The Troy Foundation is seeking applications for its Priority Needs Fund to assist the Troy community in addressing transportation, childcare, access to behavioral and mental health services, and affordable housing.
Donor Name: The Troy Foundation
State: Ohio
City: Troy
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/15/2024
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Priority Needs Fund was created by the Governing Board of The Troy Foundation to address the needs identified by the Community Needs Assessment performed by Measurement Resources Company.
Strategic Focus
- Public Transportation
- Availability of a Public Transportation system that is user‐friendly, affordable, and useable for all shift workers was identified as the greatest community need. Lack of public transportation impacts all industries, private and public, including being able to access health or social services, job trainings, employment, and social events that build a sense of community. Of the surveyed community partners, 65% identified transportation as a need among Troy residents.
- Childcare
- There is limited infant through pre‐K childcare facilities in Miami County that are state certified and not enough space for all children in the community even in non‐certified facilities. Over half of kindergarteners are not considered ready for kindergarten upon entry. Stakeholders perceive there are higher‐paying jobs available for individuals able to work second and third shifts. Yet, workers are unable to access these jobs due to the cost and limited availability of childcare for these positions. Similar to transportation, lack of childcare impacts all industries. Of the surveyed community partners, 63% identified lack of childcare as an unmet need among Troy residents.
- Behavioral and Mental Health
- Troy, like most communities across Ohio, has experienced rising levels of opioid and other substance misuse and addiction. Additionally, other behavioral health conditions have increased among all age groups. The community’s youth have strong attitudes regarding the need for community leaders to prioritize behavioral health‐related issues. The increased visibility into how mental health and addiction is afflicting more individuals throughout the community has increased the community’s recognition of the need for more services to improve these conditions for residents. Of the surveyed community partners, 42% identified mental health care as a need among Troy residents
- Housing
- Affordable Housing in Troy is a concern. Many new and younger residents are looking to live and start families in the community. During the focus groups, residents vocalized that houses are either too expensive, or affordable, but dilapidated. The lack of affordable housing keeps residents in a cycle of renting. As seen in the secondary data, renting costs in Troy are higher than the state average. Additionally, Black and/or African American neighborhoods that were formed, as a result of redlining policies, threaten home values and the ability for families to build generation‐al wealth through homeownership. Of the surveyed community partners, 56% identified affordable housing as a need among Troy residents.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens
- While focusing efforts towards the above focus areas will improve lives in Troy, intentional action will need to be taken to ensure all communities in Troy can benefit from such efforts. The diversity of Troy, such as income levels, disability levels, racial groups, education levels, age groups, and language groups, means that residents experience living, working, going to school, and raising families in Troy differently. This report identifies how different community groups also experience accessing services differently in Troy. A diversity, equity and inclusion lens applied to each strategic focus area will promote funding decisions that are intentional about reaching all residents and more culturally relevant strategies to implement effective programming for all residents of Troy.
For more information, visit The Troy Foundation.
