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NEOCH History

The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) is a coalition of service providers, housing activists, members, and homeless people.  Lisa Thomas, Sr. Mary Frances Harrington, and Catharine Lowe founded NEOCH in 1988 as the successor to the Emergency Shelter Coalition.  A 16 person Board of Trustees governs NEOCH.  The NEOCH Board meets monthly and the NEOCH staff meets regularly with the homeless community and our membership.

NEOCH activities in partnership with the homeless include the publication of the Homeless Grapevine newspaper, co-sponsorship of the Stand Down service fair, staffing for the Shelter Provider Group, co-sponsorship of an Annual Homeless Conference, sponsorship of the Homeless Vigil, publication of the Street Card, and construction of a host of educational and advocacy activities.

In 1997, NEOCH reaffirmed its role within the homeless community as an advocate for the homeless population by adopting a new mission statement.  The mission of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless is to organize and empower homeless and at-risk men, women and children to break the cycle of poverty through public education, advocacy and the creation of nurturing environments. In 1996, NEOCH underwent an extensive strategic planning process to clarify the Coalition's role in the community and to create a work plan for the next five years. NEOCH will concentrate on four areas of interest: advocacy, empowerment projects, education, and finally research and coordination.

The Coalition staged a series of forums with homeless people called Creating Positive Solutions in 1997-1998 to get opinions about the gaps in services and make recommendations concerning possible solutions.  These include regaining a preference for homeless people at the local public housing authority, which is the basis of this program.  The solutions are designed by homeless people and are intended to provide maximum involvement by people on the streets.

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Photo by Jimmy Heath

STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS

At the NEOCH Office

Brian Davis, Executive Director

Terì Horne, Director of Operations

Cleveland Homeless Legal Assistance Program

Joan Burda, Program Director

Community Outreach

Cleveland Community Voice Mail

Michael Gibbs, Program Director    

National Service Members

Larry Davis, AmeriCorps*VISTA

Sarah Valek, AmeriCorps*VISTA
 

Photo by Brian Southern

Staff Photo

NEOCH Board Composition: 2006-2007

• Marcia Bufford

• Rev. Kelly Burd

• Gary Daniels--Vice President

• Jill Fulton Royer

• Greg Gale

• Christopher Karr

• Tyrone Jones

• Roy Love

• Cynthia Miller

• Dr. Lisa Navacruz

• Valerie Robinson

• Jennifer Simpson--Secretary

• David Westcott--Treasurer

• Margaret Wilson--President

NEOCH has an opening for a New Member of the Board of Trustees