Homelessness crisis in Seneca County

After it was announced that the Sisters of St. Francis had decided to close the St. Francis Spirituality Center, it was later announced in late November of 2024 that a partnership between St. Francis and New Housing Ohio had occurred and a shelter for the area unhoused would be built on the St. Francis campus starting in July 2025. The Advertiser-Tribune recently spoke with Challie Briihl of New Housing Ohio and Jocelyn Everett of the Transformation Life Center, existing resources for the homeless in Seneca County, to discuss the current need for more emergency and affordable housing in the county. Other nearby resources for those in need include First Step Fostoria, Tiffin-Seneca United Way, Morrison House, City Mission of Findlay, Cherry Street Mission, Hope House and others. In 2024, Everett said the TLC helped 24 individuals while Briihl claimed Morrison House served 32 individuals in the last year. Both said they get several calls a day requesting emergency shelter and have waitlists for beds every night. Everett reported a capacity of ten beds at TLC, while Briihl said Morrison House has 15. Briihl also said Seneca County currently has no shelters that will take male residents, but the Seneca County Council on Homeless is working on amending this issue. Everett contends that there are resources for homeless men in the area, but it's still an area to work on. "While shelters for men are available, it's clear that there is still room for improvement in this area and expanding options for unhoused men in Seneca County is an important opportunity for future growth," Everett said. But temporary shelter is not the only need in the county. Briihl said that another challenge facing Ohio residents today is the current affordable housing shortage. "There is a severe affordable housing shortage here and statewide," Briihl said. "… Once families become unhoused, it is extremely difficult to get them back into independent living, especially if they have been evicted." Both Briihl and Everett agreed that there is a current need for more emergency shelter services in the county, for warming or cooling centers during extreme weather events and especially for more affordable housing statewide. Briihl advised she did not see an end to the housing crisis until the county took action against it. "Until Seneca County acquires more affordable housing units there will continue to be a significant homeless crisis… We also need additional emergency rental assistance to be able to keep those that are housed in their own homes placed," Briihl said. "Shelters play a vital role not only in providing a roof over people's heads but also in raising awareness about the broader needs of our community and in educating individuals on the full spectrum of support services available to them," Everett said.