[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 116 (Friday, July 2, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E740-E741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING LEADING FAMILIES HOME

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                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 2, 2021

  Ms. KAPTUR.  Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Beach House 
Family Shelter's 100th anniversary. Founded in Toledo in 1921 as Beach 
House Family Shelter, the organization is now under the auspices of 
Leading Families Home. It provides families with resources to 
effectively transition from homelessness to permanent housing.
  In 1921, Mrs. Helen (Beach) Jones, the wife of former Toledo mayor 
Samuel Jones, began working with several local women's organizations to 
establish a shelter for homeless single women and women with children. 
Progressive and nationally known, Mayor Samuel ``Golden Rule'' Jones 
lived by the teaching to ``Do unto others as you would have them do 
unto you.'' This guiding principle directed Mrs. Jones' efforts and 
leadership as well. Beach House offered structure and stability to 
struggling women, teaching them the skills needed to move forward. So 
many families were given new life and a chance for success through 
Beach House.
  In the early 1980s, Beach House began to include homeless intact 
families and single fathers with children in an effort to keep families 
together. This initiative has helped families achieve success.
  Beach House combined with FOCUS in 2016 to become Leading Families 
Home. FOCUS was founded in 1982 by pastors in the Old West End 
neighborhood of Toledo in response to growing community needs to help 
people regain independence and economic stability through education and 
employment.
  The work of Leading Families Home has helped hundreds of families in 
the Greater Toledo Metropolitan area and throughout Lucas County. Its 
efforts provide refuge to those who have nowhere else to go. Its 
mission to provide a safe haven has been a lifeline to so many. 
Residents are offered clean beds, meals, showers, washers and dryers, 
and personal hygiene items. Further, residents receive access to 
programs dedicated to vocational training, education, work referrals, 
and other resources to help people gain and maintain employment. This 
one-on-one attention is exactly what individuals need to regain 
stability in their life.
  Given the circumstances of the past year, physical and mental health 
have become at the forefront of all our lives. Leading Families Home 
recognizes the importance of health and has made it a mission to serve 
residents with a team of trained mental health counselors and 
behavioral specialists to assist.
  From 1921 to 2021 Leading Families Home has helped improve the Toledo 
Metropolitan area as well as Lucas County by their continuous efforts 
to assist people in need. I hereby recognize and congratulate the 
Leading Families Home organization for one hundred years of dedicated 
service to the Toledo community.

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