WKYC: Cleveland, community partners house 100+ unsheltered people since launch of homelessness initiative

Matt Rascon, WKYC

CLEVELAND — The city of Cleveland hit a major milestone in its efforts to combat homelessness Thursday, housing at least 112 people since the launch of a new housing initiative in February this year.

Mayor Justin Bibb said previously the city had never attempted to tackle the homeless issue head-on. But during the 2023-24 winter, the city reported an increase in tents popping up across Cleveland and an estimated 250 people living unsheltered on the streets.

“We saw an alarming rate of Clevelanders living on our streets in tents and we felt it was the right time for us to have a more focused approach, but also a greater sense of urgency to address this issue,” Bibb said.

“A vast majority of people are chronically homeless, so they’re largely outside because nothing else has worked for them,” said Emily Collins, senior advisor to the mayor.

Collins said Bibb approached her and asked her to come up with a compassionate program to help house the homeless. The result was the “A Home for Every Neighbor” initiative, an effort that involved the county and organizations like Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), the Cleveland Mediation Center, Frontline Services, West Side Catholic Center, I’m In Ministry and Safe Spaces.

“This is all about meeting people where they are. Historically we haven’t had a housing-first approach,” Bibb said. “This is all about giving them the skills they need to be a part of society.”

Daniel Schaefer is one of the neighbors the city has helped house since the program began.

“It’s nothing but a blessing. I couldn’t think much more of it. A blessing, a godsend," Schaefer said. "Otherwise I wouldn’t — I couldn’t — be able to do it myself.” 

Shaefer said he’s been living this life ever since he was laid off three years ago. Today his future is brighter and warmer.

“That’s what it takes sometimes when you don’t have nothing and you lose everything and decide you’re going to get back on track,” he said.

Schaefer is one of at least 112 people who now have a place to call home. The program not only put him into an apartment, but also provides furniture, kitchenware and clothing.

“Oftentimes people just have this view that we’re two worlds apart. In some cases, we are. But if you go back to why we do what we do we’re all God’s children,” said Deacon Louis Primozic of I’m In Ministry. “I don’t care how you got to where you’re at. It doesn’t matter to me one bit, we’re going to help you.”
Primozic said they’ve offered the same services of clothing and furniture to 14,000 people in Northeast Ohio this year. They were happy to join the city’s program to extend that reach.

Once they’re off the streets, each person is assigned a caseworker who connects them with resources like job training, addiction recovery and mental health services, with the goal of helping them remain in their homes and off the streets.

“Well, it’s certainly not just a handout, it’s stabilization,” Collins said. “Mental health appointments, addiction recovery — whatever it is they need, their case manager is individualizing a plan for them to stay housed and take the next step.”

The city poured $2 million into the program. The city will pay individuals' rent for a year, by which time they hope to help them have the income and access to resources they need to live on their own.

Chris Knestrick, executive director of NEOCH, said previously it might take them 9 to 12 months to help someone get into a home. With this program, it’s happening in a matter of weeks.

“I think the most exciting part is I really believe — we really believe that if we continue to run this program, we can imagine that in a year from now, no one sleeps on the streets of Cleveland,” Knestrick said. “I think we could really end unsheltered homelessness in the city and that would be amazing.”

Read the original article here.

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