Hamilton County Ohio Social Service News

Having a juvenile criminal record can impact one's ability to obtain employment, housing, and other benefits, even decades after a conviction. Since 2013 the Public Defender's office of Hamilton County has provided legal assistance to get criminal and juvenile records sealed and expunged. If you or someone you know has Read More Shared by United Resource Connection February 10, 2026

HealthSource of Ohio provides FREE over-the-phone insurance application help. Assistance includes help with applications for Medicaid, Emergency Medicaid, Medicaid renewals, and SNAP food benefit applications and renewals. This assistance is provide to anyone who is an Ohio resident and U.S. citizen. People who receive this assistance are not required to be, Read More Shared by United Resource Connection February 6, 2026

The Price Hill Public Library is hosting FREE yoga events for kids 2.5 to 9 years old through March. Practicing yoga promotes flexibility, strength, and balance, enhancing physical well-being regardless of age. Yoga also offers mental benefits such as stress reduction, mindfulness, and a sense of inner calm, making yoga Read More Shared by United Resource Connection February 3, 2026

This Month is Black History Month, which is officially recognized by the United States, Canada, and Germany. Black History Month is also recognized by the U.K., Ireland, and the Netherlands, but celebrated October. Panama celebrates Black heritage in May. Black History Month originated in the U.S., where it is also Read More Shared by United Resource Connection February 1, 2026

Yale Psychology Professor Dr. Laurie Santos offers an online 6-week course designed to help teens make wiser choices and live a life that's happier and more fulfilling. In this course, teens explore what the field of psychology teaches about how to be happier, how to feel less stressed, and how Read More Shared by United Resource Connection January 29, 2026

The Library offers free printing services at all of the Hamilton County locations.  You may print 20 pages per day for free.  Additional pages can be printed at a cost of $0.15 per page in black and white and $0.25 per page in color. You do not need a library card to use Read More Shared by United Resource Connection January 23, 2026

The Social Security Administration website provides direct access to do things like: Check eligibility for benefits, Plan for retirement, Apply for benefits, Sign up for Medicare, Appeal a decision, and/or Check application or appeal status. They offer four portals on their website to accomplish these tasks: there's a “Documents” portal, Read More Shared by United Resource Connection January 20, 2026

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a day of service, to encourage all Americans to volunteer to take action toward the improvement of their community. In observance of the national holiday, schools, government agencies, businesses and banks are closed each year on the third Monday Read More Shared by United Resource Connection January 16, 2026

The Cincinnati Recreation Commission open up warming centers for those who need shelter during extreme cold weather events. Extreme cold weather events are defined by the national weather index, as temperatures below 32o Fahrenheit. Approximately 18 Recreation Centers around the city open their doors to people who need to warm Read More Shared by United Resource Connection January 15, 2026

The United States Postal Service provides a pathway for homeless individuals to have a P.O. Box at no cost. A free P.O. box can be incredibly useful for homeless individuals as it provides them with a secure mailing address. This allows them to receive important documents, apply for job opportunities, Read More Shared by United Resource Connection January 13, 2026

The Second Edition of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services' Physical Activity_Guidelines is available as a pdf for download. The guidelines are provided by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and provide evidence-based guidance to help people maintain or improve their health through physical activity. They Read More Shared by United Resource Connection January 9, 2026

Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services hosts weekly zoom calls for individuals seeking connection. People with disabilities can join and share about their interests and potentially form connections with other people who have disabilities. The goal is for the joining participants to make friendships through conversation.  The zoom calls are hosted Read More Shared by United Resource Connection January 7, 2026

The Office of the Ohio Secretary of State has a program that helps certain individuals keep their addresses hidden from the public. The program is for individuals who are survivors of, or living with survivors of, domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, rape, and/or sexual battery. The program helps these survivors Read More Shared by United Resource Connection January 6, 2026

Funding is available to obtain in-person tutors for school students and adult learners. There are grant opportunities separately available for students and adult learners through Learning Aid Ohio, and Adult Literacy Ohio, respectively. Once approved, one can browse available tutors in your area with the expertise needed, and schedule interviews Read More Shared by United Resource Connection January 2, 2026

Medicare's annual open enrollment period concluded on December 15th, but other enrollment opportunities for Medicare coverage are getting underway. Ohioans on Medicare who did not sign up for Part A (hospital insurance) and or Part B (medical insurance) during their initial enrollment period, and do not qualify for a special Read More Shared by United Resource Connection January 1, 2026

For children and young adults of families impacted by addiction, the holidays, substance misuse, and its related stresses may bring on a great deal of additional fear and isolation. Here are some resources and guidance that can be used to help them through the season. The National Association for Children Read More Shared by United Resource Connection December 24, 2025

Good Plates Eatery near the University of Cincinnati is serving a Christmas Eve meal at noon, at their location on 235 West McMillan Street, in Clifton. Doors will open at 11:30 AM. “No Reasons, No Questions, No Charge.” Anyone is welcome to either pick up a meal, or stay and Read More Shared by United Resource Connection December 19, 2025

Administered by The Salvation Army, the Share the Light fund provides one-time assistance to eligible customers to help avoid disconnection or maintain service. It is helpful to get started collecting the required documents ahead of the program opening, as it is a popular program and the program funding is limited. Read More Shared by United Resource Connection December 16, 2025

It is extremely important that individuals are appropriately dressed when exposed to extreme cold. Appropriate dress includes 3 or more layers of clothing on the upper and lower body to protect from wind chill, gloves and a hat, as well as a facial covering. Exposure of skin to extreme cold Read More Shared by United Resource Connection December 15, 2025

There are a number of programs in healthcare industry that pay patients money to participate in research projects. From the perspective of a potential patient participant, paid participation in medical surveys, focus groups, and other research projects can offer several benefits. Firstly, it provides an opportunity to contribute to medical Read More Shared by United Resource Connection December 12, 2025

The Health Insurance Marketplace is an online tool to investigate and select the best medical health insurance plan for your situation. All the options available in the Health Insurance Marketplace are ACA compliant. “ACA compliant” means that the insurance plan follows the rules of the Affordable Care Act, which was Read More Shared by United Resource Connection December 11, 2025

Hamilton County Job and Family services operates a program for Medicaid-eligible customers called the Non-Emergency Transportation program, or NET. This program provides transportation for any Medicaid eligible individual traveling to and from medical appointments that can be billed to Medicaid. Transportation can be in the form of bus passes, van Read More Shared by United Resource Connection December 10, 2025

What do you do if you get sick and have no insurance? Rather than risk the possibility of incurring medical debt, many simply don't seek medical care. This can lead to significant illness that otherwise was easily treatable. It is important for individuals and families to know that there are Read More Shared by United Resource Connection December 9, 2025

During the holidays, Metro's fixed-route, MetroNow! and Access paratransit services will operate on the normal schedule, except on Christmas and New Years day. Instead of following the regular Thursday schedule on these days, Metro transit services on Christmas day will follow what is normally the Sunday schedule, and New Year's Read More Shared by United Resource Connection December 5, 2025

There are a number of agencies in the Greater Cincinnati Area that provide low income families holiday assistance, offering Christmas gifts, meals, clothing, groceries and toys. Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army are two of these organizations. Toys for Tots provides children, including immigrants and newborns, free Christmas toys, Read More Shared by United Resource Connection December 3, 2025

The Ohio Department of Insurance publishes a monthly newsletter covering the latest developments that affect Senior Health Insurance in Ohio. The newsletter can be read online at insurance.ohio.gov. Here are the highlights we selected of the December 2025 edition: Medicare Open Enrollment Ends December 7th With just around a week Read More Shared by United Resource Connection December 2, 2025

In the event of significant ice or snow, Metro will still run service, but detours and delays may occur. Updated service information is provided through the following outlets: Metro Transit App. Alerts about route changes are provided on the Transit app, including information about detours and service interruptions for their Read More Shared by Cincinnati Metro December 1, 2025

Research shows that individuals who are shown very brief “Hands Only” CPR training videos are significantly more likely to attempt CPR and show superior CPR skills than individuals who are not shown the videos. Such exposure makes a significant life saving difference when no one formally trained in CPR is Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 27, 2025

Help Centers are provided by the Hamilton County Court system to provide legal assistance representing yourself in Municipal Court or Juvenile Court. The Help Centers are staffed with three full-time attorneys and two paralegals, and are supported by volunteer law students and volunteer attorneys in the community. These services are Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 26, 2025

It is crucial to prioritize supporting children during the holidays when one or more parents are suffering from addiction. The holiday season can be especially challenging for families affected by substance use disorders, as it can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and sadness. By providing a safe and nurturing environment, Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 25, 2025

In partnership with The Cleveland Orchestra, there are FREELY available 40+ weeks of daily mindfulness exercises. The exercises are available as YouTube videos, about 5 minutes long each, and designed to facilitate brain development with music and mindfulness instruction. The exercises were developed for ages preschool through 12th grade, but Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 24, 2025

Cincinnati Metro bus services are offering FREE fares on the day after Thanksgiving, Friday November 28th. This includes all Metro fixed-route, paratransit, and MetroNOW! services. The initiative aims to encourage everyone to shop local and avoid the hassles of traffic and parking during the busiest shopping day of the year. Maps Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 21, 2025

When temperatures outside fall below 60 degrees for 24 consecutive hours, landlords in Cincinnati must provide a minimum temperature of 70 degrees inside rental units. Landlords who don't comply can face fines up to $300 for the first day and $750 for each additional day they don't supply heat. Additionally, Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 20, 2025

Good Plates Eatery, located at 235 W McMillan Street, in Clifton near the University of Cincinnati serves a traditional Thanksgiving meal for FREE, no questions asked, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving every year. Anyone is welcome to pick up a meal no questions asked, starting at 11 AM, on Wednesday November Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 19, 2025

United Resource Connection is seeking Medicaid and SNAP recipients for input and feedback about local support programs and services. One of the goals of United Resource Connection is to make access to support services more user-friendly. One of the ways we do this is by providing more than phone numbers Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 18, 2025

Ohioans who are 17 years and older can receive an Ohio photo ID card at no cost, from any of the 179 BMV Deputy Registrar license agencies. Photo IDs are critical for many basic things, including cashing checks. Not having a photo ID can make it additionally more difficult to Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 13, 2025

When a birth certificate is lost it can be very hard to replace it without financial resources. This can make it all the more difficult to connect to State benefits that require proof of identity. While state identification cards in Ohio are free to those 17 years and older, the Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 13, 2025

We celebrate and thank the veterans that have served our country today with an overview of some of the supportive social services available to serve them. While there are a number of services and benefits available to everyone who has served in the armed forces, some of these services and Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 11, 2025

The Metro Bus Service has a Veterans Program that provides half-price fares for veterans and active-duty personnel. Through a partnership with the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission veterans and active-duty personnel can also ride to their VA medical appointments on all fixed-route buses for FREE. One can Apply for the Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 10, 2025

Gold Star chili restaurant is offering veterans a complementary meal up to a value of $12 (or $12 off your order), November 11th. If you are a veteran you must show one of the following for eligibility: a Uniformed Services ID Card; a U.S. Uniformed Services Retired ID Card; a Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 5, 2025

Metro is continuing its tradition of honoring Veterans Day by offering fare-free rides on Metro's fixed-route and Access paratransit services for veterans and active- or reserve-duty military members, including the National Guard and Reserves, on Tuesday, November 11th.  To ride free on Veterans Day, active, reserve and retired military members Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 5, 2025

The Health Insurance Marketplace's open enrollment period for 2025 is November 1, 2025 to January 15, 2026. Open enrollment is a specific period of time each year when individuals can sign up for, change, or cancel their health insurance plan, add or remove dependents, or change coverage levels, whether it's Read More Shared by United Resource Connection November 4, 2025

Bed bugs have an international presence, causing distress and inconvenience in modest homes to even the most luxurious hotels. Despite their global prevalence, victims of bed bug infestations are often subjected to unfair stereotypes that they are unclean or negligent. While scientific evidence does not show that bed bugs directly Read More Shared by United Resource Connection October 30, 2025

All Metro services will operate fare-free on election day, November 5th. In an effort to encourage voter participation and ensure accessibility of Hamilton County voters to polling locations, all fixed-route, Access paratransit, and MetroNow! on-demand trips will be fare-free on November 4th 2025. Metro fixed-route buses will operate on regular Read More Shared by United Resource Connection October 29, 2025

The Cincinnati Freestore compiles a list of local food pantries with addresses and contact information. This is a great resource if you know someone or a family in need of food assistance. It is also a great resource if you are financially able to support your local food pantry. You Read More Shared by United Resource Connection October 28, 2025

Some kids live on blocks where none of the homes really participate in Halloween, or not in a kid friendly way. For these kids, optional locations for celebrating Halloween are a must! There are a number of locations throughout Cincinnati that are having safe events for kids to go trick-or-treating Read More Shared by United Resource Connection October 27, 2025

United Resource Connection requires financial donations to keep our newsfeed freely available to the public. We recognize that the majority of the individuals we serve, however, are unable to make a financial contribution. One alternative way of supporting us is to write a testimony about your experience with our newsfeed Read More Shared by United Resource Connection October 24, 2025

The Forest Park Library located at 660 Northland Boulevard, will be hosting an event to help seniors understand changes in Medicare that will take effect in 2025. The event will be held from 3 PM to 5 PM, Thursday October 30th. Topics to be covered include common gaps in plans, Read More Shared by United Resource Connection October 22, 2025

Access to the internet is more crucial now than ever, especially for individuals and families struggling financially. The internet serves as a gateway to essential resources such as job opportunities, educational tools, healthcare information, and social services. Without affordable internet access, these individuals may face increased barriers to improving their Read More Shared by United Resource Connection October 21, 2025

The Cincinnati Metropolitan Sewer District offers a senior assistance program to help low-income senior citizens pay their sewer bills. Eligible applicants receive a 25% discount on their monthly sewer bill. The estimated savings is $120 or more per year. Eligibility Requirements Eligibility requirements are based on age, income, and home Read More Shared by United Resource Connection October 16, 2025

Commonly referred to as the “CAT House”, the Center for Addiction Treatment offers a continuum of addiction care for those with an addiction to alcohol, drugs, and/or gambling. Each patient begins with an assessment to determine their level of care needs. The center uses a multi-disciplinary team to make this Read More Shared by United Resource Connection October 15, 2025