CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Ross County Community Action Commission (RCCAC) celebrated the opening of their permanent location homeless shelter on Monday, at an Open House that brought in 65 people in just two hours.
The RCCAC Resource Center (the homeless shelter) is located at 804 Eastern Avenue in the former Eastern Avenue Lumber Company building and was sold to RCCAC for $650,000, according to RCCAC Executive Director, Julie Bolen.
The shelter has a history of being “homeless” as it moved around the city to various locations that were rented by RCCAC. The shelter, for many years, was known around town as “The Men’s Shelter” and was located at Sherman Park apartments where it was also rented by RCCAC. After Sherman Park, it moved to Chillicothe City’s Pepsi building, the Team Tokey Hill property, the Salvation Army on 4th Street and finally to the current location on Eastern Avenue.
“We are now in our fifth location since 2021 when we started a pilot program,” commented Bolen.
On Tuesday,, 804 Eastern Avenue officially opened at 8:00 a.m. with paid and volunteer staff for men, woman, and children. According to Jenny Perdew, Program Manager, “We are open 24 hours a day.” This is the first time this large of a space and a 24-hour operation has been made available in Chillicothe.
Guests receive information upon arrival sharing that they can expect to be treated as a human being, respectfully, according to RCCAC. Services aside from having a warm meal and clean place to sleep, will make the stay more supportive. Access will be given to restroom and shower facilities, clothing and hygiene supplies, laundry services, meals and snacks, transportation, access to personal identification cards and benefits, case management, housing referrals, Peer Recovery Support for addictions, social service referrals, a place to connect with others, and to gain a sense of community.
RCCAC has been working to get the Ross County Community Resource Center since 2021. The need is very real, according to statistics that are available in the annual Emergency Shelter Report put out by Bolen. Interesting data included in the report is the amount of staffing provided, numbers of incidents involving law enforcement, EMS, and fatalities due to overdose. Complete program revenue and expenses were included in the report along with partner organizations, which exceeds 30 different entities. Also of interest in the report is the true picture of who has been utilizing the shelter.
The following was reported for January 2022-April 2023:
- Males 332, Females 133, No Single Gender 1
- Veterans: 29
- Chronically Homeless: 150
- Ages from under 5 to over 62 with the majority being in the range of 25-54
- White: 432
- Black, African American or African: 30
- Multiple Races: 14
- Various types of physical and mental health conditions with the largest representation being mental health disorders: 270
- Domestic Violence History: 25
- Monthly Income with $0.00: 317, and the majority with an income (87 respondents) between $501 to $1000 a month
- County of last residence prior to shelter entry: Ross County being 87% and out of county at 13%, with the highest being Pike County
This report can be received by contacting Bolen at [email protected], she said.
There are a number of ways people of all ages can volunteer to help the shelter. They will accept donations of prepackaged food items, microwaveable meals, and K-cup coffee pods. Hygiene and clothing items are also desirable. RCCAC will be looking for people who want to assist with preparing and serving meals and who can purchase necessities from a supply list found on Amazon Wish List.
For additional information call (740) 702-7222 ext. 148 or visit www.rossccac.org
