Cleveland team successful in 100-Day Challenge to End Youth Homelessness

Monday, January 09, 2017

Tags: Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland , Foundations

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Following a competitive nationwide search, A Way Home America announced in July that Cleveland, Austin and Los Angeles would each launch a 100-Day Challenge to advance efforts to end youth homelessness. The three communities received support from the Rapid Results Institute to drive toward ambitious goals over 100 days, which began in September 7. Cleveland’s team successfully met the challenge by placing 103 young adults. Cleveland.com wrote an article about the goal being reached. The full text of the article is below.

Cleveland exceeds goal to house 100 homeless youths in 100 days

More than 100 homeless youths now have places to live as area organizations exceeded a national challenge.

Cleveland, Austin and Los Angeles were selected in July by A Way Home America to participate in a 100-Day Challenge to end youth homelessness.

In September, A Place 4 Me—collaboration of Cuyahoga County nonprofit, public, government, faith-based and community organizations—took on the challenge to find homes for 100 homeless people age 18 to 25, many who had aged out of the foster care system. Foster youth at 18 "age out" of the foster care system and must fend for themselves.

Cleveland's team placed 103 young adults through:

• Rapid Re-housing
• Living with family or friends (48 percent of the young adults)
• Renting on their own
• Finding permanent supportive housing or public housing

According to information submitted to A Way Home, the average age was 21, 79 percent were African-American and 59 percent were female.

"The 100-Day Challenge demonstrated two things: a limited timeframe provides a critical sense of urgency, and 'permission' from system leaders provides space for front-line staff to innovate," Kate Lodge, project director of A Place 4 Me, said in a statement. "This combination fuels an effective approach to collectively combat complex social problems like youth homelessness." 

Austin exceeded its goal of housing 50 youths and Los Angeles exceeded its goal of finding housing for 237 youths.

Cleveland's 100-Day Challenge team also strengthened the support systems for young adults. They include:

A robust and dynamic "by-name list" of all homeless young adults (ages 18 to 24) in Cuyahoga County to help people track and update data on individuals experiencing homelessness.

Twelve navigators who work with young adults to help them achieve stable housing. Navigators also connect clients to critical resources, including employment, education and legal assistance.

A resource guide of available services.

A fund to purchase beds, lodging kits, food cards, bus tickets and other items to support young adults as they moved into housing.

Expanded pool of age-appropriate housing options for young adults, including rental opportunities.

Enhanced processes by the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services to proactively identify and strengthen supports for young adults most at-risk of homelessness upon leaving the foster care system. 

The A Place 4 Me partners plan to participate in an annual homelessness symposium on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Global Center for Health Innovation. The symposium, which will feature local and national speakers, is hosted by the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland.

Cleveland's 100-Day Challenge team includes representatives from: Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County, Bellefaire JCB, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services, Cuyahoga County Jobs and Family Services, Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services, EDEN Inc., FrontLine Service,  LGBT Community Center, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland and the YWCA Greater Cleveland.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland is a steering committee member of A Place 4 Me, a collaborative initiative to prevent and end youth homelessness in Cuyahoga County.

Pictured are youth in foster care, shown in a 2015 high school graduation ceremony held by Cuyahoga County's Centers for Families and Children, who "age out" of the system at 18 and may not have a place to live.