ASHTABULA — Help is a little closer for disadvantaged women and children in the Ashtabula area.
City Council has voted to amend the zoning for the old St. Joseph’s elementary school on Lake Avenue, making the project possible.
“We are very happy about the outcome and decision of the zoning board,” said Sister Patricia McNicholas, executive director of Beatitude House in Youngstown. “The St. Joseph’s building is the perfect site to house apartments for the local families in need.”
Negotiations for a long-term lease between St.
Joseph’s and the Diocese of Youngstown are almost finalized. Construction should begin next summer.
“Beatitude House is a program sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, designed to provide an opportunity for disadvantaged women and children by creating homes, providing education and fostering healthy families,” McNicholas said. “We transform lives.”
The 18- to 24-month program helps women work to overcome the many obstacles that lead to homelessness, such as having no driver’s license, debt, no high school diploma, lacking health insurance and domestic violence in the home, she said. The program helps women prepare to move from homelessness or temporary housing to permanent housing.
The Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown have operated Beatitude House since 1991.
Beatitude House is still working to get the money for the renovation project in Ashtabula, which is expected to cost more than $1 million. Several grant applications have been submitted to pay for construction costs, with a secured private donation of $100,000 for start-up costs.
Several Ashtabula social service agencies have agreed to partner with the Beatitude House. Catholic Charities of Ashtabula and Community Action Agency are the first to offer support services to the women and children living in transitional housing program. In addition, a local counselor has offered counseling services for families.
Local News
Transitional housing for women, children coming to ’Bula
- Local News
-
-
New film showcases county’s scenic rivers
Ohio’s Scenic Rivers program, which protects stretches of 14 waterways — including three in Ashtabula County — is the focus of a new movie by a Dayton-based independent filmmaker.
-
Red Cross holding breakfast for ‘Community Heroes’
The Red Cross Community Heroes Breakfast will honor 12 county residents March 3 at the Bernard Vacca Community Center.
-
County’s 2-1-1 even helps birds get home
Even the birds depend upon Ashtabula County 2-1-1 when they get into a bind.
-
Need for jobs tops county survey
Unemployment tops the list of community needs identified in a survey conducted late last year by the Ashtabula County Community Action Agency.
-
Students can donate clothing to Goodwill
Many Ashtabula Area City Schools students will find themselves cleaning out their closets this week.
-
5 homeless
Five people were left homeless Monday afternoon as fire ripped through a two story home at 1861 Footville Richmond Road.
-
2 meth labs in 1 home
Acting on a tip, police found two working methamphetamine labs under one roof in an early Sunday morning raid at a Main Street house, said Police Chief Charles Burlingham.
-
More money woes for the Lake County sheriff
The Lake County Sheriff’s Officecut another five cars from its road patrol division last week.
-
Scamming for puppies
Pat Payment doesn’t have any puppies.
-
Consultants to assess contaminated land
A consulting firm hired by the city to assess unused commercial and industrial land is fairly confident a study of the contaminated Astatic property can be properly completed, City Council learned at Monday’s work session.
- More Local News Headlines
-
New film showcases county’s scenic rivers
