MEDINA, Ohio – The county’s first emergency housing shelter is expected to be up and running by the beginning of next year.
Skip Sipos, executive director of the Medina Metropolitan Housing Authority spoke at a recent council meeting to provide council members with some details about the shelter which will be known as Next Step Up. The shelter will provide at least 27 beds for men, women and children in need of emergency housing and will be located on Walter Road in the building that formerly housed the Medina Metropolitan Housing Authority’s administrative offices.
“The shelter will be open 24 hours a day every day and will be pet friendly because pets are often a barrier for folks pursuing emergency housing,” Skipos said. “Each guest will sign a community agreement that outlines their rights and their responsibilities. Those responsibilities will include when it is your turn to take the trash out or your turn to empty the dishwasher. Each guest will work with a case manager who will help address the root cause of the homelessness.”
Skipos said different agencies like job and family services, health services and veterans’ services will be available to guests.
Skipos added that the housing authority has secured the funding to operate the shelter for the first year, but added that in subsequent years, the organization will likely need the county, local cities and other groups to step up to help fund the shelter. He added that within the City of Medina, many different departments have been very helpful lending their expertise to make the shelter a reality. He also thanked the mayor and council for their support and advocacy.
