NEOCH’s workshop schedule

The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless educates people within the housing and homelessness systems to utilize services, while simultaneously seeking to reimagine them. NEOCH also works to address the root causes of homelessness, housing insecurity, and poverty in our communities. Systemic racism and other forms of oppression feed the growing homelessness crisis; NEOCH trains social workers, shelter staff, service providers, and community organizers and advocates to radically transform our society.

To register and/or pay for workshop attendance for yourself or someone else,
click here.

LGBTQ 101: Cultural Competency and Anti-Discrimination in Homeless Services - September 24th 2025
Learn how best to meet the needs of LGBTQ people who come to your organization for help, and how to make them feel welcome. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the queer and trans experience, what it’s like for LGBTQ people to seek assistance from social service organizations, and how to overcome their unique barriers to housing. Participants will also learn what anti-LGBTQ discrimination looks like in housing access and other systems, what the law says about it, and how they can advocate for progress.
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Harm Reduction in Homeless Services - Dates pending
Learn how people experiencing addiction are criminalized, penalized, and dehumanized within social services, and what you can do to create a healthier environment for the people you serve. Topics will include the basics of the harm reduction approach, what it means, language and how to talk to/about people who use drugs, how to the apply harm reduction approach to your life, and how to be an advocate for the people that fall under the umbrella.
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Homeless Help 101 - Dates pending
Learn how to best assist unhoused people when you encounter them in public places. This training is open to the public but is especially helpful for people who work in libraries, clinics, public transportation, or other places unhoused people tend to hang out. It's also great for folks who live in neighborhoods where people camp, like Downtown and the Near West Side. Note: registration for this event is separate from our regular service provider trainings. Click “learn more” below for more info.
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Cleveland Housing 101 - Dates pending
Learn the ins and outs of the housing and shelter systems in Cuyahoga County. Participants will get an overview of how people become housing insecure and homeless, what their options are, and how they can access the resources they need to regain stability. Participants will also learn about fair housing law, tenants’ rights, and the eviction process.
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Root Causes of Homelessness - Dates pending
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. Note: registration for this event is separate from our regular service provider trainings. Click “learn more” below for more info.
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Domestic & Gender-Based Violence - Dates pending
Learn to recognize the signs of domestic violence in clients, co-workers, family, and friends. Participants will leave with the tools they need to help DV survivors get the support and resources they need. We will also examine the broader picture of racialized gender-based violence in our society and around the world, and how they create a pipeline to homelessness.
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Trauma Informed Care - Dates pending
Learn where trauma comes from, how to recognize the signs in clients, and how to empower them to regain and maintain stable housing. Participants will learn best practices, policies, and procedures for trauma-informed homeless services. We will also discuss vicarious trauma and self-care strategies to avoid burnout and compassion fatigue.

Housing Help, Not Handcuffs: Criminalization of Homelessness and Street Outreach as an Alternative - Dates pending
What do you do when you encounter someone who may be experiencing homelessness? The criminalization of poverty and homelessness has long-lasting effects on both the individuals and the community. Join NEOCH to learn about those effects, laws that target unhoused people, and how NEOCH's outreach team can help when you meet someone experiencing homelessness.