July 24: Health, Human Services and Aging Committee, Cuyahoga County Council
Covered by Documenters Angela Rush (notes) and Ayanna Rose Banks (live-tweets)
A $600,000 loan to house youths leaving foster system
A project that aims to combat youth homelessness is set for a funding boost.
Cuyahoga County Council’s Health, Human Services, and Aging Committee approved a resolution to provide CHN Housing Partners with a $600,000 loan. The funds are to help cover construction costs on a new 50-unit supportive housing project for youth in Cuyahoga County who are aging out of the foster-care system and experiencing homelessness.
Jennifer Chandler and Laura Boustani from CHN Housing Partners explained to the committee that inflation raised the total cost for the Cuyahoga TAY project to $18.8 million.
The new building is in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood and is for people 18-24 years old. Construction is expected to be completed in September, and renting is set to begin in October, according to Chandler.
The committee advanced the resolution to the full council for a vote at its July 30 meeting.
Relocating Norma Herr residents to Walton Avenue
Officials from EDEN, Inc. asked the committee for $875,000 to renovate a property on Walton Avenue in Ohio City. The goal is to prep the space to be the temporary location for the Norma Herr Women’s Shelter. The permanent location on Payne Avenue is under construction and receiving $8 million in improvements. EDEN officials plan to use the location on Walton Avenue for up to three years while the shelter on Payne is upgraded.
District 2 Council Member Dale Miller asked what would happen to the facility after the three-year period. EDEN Executive Director Elaine Gimmel said an agreement is in place giving the county the right of first refusal on the facility and to determine its future use, including continuing to operate as a shelter.
EDEN plans to relocate 102 current residents over a three-day period in September. The total budget for the Walton Avenue temporary shelter is $1.625 million.
Full council is also set to give this resolution final consideration at its July 30 meeting, according to the agenda.
Murtis Taylor CEO gives update on ARPA spending
Lovell Custard, president and CEO of the Murtis Taylor Human Services System, gave the committee an update on renovations to the Kathryn R. Tyler Community Center on E. 105th St. in Glenville.
Custard said improvements to the facilities include additional child safety measures on banisters throughout the building, a new elevator, and renovations to pavilion and community areas.
Council initially awarded $700,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money for the project, leaving a shortfall of about $195,000 in the overall budget, Custard said. Custard requested the remaining funds from the county, saying the shortfall had required a “reduction in scope” amid rising costs due to inflation. Committee members agreed to extending the project completion goal to December 2025.
Council Legislative Budget Advisor Trevor McAleer said the county requires all recipients of ARPA funding to report annually on how that money is being spent until they complete the project.
Read the notes from Documenter Angela Rush:
Read the live-tweet thread by Documenter Ayanna Rose Banks:
