Beatitude House Receives $140,500 to support the Beatitude House Permanent Supportive Housing Program

YOUNGSTOWN — Beatitude House has received $140,500 in grant funding to support its efforts in helping fight addiction by delivering needed recovery support services, Brigid Kennedy, CEO, announced today.

The grant from the OneOhio Recovery Foundation will go toward providing a peer support specialist and other support, Kennedy said.

“Substance abuse is a major cause of homelessness,” said Whitney Washington, Beatitude House director. “This grant will allow us to add a peer support staff member with lived experience to work specifically with residents experiencing active substance abuse or are in recovery, allowing them to break free from the cycle of addiction.”

The grant is part of an inaugural round of approximately $51 million in funding made available by the Foundation as part of its mission to combat the opioid epidemic by supporting prevention, treatment and recovery programs and services in our communities. The grant money was funded by 55% of settlement funds that Ohio is receiving from the pharmaceutical industry as a consequence of its role in the national opioid epidemic.

The grant received by Beatitude House reflects the foundation’s commitment to supporting organizations on the frontlines of the addiction epidemic by advancing efforts that foster more resilient, healthier communities across Ohio.

Across Ohio, organizations like Beatitude House are working day in and day out to strengthen their communities that have been impacted by the opioid epidemic, said Alisha Nelson, executive director of the OneOhio Recovery Foundation.

“We’re pleased to partner with Beatitude House to support their efforts to save lives, rebuild families affected by addiction, and foster strong and resilient places to live,” Nelson said.

The recipients announced as part of the foundation’s first grant cycle were chosen after a robust review process that included evaluation by the local OneOhio Regional Board, the OneOhio Expert Panel and the foundation’s Board of Directors.

Grant recipients have demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing the opioid crisis. The funded initiatives are evidenced-based and align with Ohio’s approved abatement strategies, including prevention, recovery supports, services for impacted families and children, and many more.

A complete list of recipients can be found at OneOhioFoundation.com/GrantAwards.

OneOhio Recovery Foundation had an overwhelming response to the 2024 Regional Grant application process, with more than a half-billion dollars in funding requests submitted for the $51 million available this cycle. Organizations and leaders seeking to submit applications in the future can sign up on the foundation’s website here to receive updates.

About Beatitude House

Beatitude House has provided housing in the Mahoning Valley for over 30 years. While this program has always focused on the individual needs of each client, our program has evolved and adapted to meet the ever-changing needs of homeless families.

Beatitude House Permanent Supportive Housing currently provides 50 units of safe and secure housing for homeless individuals and families in Mahoning County. This program uses evidenced-based, innovative, outcome-driven interventions designed to assist our residents in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing in the community.

We employ a multi-level approach that addresses the economic, social and emotional barriers that have limited our residents’ ability to gain stability in their lives. Program services include case management, education assistance, employment assistance, financial literacy, mental health counseling, parenting programs and more.

By creating homes, providing educational opportunities and fostering healthy families, we provide them with the opportunity to transform their lives.

In 2016, the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown created Ursuline Sisters Mission to oversee the various ministries started by the Sisters, including Beatitude House. Ursuline Sisters Mission is gospel service poured out into the world by the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown and their ministries.

About the OneOhio Recovery Foundation

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation is a private, non-profit foundation created under the leadership of Governor Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost, and other state and local leaders, with the mission of advancing Ohio’s addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts now and into the future.

The Foundation is governed by a 29-member board from across Ohio and is funded by 55 percent of settlement funds that Ohio is receiving from the pharmaceutical industry as a consequence of its role in the national opioid epidemic. Funds support local efforts to prevent and combat addiction and are also invested to support those efforts for the long term.