Greater Cincinnati’s Shelter System
The Homeless to Homes Plan, adopted by Cincinnati City Council and the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners and implemented by Strategies to End Homelessness, articulates a shared vision and course toward ending homelessness for single individuals.
A cornerstone of the Homeless to Homes Plan, achieved in 2015, has been to dramatically improve our local emergency shelter system by constructing five new service-enriched facilities with improved access to housing programs.
In 2015, the number of people served in our shelters increased by 2.3%, but the length of stay in these new facilities decreased by 8%, indicating that the shelter upgrades are making a significant impact. Upgrades to our community’s shelter facilities and services include:
- Improved shelter facilities, which encourage people to come in off the streets at night; plus, the improved shelters no longer turn residents back to the streets during the day
- Daytime services, which include drug and alcohol treatment, mental and medical health services, and job search and placement
- Higher quality and increased case management services to help residents navigate complex systems effectively, and receive the assistance they need to exit homelessness
- Step-up model, which incentivizes residents to engage in the services that will assist them out of homelessness.
The ambition of the Homeless to Homes Plan goes beyond shelter. By creating the facilities and resources needed to end individual homelessness in Cincinnati, we can create a more vibrant and revitalized community, and improve quality of life for all Cincinnatians.
Street Outreach
Strategies to End Homelessness coordinates Street Outreach efforts with its community partners, who employ trained social workers to provide strategic case management of the most visible homeless persons in our districts. They reach out directly and build crucial relationships with people experiencing homelessness to assist them in finding resources and shelter. Local Street Outreach partners:
- Block by Block, through Downtown Cincinnati Inc.
- PATH Team, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health
- Community Outreach Division, Cincinnati VA Medical Center
- Street Outreach Team, Lighthouse Youth & Family Services
Street Reach – Download today!
Street Reach is a mobile app available for iPhone and Android that allows the public to respond to homelessness in their area, and educates the public about what resources are available in our community.
The Street Reach app uses location-based technology to allow community members like you to make electronic reports for those in need. It also allows anyone experiencing homelessness to reach out for help.
