About 75 volunteers participated in the first-ever UpTown Cleanup Day on Friday. Beyond the obvious goal of helping one of Toledo’s near-downtown neighborhoods make more strides toward a comeback, the event had a more serious objective for some of the participants: keeping an eye out for homeless people in need of services. The Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board was one of the event partners for that reason. It viewed the cleanup as a chance to become more visible and possibly connect more directly with those in need, said Julie Embree, the board’s executive director. “There’s been an increase in the number of folks on the street, with the economy the way it is and the lack of affordable housing,” she said. “We want to provide grace to our homeless folks.” Toledo’s regular number of 588 shelter beds are at capacity, Ms. Embree said. “There are more than 250 people on wait lists now,” she said. Sandra De Steno, United Way of Greater Toledo 211 director, said that wait list includes about 175 families. The last time the need was this great was during the coronavirus pandemic. She said relief came back then in the form of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Also called the coronavirus stimulus package, ARPA provided $1.9 trillion in federal money to help cities nationwide. Now, there are “fewer and fewer resources to stabilize them,” Ms. De Steno said of homeless people. “There’s a lot of people focused on [donating] food right now, but food is only one of the many things that people need,” she said. Lisa Pengov, the homelessness board’s operations manager, said the problem “keeps getting worse.” “We have a lot of encampments popping up right now,” she said. “Homeless individuals are staying out on the street because all of the shelters are full. The encampments are getting larger and larger, and we’re getting more people on the street.” The event was organized by ConnecToledo, in partnership with Downtown Toledo Improvement District. Betsy Ujvagi, ConnecToledo office manager, agreed the cleanup was a good “visibility opportunity” for the homelessness board to help expand its reach. “We’re in a different environment this year,” Ms. Embree said. “We anticipate the number of people we see on the street is going to grow. Let’s find some grace and connection for our unsheltered folks. We’re asking our businesses for help to do that. As much as anything, Ms. Embree said, the UpTown district cleanup was an event “to showcase how we can work together and find solutions.” She and others said they hope it expands to other neighborhood districts. They saw Friday’s event as the kickoff for multiple cleanups in the spring and fall of 2026. One of the many other groups involved was Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful. Its executive director, Adam Cassi, said that group provided gloves, bags, litter tongs, and other supplies. Volunteers met at 10 a.m. at UpTown Green, 1904 Madison Ave., and spent a couple of hours picking up litter. “It’s a way to beautify our city, but it also shows people are dedicated to making our city a good place to live,” Mr. Cassi said. He said cleanups are good for residents and good for the business community. “There’s a lot of research that says once an area is clean it’s easier to keep it that way,” Mr. Cassi said. “It shows that we take pride in our city, and that littering is socially unacceptable.” One of the people picking up trash was Johnathan Nichols, 35, Family House marketing and development director. “We’ve seen an increased need and we continue to rally for community support to serve the families,” Mr. Nichols said. Another volunteer, Corey Julius, 34, works at the nearby Toledo Metro Federal Credit Union, 1212 Adams St., as its vice president of lending. “I want to give back to the community. Helping to clean up is an easy way for us average people to chip in a bit,” Mr. Julius said. “I was pleasantly surprised to see the turnout. Honestly, there are more people than I expected to be here.” First Published November 14, 2025, 4:30 p.m. Source: https://www.toledoblade.com/local/city/2025/11/14/first-uptown-cleanup-serves-dual-purpose/stories/20251114122

For more than a decade, Ron Ranallo has helped shape the mission and impact of Leading Families Home. His involvement began long before the organization was known by its current name. He served on the board of FOCUS and later supported the transition when FOCUS merged with Beach House in 2016. The merger was not simply a structural change. It allowed families experiencing homelessness to access multiple forms of support under one roof. “I have been part of this organization through five executive directors and a lot of change, but the mission has never shifted,” Ron said. “We are here to end homelessness, or at least significantly reduce it, and we are doing the work every day.” A Personal Call to Serve Ron’s path to LFH began during his career at Owens Corning, where he was asked to lead the company’s United Way initiative. He spent years engaging with local nonprofits, learning about community needs, and seeing firsthand how many families in Northwest Ohio were struggling. That experience permanently changed his perspective. “Once you understand the reality of homelessness in our community, you cannot unsee it,” he said. “It became clear this was something I needed to give my time to.” He later joined the board of the Aurora Project at the request of a colleague, which eventually led to his involvement with FOCUS and then Leading Families Home. Today, he serves as treasurer and a member of the finance committee. Why LFH’s Model Works Ron believes the heart of LFH is its continuum of care. The organization doesn’t only offer shelter. It provides a path to stability, with wraparound services designed to help families rebuild and remain housed. “We do not just give someone a bed and send them back into the world,” Ron said. “We stabilize families. We subsidize rent. We make sure children can stay in the same schools. Parents receive employment coaching and support. It’s about long-term success, not a temporary solution.” Much of that work depends on experienced case managers and social workers who guide families through the process. Many have been with LFH for years, offering consistency and compassionate care. “They are the heart of this organization,” he said. “These are high-stress jobs, and the people who stay do it because they are called to this work. They believe in the mission.” Breaking the Cycle for Children If you were to ask Ron about LFH, he would return again and again to one point: the children experiencing homelessness. He would emphasize that when a family loses housing, the instability affects everything from education to emotional development. “No child chooses homelessness,” he said. “It is traumatic for adults and even more traumatic for children. When you provide stability, counseling, and a chance to stay in school, that is how you break the cycle. You give children a chance.” To Ron, that is where LFH makes its most meaningful impact. Housing is not the finish line. It is the foundation that allows families to rebuild. Stories of Transformation Some of the most powerful moments for Ron come from hearing directly from families who have gone through LFH programs. During fundraising events, former residents often share their stories of navigating crisis, finding stability, and rebuilding their lives. “These success stories are tragic, but also inspiring,” he said. “No two stories are the same, other than they ended up in a shelter. Hearing how far they have come is incredibly powerful.” One story stays with him. A former Beach House resident, who spent time in the shelter as a child, is now a business professional serving on the LFH board. “His story is full-circle,” Ron said. “He is successful, he is giving back, and it all started with the stability his family found here.” Homelessness is a Serious Community Issue That Requires Community Action Although LFH has made tremendous strides, Ron believes the scale of homelessness is far larger than most people realize. Hundreds of families in Northwest Ohio are currently unhoused, and that number is significantly underreported. “I wish more people understood the magnitude,” he said. “It is a gigantic number, and it is growing.” Ron believes the community can do better by working more collaboratively. Rather than many organizations working separately, he believes there should be more partnerships, shared resources, and streamlined services. “There needs to be more collaboration and fewer silos,” he said. “It is more efficient for donors and more effective for families.” Funding is another challenge, especially because nonprofits often receive grants through reimbursement-only models. The organization spends the money first, then waits to get it back. Ron sees unrestricted funding as essential to sustainability. “Unrestricted funding is critical,” he said. “It allows an organization to make strategic decisions and run its operations without waiting for reimbursement.” Why Volunteers Matter While financial support is important, Ron believes volunteering changes the way people see homelessness. It gives community members a firsthand understanding of who is being served and what they are overcoming. “When you volunteer, even for a short time, it becomes personal,” he said. “You see what is happening behind the curtain, and that is what hooks people. That is what hooked me.” Ron encourages anyone looking for purpose or connection to get involved. LFH offers opportunities for short-term, long-term, and group volunteering, all of which make a difference. Looking Ahead LFH is preparing for major growth as it acquires Family House and expands its capacity. This includes additional housing units, more behavioral health support, and a broader range of services designed to keep families stable long after they leave shelter. “That is the future,” he said. “Comprehensive services, continuity of care, and collaboration. We are moving in that direction, and it gives me hope.” After ten years of service, Ron remains committed, both personally and financially, to the mission. “I am proud of what we have built, and I am proud of the families who have worked so hard to rebuild their lives,” he said. “Ending homelessness is a big goal, and we cannot do it alone. But every family that finds stability is proof the mission matters. And that is what keeps me here.”