Statement from the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless on the Franklin Youth Drop-In Center Ruling
Statement from the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless on the Franklin Youth Drop-In Center Ruling
This week, a Cuyahoga County judge ruled against Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s proposed Youth Drop-In Center at 4100 Franklin Boulevard in Ohio City. The daytime drop-in center was intended to provide essential services, resources, and a safe space for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. This decision comes after months of legal and community opposition, reflecting systemic challenges to addressing youth homelessness in Cleveland.
Monday’s ruling is not just a setback—it is a profound injustice to homeless youth and young adults in our city. This decision disproportionately impacts Black and Brown youth, already marginalized by systemic racism, and LGBTQ+ youth, who face higher rates of homelessness and suicide due to rejection from families and communities.
The location was specifically selected by youth that have experienced homelessness, who thought it was a safe and welcoming community. Sadly, they were wrong as neighbors resorted to racist dog whistle tactics and harmful stereotypes of homeless youth. Young people deserve better from our city. They deserve leaders and neighbors who champion their safety and wellbeing—not barriers that exacerbate the risks they already face. Blocking this center denies them access to critical resources, leaving them vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and trafficking, forcing them to navigate survival on the streets without support.
NEOCH strongly condemns the legal and community opposition to the Youth Drop-In Center. Bureaucratic obstacles and disgustingly classic “Not In My Backyard” attitudes should never be prioritized before the young people of our city, and the future they represent. This decision is a rejection of humanity and an abdication of our collective duty to support everyone that lives in our community- even those without housing.
We stand in unwavering solidarity with the young adults that picked those locations, and all organizations advocating for this essential project. NEOCH remains committed to building a community where every individual has access to the resources and support, they need to thrive.
We urge Ohio City residents, civic leaders, and decision-makers to confront the realities of youth homelessness with courage and integrity. This is a pivotal moment to act boldly—by rejecting this harmful ruling, dismantling systemic barriers, and advancing solutions that uplift and empower our youth to make decisions about the communities they call home.