Toledo City Council candidate Sam Melden called on city and school leaders Thursday to find solutions to the problem of homeless children.
Mr. Melden made the announcement in Historic Woodlawn Cemetery near the grave of Samuel “Golden Rule” Jones, mayor of Toledo from 1897 until his death in 1904.
Thursday was the 171st anniversary of Mayor Jones’ birthday.
RELATED: Toledo Public Schools district has most homeless students in Ohio
“Jones was known as Golden Rule because of his deeply held belief that leaders could lead effectively by adhering o the timeless principle by treating others as you want to be treated,” Mr. Melden said.
Mr. Melden referred to an Aug. 1 Blade article that stated the number of Toledo students classified as homeless has increased 37 percent throughout a three-year period, according to the school district. TPS officials attributed much of that increase to a more comprehensive approach to counting and tracking homeless students, a method that found more students who qualify for services.
The district reported 2,690 homeless students during the 2015-16 school year compared to the 2,607 in Columbus, 2,550 in Cincinnati, and 2,229 in Cleveland, state data show.
A child doesn’t have to be in a shelter or on the street to be considered homeless. Students in various living situations can be counted, including those sharing a residence because of financial troubles or a fire, couch-surfers staying with relatives or friends, or youths living in a hotel or campground.
Mr. Melden, who is an endorsed Democrat and is one of 13 people running for six at-large council seats, said leaders would meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 24 at Cherry St. Mission’s Life Revitalization Center to discuss solutions.
The meeting will include Dan Rogers, president and chief executive officer of Cherry Street Mission Ministries; Romules Durant, Toledo Public Schools superintendent; Robert Culp of First Church of God; Mike Badik, executive director of the Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board; Renee Palacios, executive director of Family House shelter, and Polly Taylor-Gerken, Toledo Board of Education member.
The six endorsed Democrats in the council race are incumbents Cecelia Adams, Kurt Young, and Larry Sykes, and newcomers Nicholas Komives, Gary Johnson, and Mr. Melden. Also running are incumbent Councilmen Rob Ludeman, a Republican, and Sandy Spang, an independent.
Other challengers are Alfonso Narvaez, Patricia Robinson, Thomas Names, Clyde Phillips, Jr., and Harvey Savage, Jr.
Contact Ignazio Messina at imessina@theblade.com or 419-724-6171 or on Twitter @IgnazioMessina.
First Published August 3, 2017, 3:40 p.m.
