NEOCH Needs Your Help During This Giving Season!

This Giving Tuesday, NEOCH is asking for your help to eliminate homelessness in our community. There are an estimated 2,000 people experiencing homelessness in Cuyahoga County on any given night and with winter fast approaching, people will be pushed further into crisis and life-threatening situations.  

Every year, NEOCH’s work becomes more urgent, and every year we rise to the occasion. We have passed legislation to stop evictions. We have moved hundreds of people into safe housing. We have trained frontline workers to provide fair and equitable services. We have built a community rooted in mutual aid, justice, solidarity, and love. Community support was integral in this work. 

The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless is a unique place that is filled with extraordinary people doing incredible work on the front lines of ending homelessness. Many of our staff have lived experience being unhoused and come to this work with deep knowledge and understanding. NEOCH has an intergenerational and exceptionally diverse crew -- our oldest employee is 72 years old and our youngest is 21 years old.  

This winter, our street outreach staff will trudge through the snow to meet people living unsheltered in far corners of our city. They will travel under bridges to give out warm blankets. They will walk the railroad track to find a person to take them to a housing interview. They will search abandoned houses to let people know that there is a warm place to sleep tonight. They will go above and beyond to let people know they are loved and welcome.  

We know that housing is the only solution to ending homelessness. NEOCH has fought for policies for tenants that disrupt the cycle of homelessness. We have expanded our organizing and advocacy work to give tenants stronger protections. We have gone to city hall to pass legislation. We have helped form tenant committees and unions to prevent evictions. We have canvassed thousands of homes to inform Cleveland families about their rights and resources.  

We know that the work to dismantle the racism that has metastasized in our nation’s housing policy is a long and difficult journey. Our grassroots organizing work is grounded in partnership and coalition for the long haul. You are at the heart of our grassroots community. It is only with community support that we can keep dreaming of a community rooted in love and compassion.  

We need to keep showing up in solidarity with people who are unhoused. We must continue to fight until the members of our community who are living in a crisis are responded to with care and support. NEOCH will continue to demand change, march, and stand up, side-by-side with our people. We invite you to join us as we continue our urgent work to stand up for justice and end homelessness.