Northeast Ohio Coalition For The Homeless

NEOCH EXISTS TO ELIMINATE THE ROOT CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS WHILE LOVING OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY THROUGH ORGANIZING, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND STREET OUTREACH.

VISION: EVERYONE HAS A SAFE AND STABLE PLACE TO CALL HOME WHERE THEY CAN ALSO EMBRACE THEIR OWN POWER AND DIGNITY VALUES: ANTI-RACISM COMMUNITY COMPASSION AFFIRMING DIGNITY TRAUMA INFORMED RADICALLY INCLUSIVE GRACEFULLY ACCOUNTABLE SUSTAINABILITY PRO-LGBTQ SOLIDARITY INTEGRITY JUSTICE LOVE STREET OUTREACH: -373 PEOPLE WERE ACCOMPANIED FROM HOMELESSNESS TO PERMANENT HOUSING -2,000 PEOPLE RECEIVED CRISIS SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS -303 PEOPLE OBTAINED IDENTIFICATION, BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS THROUGH STREET OUTREACH -300+ PEOPLE RECEIVED HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO HOUSING OR TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS ADVOCACY: -CREATED A TRANS AFFIRMATION AND ADVOCACY TRAINING FOR DIRECT SERVICE STAFF IN THE SHELTER SYSTEM AND FORMED A TRANS ADVISORY GROUP COMPRISED OF TRANS PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH HOMELESSNESS TO INCORPORATE THEIR WISDOM INTO THE TRAINING AND TO CO-CREATE NEW COMPONENTS BASED ON THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE. -HOSTED A HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS MAYORAL FORUM WITH 8 LOCAL HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING PARTNER AGENCIES FOR CLEVELAND MAYORAL CANDIDATES. NEOCH HOSTED A WATCH PARTY THAT INCLUDED PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WHO WERE ABLE TO CO-CREATE QUESTIONS FOR THE FORUM- ENSURING THAT THEIR QUESTIONS AND NEEDS WERE CENTERED IN THE CONVERSATION. -CELEBRATED THE LIFE OF TIERRAMARIE LEWIS, A BLACK TRANS WOMAN WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS ALONGSIDE PARTNERS FROM TRANS OHIO, THE LGBT CENTER, AND EQUALITY OHIO (PHOTO OF HER IS IN FOLDER) -LED ADVOCACY TO SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF PAY TO STAY LEGISLATION TO PROTECT RENTERS FROM EVICTION IN 6 MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS CUYAHOGA COUNTY EDUCATION: -PUBLISHED 4 ISSUES OF CLEVELAND'S STREET NEWSPAPER, THE CLEVELAND STREET CHRONICLE, WHICH IS WRITTEN, PURCHASED AND SOLD BY A DOZEN VENDORS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS. THE PAPER PUBLISHED ITS THIRD ANNUAL "WRAP UP HOMELESSNESS" WRAPPING PAPER EDITION FEATURING HOLIDAY ARTWORK DESIGNED BY PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS. -HOSTED A SUMMER INTERNSHIP COHORT WITH 3 STUDENTS WHO DEVELOPED SKILLS IN ADVOCACY, SOCIAL ACTION AND JUSTICE. -PRESENTED 12 WEBINARS FOR 824 PEOPLE INCLUDING SOCIAL WORKERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, OUTREACH WORKERS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES; THESE FOCUSED ON LGBTQ HOMELESSNESS, TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES, NAVIGATING HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SYSTEMS, AND EXAMINING BIAS WITHIN THOSE SYSTEMS. -HOSTED 5 IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY, AND YOUTH GROUPS TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE HOMELESS EXPERIENCE AND RACIST HOUSING POLICY. COMMUNITY TOURS TO THE PUBLIC WERE OFFERED FOR GROUPS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND MODERN SEGREGATION, HOUSING AS A COMMODITY, AND OTHER ROOT CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS. ORGANIZING: -HOSTED 12 VOTER REGISTRATION EVENTS AT VARIOUS SHELTER AND MEAL SITES THROUGHOUT CLEVELAND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LUTHERAN METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES, YWCA OF GREATER CLEVELAND, WEST SIDE CATHOLIC CENTER, AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES. -FORMED THE HOMELESS CONGRESS LEADERS GROUP TO PROMOTE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND ORGANIZING CAPACITY WITHIN CLEVELAND'S UNHOUSED COMMUNITY, ADDING 24 LEADERS TO OUR HOMELESS CONGRESS, AS WELL AS 62 NEW MEMBERS TO HOMELESS CONGRESS OVERALL -PROVIDED SUPPORT TO ORGANIZE MEN STAYING AT THE RAMADA INN FOR TEMPORARY SHELTER FOLLOWING ACTION BY THE CITY OF INDEPENDENCE TO REMOVE THEM, WHIC LED TO A DIRECT ACTION AT THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS WHERE 25 PEOPLE MADE PUBLIC COMMENT TO COUNTY COUNCIL ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMANE, DE-CONGREGATE SHELTER OPTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC -HOSTED THE 2021 HOMELESS MEMORIAL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH TO HONOR THE LIVES OF 52 COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2021.