Patty’s apartment is in one of EDEN’s supportive housing buildings

Thanks to your generosity, EDEN positively impacts thousands of lives
EDEN housing programs build stability and a path for a better future

A colleague reached out to me yesterday to let me know that he was meeting with a Program Director of a health care system. She shared with him that she, her mother, and siblings were on an EDEN housing subsidy for over 7 years.  She told my colleague that she credits her success and ability to obtain higher education because her family had access to EDEN’s stable housing and support systems. Her mother sadly passed away, but she and her siblings are doing well. They all work in the healthcare field. 

This is just one of hundreds of success stories that exist. We easily become so focused on the problems created by the trauma of homelessness that we sometimes forget that EDEN’s housing programs make a crucial difference in many people’s lives. Because they have a safe, secure home with access to resources to help them succeed, they are able to reach their goals. They can improve their health, reconnect with family and friends, learn new skills, secure employment, volunteer to help others, and take pride in their progress. There are no limits to what they can hope to achieve. 

EDEN is able to make such a significant impact only because organizations like yours step up to provide the resources we need to continue to increase the number of people we serve.

Increasing our Housing Footprint

Earlier this year, we completed the renovation of a property which is now being used as a temporary shelter for half of the Norma Herr Women’s Center’s residents so that we can renovate the original Center and create a new, non-congregant, gender-neutral shelter that will be adjacent to this building. Together, these properties will serve as a welcoming campus offering dignified shelter and a safe and supportive environment for people to access vital services and move toward independent living.

In November, residents began moving into The Lotus, a 50-unit supportive housing development  for young adults ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness. It includes both 1- and 2-bedroom units to ensure adequate space for the roughly 25% of young adults who are parenting while being unhoused. It will provide space for recovery from the trauma of homelessness and the events that may have led to it. Providing a range of skill development opportunities, The Lotus is a stepping-stone for the next phase of life that meets young people where they are and provides them with the support and relationships they need to succeed.

We also finished construction and renovations on our Expansion Phase II Scattered Site Portfolio, which included a new fully accessible single-family home, a new 2-family duplex, and the rehab of a 4-unit building in Lakewood. Because of the unique architecture of the Lakewood property, we were able to add another 2-bedroom unit on the top of the building. The rehab included a completely reconfigured layout to open the kitchen up to a contemporary design, new bathrooms, new flooring, new LED lighting, new HVAC, and new windows. With energy upgrades and water-sense plumbing, the renovated property is now certified under LEED NGBS standards for energy efficiency and design.

Partnerships, outreach, and assistance programs leverage community resources to help people experiencing housing instability

EDEN partnered with First Year Cleveland and The Centers to implement Healthy Beginnings at Home, providing housing and services to pregnant women experiencing homelessness with the goal to reduce infant mortality rates.

We continued to administer ERA 2 and Homeless Prevention and Diversion funds for Cuyahoga County’s Continuum of Care partner agencies. In addition to helping people without housing with security deposits and first month’s rent, these monies help people who are at risk of losing their homes to pay for back rent, utility arrearages, late fees, unit damages, and more.

We began administering property owner incentive funds (OHMAS) for the MHARS Board in Lorain and ADMAHS Board in Cuyahoga County to encourage landlords to accept EDEN vouchers. HUD has determined that monetary incentives are most effective for recruiting participating landlords.

We were able to expand our Rapid Re-Housing program for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking to enhance their housing options.

We have big goals, but we cannot achieve them without you!

We have done all of this in spite of difficulties like staffing challenges, construction delays, and economic turbulence. Most of our funding comes from public sources which have very strict limitations on use and do not allocate the amount we actually need to meet our administrative costs and infrastructure. Your support will provide the core operating support that will enable EDEN to move more people into our housing programs … next week, next month, and next year.

Thank you for your faith in EDEN. And thank you for believing that a safe home is the foundation for health and stability for those experiencing housing instability and homelessness!

Elaine Gimmel
Executive Director

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EDEN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing housing solutions to people facing housing instability and homelessness. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

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