Lebanon County’s inaugural Jump Start program took a huge leap forward on Monday.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in conjunction with a two-day open house for service agencies to tour the new home for potential placement of their young adult clients who need housing.
The home is specifically for individuals ages 18 to 24 who are living with mental illness and/or co-occurring substance abuse.
Holly Leahy, director of Lebanon County Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities/Early Intervention (MH/ID/EI), said the concept of Jump Start began in May 2021.
“Our Lebanon County leadership created a list of unmet housing needs within our community and quickly identified the need for a housing program for young adults,” said Leahy during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was exclusively covered by LebTown. “During many meetings of stakeholders and research of existing housing models, the concept grew into a program description that was ultimately submitted to the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse services and approved in the fall of 2022.”
That was the start of a journey for the $446,448 estimated renovation project. Those costs were covered by capital funding from the state Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Lebanon County Housing & Redevelopment Authority administered the renovations.
“It wasn’t until January of 2024 that we were able to … actually begin implementation,” said Leahy. “Our next steps included approval from our Lebanon County Commissioners to move forward and then in-depth planning for the home including identifying this home that we’re here today owned by the housing and redevelopment authority as well as renovations.”
Leahy said the housing and redevelopment authority pursued contractors and renovations while MH/ID/EI officials pursued a provider for the housing support and to provide management services for the property located on North 12th Street.
“This home would not be possible without all of our partners and their support along the way, but also their continual support as we move forward,” she added before introducing project partners.
Lebanon City Mayor Sherry Capello said the city is proud to celebrate this moment with county officials and the many partners that made the residence possible.
“There’s such a need for this and this a great jump start to a start in this area because it really is needed,” said Capello. “I want to congratulate the county because this is the first of a fine program for our county and, again, the program is going to give a jump start in life for these young adults and we’re glad to see this.”
County Commissioners Jo Ellen Litz and Mike Kuhn also offered remarks to the crowd of 20 to 25 attendees assembled for what was, in a way, the grand opening celebration for Jump Start.
Litz thanked the many volunteers who helped make the house a reality.
“This house is very special to me and is going to be used in the way it was envisioned,” she said. “Thank you to everyone who had a part in making this happen, and thank you to our volunteers who got dusty and dirty coming here and helping out.”
Kuhn noted he is the commissioner liaison to the MH/ID/EI department and that role allows him to see the important services they are providing on behalf of the community, including this initiative.
“Doing very important work for people in need in our community and doing it very well,” he said. “More than that professionalism, they care.”
State Rep. John Schlegel (R-101) was appreciative of the invitation to celebrate a program on what he said is a “tremendous occasion.”
“Because you serve a population that I’m very concerned about – an underserved population – and they’re part of the great need,” he said. “So this is just the start of the services that you’re going to run into, and I wish you the very best and many years of success.”
Jennifer McLaughlin, director of mental health services for the Community Services Group, said her agency has been working with Lebanon County since 2019 and this project is an extension of that relationship. Community Services Group is the housing support case management provider for Jump Start.
“It has been a great journey over the last multiple years, but especially for this project,” said McLaughlin. “The county, when they put out their RFP (request for proposal), allowed providers to be very creative and really kind of identify what we thought would work best to help young adults learn the skills that they need.”
McLaughlin said their team decided to model this program after another one they offer in Lebanon County called Site Rehab, which focuses on skill building.
“Teaching people the skills that they need so they can be as independent as possible in the life role of their choice, so that’s what we kind of conceptualized,” she added. “And thankfully, the county really liked what we conceptualized. So we are very much looking forward to having our first residents move in. Our goal is to really help people, like I said, learn the skills that they need.”
Teaching instruction will include skills at the micro level.
“So many of the young folks today don’t always have the skills that they need to be successful – and that’s if everything’s going great in their lives,” said McLaughlin. “Many of our folks, their lives are not always that great. They have trauma. They have many mental health issues that really set them back sometimes. So we’re looking at that population to really help them dream and achieve the goals that they set for themselves.”
After the ribbon had been cut to the cheers and applause of attendees, LebTown spoke with Michele Irizarry, housing support case manager for the Community Services Group, about her new role.
“Each individual will have goals they need to work on, so we’ll focus on their goals,” said Irizarry. “I will help them on a day-to-day basis and teach them how to budget, teach them about credit scores and how to maintain good credit. Cooking, holding cooking classes. How to use the bus system.”
Residents are permitted to live there for 12 to 18 months while they learn basic and other life skills and work towards obtaining employment. Other training will include how to craft a resume and job interview preparedness.
A fact sheet about Jump Start states: “This flexible support is time-limited, and meant to empower individuals to develop the skills necessary to successfully live independently, obtain employment, and become active members of the community.”
Leahy told LebTown after the ceremony that several applications have been received already, with that number expected to rise following the two-day Open House event for local officials and service agencies.
Numerous attendees commented on the decorations and referenced living there themselves – a tribute to the beauty of the renovated space.
The home has been outfitted with furniture and amenities, including a second-floor laundry room along with towels, sheets and bedspreads that match the individual bedrooms. The house is decorated in neutral colors since officials don’t know the residents’ gender given the application window is still open.
Both floors of the two-story home have full kitchens, along with living rooms and dining areas. The first-floor tenant will be an individual who is closer to living independently than the two who will reside on the second floor, according to Leahy.
There are three full-sized bathrooms throughout the house and the first floor contains a small office for the housing support case manager.
When LebTown exclusively reported in August about renovations at the midway point, the plan was for the home to open in October. However, Leahy said a 30-day extension was granted to the building contractor.
At that time, Leahy said she was “thrilled” with the progress that had been made toward making this long-held dream for Lebanon County youths to come true.
With the first resident expected to tentatively move in come Nov. 1, LebTown asked Leahy how she feels now about the project that’s so close to reaching its goal.
“I am beyond thrilled,” said Leahy. “For me, it is most definitely knowing that our young adults in Lebanon County are going to benefit from this home and learning the skills and really moving forward into adulthood in our community. And that really thrills my soul and makes me so happy. I can’t tell you the joy it brings to me and the work of the partners to deliver these services each and every day. They will help make this a home, something special for our young people.”
Karen Raugh, executive director of the housing & redevelopment authority, said the transformation from former office space to home has been a joy to witness.
“This is what this property was meant for – to be a homey, cozy place to live,” she added.
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