Help Homeless CLE: Eat for Change Fundraiser

By: Help Homeless CLE Chapter

In the United States, there are about 554,000 homeless people on a given day, with 23,000 of them living in Cuyahoga County alone. A common misconception is that there are many shelters available to house the homeless during the night, but in Cleveland, there are actually only about 1,100 beds. This is a prominent issue, especially as the beds have decreased by 444 units over the last decade. In our area, the options for sleeping outside are also limited. Tickets are given for being found in public areas after closing time, so choosing to sleep on a park bench for too long can leave you with a court date (Code of Ordinances § 559.53, 559.45). If you do not report to court, you might be warranted for arrest and may end up in jail the next time you get a ticket.

COVID-19’s effects on the homeless population are often forgotten or overlooked. The homeless population is one of the most vulnerable to this pandemic, as many have preexisting health conditions that are further exacerbated by this disease. As a result, homeless people are 10 times more likely to die to COVID-19. Although the homeless population is suffering from this pandemic, according to modern healthcare, “very little is known about how they are faring in part because the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -- the main federal agency overseeing homeless programs -- has not required its national network of providers to gather information on infections or deaths”. Additionally, COVID outbreaks in homeless shelters have also forced more homeless people to be out on the streets, as social services and programs have been rolled back, and shelter capacity has been limited.

Homelessness cannot be resolved in a vacuum, but Help Homeless CLE is taking steps to help eradicate this issue. We plan to focus our efforts on four local shelters per year. During this quarter, all of the money and supplies we gather will be put towards Laura’s Home. This organization works to provide uniquely tailored programs to help homeless women in Cleveland achieve a happy and stable future. Please come support Help Homeless CLE and Laura’s Home on May 11, 2021, at the Chipotle on Woodmere, where all the proceeds will be donated.

You can find Help Homeless CLE on Instagram at @helphomelesscle!