty their pockets and walk through a metal detector to detect weapons or contraband. If needed, a handheld metal detector wand is used for secondary screening. On the family side, only the handheld wand is used. This process helps ensure a safe environment. The current metal detector and handheld wands are more than 14 years old.
According to the release, due to the age of the equipment, it is becoming more urgent to replace it before it fails. In addition, technology has advanced to allow more accurate scanning and detection. The need to accurately detect metal and contraband has become more important in recent years due to the increased incidence of mental health issues.