Wood Co. agencies get thousands from United Way

BOWLING GREEN — The United Way of Greater Toledo has granted $30,000 to three Wood County organizations to assist residents with rent and mortgage payments, homelessness services and emergency shelter support. The three Wood County agencies to receive funds are The Cocoon at $10,000 for expanded shelter support and hotel placement; the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership at $15,000 for rent/mortgage assistance; and Wood County Area Ministries at $5,000 for rent/mortgage assistance. A news release from the United Way of Greater Toledo said this allocation stems from statistics via the Wood County Continuum of Care Coalition, which collects local homelessness and housing needs data. In 2020, 1,523 Wood County individuals engaged in homelessness prevention services. In 2021, more than 2,112 individuals reached out for help with rent, mortgage, shelter, hotel stays or other information about available services, an "alarming increase in need," the news release said. "In October of last year, United Way moved quickly to allocate $100,000 to five Lucas County agencies after our 2-1-1 service saw a 400% increase in single persons and families being placed on homeless shelter waiting lists," said Wendy Pestrue, president and CEO of UWGT. "This new, $30,000 investment in Wood County is yet another pull from our Emergency Response Fund — something we established at the start of the (coronavirus) pandemic. Our communities, in big cities and small towns, are deeply financially hurting from the economic implications of this virus and we need quick, data-informed actions to best serve residents." "It is important for our community to understand that Wood County has no homeless shelter and just one domestic violence and sexual violence shelter," said Erin Hachtel, area director for the United Way in Wood County. "As a community, we must do everything we can to keep residents housed and bolster support services for those displaced by domestic violence." Said Kathy Mull, executive director of The Cocoon: "We are grateful for the support of United Way as The Cocoon continues to work to provide healing opportunities, increased safety, long-term stability and accessible opportunities for survivors of sexual and domestic violence."