City of Toledo

📢 Tenant Tuesday: Veterans Edition! 🇺🇸 Our Tenant Tuesday Free Counseling sessions have been a success, and we’re thrilled to announce a special session just for Veterans! Join us on Tuesday, November 19th for 20 minutes of free, one-on-one counseling with housing experts from the Toledo Bar Association, The Fair Housing Center, Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, and The University of Toledo College of Law. Topics we can help with include: 🔵 Unaddressed maintenance or housing conditions 🔵 Rent escrow 🔵 Eviction or sealing eviction records 🔵 Security deposits 🔵 Fair housing and discrimination 🔵 Lease or application questions To attend, register by November 12th. Once you’re registered, we’ll reach out with your scheduled time. Be sure to bring a copy of your lease to make the most of your session. Register here 👉 https://ow.ly/1Sbr50TVE34

🎙️Episode 51: Getting to Know the City of Toledo through Engage Toledo's Ambassador Academy Engage Toledo Supervisor Kaleena Harris and 2024 Ambassador Academy attendee JaMezz McKinney join Mayor Wade to discuss what it is like to attend the Ambassador Academy. Toledo's Ambassador Academy provides residents with the opportunity to interact with our city's departments and get an insider's look. Listen and learn more about it: ⁠https://ow.ly/3Xei50TSwwp

This week’s Ambassador Academy offered a behind-the-scenes look at Toledo’s Building and Code Compliance, Department of Public Service, and Urban Beautification. Ambassadors learned about key services like mowing, urban forestry, alley cleaning, city code compliance regulations, and demolition. With plenty of questions on Toledo city services, especially around blight and reforestation, the Ambassadors came away with a deeper understanding of how these departments work to keep Toledo clean and vibrant. It’s hard to believe that graduation is just a week away! Next Thursday, the Mayor will join us to celebrate their accomplishments and community commitment. 🎉

Saturday was a beautiful day for this year’s Pumpkin Palooza! With over 1,000 attendees, it was our largest turnout ever. Families enjoyed Trick-or-Treat Lane, braved the Haunted Trail, and got creative with scarecrow making and cookie decorating. A highlight of the day was when the Mayor and Kid Mayor teamed up to award prizes for the best scarecrows! The 360 photo booth and horse-drawn carriage rides added even more festive fun. With free pumpkins and snacks like cider and donuts, it was a day full of laughter, community spirit, and fall excitement. See you next year for more spook-tacular fun!

As National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week comes to a close, we want to remind everyone that lead is a continuous issue here in Toledo. We hope our #LeadPoisoningPrevention posts have been helpful in raising awareness about the causes of lead exposure and how to prevent it, but this information is crucial every day of the year. Please continue to be vigilant for signs of lead poisoning in children, such as developmental delays or behavioral issues, and watch for peeling or chipped paint in homes and buildings built before 1978, which could be a source of lead. Have conversations with family, friends, and neighbors, especially those living in older homes, to ensure they know the risks and what to look out for. Thank you to everyone who has participated in identifying homes and cases—your efforts are helping make Toledo a safer, healthier place for all. #LeadSafeToledo

We have received many comments on social media over the last year asking us to help local landlords better understand their rights, obligations and how to navigate new regulations. We are excited to say that we have delivered. 🫡 Introducing our Landlord Education Fair on Thursday, November 14th at the Toledo Lucas County Main Library. Join us from 9:30 a.m. to 1: 30 p.m. as we cover crucial topics, including Pay to Stay, reasonable accommodations, and the importance of doing regular property inspections to maintain code compliance. This event was designed by our Landlord-Tenant Manager in collaboration with the Toledo-Lucas COunty Health Department, The Fair Housing Center, Lucas Metropolitan Housing, Lucas COunty Auditors Office, LAWO, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Toledo Lead Safe to help you understand your rights and obligations while ensuring your properties remain compliant with new regulations. Registration is suggested, click the link to learn more and make sure to register by November 13th: https://ow.ly/xMB250TSEZS

When it is complete, Collingwood Green V will bring 75 new apartments into Toledo, and it has been designed to cultivate a sense of community amongst its residents. The 20 acre site will include pedestrian pathways, a community room, fitness center, media room, and commercial space on the first floor. Toledo is a great place to live, work, play, and retire! Seniors are an important demographic in our city, and the senior population is growing. We are happy these apartments are here to support Toledo seniors enjoy their time in our city. Read more about this announcement in the Mayor's newsletter: https://ow.ly/9Gwi50TSw9J

Gloria Smith, R.N., is the head registered nurse in charge of the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department and a member of the Toledo Lead Poisoning Prevention Coalition. Each day, she works closely with families of children who test positive for lead poisoning, addressing a critical issue affecting approximately 3,400 children at any given time in Lucas County. "Lead affects everyone, regardless of your income level, the color of your skin, or the status of your life. It affects all children. We have to protect our families," Smith said. “When high lead levels are discovered, it’s critical to move forward to lower the child's lead level.” In her role with the Toledo Lead Poisoning Prevention Coalition, Smith serves on the Education/Community Engagement Subcommittee, where she helps implement the lead safety ordinance to prevent lead poisoning. Smith manages lead poisoning cases for children between the ages of 1 and 6. She and her team of lead investigators identify the source of lead in a child's home through interviews with the family and a risk assessment. While there is no cure for lead poisoning, Smith highlights the importance of removing the child from contaminated areas and adjusting their diet to include healthy foods rich in iron. For children with lead levels exceeding 50 micrograms per deciliter, hospitalization for intravenous treatment may be necessary. "Lead poisoning lasts a lifetime," Smith said. “It can lead to significant challenges, including learning and speech delays, as well as damage to motor skills.” Smith advocates for intensive early intervention, stating that removing children from exposure to lead can greatly assist in getting them back on track. Smith dedicates much of her time and expertise to community initiatives, including the Toledo Community Coalition and other programs focused on fostering positive change and ensuring the health and safety of children. The Lucas County Health Department offers free lead screening and provides more information about lead poisoning on its website. "No level of lead is safe in a child's body. No level," Smith said.

Is Your Home Lead-Safe? If your home was built before 1978, it’s important to get it inspected for lead. Homes built before that time often used lead-based paint, which can deteriorate over time, creating dust or chips that pose serious health risks—especially to children. Getting your home inspected is the first step in preventing lead exposure and ensuring a safe environment for your family. Visit the Toledo Lead Safe website to search for a certified lead inspector: https://ow.ly/MEfr50TPYnQ

Sitting in her living room, Shannon Shumate watches her daughter, six-year-old Amara Sims, play with her toys, determined to protect her from the hidden dangers of lead poisoning. Now living in a lead-free home, Shannon reflects on the health risks they faced in their previous apartment, where peeling paint and chipping window sills posed serious threats. “I knew I had to be vigilant,” she says, recalling her efforts to safeguard Amara. “I asked the landlord for documentation that the house was lead-free. You’d be surprised how many landlords don’t have it or misrepresent their properties.” Despite her precautions, Amara was diagnosed with lead poisoning shortly after their move. The effects became apparent as Shannon noticed delays in her daughter’s development. “I was told the house was safe, but the truth was different,” Shumate said. “I felt like I was given a home that could harm my child.” Now, as Amara navigates kindergarten, Shannon has taken on the role of an advocate, sharing her experience with other parents in the community. “If my pain can help someone else’s child avoid the same fate, then it’s worth it,” she said. Shannon emphasizes the importance of checking for lead hazards in homes and encourages open conversations with landlords about lead safety. “Parents need to be vigilant. Look for any chipping paint, especially around windows. Make sure the windows have been replaced and check for old, cracked paint in the sills. Dust can accumulate in these areas and be a significant source of lead exposure.” Shumate stresses that families should not just rely on what landlords say. “Inspect your home thoroughly for any signs of lead. It's critical for your child’s safety.” Determined to raise awareness about lead poisoning and hold landlords accountable for the safety of their properties, Shannon’s mission is clear: to prevent other children from facing the same challenges Amara has encountered. “You deserve the truth,” she says firmly. “Lead can kill. We have to talk about it.”