Cleveland achieves housing milestone with 150-plus people off the streets
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Mayor Justin Bibb with volunteers from I'm In Ministry at Monday's press conference. Photo: City of Cleveland
More than 150 unsheltered Clevelanders have been placed in safe and stable housing through the city's A Home for Every Neighbor initiative.
Why it matters: As cities across the country criminalize homelessness, Cleveland is forging a new model that leads with compassion.
Driving the news: City officials and nonprofit partners celebrated the milestone — housing 150 people was the project's initial goal — at a press conference Monday.
What they're saying: "This initiative is remarkable, truly remarkable," said Liam Haggerty, the city's housing and outreach project manager. "But the concept at the heart of this program is honestly not remarkable, or at least it shouldn't be."
- "It's the idea that I think we all would agree with: that everyone deserves a place to call home."
Catch up quick: The program seeks to end unsheltered homelessness by rapidly rehousing people and paying housing costs to partner landlords while providing support services that suit participants' needs.
- Homelessness is a "state of active crisis" that makes tackling life's other challenges nearly impossible, Haggerty said.
- The 154 people the program has housed are now able to pursue work, mend relationships and obtain mental and physical health care without worrying about securing a roof over their heads.
Partner organizations like I'm in Ministry, which hosted Monday's event, provide additional services — I'm in Ministry has coordinated the donation of more than 2,000 pieces of furniture for program participants.
Between the lines: Early stages of the initiative targeted large outdoor encampments.
- In the most recent stage, the program team housed 42 unsheltered people from 32 sites across 12 wards in the city.
The latest: Cleveland City Council on Monday night introduced legislation to provide $1.9 million in additional funding for the program.
- Cleveland health director Dave Margolius told Axios this money would preserve the current contractors, including case managers, and provide ongoing rental subsidies for program participants.
Landlords interested in providing housing should contact Haggerty at [email protected] or 216-857-1104.
- People who would like to donate furniture or household items should contact I'm In Ministry at [email protected] or 440-502-1060.