Officials name housing top county priority; mental-health provider and residents urge coordinated services

Grey County Fiscal Court members said housing is the county's top priority and asked the county's housing committee to reconvene to pursue funding and program options. During committee reports, a court member said leadership agreed housing and homelessness remain the countylargest challenges and requested the housing committee meet again; the member asked that county staff and local partners, including Brenda Renfro, attend future sessions to explore funding sources.

At public comment, a mental-health targeted case manager described services offered in the county, including targeted case management, community support, therapy, help obtaining Medicaid and other benefits, court-related parenting classes covered by Medicaid, assistance obtaining Social Security replacement cards and birth certificates, employment and education supports, and housing and transportation assistance. The speaker said these services are funded through Medicaid and do not cost the county money, and requested referrals and collaboration with courts and local agencies.

A resident identified as Janet described an initiative called "Pay It Forward, Grey County," in which restaurants place a board for patrons to pre-pay meals that people in need can redeem. The resident said she was soliciting participating restaurants and would launch the effort within weeks.

Court members referenced local affordable-senior housing at Beaverdale Village (about 72 units across phases) as a positive existing resource but said gaps remain for working households and people exiting homelessness. Members described past shelter efforts that were discontinued because of management difficulties and said future committee work should include homelessness as part of housing planning. No formal motions or budget allocations occurred on housing at the meeting.