Kaptur Announces $1.5 Million in Federal Awards for Zepf Center

July 16, 2026 Press Release Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) announced that the Zepf Center in Toledo will receive two separate awards totaling $1.5 Million . Administered through the Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Mental Health Services, the awards will support the nonprofit’s 50-year record of providing behavioral and mental health care to those who need it most. The center’s Homeless Outreach and Person-Centered Engagement project, or HOPE, will receive $500,000 to address the many needs of homeless individuals in Northwest Ohio. Another $1,000,000 will be awarded to the center to support their existing Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. “The Zepf Center has served our Northwest Ohio community for decades. Honored to play a role in securing funds to help them continue their goodwill services,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “The need for mental health services has been steadily increasing in our Northwest Ohio region and across the nation. Because of organizations like the Zepf Center, individuals are able to access the care and support they need, giving them hope and assurance when it can otherwise be hard to find.” “Congresswoman Kaptur has been a tremendous champion for behavioral health and for the people we serve across Northwest Ohio. We are honored by her continued support and grateful for these critical federal investments," said Deb Flores, LSW, MPA, Chief Executive Officer, Zepf Center. "The funding will strengthen our Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic services and expand the reach of our HOPE program, helping us meet people where they are and connect them to vital trauma-informed care, housing, and recovery supports. Together, we are building healthier communities and creating pathways to hope for individuals and families throughout our region.” With six locations throughout Lucas County, the Zepf Center serves children as young as 2-years-old to elderly adults. Their trauma-responsive comprehensive services include crisis support, psychiatric care, addiction recovery services, primary care, and homelessness assistance. The center’s HOPE project launched in 2018 in partnership with Neighborhood Properties Inc to connect homeless individuals with sustainable and permanent housing and employment resources. Targeting individuals and families with mental health or substance abuse challenges, HOPE seeks to reduce the barriers that make it difficult for these groups to access stable housing by offering long-term solutions. A 2025 report by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) found that 2,214,000 Ohio adults have a mental health condition. Additionally, 1 in 5 of the 11,000 homeless individuals in Ohio experience serious mental health conditions and almost 18% of Ohio adults are affected by a substance use disorder. The Zepf center aims to tackle this issue head on by offering resources for the whole person and the whole family to overcome their challenges. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Kaptur prioritizes bringing federal dollars home to the Northwest Ohio community. This investment builds on her previous support for the Zepf Center and mental health resources. In past years, Kaptur secured $1,250,000 for the center’s Northwest Ohio Fatherhood Connection and a $1,000,000 CCBHC grant for center improvements . # # # Issues : Jobs and the Economy Health Care