Ohio Safety Net Alliance surpasses 300+ agencies

Clermont's growing platform for professionals and nonprofits reaches a new milestone.

Posted Monday, September 21, 2026 1:11 pm

by Anthony Palmer
Chief Editor

EASTGATE — The Clermont County chapter of the Ohio Safety Net Alliance (OSNA) hosted a celebration at Crossroads Eastside on September 8. The event marked the addition of the 300th agency to the organization’s vast Ohio network.

Ohio Safety Net Alliance gathering in Eastgate.

The Clermont Safety Net Alliance began operations in 2012 to connect hundreds of partner agencies and representatives across nonprofits, faith communities, businesses, and county government. It has become a resource for both professionals and individual residents to find resources and essential services for improved living.

As a founding chapter, Clermont served as the ideal model for expansion throughout the past 14 years.

Bob Pautke, CEO and President of the member organization Connect Clermont, hopes that “each of Ohio's 88 counties will have a SafetyNet Alliance serving that county while remaining connected to the greater Alliance.”

OSNA draws closer to its goal as its 300th member agency entered its fold this year. Several guest speakers praised the network for its use and viability.

Celebrating 300+ connected agencies across Ohio.

“Two of us, myself and Elizabeth Moran, went to training… to hear all about the Safety Net and about this new web portal that they had,” recalled Lisa Davis, Director of Community Relations at the Board of Developmental Disabilities. “Elizabeth said, ‘This is crazy, everybody needs to have one.’ So, literally everyone in our agency now is hooked up on the alert system…”

According to Davis, the OSNA alert system allows people to connect with organizations for things like donations for apartment furnishings, child care products, transportation, and more.

However, the network also helps organizations find resources on behalf of their clients… or their parish; such was the case with OSNA’s cofounder, Brandon Little.

“I was a pastor, a very young pastor, and I had a small church and a lot of people came for needs… and I didn't really know how to address them,” Little said. He had met with Lindsey Ein and Deb Gordon of United Way to launch a new way for residents to access help across a large geographical area.

Guests at Crossroads Eastside.

Little says the current state of OSNA is bigger than he ever dreamed. “I was very interested in starting the Clermont County Safety Net Alliance. I'm a Clermont County person. I love Clermont County. And this has just outgrown any expectations I ever had.”

Information about OSNA has spread largely through email and word of mouth. Sue Porter was on the IPM Food Pantr y board when cofounder Lindsey Ein brought it to her attention. “Then I brought it to the attention of my employer, Scripps Howard, and the next thing you know, they got behind it too,” Porter said.

The network has nurtured strong relationships between many organizations in Clermont County. The Scripps Howard Fund has become a community partner of Connect Clermont, and the two regularly share information through the OSNA system.

During the celebration at Eastgate Crossroads, Safety Net Administrator Kristen Little said that the network now includes an impressive 313 active agencies. Leadership is preparing to launch in Montgomery County, home to the City of Dayton and its surrounding suburbs of over 539,000 residents. This expansion could increase OSNA's visibility in critically underserved communities where its platform can make the greatest impact.

The Safety Net Time Capsule.

“Just to be able to spread this across the region, I feel like every community should have a safety net of support. And it's just amazing,” she said.

Guests enjoyed complimentary food and photo opportunities at the celebration. Individuals could also leave a message for the Safety Net Time Capsule. Although Pautke described the event as “a casual evening about connection,” powerful conversations about the future of OSNA and ideas for strengthening its existing network were present throughout the night.

Clermont residents who have business or nonprofit connections in other Ohio counties can find OSNA chapters online. Membership opportunities support local growth and advance Clermont County’s mission of driving community vibrancy forward.

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