Advocacy in Action: Supporting Our Neighbors In Need
Downtown Cleveland, Inc. analyzes, develops, and advocates for public policies that benefit the Downtown economy and enhance the quality of life for all. This includes providing a clean, safe, and welcoming environment that addresses the needs of our unsheltered neighbors.
We work with the City of Cleveland, the Cleveland Division of Police, and Cuyahoga County to build this supportive environment. We strongly support Mayor Bibb’s recently announced program, A Home for Every Neighbor. This initiative reflects the administration’s priorities of increasing resources and expediting the housing process for unsheltered residents.
A Home for Every Neighbor takes an all-encompassing approach to end the homelessness cycle and improve all aspects of the housing process. Key components include engaging with unsheltered residents through outreach teams to connect them with emergency, temporary, or short-term housing options with transition plans to permanent housing; collaborating with the County’s Office of Homeless Services and other providers in the Continuum of Care to improve services based on data-driven deployment; incentivizing property owners to increase participation in rental assistance, utility assistance, and more. Lastly, the City plans to renovate existing facilities and construct new affordable housing. These reforms mark a critical step forward in defining inter-organizational efforts to address the housing and unsheltered challenges in Cleveland.
Downtown Cleveland also lends our full support to Issue 26, the Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services levy renewal, which provides critical funding for social services that enhance the sense of safety and well-being for all who live, work, and visit Downtown Cleveland. Therefore, the Health and Human Services levy renewal aligns with our organizational goals of creating and supporting policies that benefit the Downtown economy and quality of life for all.
Downtown Cleveland works with Cuyahoga County, the City of Cleveland, and many partners on a daily basis to help address critical concerns related to the sense of safety Downtown and ensure that people in need can access the resources they need. However, there is much more work to be done. With Issue 26, Downtown Cleveland sees a tremendous opportunity for the public sector and social service partners to improve shelter conditions and services for Downtown’s most vulnerable neighbors, building on the progress of A Home for Every Neighbor.
Downtown Cleveland contributes to this effort by employing full-time outreach workers and neighborhood safety specialists trained in engagement and conflict de-escalation. In 2023, our team of trained professionals made more than 850 contacts with our unsheltered neighbors, building trust and connecting individuals with the resources they need. Downtown Cleveland's outreach work is based on communication, collaboration, and creativity to fill gaps within and support the local social service structure.
Downtown Cleveland also works with social service agencies to connect individuals to housing, medical, and mental health treatment. Downtown Cleveland is the only non-public safety entity authorized to transport individuals who choose to go to the Cuyahoga County Diversion Center. Furthermore, in collaboration with Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries, Downtown Cleveland’s SEEDS program employs those relying on shelters with work enhancing the urban landscape Downtown. Participants learn professional landscaping skills that aid them in securing long-term employment and permanent housing. The goal is to transition them from the social services system into the workforce.
With the passage of Issue 26, Downtown Cleveland, Inc. looks forward to working with Cuyahoga County and key partners to:
Ensure that Downtown shelters maintain quality conditions and prevent overcrowding.
Ensure access to high-quality and frequent daily programming for unsheltered neighbors, such as workforce training and educational courses. Clearly communicate about these programs to the greater community.
Increase the number of dedicated outreach specialists to build trust and better connect shelter- and service-resistant individuals to community resources.
Increase the stock of temporary and permanent supportive housing and incentivize property owners to accept rental assistance.
Install storage lockers at all shelters to build trust and ensure the safe-keeping of personal belongings.
Create a unified policy regarding outdoor encampments and living conditions.
By supporting Issue 26 and supporting Mayor Bibb’s new initiative, we can collectively address the urgent public safety and quality of life issues that affirm the dignity of individuals in need in the Downtown neighborhood and have a positive impact on the overall health of Downtown and the region. Continued collaboration and strategic investment in these essential services will create a safer, more inclusive, and prosperous environment for all.
Learn more about Downtown Cleveland’s Outreach Work Here.