ICAN Housing

We're grateful to The Sisters of Charity Foundation, for their continued support of our mission and goals.

Sisters of Charity Foundation awards more than $2.4 million The Board of Directors of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton has announced $2,400,899 in grants for the third and fourth quarters of 2023.

Not all disabilities are visible. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was established to raise awareness about disability issues and encourage greater equality.

Cold weather is especially difficult and dangerous to the unhoused. You can help. Please contact us about donating warm winter clothing; coats, boots, hats, gloves, socks, thermal underwear, hoodies. Pre-owned in good condition is fine. We need blankets and sleeping bags as well. Call 330-455-9100 ext 130 to arrange a pick-up. Items can also be dropped off at our offices in downtown Canton, or in Massillon. Thank you!

Shopping online? Please consider ordering items from our Amazon Wish List. Your gift will immediately help people in our community who are in need.

Check out my list on Amazon

ICAN Housing is accepting applications for a full-time Accounting Assistant. Qualified candidates should send résumés to [email protected] (or) [email protected]

This Thanksgiving, please consider volunteering at a local hot meal site, or donating food to help those who might otherwise not enjoy the holiday.

There has been a 9% increase (approximately 10,000 more people) in the United States between 2019 and 2022 in the unsheltered homeless population. This means that more people live on the streets, in cars, or in other places not meant for human habitation. The number of homeless seeking shelter continues to outpace the number of emergency shelters available to house them. The ramifications of homelessness continue to devastate individuals, households, families, and communities.

ICAN Housing focuses on treating everyone with dignity and respect, while working to connect them to resources available in our community.

Hunger & Homeless Week is 11/11-11/18. Here is information about local resources to assist with groceries and hot meals.
https://www.starkhelpcentral.com/food-pantries

Happy Veterans Day to all who have served, or are serving currently.

No one should have to worry about whether they will have food on their plate or a roof over their head. But the reality is that hunger and homelessness are widespread problems that affect far too many people. Hunger & Homelessness Week November 11-18 was established to raise awareness of these issues in our country, and worldwide.

ICAN Housing Announces the Appointment of Two New Board Members
The Agency Welcomes Two New Board Members, Bringing the Total to Eleven

CANTON, OHIO – ICAN Housing, a leader in housing and housing support services, is pleased to announce that two new board members have joined the agency as of October 2023, Dorian Chenault of Charter Communications, and Dr. Crystal Brodzenski of Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

ICAN Housing improves the community by housing and assisting homeless individuals and families living with mental illness or a low income, allowing them to focus on self-sufficiency and independence. ICAN Housing is a leader in providing affordable housing in Stark County. The housing programs consist of Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Rehousing along with affordable housing options geared toward serving veterans and their families.

Mr. Dorian Chenault brings extensive experience in multi-site facilities management and project management. He is also currently serving on the Board at Stark County Minority Business Association. Dorian is from Canton and currently resides in Bedford Ohio. “ICAN’s housing mission, vision and values all resonate with me deeply, and I look forward to helping guide the services offered by ICAN Housing,” said Mr. Chenault.

Dr. Crystal Brodzenski has a wide range of experience in local government and nonprofits. She is currently affiliated with the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities with prior faculty experience at Arizona University and Malone University. She is from Stark County and currently resides in Canton with her family. “I appreciate the mission and purpose of ICAN Housing, and I am ready to assist in this important work, especially within the city where I reside,” said Dr. Brodzenski. “I look forward to working with a committed agency and board on such an important topic within our community.”

“The addition of these new members will further strengthen ICAN Housing’s commitment to continuous improvement within the housing realm and strong client outcomes,” said Julie Sparks, ICAN Housing Executive Director. “We are excited to channel Dorian and Crystal’s expertise and energy into furthering our mission.”
With these appointments, ICAN Housing now consists of eleven board members. A full listing of board members, including officers, can be found here: www.ican-inc.org/about/leadership/

About ICAN Housing
Since 1988, ICAN Housing has served people experiencing homelessness in Stark County- many of whom struggle with mental illness and substance use disorders. The agency was formed by the Stark County Mental Health Board as the mental health field moved away from institutional care and toward community integration and care. ICAN Housing started by providing housing and housing support services.

Having built on early successes, the agency now provides outreach, housing support services, workforce development, permanent supportive housing, affordable housing, and subsidized housing. The agency owns forty-five residential properties and ensures nearly three hundred households in Stark County have decent and affordable housing every night. Most of ICAN Housing’s participants come from shelters or the street. ICAN Housing is the only Permanent Supportive Housing provider in Stark County conducting outreach activities to build trust with potential clients and support them in their efforts to connect to community services, address basic needs and attain housing. ICAN Housing remains committed to continuous improvement and strong client outcomes.

To learn more about ICAN and the different ways to support this agency, please call (330) 455-9100 or visit www.ican-inc.org.

Are you able to donate rain ponchos for our participants? The inexpensive, disposable ones are just fine, and will help people in our community who are without housing. Contact Resource Manager Cynthia Vignos at 455-9100 ext. 130.

International Stress Awareness Week 2023 is October 30th - November 6th. This year's theme is Beyond Stress Management: From Stigma to Solutions.

Stress affects the entire body, and managing stress in the workplace and in our personal lives is an essential component of good health. Here are some suggestions:

♦ Accept your needs. Recognize what your triggers are. What situations make you feel physically and mentally agitated? Once you know this, you can avoid them when it's reasonable to, and to cope when you can't.

♦ Manage your time. Prioritizing your activities can help you use your time well. Making a day-to-day schedule helps ensure you don't feel overwhelmed by everyday tasks and deadlines.

♦ Practice relaxation. Deep breathing, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation are good ways to calm yourself. Taking a break to refocus can have benefits beyond the immediate moment.

♦ Exercise daily. Schedule time to walk outside, bike or join a dance class. Whatever you do, make sure it's fun. Daily exercise naturally produces stress-relieving hormones in your body and improves your overall physical health.

♦ Set aside time for yourself. Schedule something that makes you feel good. It might be reading a book, go to the movies, get a massage or take your dog for a walk.
Eat well. Eating unprocessed foods, like whole grains, vegetables, and fresh fruit is the foundation for a healthy body and mind. Eating well can also help stabilize your mood.

♦ Get enough sleep. Symptoms of some mental health conditions, like mania in bipolar disorder, can be triggered by getting too little sleep.

♦ Avoid alcohol and drugs. They don't actually reduce stress: in fact, they often worsen it. If you're struggling with substance abuse, educate yourself and get help.

♦ Talk to someone. Whether to friends, family, a counselor or a support group, airing out and talking can help.

We currently have an urgent need for winter coats, tuna, Ramen noodles, peanut butter crackers (and other ready-to-eat snacks) and dish soap. These can be dropped off at our offices in downtown Canton, or contact us to schedule a pick up 330-455-9100. We appreciate your generosity.

At ICAN Housing, we believe that a stable home leads to a more stable life. We connect people to housing, mental health services and community support in Stark County, Ohio.

“Great things are accomplished by a series of small things brought together.” ~ Vincent Van Gogh

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women after skin cancer, and there are often no discernable symptoms.

· Men and women should speak with their health-care provider about the risk for developing breast cancer, especially if a family member had breast or ovarian cancer.
· Discuss when and how often to get a mammogram. For women aged 50 to 74 and at average risk, a mammogram is recommended every two years.
· Men can also get breast cancer. This is often misdiagnosed or diagnosed later.
· Anyone experiencing symptoms such as a lump, ni**le discharge or change in the appearance of the skin on the breast or ni**le should contact their healthcare provider for further testing.

Call the Breast Care Helpline 1-877 GO KOMEN for more information.

Hard to believe, but cold weather has arrived! Do you knit or crochet? We are always looking for volunteers to create winter hats for our participants. We can provide the yarn if needed. Contact Resource Manager Cynthia Vignos for more information. 330-455-9100 ext 130.