Steubenville officials discuss concern for homeless

Steubenville community advocates urged City Council to confront the impending closure of Urban Mission's emergency shelters, which will stop accepting new intakes after October 31 due to funding cuts. Councilman Royal Mayo remarked that Martha Manor will only rehouse current residents, leaving future homeless individuals with no immediate options. Beth Rupert-Warren from the Jefferson County Educational Service Center stressed the critical need for a temporary warming center to support the homeless population during winter. Community leaders are uniting to devise solutions, with meetings scheduled to gather resources and partners. Mike Thomas emphasized the council's responsibility to address the homelessness crisis, asking for concrete actions.

The urgency of the situation is compounded by the approaching winter, which poses significant risks for vulnerable families. Rupert-Warren noted the collaborative spirit among local agencies, including the Community Action Council and Jefferson Metropolitan Housing. The next meeting of the homeless coalition is set for Friday at 10 a. m. in the JFK building.