Emergency shelter for 28 men in our main house.
Three hot meals a day, 365 days a year, to anyone in need. We are the only facility in the city of Cleveland that provides three hot meals a day to the public. In 2018 we served almost 76,000 meals. We are a member agency of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.
We give away clothing to men year-round. Our food pantry distributes grocery bags during the last five weekdays of each month to families with dependents. Sandwiches and toiletry kits are handed out daily as needed.
We connect all residents with local agencies for case management. Through referrals and collaboration, we support each resident to address unemployment, substance abuse, mental health and other barriers to independent living.
At present, this program has several components. Men in the main house work in temporary positions – typically custodial and landscaping – for which they are paid. There are also unpaid positions within the house that are filled by residents. These include drivers, cooks, beekeepers, cleaners, and administrative positions. The paid and unpaid positions give structure to the day, build a sense of responsibility, and give the men experience that can help in finding permanent employment. At any given time, approximately half the residents of the shelter are engaged in part or full-time paid employment.
Transitional housing three doors down from the main house for 12 men. Men are eligible to live in the transitional house if they have a source of income, six months of sobriety, and are working with a case manager. Residents pay a program fee (approximately $300 per month), equivalent to subsidized rent. In 2018, we housed 95 men in the shelter and transitional house.
FOCUS Cleveland is a program of FOCUS North America
FOCUS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, FEIN: 26-4427803
