5) Description of housing product/service offering: Bridging the Gap (BTG) began as a program of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) in 1998 in an effort to address the problem of the lack of affordable housing in Cleveland, Ohio. The original intent of the program was to “bridge the gap” between homeless individuals and affordable housing by 1) building a better relationship with the local public housing authority, the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), and 2) helping to identify homeless people, who have successfully completed transitional housing programs, to fill a number of thier empty units. The supply of available units has since dwindled and there is now a long waiting list; thus, the focus has shifted to finding other affordable housing options, both public and private, to accommodate the need. Program staff work with a diverse population of single adults without children (about 80% of the participants) as well as with low-income families (about 20% of the participants), who are involved with a social service program such as a shelter, treatment center, or transitional housing facility, to transition them from temporary, short-term housing to permanent public or private affordable housing. Individuals applying for the program must demonstrate that they have the necessary skills for independent living before they can apply, which includes the ability to budget and set goals. In order to find prospective tenants who fit this profile, BTG establishes working agreements with social service agencies, which can provide supportive services to their clients for one year after placement in housing. Partner agencies are then able to refer clients who are eligible to receive assistance from BTG in locating and securing housing. In addition, BTG provides supportive services, such as life skills enhancement classes and assistance with securing household items and furniture, once individuals are placed, to ensure that they are able to maintain their permanent housing.

6) Description of innovation: BTG is the only homeless assistance program in Northeast Ohio, which provides the unique attention and extensive supportive services to clients transitioning from temporary housing to permanent homes. Studies show that homeless people who receive follow-up services are more likely to maintain their housing. Therefore, BTG has developed a detailed relapse prevention program to avert future re-entry into homelessness, which includes 1) one full-year of comprehensive follow-up services, including regular client contact 2) life skills classes 3) furniture and rent assistance and 4) peer-mentoring. In addition, BTG offers services such as intervention with landlords, as needed, to reduce or eliminate problems and conflicts that might lead to eviction or jeopardize the long-term stability and permanency of each client’s placement. Furthermore, BTG has taken the lead in developing and preserving affordable housing units in the area. 37% of renters in Cuyahoga County already pay more than the HUD recommended standard of 30% of their household income towards housing, thus it is essential to ensure that affordable housing units remain available in the area. While BTG does not manage any housing stock, staff have led the charge in creating linkages to current available affordable housing units and developing new relationships with public housing sites and private landlords, who may be willing to rent their units at affordable rates. BTG’s creativity in developing options for affordable housing and their innovative efforts to provide solutions to homelessness rather than just band aids, have allowed them to produce great strides in their goal to eradicate homelessness. Their efforts have resulted in the creation of a web database www.housingcleveland.org, which was created to help people list and find affordable housing in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Currently over 2,000 available affordable housing units are listed on the site for easy access for prospective tenants.

7) Benefits to clients: As long as an individual is working with a member or partner agency and is referred by their case manager, they can receive services through BTG. Typically, 70% of our clients are referred by homeless social service agencies, 20% are referred by shelters and 10% of our clients come from transitional housing. All of the homeless individuals who enter the program make 35% of Area Median Income or below, which is verified with the applications for housing.

The most important eligibility requirement for individuals applying for the program is that they demonstrate the necessary life skills for independent living and for maintaining a household before they can participate. In order to find prospective tenants who fit this profile, BTG establishes working agreements with social service agencies, which can provide supportive services to their clients for one year after placement in housing. Currently, sixteen (16) agencies have become partners by returning signed Memoranda of Agreement. Partner agencies are then able to refer clients who are eligible to receive assistance from BTG in securing housing. To make programming more accessible for participants, BTG staff bring services, such as the life skills classes and housing counseling services to the clients at a central location, such as an emergency shelter, where several of the clients reside. BTG also provides the clients with a bus pass to travel to and from the training classes to eliminate transportation barriers to attending classes.

8) Key operational partnerships: Partnerships are intregal to the operation of BTG. As previously stated, BTG coordinates with a number of partner social service agencies to provide services to clients they refer to the program. The BTG staff regularly communicate with new organizations to encourage them to participate, as well, to provide the valuable opportunities and services to their clients. In addition, BTG staff regularly coordinate with public housing authorities and private landlords to identify and create new affordable housing units for low-income individiduals. Furthermore, the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless maintains relationships with national groups like the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Low Income Housing Coalition to advocate for homeless individuals, share ideas, and evaluate the effectiveness of current strategies to tackle issues related to homelessness. NEOCH also works with state groups such as the newly formed Ohio Coalition of Homeless Advocates and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio to create innovative ideas at the local level. Furthermore, NEOCH works closely not only with the local Office of Homeless Services, but also with City Council members, the Mayor’s office, and local social service and housing advocate groups, such as the Cleveland Tenants Organization, Legal Aid Society, May Dugan Center, and Merrick House, to lay the framework for ending homelessness.

9) Financial model: The services offered by BTG are provided at no cost to the clients participating in the program. Thus, financial barriers to receiving services do not exist. In addition, BTG attempts to eliminate any hardships or barriers to participating by offering services at easily accessible client sites and/or providing bus tickets to clients who must travel. Furthermore, free voicemail provided by NEOCH's Cleveland Community Voice Mail (CCVM) program, is offered to each BTG client to allow them to maintain contact with BTG staff. CCVM provides a personal seven- digit phone number (which looks like any other phone number)with voice mail service to people in need to assist in finding employment, locating housing, and maintaining reliable communication without the stigma of being homeless.

          • Costs as percentage of income: 0

          • Financing: BTG is currently funded soley by foundation support and private donations. The main expenses include staff salaries, program supplies (i.e. class supplies for life skills sessions, welcome baskets of household items for clients obtaining housing), printing/copies, travel (staff mileage and bus passes for clients), and office space. Attempts are being made to diversify funding further to ensure the long-term sustainability of the program. Thus, funding from corporate sponsors, local and state government, and additional foundation support as well as private donations are being sought to broaden the financial support for the initiative. A development director has been hired to assist with the fundraising for the program.

10) Effectiveness

          • Project outcomes: Over the past eight years, since the program's inception, over 500 clients have received assistance in securing and maintaining permanent housing. In addition, the program has taken great strides to ensure that the number of affordable housing units throughout Northeast Ohio, which can be maintained without undue financial strife or burden, are preserved and increased to meet the need of the population.

          • Number of clients in past year: In 2005, BTG served 217 people and assisted with securing permanent housing for 123 individuals, moving from transitiional or emergency housing facilities. The program also took lead role in creating the housingcleveland.org website in 2005. The

          • Percentage of clients that are poor or marginalized: 100

          • Potential demand: BTG has worked to create a replicable model, which can be used to support homeless individuals throughout the country in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing.

11) Scaling up strategy

          • Stage of the initiative: Scaling Up stage.

          • Expansion plan: BTG's overall program goal is to expand the number of units of affordable housing to meet the need in Northeast Ohio and assist individuals in obtaining and maintaining affordable permanent housing. This can be a difficult task considering funding and support for housing initiatives is unstable. Many of the federal budget cuts have taken their toll on community initiatives, and local foundations cannot be asked to bear the weight and fill the gaps produced by these cutbacks. Over the next few years, the goal for BTG will be expanded to incorporate the Heading Home initiative, a strategic plan to end homelessness in Northeast Ohio over the next ten years. The plan is being developed in collaboration with the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County and includes the development of a housing trust fund to finance affordable housing using a local potential source of revenue (a tax of fee).

12) Origin of the initiative: In 1989, the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless was founded by local homeless advocates as the successor to the Cuyahoga County Emergency Shelter Coalition. Over the years, as the demand for shelter and services has continued to grow and strain community resources, NEOCH’s function as advocate for homeless people has also expanded. Guided by the mission to organize and empower homeless and at-risk men, women, and children to break the cycle of poverty, the organization focuses on four areas of emphasis: advocacy, empowerment, public education/research, and the creation of nurturing environments. From these focus areas, a number of programs have been developed to assist homeless individuals, including the Bridging the Gap Program. BTG began in 1998 as a means of reducing the number of homeless individuals by connecting them with available affordable public housing units.

Contact Information:
Teri  Horne
Director of Operations
Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless
(private, non-profit organization)
3631 Perkins Avenue, Suite 3A-3, Cleveland, OH 44114
United States
Tel: (216) 432-0540
Fax: (216) 432-0620
Email: terihorne@neoch.org
Website: www.neoch.org