Human Services Chamber: Advocating for All

News, News and Events, OneSource Center News
The Human Services Chamber (HSC) of Hamilton County and OneSource Center are now collaborating partners, supporting OneSource Center’s mission of strengthening nonprofits in the Cincinnati region. Both organizations recognize the importance of human service agencies in our community and the important work they do in job training, housing, mental health and addiction treatment, and supportive services for children, seniors and persons with disabilities.  
 
The Human Services Chamber, a coalition of over 70 human services providers in Hamilton County, has a mission to develop and advocate for public policies that provide equitable opportunities for all community members to reach their full potential. HSC is the only organization in the Cincinnati region with a sole focus of advocating for all facets of the human services community. The organization is a strong advocate in the areas of affordable housing, human services funding and transportation issues — gathering data through community surveys and town meetings and advocating for programs with government leaders and community organizations that address human service needs.  
 
Members of the HSC include organizations in the fields of housing and homelessness, seniors/veterans/persons with disabilities, adult education/workforce development, children/youth, food security and safety net services, mental health/addiction services, comestic violence and victim services
 
Vanessa Freytag, Board Chair of Human Services Chamber said, “We are proud to partner with OneSource Center to strengthen nonprofits serving all of the human services needs in Hamilton County. When we work together for the good of all — no matter health, age, mobility, employment or economic standing – we lift our whole community and we all win. “ 

Recent successful HSC initiatives included: 
  • championing the launch of the Cincinnati Metro “Everybody Rides Metro” program in January 2021, a program which distributed $500,000 in discounted bus passes for lower income bus riders; 
  • presenting data to Hamilton County Commissioners re: increased poverty and evictions which prompted them to set aside $1M for affordable housing initiatives in 2021. (The Commissioners are expected to form an Affordable Housing Task Force over the coming months to recommend next steps.)
  • working to elevate awareness about the importance of vaccinating workers against COVID in the human services sector;  
  • advocating to the Hamilton County Commissioners to invest in human services, an item that the county has not historically funded in its operating budget. 
  • gathering data from local social services agencies showing reduced or suspended services due to lack of technology, increased demand for services and a lack of funding. (Through Hamilton County, the CARES Act was initiated, providing a $5.5 million grant program to help local human services organizations in providing services amid the coronavirus pandemic – including response to increased demand, technology improvements for remote services and the addition of plexiglass barriers to boost on-site services.