The city’s Department of Housing and Community Development presented legislation on Oct. 28 to appropriate $291,007.98 from the general fund to cover acquisition and transition costs for a planned consolidation of Family House (Beach House Inc., d/b/a Leading Families Home) into Leading Families Home (the combined entity’s operating name).

Director Rosalind Clemens, Chantelle Cargill (board chair, Family House), Julie Embry (executive director, Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board) and Jennifer Jacobs (executive director, Leading Families Home) described the merger as a step to create a unified, sustainable provider of family homelessness services in Toledo. Officials said Family House’s operating model and unrestricted revenue streams had become unsustainable, and the merger would preserve staffing, maintain operations at both physical locations and align administrative functions to reduce duplication.

Clemens asked for six months of upfront funding to cover staffing, technology and infrastructure needs while reimbursements and new billing streams (for example, Medicaid billing) come online. Jacobs said the transition funding would help the combined organization start paying benefits, reduce staff turnover and stand up billing tied to Medicaid and other reimbursement streams; staff noted many grants operate on a reimbursement basis and the six‑month operating cushion would allow cash flow to stabilize.

Councilmembers expressed support and asked operational questions, including the future of both physical sites (officials said both locations would remain open) and the board structure (Family House’s board would dissolve and the combined organization’s governance would be aligned under Leading Families Home). Several councilmembers urged the administration to consider whether the requested period and amount are sufficient and suggested additional follow‑up if federal or state funding changes require more support.

Council Chair Komai recommended advancing the appropriation; the transcript does not show a formal recorded vote. Officials said the funding is intended to be short‑term and to allow the merged organization to access diversified revenue streams, reduce emergency stop‑gap requests and preserve uninterrupted services for families experiencing homelessness.