Toledo Home ARP Amendment Public Hearing - February 11, 2026
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Toledo Home ARP Allocation Plan Substantial Amendment Public Hearing - February 11, 2026
On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., the City of Toledo Department of Housing and Community Development held a public hearing to discuss a substantial amendment to the city's Home ARP Allocation Plan. Deputy Director Colleen Ali and Housing Compliance Manager Dr. Genethia Fisher presented the proposed changes, which focus on prioritizing supportive services for individuals and households experiencing homelessness (Qualifying Population 1, or QP1). The hearing included data on rising homelessness and testimony from a representative of the Toledo-Lucas County Homelessness Board.
Public Hearing on Home ARP Substantial Amendment
Dr. Fisher outlined the proposed amendment: establishing a preference for QP1 households in accessing HOME-ARP-funded supportive services. QP1 includes individuals lacking fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; those losing their primary nighttime residence within 14 days; and unaccompanied youth under 25 or families with youth meeting federal homeless criteria. No income requirements apply for QP1. All four eligible qualifying populations remain eligible to apply, but QP1 applications will be prioritized.
Key statistics provided:
- The City of Toledo was allocated $7,517,711.40 in HOME-ARP funds.
- $3,000.69 is being allocated to supportive services under this amendment.
- The 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) count identified 563 individuals experiencing homelessness, a 14% increase over the 2022 count.
- Unsheltered individuals declined, while the sheltered population increased substantially.
- System-level data: more than 2,100 people experienced homelessness for the first time during the most recent reporting period; households spent an average of 446 nights homeless.
The amendment does not change the development of affordable rental housing, only the supportive services component.
Public Comments
One public comment was received. Lisa Pangove, Continuum of Care Systems Operations Manager for the Toledo-Lucas County Homelessness Board, expressed strong support for the amendment. She stated that it is reasonable, necessary, and data-driven, directly responding to increased homelessness and strain on emergency shelters. She emphasized that supportive services are critical for transitioning people from shelter to stability and that the amendment targets those with the most acute need.
Key Outcomes
- The proposed substantial amendment to the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan was presented and discussed.
- No opposition or additional comments were received.
- The hearing was recorded; the information will be presented to Toledo City Council and to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for approval.
- The meeting concluded at approximately 4:15 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
It is now 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026. My name is Colleen Ali. I am the Deputy Director with the Department of Housing and Community Development with the City of Toledo. I am joined here today with Dr. Genethia Fisher, who is the housing and compliance manager with the Department of Housing and Community Development. We are here to discuss a substantial amendment to our home ARP allocation plan. And I will now turn it over to Dr. Fisher to discuss the changes. Good afternoon. Again, I am Dr. Geneitha Fisher, Housing Compliance Manager. Given a discussion on our substantial amendment to the City of Toledo Home ARP Allocation Plan, basically what we want to do in this plan is focus on homeless, qualifying population number one. To qualify as a QP1 households must meet one of the following criteria: lack of fixed regular and adequate nighttime residents as defined by HUD. They will lose primary nighttime residence within 14 days, or be accompanied youth under 25 or a family with youth who does not meet criteria one and two but meet other homeless youth federal criteria. Also, QP1 does not have income requirements. An example of homeless would be a young adult who cannot safely live with relatives or guardians, a person or family who is sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation, such as a train station, vehicle, or an emergency room, also a household living in a temporary location, such as an emergency shelter or motel paid for by an organization. Most recent data demonstrates notable increases in homelessness within the COC. The 2024 PIT point-in-time count identified 563 individuals experiencing homelessness represented an approximately a 14% increase over the 2022 count. While the number of unsheltered individuals declined during the period, the sheltered population substantially substantially suggesting sustained pressure on the emergency shelter system. So basically, what we want to do for the home ARP allocation with this substantial amendment is make a preference for the homeless population. QP1, all of the other QPs will be eligible to apply for the assistance. However, QP1, those applications will bubble to the top. Just as a matter of record, the Home ARP at City of Toledo was allocated $7,517,711 and 40 cents. We are allocating $3,400, I'm sorry, $3,000 and 69 cents to supportive services, which will in fact uh cover the home ARP changes that we were talking about. We are only making changes to the supportive services QP. We are not making any changes to the development and affordable rental housing. As mentioned, all four QPs are still eligible under our amendment or our substantial amendment, I'm sorry, and we are having a preference for QP1. But once again, all QPs will be eligible and is based upon information that we received both through data and also through our local homelessness board. At this time, we will open it up to the floor for anyone who has any comments on our substantial amendment. We will ask we welcome them and ask that they step one at a time up to the podium and provide their comments. And please introduce yourself along with the organization that you are representing. Thank you. My name is Lisa Pangove. I'm here today on behalf of the Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board as the Continuum of Care Systems Operations Manager. We want to declare strong support of the proposed substantial amendment to the City of Toledo's Home ARP allocation plan. This amendment is both reasonable and necessary, and it responds directly to what the data and people with lived experience in this community are telling us. At its core, this amendment establishes a clear preference for individuals and households who are currently experiencing homelessness, qualifying population one for home ARP funded supportive services. It ensures that when supportive services dollars are deployed, they are first directed to those with the most immediate and acute need. The need could not be clearer. Since the city's original home ARP plan was approved, homelessness in Toledo and Lucas County has increased significantly. As Dr. Fisher pointed out, our point and time count shows a nearly 14% increase in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness between 2022 and 2024. Our emergency shelters are under continuous strain and operating at or near capacity at all times. System level data further reinforces this reality. More than 2,100 people experienced homelessness for the first time during the most recent reporting period. And households are spending an average of 446 nights homeless. Those are not just statistics. Supportive services are often the bridge that helps people move from shelter to stability. And right now, that bridge needs to be strengthened where the pressure is greatest.
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