A heartbreaking statistic: In 2019, about 570 young adults experiencing homelessness sought emergency housing services in Cuyahoga County. Unfortunately, that demand far outpaced the supply of supportive housing, leaving many to languish without a permanent place to live.
Next spring, though, construction begins on Cuyahoga TAY, a new 50-unit housing development in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood, bringing new hope that the scourge of youth homelessness can one day be defeated. “The more developments we build like this, the closer we are to ending homelessness,” says Kai Cotton, lead youth navigator at A Place 4 Me, a local initiative uniting more than 30 organizations and service providers.
This development will allow transition-age youth (TAY) between 18 and 24 to move out of homelessness and into a community focused on supporting their journey from adolescence to adulthood. Making it all possible is a collaboration between A Place 4 Me and members of the county’s Housing First initiative, including the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland.
Cuyahoga TAY is for youth, by youth. A Place 4 Me’s REACH Youth Action Board, comprised of young people with lived experience of homelessness and housing instability, has informed the planning process at every turn — weighing in on decisions from architectural details to support services. “This development can only be effective when those it will serve are partners in its creation,” says Cotton. “Young people are the experts in their own lives. We need to listen to them.”
Plans call for a mix of furnished one- and two-bedroom apartments, alongside amenities such as an outdoor relaxation space. In addition to on-site case management, a suite of other optional services — ranging from education and employment to physical and mental health — will be offered. Leases will not be time-limited, allowing residents to heal from the trauma of homelessness at their own pace.
Particular areas of emphasis: cooking, parenting and how to be a good tenant in hopes that this practical knowledge will pay dividends. “Supportive services push forward the longevity of housing stability,” says Cotton. “It could reduce homelessness for generations to come because residents can teach these skills to their children, lessening their chances of experiencing homelessness.”
Consider Cuyahoga TAY a much-needed helping hand to the most vulnerable among us. “From developments like this, young people at this transition age can take the next step in their lives,” says Angela D’Orazio, senior program officer for housing at the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland. “Everyone needs a stable foundation from which to grow and blossom.”