Access to utilities is a human right, especially during a global pandemic. Large corporations that monopolize and profit from the provision of a human right should not be a priority, particularly when so many Ohio households are struggling to pay their bills and remain safe in their housing.

The outreach worker will visit encampments, drop-in centers, soup kitchens, and abandoned houses, targeting individuals based on vulnerability and service needs. The worker will build a stability plan with clients, eliminate possible barriers, provide linkage to supportive services, and offer help with accessing temporary and permanent housing. The outreach worker will provide a warm hand off to housing and service providers and will continue to support the client after move-in to help stabilize housing.

I miss working not just because of the income but because working allowed me to socialize with people who would normally ignore me or reject me if I wasn’t working. I miss selling the paper and talking to my customers. I miss greeting the regular customers each week as they shop at the Market.

People living paycheck to paycheck are facing eviction now that coronavirus has struck the economy. These renters across Ohio are urging Gov. DeWine to issue a statewide moratorium on residential evictions with tenant supports.

People at-risk in their housing need to share their story with our elected officials. Anyone who is struggling to pay their rent should let Gov. DeWine and our public officials know that now is not the time to be at-risk in your housing. We need a statewide 90-day moratorium on residential rental evictions with tenant protections for all Ohio renters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can take these 5 steps to increase the capacity of your organization while supporting work being done on the ground in our community.

In times of crisis, small groups of neighbors come together to meet needs in their community. Learn how to effectively utilize these networks to increase your organization's capacity during the COVID-19 crisis, and those to come. 

Our community needs to be providing comprehensive support to those “sheltering-in-place” outside. Rather than wait for people experiencing homelessness to grow ill and require quarantine or hospitalization, we can be proactive by putting people who are vulnerable into hotel rooms. Hotel rooms are broadly unoccupied during this crisis and they meet the definition of non-congregate sheltering. What happens when our friends can’t practice social distancing because they must stand in line for shelter and meals? What happens when they can’t stock up on supplies, “go home,” and wait it out?

We are asking you to add your organization name to this letter to Governor Mike DeWine to urge him to use his emergency powers to protect housing insecure Ohioans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was so incensed at that moment, I cried with anger. I realized that the utility companies are not very good neighbors, and that this scenario is yet another one of those insidious bricks in America’s system of structural racism,” recalls Garth. “I cried as I realized how easily one can slip into homelessness. I was told that some landlords will evict you if your utilities are off, including CMHA.”

Join us as we present the current state of homelessness in our community! We will look at the accomplishments of NEOCH in the past year. The Annual Meeting will take place at 6pm at St. Paul’s Community Church on Thursday, March 12th.

1) Homeless individuals can receive SNAP, even if they get meals at a shelter.
2) The 3-month time limit for SNAP is returning on April 1, 2020 in most counties.
3) Anyone unable to attend an in-person “work assessment” at 1641 Payne Ave (VEB Building) can request a good cause exemption by calling 216-987-6820.
4) Those who receive “expedited SNAP” must submit all requested verification to keep getting SNAP beyond the first month.

Come enjoy music and learn more about supporting NEOCH's advocacy and organizing work to end homelessness! Music starts at 7pm. $1 for every beer purchased at The BottleHouse Brewery Lakewood that evening will be donated to NEOCH!