STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — Steubenville officials say they are looking at new ways to address homelessness after a growing number of encampments have been reported throughout the city.
The issue was discussed during Tuesday night’s Steubenville City Council meeting, where City Manager Michael Johnson said city officials have recently identified several homeless camps in different locations.
According to Johnson, one encampment was discovered behind the Steubenville post office, while others have been found in additional areas of the city.
Johnson said the increase has become more noticeable in recent months, echoing concerns that have also been raised by residents.
Earlier Tuesday, Johnson and Mayor Ralph Petrella participated in a webinar hosted by the State of Ohio that focused on homelessness and the growing challenge of housing affordability.
Johnson said the online session provided information about state resources and programs that could help communities respond to homelessness. He plans to review those materials to determine whether any could benefit Steubenville.
While the webinar did not provide specific solutions tailored to the city, Johnson said it offered valuable insight into approaches being used elsewhere in Ohio and could help guide future discussions locally.
City officials said they recognize homelessness as an increasing concern and plan to continue exploring available resources and potential partnerships as they work to address the issue.
