The topics of the 90-minute townhall meeting included
unemployment, financial services, job training and housing.
The panelists provided up-to-date statistics, specific
responses to related questions and contact information.
Panelists included: Tonia Saunders, Workforce Development
for Lucas County director; Kathy Tucker, Northwest Ohio
Homeownership Development Agency executive director;
Shaulonda Jones, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
program assistant; Kimberly Hall, Lucas County Job and
Family Services director; and Aisha Sleiman, Advocates for
Basic Legal Equality staff attorney. Audience attendees were
invited to submit questions throughout the meeting by using
the Facebook Live chat feature.
“Tonight, we are talking about the economic impact of COVID
on our community. It was just 12 short weeks ago that the US
economic picture was bright and unemployment at a 50-year
low. When that virus hit the country, our world changed,”
explained Doni Miller.
We’re aware that we still have eligible Ohioans who are
waiting to receive their benefits, but the system has been
overwhelmed by the number of claims. I won’t rest until
everyone who qualifies, receives unemployment benefits,”
explained Hall.
Lucas County Job and Family Services statistics, as of April
18, 2020
·
Over 100,000 jobless claims were filed,
·
Almost one million total claims since mid-March,
·
Over $900 million paid to over 300,000 Ohioans.
·
Claims processed so far, exceeds number of claims processed
in past two years.
·
March claims: 79 percent Caucasian, 11.5 percent African
Americans, 5 percent Hispanic, and 4.5 percent other,
·
Benefit claims are retroactive, 1099 and part-time employees
are also eligible.
“There are barriers like transportation, daycare, background
checks and drug screening issues that impact employment. I
encourage job seekers to take advantage of this time and
address those barriers. Our office is open, and we can
assist you. Take this time to understand what your stimulus
dollars can be used for and think about the job market. Once
the closed businesses reopen, it will be a competitive job
market. Ohio has 14 percent unemployment right now,”
explained Tonia Saunders.
Services offered by OhioMeansJobs.
·
Online job assessments,
·
Online GED classes offered by Owens Community College,
·
On-on-one resume assistance, application assistance or mock
interviews via conference call or Skype,
“We specialize in helping people navigate the home buying
process. When this pandemic happened, we had to deal with
two critical factors: consistent employment and additional
guidelines have become stricter. We have clients who were
pre-approved before COVID but may no longer qualify because
of new guidelines for the next 90 days. We have to realize
that banks are taking on a lot of risk right now, but those
changes impact the clients that we serve,” explained Tucker.
“We have seen more clients that need assistance with
unemployment, navigating budgets due to income changes, and
how to access other resources that they qualify for now. The
Finance Opportunity Center is here for the community and
offers free services. You will always work with the same
coach. So, don’t be embarrassed, you paid into this system
and why not utilize the assistance,” said Jones.
FOC locations:
·
Lutheran Social Services, 419-243-9173
·
Pathway, 419-242-7304
·
NeighborWorks, 419-691-2900
·
ProMedica, 567-585-0059
“We need to start building a movement, this is a really
unique time. In crisis we can create great policies. This is
the time that we can all work together to push for actual
programs that work, like a rental assistance and eviction
type moratorium. Housing court hearings will start up after
May 30t, and your landlord doesn’t have to work
with you but consider talking to your landlord,” said
Sleiman.
Contact information:
·
NOHDA, 419-243-3734,
Bderden@nohda.org
·
Ohio Department Job and Family Services,
unemployment.ohio.gov, 1-877-644-6562
·
ABLE, LegalAidLine.org, 419-724-0460
The series will feature a new weekly topic from now until
May 28t. Moderators include Charles Mack, Will
Lucas, Doni Miller and Wendi Huntley. “The purpose of this
series is to educate and provide resources. Black Americans
are taking a disproportionate hit economically and
physically from the pandemic,” said Catherine Crosby, City
of Toledo chief of staff.
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