TOLEDO, Ohio — The Board of Lucas County Commissioners, Lucas County Job & Family Services, Harbor, and Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce are celebrating a successful first year of the Lucas County Benefit Bridge program, a pilot initiative designed to help individuals ease off of public benefits and into self-sufficiency.
“This is a resource our community needs, and we’re seeing real results in just the first year,” Commissioner Lisa A. Sobecki said. “Giving people the tools they need to be able to take that promotion or apply for a higher-paying job is not only good for Lucas County families, but it also strengthens our local economy.”
Public benefits ensure thousands of people in Lucas County under economic distress can access food, health care, childcare, and housing. This assistance also makes it possible for individuals to find and maintain employment.
Workers who receive benefits, however, must often choose whether to accept a pay increase or to hold on to the health care or food assistance they need in order to make ends meet. This is called the benefit cliff — when an individual or family experiences a decrease in public assistance benefits because of an increase in earnings, yet the increase in earnings is not enough to cover the benefit loss.
The Lucas County Benefit Bridge program provides residents with the support and training they need to taper off those benefits rather than face a sudden loss of funds. The program also includes services such as financial literacy training, peer mentoring, and educational opportunities for participants.
“Harbor is excited to celebrate the Lucas County Benefit Bridge’s one-year anniversary and the partnership with the Lucas County Department of Job & Family Services, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Lucas County Commissioners. This program benefits workers and businesses by providing critical supports to families as they navigate employment and reductions in SNAP benefits due to earned income,” said Dave Timmerman, Chief Vocational Officer at Harbor. “Participants receive guidance on budgeting, assistance with expenses, and incentives for improving credit scores, increasing savings, and maintaining employment. It's a great program that can really make a difference in navigating the benefit cliff.”
In its first year, 105 people were referred to the program and 54 chose to enroll. Of those participants, 41 completed financial literacy courses.
So far, the program has collectively reduced debt by more than $11,500, increased savings by more than $3,600, and participants reported an average increase in credit score of 52.6 points. Two clients have enrolled in higher education with the support of the program, and others have expressed interest in doing so.
“The Benefit Bridge program directly supports our region’s workforce and economic vitality,” said Wendy Gramza, President and CEO of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. “By working together to help individuals overcome the benefits cliff, we’re empowering more residents to advance in their careers and increase their earning potential, while our employers retain talent.”
The program is funded by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services. Lucas County will receive $2.35 million to continue the program through June 30, 2027. Lucas County Job & Family Services partners with Harbor to administer the program locally.
“The Benefit Bridge program demonstrates that when we invest in people, we strengthen our entire community,” Commissioner Pete Gerken said. “In this past year we have helped individuals and families not only maintain stability, but move toward financial independence.”
“I want to commend our staff at Lucas County Job & Family Services and our partners at Harbor for providing our residents with a path to self-sufficiency,” Commissioner Anita Lopez said. “I’m proud of the impact this program has had in just a short time, and I look forward to seeing its success continue.”
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