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Franklin County presents $6.2 million block grant plan to expand crisis response, housing and behavioral-health supports
Summary
County human services staff proposed a $6.2 million block grant budget for 2026-27 that would direct roughly $4.5 million to mental health, $808,500 to IDD supports, and other funds to homelessness and substance-use services; the plan was presented during a required public hearing and will be finalized before a July 21 DHS submission.
Tanya Hurley, Franklin County human services administrator, presented the county's second public hearing on its annual block grant plan on July 8, telling commissioners the block grant gives the county flexibility to allocate state dollars across multiple human-services programs.
"State funds represent 95% of the total allocation, which in our case for Franklin County is $5,700,000 annually," Hurley said, summarizing the grant's fiscal structure and the Department of Human Services (DHS) deadline. She noted the county must submit an annual plan and budget and hold two public hearings before the July 21 submission to DHS.
Nut graf: The plan before the commissioners proposes a $6.2 million budget for the 2026-27 block grant year that county staff say will support crisis services, housing stability and expanded behavioral-health supports — areas staff identified as the community's highest needs. The funding will affect services across mental health, IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities), drug and alcohol programs, homeless assistance and a human services development fund.
Fiscal staff outlined the proposed allocations: about $4,500,000 to mental health programs; $808,500 to IDD supports; $352,000 to drug and alcohol programs; $249,500 to homeless assistance; and $269,700 to the human services development fund, which houses the county's military share program. "We are proposing to the commissioners a budget of $6,200,000 for the 26-27 block grant year," a county fiscal presenter said.
Hurley described the administration's three top priorities for the coming year: strengthening crisis services by moving toward the SAMHSA model ("someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere to go," she said), improving housing stability including supported living and independent apartments for people with IDD, and expanding prevention, treatment and school-based behavioral-health programs.
Staff said the plan would serve an estimated 9,400 individuals using block grant dollars alone: about 6,250 in mental-health programs, roughly 150 in IDD services, 1,000 in drug and alcohol support, 700 in homeless assistance and 1,300 through the human services development fund.
Commissioners asked for clarification on the budget totals. County staff said the $5.7 million figure refers specifically to state funds, while the $6.2 million total includes state, federal and county contributions; a local match averaging about $155,000 is required annually. Hurley also said up to 5% of the state allocation may be eligible for reinvestment and must be expended by June 30 of the following fiscal year.
The presentation included a review of prior investments made possible by block grant flexibility: reprogrammed funds since 2012 totaling about $2.1 million supported new services and program expansions, including co-responder teams, a military-share distribution program and supported-living apartments.
Commissioner (speaker 3) thanked staff for maintaining eight senior centers countywide and commended the work to sustain services on a tight budget. County staff characterized the presentation as informational; details and a formal application will follow as the county completes its submission to DHS.
What happens next: Staff said specifics will be finalized during the application process and that commissioners will receive recommendations for formal approval prior to the July 21 DHS deadline.
