Community leaders call for $5M temporary shelter

CELINA - Community leaders want to build a $5 million housing development to provide temporary shelter for those unable to secure their own due to an array of circumstances.

Two of the group's key principals unveiled the ambitious "Hope's Road" plan this week at the Celina Rotary Club meeting.

"A group of us got together back in January, and there's about 30 of us now," coalition facilitator and Mercer County House of Hope board adviser Bruce Swonger said. "We do have a homeless problem, and I think we might have a good long-term solution."

Hope's Road would include six row apartments, two triplex residences and an education complex on roughly five acres of land, ideally on county-owned land near the men's and women's House of Hope, Swonger said. It would accommodate up to 36 people, both as individuals and families.

"The mission … is to provide temporary housing to Mercer County residents including veterans, homeless, victims of the opiate crisis or others recovering from addictions that have no other reasonable or affordable (subsidized or unsubsidized) housing options at the time," Swonger said.

The program would offer residents stability, support and training to transform them into productive citizens, Swonger said. They would be allowed to live up to two years in the recovery village, which would be managed in accordance with standard operating procedures, he said.

Hope's Road would be an outgrowth of House of Hope ministry's faith-based sober-living facilities on Mud Pike that have helped county adults free themselves from drug addiction to get back on the right path.

"In the past five years we've actually put 50 people from Mercer County through the House of Hope," Swonger said. "Twenty-five of those are successfully living with their children again because of what we did as a community. That's a 50% recovery rate and the national average is only 10%."

Swonger said the coalition aims to complete its business plan for Hope's Road this winter and explore funding options in the spring.

"And next summer we'll make a decision whether we're going to go forward with this program or not," he said. "We get positive feedback - which we think we will - we'll apply in 2021 for state of Ohio budget funds."

Officials also hope to secure funds through the state's eventual opioid settlement with pharmaceutical companies.

If the project is ultimately green-lighted, a tentative timetable shows a possible spring 2023 groundbreaking and 2024 potential opening.

Swonger said construction grants would help bankroll the project. He also spoke of a possible levy. Noting his expense estimates are very vague at this point, Swonger cited $1 million for site work and a cul-de-sac; $3.2 million for 21,000 square feet of housing and $800,000 for other costs.

He anticipates an annual operating cost of $500,000, based on the House of Hope's $10,000-per-resident cost each year.

In the meantime, officials will try to form strategic alliances. Some coalition members listed in Swonger's presentation are Grand Lake United Methodist pastors Mick Whistler and Diane Mendelson, Lord's Abounding Grace Pastor Rick Brosher, county recorder Angie King, county auditor Randy Grapner, county treasurer Dave Wolters, county sheriff Jeff Grey, county jail chief Jodie Lange, real estate agent Shawn Dues, attorney Molli Schleucher and retired pastor Bruce Head.

Greg Homan, chairman of the county commissioners, said commissioners appreciate all those stepping forward to combat homelessness.

"We are researching the issue, determining what steps might need to be taken - either through county government involvement or local churches and nonprofits - to address it," Homan said.