EDEN’s mission is to provide housing solutions to people
facing the challenges of housing insecurities and homelessness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please explore your options. Do you have a friend and/or family member who can offer you shelter, at least temporarily? If you are currently experiencing homelessness and have no friends or family members who can assist you, we suggest you contact COORDINATED INTAKE/ENTRY (informataion about these agencies is below).

We also recommend contacting the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Agency (CHMA) to sign up for their waitlist for vouchers and public housing. You can find information about the process here.

Finally, you can reach out to an ADAMHS Board funded agency or related agencies to help support you in their needs. Many offer case management services and can help identify the best agency to help you find housing. You can click on the agency name to learn more about the services they provide.

EDEN serves individuals and families throughout NE Ohio.

Our website has information on various programs and housing that EDEN manages and will provide details on how to be referred or access the programs. See www.EDENcle.org/programs for the comprehensive list of programs, eligibility requirements, and the application process.

Most of EDEN’s programs do not accept applications directly from the public. Instead, the majority of referrals come from approved agencies and systems.  While there are a few programs and units for which EDEN manages the waitlist—or for which EDEN can accept direct referrals—generally, individuals/households must already be connected with other systems (such as Coordinated Intake, ADAMHS Board funded agencies, domestic violence support agencies, courts/corrections systems, Continuum of Care, supportive youth organizations, etc.). If you are experiencing a housing crisis and are linked with case management, your first step should be to contact your case manager to explain your housing situation. Your case manager will advise you as to potential housing resources—which may include EDEN programs and services.

If you are experiencing homelessness and are not linked with case management, your first step should be registering with COORDINATED INTAKE/COORDINATED ENTRY. Coordinated Intake (CI) is for individuals and families who are homeless and have nowhere else to sleep at night. It is the front door to emergency services within the Continuum of Care, Cuyahoga County's network of shelters and housing programs. Coordinated Entry (CE) is for those who are homeless in Lorain County. When you register with them, they will help you explore what housing programs you are eligible for. See below for more information about each agency.

Additionally, United Way 2-1-1 Help Center provides free and confidential 24-hour access to a compassionate professional who will review your options for help, develop a plan, and act as your advocate if you are faced with barriers to service. Simply dial 2-1-1 for assistance. Se habla Espanol

Qualifications differ depending on the program. Many of the funders of EDEN's programs require that a person have a documented disability AND meet the Federal government's very-low-income limits. Additionally homelessness, linkages to social service agencies, and re-entry status, among other criteria, may be required depending on the program.

Once EDEN receives a referral, the application is processed within one week and a voucher is issued. EDEN then must schedule an orientation with the applicant which also typically occurs within one week. Once the orientation is complete, EDEN processes the referral to housing location, if needed, within 24-48 hours.

All vouchers are initially issued for 90 days. Extensions are possible, but an applicant must be in contact with EDEN prior to the expiration date of the initial voucher to explain why more time is needed.

Some programs do have a waiting list, while others do not because their list is so long that they have discontinued accepting names. If a program is accepting a waiting list, and if you are eligible and meet all requirements, instructions for being added are on our Programs page.

Any local housing authority, including CMHA, will have information on their website regarding any available vouchers. Please also call 211 for availability under other local rental assistance and housing programs.

The Coordinated Intake (CI) program is for individuals and families who are homeless and have nowhere else to sleep at night. It is the front door to emergency shelters within the Continuum of Care, Cuyahoga County's network of shelters and housing programs. Coordinated Entry (CE) is for those who are homeless in Lorain County.

Both programs can help you explore alternatives to emergency shelters, refer you to an emergency shelter if you need it, or refer you to emergency services (such as a hospital, mental health counseling, drug abuse programs, etc.).

Each program does NOT provide referrals for housing, vouchers, or subsidies. It cannot provide rental, security deposit, or utility assistance. Nor does it distribute shelter letters. If you need that kind of assistance, please call 2-1-1 — United Way of Greater Cleveland's First Call for Help program.

In Cuyahoga County, call 216-674-6700 anytime between 8:00 am - 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday. You will need to make an appointment because intake must be done in person. The program is located on the 2nd floor of the Bishop Cosgrove Building at 1736 Superior Avenue.

In Lorain County, call 440-242-0455 between 8:00 am - 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Be sure to leave a message with your name and call-back number. If you do not have access to a phone, you can visit their office at 2726 Caroline Ave between 10:00 am – 12:00 pm or 2:00 – 4:00 pm Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Tuesday and Thursday hours are 1:00 - 2:00 pm.

The United Way 2-1-1 Help Center provides free and confidential 24-hour access to a compassionate professional who will review your options for help, develop a plan, and act as your advocate if you are faced with barriers to service. Simply dial 2-1-1 for assistance. Se habla Espanol.

HUD Definitions

Chronically Homeless Individuals/Households:

• A homeless individual or head of household with a documented disability who meets the HUD definition of a disability AND
  • Lives in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter; AND
  • has been homeless and living in one of these places continuously for at least 12 months OR on at least 4 separate occasions in the last 3 years, as long as the combined occasions equal at least 12 months and each break in homelessness separating the occasions included at least 7 consecutive nights of not living in one of the aforementioned places.

Homeless Individuals/Households:

• An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning:
  • Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation;
  • Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local government programs); or
  • Is exiting an institution where (s)he has resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution

Homeless Individuals/Households — Definition Used Only for Rapid Re-Housing for Survivors of Domestic Violence Program

• Any individual or family who:
  • Is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence;
  • Has no other residence; and
  • Lacks the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing

DedicatedPLUS Household:

1. Experiencing chronic homelessness as defined above AND
2. Residing in a transitional housing project that will be eliminated and meets the definition of chronically homeless in effect at the time in which the individual or family entered the transitional housing project OR
   
3. Residing in a place not meant for human habitation, emergency shelter, or safe haven; but the individuals or families experiencing chronic homelessness as defined above had been admitted and enrolled in a permanent housing project within the last year and were unable to maintain a housing placement OR
   
4. Residing in transitional housing funded by a Joint transitional housing (TH) and rapid re-housing (PH-RRH) component project and who were experiencing chronic homelessness as defined above prior to entering the project OR
   
5. Residing and has resided in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or emergency shelter for at least 12 months in the last three years, but has not done so on four separate occasions OR
6. Receiving assistance through a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-funded homeless assistance program and met one of the above criteria at initial intake to the VA's homeless assistance system.

Federal Low Income/Very Low Income Limits

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sets income limits that determine eligibility for assisted housing programs. HUD develops these income limits based on Median Family Income estimates and Fair Market Rent area definitions for each metropolitan area, parts of some metropolitan areas, and each non-metropolitan county.

The Cleveland-Elyria, OH MSA contains the following counties: Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina.

The median income for this area is $94,000.

Low income for 1 person is $50,650.

Very low income for 1 person is $31,650.

Extremely low income for 1 person is $19,000.

As households add members, the income limits increase. For example, a household of 8 members with a total income of $50,560 is considered extremely low income. Click here for the full chart.

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