Root Causes of Homelessness Series: online and in person

How did we get here?

Discover historical and current sources of housing insecurity in our community in this two-part series.

Two-part education series: Wednesday, May 18 from 5:30-7:30PM, and Saturday, May 21 from 9:30AM-2:30PM. ASL interpretation will be available for both sessions.

Please note: you must register for each session separately.


Dispel homelessness myths and learn how the problem is perpetuated through systemic racism and the commodification of housing. Hear from NEOCH staff and board members about the historical and modern causes of homelessness, and what we can do to build a world where everyone has a safe place to call home. This two-part series includes one Zoom session and one in-person session.

Part 1 will be a Zoom based webinar. Through dialogue, interactive activities, and presentations from experts, participants will learn about the root causes of homelessness in the Cleveland area. This will include historical context as well as current issues; redlining, blockbusting, white flight, gentrification, and housing as a commodity, evictions, source of income discrimination, and fair housing issues will be discussed. Participants will be asked to think about how their work relates to the root causes of homelessness and changes they can advocate for within their communities.

Register for Part 1


Recommended reading for Part 1 includes
Homelessness and Racial Disparities
Beyond White Flight

Part 2 of our Root Causes of Homelessness series will be an in-person community tour, with stops around the city. The tour kicks off at NEOCH's office, 3661 Perkins Ave. NEOCH’s Board President will lead us on a tour of Cleveland's east side, including Bratenahl, Glenville and University Circle. Participants will then travel to Cleveland’s near west side and walk through areas where unhoused people typically access resources. The tour guides will point out signs of the issues we discussed in Part 1 (redlining, gentrification, housing as a commodity, etc.). Lunch will be provided in the middle of the day. If you have any food restrictions, please us know via email. We have a suggested contribution of $30 to register for this event. NEOCH is dedicated to making our education programs accessible to poor and working class people. If you can't afford the $30 fee, please enter the amount you can contribute (from $0-$25) on your registration.

Register for Part 2

Recommended listening/reading for Part 2 includes Scarlet E podcast: 40 Acres

**Please note: you must register for each session separately.

Please email education coordinator, Maggie Rice, with any questions: rice@neoch.org

We will graciously accept donations of survival items for our unhoused neighbors before and after the community tour. Please see the list of most needed items below:

  • Tents (pop-up single person or two person)

  • Sleeping bags

  • Men’s underwear (boxers) size L & XL

  • Men’s deodorant

  • Toothpaste

  • Shaving cream

  • Lotion

  • Razors

  • Shampoo

  • Body soap

Any questions about in-kind donations, please email toni@neoch.org


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