Medical debt relief
Toledo has been in the news recently, thanks to the medical debt relief package recently passed by City Council. According to the NYTimes, several other cities around the country are exploring adopting similar resolutions to help their citizens eliminate medical debt. The Toledo initiative is a result of a partnership with the non-profit RIP Medical Debt, which is in discussions with health care providers to determine how much debt can be written off with the funds from Council. When that deal is completed, Toledoans impacted by the writeoff will be notified. Councilmembers expect the process to take several months.
Goodwill Industries of NW Ohio celebrating 90th birthday
Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio celebrates its 90th birthday this spring. Although much of the community interacts with Goodwill of Northwest Ohio primarily through their 13 thrift stores, retail sales is only part of what they bring to the community. Income from the retail stores helps to fund much of the rest of the work of the organization, which offers workforce development programs including career services. Goodwill has two job connection centers: one downtown at 1120 Madison Ave. and one at 2600 Sylvania Ave. Services available free of charge to job seekers include: assistance with resume writing, access to computers, career coaching, skills assessment and interview preparation. For more information about services, stores, employment, or special events, visit Goodwill Industries of NW Ohio’s website at goodwillnwohio.com/ or call 419-255-0070.
Unique partnership builds community health through home loans
As a strategy for thinking holistically about the health of our neighborhoods, Bon Secours Mercy Health has pledged $3 million for a low-interest loan program available to central city homeowners who need to make repairs to their homes. The program will be implemented by the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union and is just one of several programs that Bon Secours Mercy Health has set into action locally to support the financial stability of central city neighborhoods. A Financial Opportunity Center was created on-site at Mercy Health – Franklin Medical Center, in partnership with LISC and NeighborWorks Toledo. The FOC offers financial counseling, and assistance with job-hunting. Application materials for the loan program are available now at the credit union. 1441 Dorr St., Toledo. 419-255-8876. toledourban.net/
