FREE Event: Root Causes of Homelessness

Free educational series: Root Causes of Homelessness

Two Part Event: Wed. Nov. 17 6-8PM (VIRTUAL), Sat. Nov. 20 11-3PM (IN-PERSON). 3 CEU Credit Hours

Part 1: Root Cause Analysis, Historical Context (Nov. 17, 6-8PM)
Part 1 will be a Zoom based webinar. Through dialogue, interactive activities, and presentations from experts, participants will learn about the root causes of homelessness in the Cleveland area. This will include historical context as well as current issues; redlining, blockbusting, white flight, gentrification, and housing as a commodity, evictions, source of income discrimination, and fair housing issues will be discussed. Participants will be asked to think about how their work relates to the root causes of homelessness and changes they can advocate for within their communities.

The recommended readings for this session: Homelessness and Racial Disparities and Beyond White Flight.

Part 2: Community Tour (Nov. 20, 11-3PM)
Part 2 will be an in-person community tour, with stops around the city. (Involves walking and driving. Vehicle required.) NEOCH’s Board President will kick the tour off in Bratenahl, then make stops in Glenville and University Circle. Participants will then travel to Cleveland’s near west side and walk through areas where unhoused people typically access resources. The tour guides will point out signs of the issues we discussed in Part 1 (redlining, gentrification, housing as a commodity, etc.). Donations of survival supplies for NEOCH’s Street Outreach program will be accepted at the end of the tour. Driving directions will be included in the confirmation email when you register for Part 1 on Zoom.

The recommended reading for this session: Scarlet E Podcast: 40 Acres

Register for this series here.

This event is free and open to the public; we are accepting online donations here, and in-kind donations for our unhoused neighbors are welcome. Please see the list of most needed items below:

  • Tents (pop-up single person or two person)

  • Sleeping bags (cold weather)

  • Men’s underwear (boxers) size L & XL

  • Men’s deodorant

  • Toothpaste

  • Shaving cream

  • Lotion

  • Razors

  • Shampoo

  • Body soap

Any questions about in-kind donations, please email toni@neoch.org

Please note: there is a $30 fee for social workers seeking CEU credits. That fee can be paid here, either by you or your employer. Both sessions must be completed in order to gain a CEU certificate.

Chris Knestrick