Portage County JFS official urges local action on homelessness, reports voucher and 'benefit bridge' gains

A Portage County Job & Family Services official told the Board of Commissioners on June 25 that staff are seeing increases in housing insecurity and transportation barriers among clients and urged a local roundtable with state and federal partners to coordinate flexible supports. The official said the county’s CCMEP youth program serves roughly 200 young people (ages 14–24) and that case managers are encountering homelessness and related challenges.

The JFS presenter described a one-week back-to-school event the week of June 22 that approved 266 applications and issued 598 $175 vouchers directly to families, and said participating retailers include Gabriel Brothers and TJ Maxx. “Families were really appreciative to be able to have those vouchers when they walked away,” the presenter said.

On transitional supports, the presenter said the Benefit Bridge program reached 121 attendees during information sessions incentivized with $50 gas cards; fall plans include partnerships with the health district for nutrition programming and farmers‑market coupons, and local furniture and appliance vendors for voucher support. The presenter urged more flexible TANF funding to support adults who do not meet narrowly specified eligibility categories and described a recent case where staff secured temporary hotel housing by leveraging a workaround through a CCMEP‑eligible family member.

Officials also reported program staffing and caseload figures: as of the end of May, the county reported 84 children in custody, 81 open adult protective-services cases, and 173 employees in the department. A new hire orientation is scheduled to begin July 20 and five or six new employees are expected to join the team.

The presenter closed by highlighting the county’s fourth annual Summit on Kids set for Sept. 8, with a keynote by Adrienne McLemore of Casey Family Programs and sessions on trauma‑informed care. Commissioners agreed to convene further discussions after the start of the new administration to press for flexible funding and coordination with state representatives.

The board did not take formal action on the homelessness or Benefit Bridge items during the meeting; the matters were presented for information and for potential future convening.