Silver Birch Rent Assistance Lifts Weight from Shoulders

At Area Agency on Aging 3, we are celebrating 50 years of service to the community. Area Agency on Aging 3 is a non-profit that was established to provide life-span resources that inspire, educate, and empower older adults, those with disabilities, and family caregivers. We serve a 19-county region, with 7 primary counties (Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Hardin, Mercer, Putnam, and Van Wert). Being a Federal & State funded agency there are many rules on how AAA3 can spend the money received from those Federal and State Grants and unfortunately that would leave out many of the needs that people request assistance.

In 2017, the Area Agency on Aging 3 established the Silver Birch Foundation to fill in the gaps of those in the community that have nowhere else to go in times of need and crisis. The foundation helps by providing funding opportunities, to not only help them fix or purchase what they need, but to also create a sense of safety and healing.

September 2024 the Silver Birch Foundation was notified by Jeff Wahl -Area Agency on Aging 3’s Ohio Home Care Waiver Care Manager of a community member that was struggling to pay his rent, “due to the fact that the cost of almost all things has raised in price”. He was asking for a one-time payment for his rent as he could not pay for it and his landlord had given him a 3-day Notice of Lease Violation for non-payment of rent. Leroy had made many attempts to get funding from many local charities. We were aware that there was no funding at all for him as Leroy himself had received some help when he moved into the apartment from Our Place, but they had no other funding to assist him at this time. 

His application was processed by Shannon Hadding – Area Agency on Aging 3’s Director of Outreach & Enrollment and ultimately approved by the Silver Birch Foundation Board for health and safety reasons.

Jeff then phoned Leroy to advise him that his one-time rent payment was approved and was in the process for payment. When Jeff confirmed with Leroy that rent assistance was received by his apartment manager from Silver Birch, he was very thank full.

“What a relief!! I was not sure what I was going to do. I had tried so many places but was turned away.  It is such a weight off my shoulders. My health is not the best and I thought I would have to go to a nursing facility if I was evicted. Thank you, Silver Birch, for helping.” - Leroy

Leroy is just one of the many community members we were able to assist due to wonderful Sponsors and Donors at our Fundraising Events. We are truly blessed to be able to touch the lives of others in our 19-county region with help from community members, businesses, and providers.