Leading Families Home is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Jacobs as its Executive Director, effective January 24th, 2024. Ms. Jacobs has served as Acting Executive Director since August 23rd, 2023.

“As Acting Executive Director Ms. Jacobs has demonstrated the qualities and capabilities necessary to fulfill the position of Executive Director. We are happy that Jen has accepted the permanent position of Executive Director and look forward to working with her,” comments Valerie Garforth, Leading Families Home’s Board of Directors President.

Ms. Jacobs has a well-rounded knowledge of LFH programs and operations. She researches and writes 95% of LFH program/operational grants. Ms. Jacobs is responsible for ensuring local programming excellence, rigorous program evaluation, and budget compliance for all grant-funded programs, as well as CARF accreditation and OHIOmas.

Ms. Jacobs audits over $1,000,000 in state grants for compliance and quality. She oversees LFH’s HUD programming, including Rapid Rehousing (RRH) and Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) programs and operations. She oversees our Behavioral Health Operations and programming.

Ms. Jacobs oversees our Emergency Family Shelter programming and operations, including at our newly renovated Beach House Ashland shelter, and maintains programming and operations for our three separate campuses. She has developed and implemented curricula used by several agencies and developed LFH’s Strategic Business Planning Process for program expansion into new markets.

From 2012 to the present, Ms. Jacobs has served as Chief Executive Officer for Providence Center for Social and Economic Empowerment and has acted as an instructor for several groups, including Anger Management, Victims of Domestic Violence, Parenting-Plus, Workplace Violence, etc.

Ms. Jacobs is knowledgeable about, and cares deeply for, at-risk individuals. She demonstrates the ability to maintain positive working relationships with Participants and co-workers and is looking forward to helping to move forward the mission of LFH for those we serve.

Commenting on her new appointment, Jennifer Jacobs said: “I am looking forward to my role as Executive Director. I am proud and excited to be the voice for so many of the unhoused people in our community. With the support of the Board and the monumental strength of my staff, I truly believe that great things are about to happen for our community!”

Jen may be contacted for communications regarding LFH operational matters at jjacobs@lfhtoledo.org or (419) 244-2175 ext. 120.

About Leading Families Home: Over 100 years ago, Beach House Family Shelter began offering shelter to mothers with children and single women in Toledo. In 1982, the program expanded to include emergency shelter and services for intact families, including fathers, and single-parent fathers with children. In 2016, Beach House Inc. merged with F.O.C.U.S. to create Leading Families Home. In June 2023, Beach House Ashland, LFH’s second emergency family shelter, opened. Today, Beach House Inc., dba Leading Families Home is one of only three family shelters in northwest Ohio. For more information, please visit www.lfhtoledo.org.