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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.  An 11 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 service and outreach collaborations, coordination of the Homeless Congress, sponsorship of the Homeless Vigil, publication of the Street Card, and construction of a host of educational and advocacy activities.

In 1997 and 2007, 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 2007-8, 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 three years. NEOCH will concentrate on four areas of interest: advocacy, empowerment projects, education, and finally research and coordination.

The Coalition stages regular meetings with homeless people at the shelters and at a monthly meeting called the Homeless Congress.  They work on issues that have an impact on all homeless people, including shelter standards and how to put people into all the vacant buildings in Cleveland.

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Luke Drotar, AmeriCorps*VISTA
 

NEOCH Board Composition: 2009-2010