Housing First in Cuyahoga County is on pace to end long-term homelessness through permanent supportive housing. Housing First provides rent-subsidized permanent housing, medical care, mental health, recovery and employment services to help individuals integrate back into their communities. The model focuses on working with those who are experiencing the highest barriers to stabilization – those struggling with severe mental illness, substance use, seniors and veterans.

The Cuyahoga County Housing First Initiative began in 2002 when the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, in partnership with Enterprise and the Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services, convened 17 organizations to bring the permanent supportive housing model to Cleveland.

The initiative’s goal is to build sufficient units of permanent supportive housing to end chronic homelessness in Cuyahoga County. Operating partners include:

Additional partners include Famicos Foundation, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Signature Health, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority.

Housing first outcomes:

782
homes in 13 buildings
280
scattered site units for adults and families
96%
housing stability rate
82%
drop in chronic homelessness since Housing First began in 2006
4.8%
return to homelessness after exiting Housing First
$132.2 million
in total
capital investments

    Our leadership in the Housing First Initiative supports the development, management, operations and services of permanent supportive housing. Together with our partners, CHN Housing Partners, EDEN, Inc., and FrontLine Service, we continue to support the success of Housing First residents.

    Our Housing First work includes:

    Image
    Harper's Pointe

    Harper's Pointe

    Image
    Greenbridge Commons

    Greenbridge Commons

    Image
    Inez Killingsworth Place

    Inez Killingsworth Pointe 

    Image
    Commons at West Village

    The Commons at West Village

    Image
    Buckeye Square

    Buckeye Square

    Image
    Winton on Lorain

    Wilton on Lorain

    Image
    Edgewood building

    Edgewood Park

    Image
    Northridge Commons

    Northridge Commons

    Image
    South Pointe Commons

    South Pointe Commons

    Image
    Liberty St. Clair

    Liberty at St. Clair

    Image
    1850 Superior

    1850 Superior

    Image
    Exterior view of emerald commons

    Emerald Commons

    Harper’s Pointe provides 71 one-bedroom apartments including eight ADA handicap accessible units and two units with accessible features for residents with hearing and vision impairments. The Brooklyn Centre site was chosen because of access to one of the region’s main trauma centers (MetroHealth), local transportation, shopping centers, and community parks—including Brookside reservation and the Metroparks Zoo.

    Neighborhood: Brooklyn Centre
    Opened: 2020
    Number of units: 71 one-bedroom apartments
    Development Cost: $13.9 million
    Building Owners: CHN Housing Partners & EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Developer: CHN Housing Partners
    Property Manager: EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Service Provider: FrontLine Service


    Greenbridge Commons, in the revitalizing Fairfax neighborhood, sits along the new RTA HealthLine near the growing institutions of University Circle. 70 efficiency and 60 one-bedroom apartments come with basic furnishings.

    Neighborhood: Fairfax
    Opened: October 2018 (Phase II), September 2011 (Phase I)
    Number of units: 131 total, including 71 efficiencies and 60 one-bedroom apartments
    Development Cost: $12.1 million (Phase II) and $12.1 million (Phase I)
    Building Owners: CHN Housing Partners & EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Developer: CHN Housing Partners
    Property Manager: EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Service Provider: FrontLine Service


    Inez Killingsworth Pointe, located in the Union Miles neighborhood, includes a community room, meeting space, computer lab and an outdoor community area with a garden.

    Neighborhood: Union Miles
    Opened: July 2017
    Number of units: 66 one-bedroom apartments
    Development Cost: $11.5 million 
    Building Owners: CHN Housing Partners & EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Developer: CHN Housing Partners
    Property Manager: EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Service Provider: FrontLine Service


    The Commons at West Village is located on the site is the former administrative headquarters of Bridgeway, Inc., which closed its doors in 2012. A Crisis Stabilization Unit still operates on the site, owned by the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County and managed by FrontLine Service. The now defunct administrative building was demolished and now replaced by the apartment building, which provides 66 one-bedroom apartments and onsite supportive services.

    Neighborhood: Detroit Shoreway
    Opened: 2016
    Number of units: 66 one-bedroom apartments
    Development Cost: $13.3 million
    Building Owners: CHN Housing Partners & EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Developer: CHN Housing Partners
    Property Manager: EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Service Provider: FrontLine Service


    Buckeye Square, a new construction, Enterprise Green Communities certified project has 65 efficiency apartments, which offer different layouts for tenant choice. The building is within walking distance of major anchor projects including medical facilities (e.g., Saint Luke’s and MetroHealth centers), community and public services.

    Neighborhood: Buckeye
    Opened: 2013
    Number of units: 65 efficiency apartments
    Development Cost: $11.3 million
    Building Owners: CHN Housing Partners and EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Developer: CHN Housing Partners
    Property Manager: EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Service Provider: FrontLine Service


    Winton on Lorain, with 40 efficiency apartments for permanent supportive housing. The site is the adaptive reuse of a vacant three-story building and the new construction of four townhome units, located in a unique historic district of Cleveland (the Lorain Station Historic District).

    Neighborhood: Lorain Station/Cudell
    Opened: 2013
    Number of units: 40 apartments
    Development Cost: $9.0 million
    Building Owners: Cleveland Housing Network and EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Developer: Cleveland Housing Network
    Property Manager: EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Service Provider: FrontLine Service


    Edgewood Park, on the city’s southeast side, is in a historic landmark district and represents a gateway into the Slavic Village neighborhood. The efficiency apartments are 450 - 460 square feet and come with basic furnishings, appliances, kitchenette, air conditioning, large closet, and pantry.

    Neighborhood: Slavic Village
    Opened: 2009
    Number of units: 63 efficiency apartments
    Development Cost: $10.8 million
    Building Owners: Cleveland Housing Network, Inc., & EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Developer: Cleveland Housing Network, Inc.
    Property Manager: EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Service Provider: Mental Health Services, Inc.


    Northridge Commons, on the city’s west side, is the first Housing First site to focus on disabled adults over the age of 50 and the only site to house persons who have not experienced homelessness but do require permanent supportive housing. The building has been rehabilitated to be fully accessible to persons with physical challenges and includes community space, office space, laundry facilities and outdoor areas.

    Neighborhood: Cudell
    Opened: 2008
    # of units: 30 efficiencies; 18 set-aside for chronically homeless persons
    Building Owners: EDEN, Inc.
    Property Manager: EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Service Provider: Signature Health, Inc.


    South Pointe Commons combines new construction with rehabilitation. The building offers efficiency apartments in a new, four-story structure and one-bedroom units in renovated townhomes, located behind the building.

    Neighborhood: Clark-Metro
    Opened: 2008
    Number of units: 82 total, with 78 efficiencies and 4 one-bedroom apartments
    Development Cost: $12 million
    Building Owners: CHN Housing Partners and EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Developer: CHN Housing Partners
    Property Manager: EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Service Provider: FrontLine Service


    Liberty at St. Clair offers furnished efficiencies from 330 to 380 square feet and provides on-site social services, common laundry facilities, a community room with kitchen, a computer lab, parking for residents and a 24-hour staffed front desk.

    Neighborhood: Glenville
    Opened: 2008
    Number of units: 72 efficiency apartments
    Development Cost: $11.2 million
    Building Owners: CHN Housing Partners and EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Developer: CHN Housing Partners
    Property Manager: EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Service Provider: FrontLine Service


    1850 Superior, centrally located in downtown Cleveland, was resyndicated in 2007 after initial completion in the late 1990s. This building helped launch permanent supportive housing in Cuyahoga County.

    Neighborhood: Downtown
    Opened: 2007
    Number of units: 44 studio apartments
    Development Cost: $4.4 million
    Building Owners: Famicos Foundation
    Lead Developer: Famicos Foundation
    Property Manager: Famicos Foundation
    Lead Service Provider: FrontLine Service


    Emerald Commons, on Cleveland’s west side, represents the Cuyahoga County’s first newly-constructed supportive housing project. Residents live in 350 square foot efficiencies that include a bathroom and kitchen.

    Neighborhood: Buckeye
    Opened: 2006
    Number of units: 52 studio apartments
    Development Costs: $8 million
    Building Owners: CHN Housing Partners and EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Developer: CHN Housing Partners
    Property Manager: EDEN, Inc.
    Lead Service Provider: FrontLine Service

    Image
    Equal Housing Opportunity logo