Local youth action board will drive group to vet potential partners.

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH – Youth and young adults (YYA) experiencing homelessness face systemic challenges, and also present dynamic assets and opportunities for our community. The Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services (OHS) and its partners are looking for innovative and collaborative solutions that keep YYA at the center of their work.

On behalf of OHS, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland (SOC), in partnership with A Place 4 Me (AP4M) and REACH Youth Action Board (REACH YAB), has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to implement two projects designed to address youth and young adult homelessness.

1. The Navigation & Housing Team

2. Joint Transitional Housing & Rapid Rehousing

The RFP encourages new organizations to join in this vital work to build a compassionate, culturally coordinated community response to YYA homelessness.

Project submissions should value YYA leadership, equity, housing first, and trauma-informed care among other core principles outlined in the RFP. YYA who have experienced homelessness will drive the process of reviewing proposals.

“These projects will be co-designed with YYA and make sure we have leaders who represent us in implementing them, demonstrating that YYA can be in those positions too if we wanted to.” – Kourtney Morgan – REACH YAB Member

“These projects will help lead us to tomorrow. These projects are going to meet YYA where they are at. The transitional housing will help YYA build skills, and rapid rehousing will give YYA the support they need to achieve financial, social-emotional, and well-being goals, preparing them for adulthood. Implementing the navigation project will create more direct support for YYA, helping them connect to community resources. Navigators have been through the same trials, and that helps restore trust when navigating systems.” – Chris Anderson, REACH YAB Member

Selected grantees will be funded through a $3.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP). It is a YYA-driven initiative designed to develop innovative community-wide responses to YYA homelessness.

Project implementation is a facet of the broader YYA plan, REACHing for New Heights, to address YYA homelessness across eight goal areas:

1. Authentic Youth Leadership

2. Equity

3. Safe & Stable Housing

4. Permanent Connections

5. Education, Employment & Employment Training

6. Social-Emotional Well-being

7. Cross-system Partnership

8. Continuous Quality Improvement

Learn more details on the projects and how to apply by viewing the full RFP here.