EDEN and its Continuum of Care (CoC) partners believe housing programs are effective only if they are able to help difficult-to-house persons both secure and maintain their housing. For this reason, we developed the Homeless Prevention Fund (the Fund) to keep them from returning to homelessness. The Fund has two purposes: (1) help them SECURE housing; and (2) once they are housed, help them KEEP their housing.
EDEN’s housing programs provide a critical service to the northeast Ohio community—not only to its economy and reputation as a thriving community, but to the people who are impacted by housing insecurities in any way. During the incredibly difficult time of the economic challenges following the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve never stopped working to provide housing solutions to those facing homelessness and housing insecurity. However, we also recognize that we have much work left to do, as the needs are ongoing—and increasing. Nationwide, there was an 18% increase in people becoming homeless in 2024, mostly due to the affordable housing crisis. Here in Cuyahoga County, it’s estimated 5,000 people are homeless every year, and those people need somewhere to go.
One of our most pressing needs is to provide on-going support to new residents making the transition from homelessness to housing. Participants often have no possessions other than a few items of clothing. They do not typically own items like furniture, bedding, cleaning supplies, dishes, and other items necessary to live in and maintain a home. They often have difficulties learning how to keep their home clean. In fact, many struggle with hoarding since that was one of the ways they coped with their homelessness. Budgeting, and staying within that budget, is often their most challenging life skill. We have found that following-up with them and providing the support they need can significantly increase their chances of successfully maintaining their housing.
The success of EDEN’s housing programs depends not only on its ability to move clients into appropriate and affordable housing, but also on its ability to connect clients with adequate support so they can maintain that housing. Without the needed assistance and support, participants can have a difficult time getting re-established on their own, inevitably slipping deeper into housing insecurity or back into homelessness.
After a successful test pilot in 2022/2023, EDEN was awarded federal grants to distribute emergency financial assistance to those who were at risk of losing their housing (APRPA) and those who were financially impacted by the COVID pandemic (ERA 2). These grants were supplemented with funds from the ADAMHS Board, the MHARS Board of Lorain County, OHMAS/Stepping Up, and Healthy Lakewood. Any agency connected to Cuyahoga or Lorain County’s CoCs could refer participants for emergency financial assistance.
2,264 applications for the funding were reviewed by processors who determined if all required documentation was received and if the request was eligible for funding. If so, the applications were forwarded to managers to confirm eligibility and determine if the amounts being requested were appropriate.
EDEN received 2,707 eligible requests for 797 households. (Because a case manager could apply for application fees, first month’s rent, and 2 months future rent, there could be multiple requests for one household.) EDEN distributed $4,415,272 to 797 households/1,714 individuals, averaging $5,539 per household.
50.6% of households receiving assistance were individuals; 49.4% were families of 2 or more. 41.9% of the households have no income and 45.4% make less than 30% of the area median income. Income for 95.7% of the households does not exceed 50% of area median income.
The application asked why the participant needed assistance. EDEN managers needed to determine if these reasons were valid. Without the available funds, EDEN would not have been able to help them. Consider:
• Participant is sleeping on the floor with a comforter his case manager gave to him. Participant has no income, but he is trying to get social security.
• The participant had a break-in in her last home and they stole most of her furniture
• Her unit failed inspection and an eviction noticed was served. A hotel stay will keep her off the streets as she looks for new housing.
• There was a pest infestation in the apartment building, and she had to discard all of her belongings.
• The participant has just moved into a new unit that did not come furnished with a refrigerator and stove.
• Tenant had a heart attack and could not do any housekeeping.
• She is behind in her utilities and this is her only barrier to housing. She has several job applications on Indeed, has attended career fairs, and has participated in Dress for Success.
• There were plumbing issues in her apartment and it flooded and damaged all her furniture. She relies solely on food stamps from month-to-month.
• Her hours had been cut at work and then she was laid off. She fell behind in utilities, but she made sure she paid her rent so she would not lose her home.
• The participant has had continuing issues with housekeeping and needs assistance with a deep clean to get things back in order with a fresh start. This was initiated by the property owner of the unit where the tenant has been residing for several years.
• Participant was given a deadline to leave the shelter and currently has no place to stay. The voucher process is moving forward, but his case manager was informed that participant might not be able to move in by the date he has to be out of the shelter. Case manager was asked to complete a hotel stay application for participant.
• Tenant's hours at work are constantly changing and she has had to pay increasing childcare and transportation costs in order to work. Tenant has also had several serious sewer backups into her unit which led to her having to replace most of her and her child's clothing and her laundry equipment.
The Homeless/Eviction Prevention Fund has provided the assistance these people needed to secure housing or avoid eviction. They were able to remain in safe, secure housing because their utilities and rent were paid when they fell behind. They received help in their housekeeping to make their home habitable. They received beds, stoves, refrigerators, and other household items so that they could live with dignity. And they were able to stay in a hotel while they were going through the voucher process—a much better alternative than returning to shelter or the streets.
Monies for most of this funding were depleted in December 2024. EDEN plans to raise a minimum of $550,000 for the HPD in 2025/2026. $500,000 will provide homeless prevention assistance to 500 households (assuming a $1,000 average). $50,000 will cover EDEN’s staffing and administrative costs for identifying when funds will be needed, reviewing the applications, distributing the funds, and tracking/evaluating program costs.
EDEN would be truly honored to partner with you in our shared goal of significantly improving the well-being and quality of life of economically disadvantaged persons by providing needed assistance to help them secure and maintain their homes.
