Recently, Cincinnati has taken an important step toward strengthening its response to homelessness. Through a series of partnerships, city leaders and community partners shared a vision for improving how people experiencing homelessness connect with the help they need.
At the center of these announcements is a simple but powerful idea: when organizations work together, people receive better care.
Mayor Aftab Pureval unveiled plans for a new Center of Care–a place where individuals experiencing homelessness can access a wide range of services in one location.
Instead of navigating multiple agencies spread throughout the city, people could receive housing assistance, medical care, meals, hygiene services, workforce support, transportation assistance, and connections to public benefits through a coordinated system of care.
As Mayor Pureval said during the announcement:
“The partnership announced today shows the strength of our community aligned around a commitment to do better for our residents that are most in need.”
That word–partnership–is what stands out most.
Homelessness is rarely caused by one event. A lost job, rising rent, an unexpected medical bill, domestic violence, addiction, or the loss of a support network can all contribute to someone losing their home. Because the causes are interconnected, the solutions must be as well.
Protecting Services That People Depend On
Another key announcement involved the future of the St. Francis Seraph campus in Over-the-Rhine. The City of Cincinnati is partnering with 3CDC to acquire the campus, helping preserve the organizations currently providing essential services there while a permanent Center of Care is developed.
These organizations provide meals, showers, hygiene supplies, respite care, healthcare, behavioral health services, and housing support to hundreds of people experiencing homelessness. For many individuals, these services are the first step toward rebuilding stability.
As Jenny Perez, Executive Director of Mary Magdalen House, noted:
“Every day, we see how something as simple as access to a shower, clean clothing, or personal care services can restore dignity and open the door to new opportunities.”
A powerful reminder that meeting immediate needs is often the first step toward long-term housing stability.
Many of you know Strategies to End Homelessness because of our work preventing homelessness, connecting households to homeless services, and coordinating the region’s homelessness response system through strong partnership.
That work doesn’t happen in isolation but through partnership.
Every day, our team works alongside outreach workers, emergency shelters, healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, landlords, local governments, and dozens of nonprofit partners.
Together, we coordinate housing resources, analyze community-wide data, help people access available housing opportunities, and strengthen our local homeless services system.
The proposed Center of Care builds upon that same philosophy.
Strategies to End Homelessness is proud to be one of many organizations participating in this collaborative effort. While each partner brings different expertise–from healthcare and behavioral health to outreach, shelter, and basic needs–our shared goal is the same: ensuring that every person has a clear pathway from crisis to stable housing.
No single organization can solve homelessness. It takes an entire community working together.
Looking Ahead
There is still important work ahead. Plans for the permanent Center of Care will continue to evolve, and many details remain to be finalized.
But these recent announcements represent something worth celebrating: a shared commitment to collaboration instead of fragmentation, coordination instead of duplication, and long-term solutions instead of temporary fixes.
Where you fit in: partner with us!
Collaboration leads to solutions. We are always looking for new partners in the fight to prevent and end homelessness in Cincinnati. Our Founder and CEO Kevin Finn is available to meet with and speak with local organizations and workplaces.
Have comments, questions, or ideas email us info@end-homelessness.org today!
Thank you for being part of a community that believes everyone deserves a safe place to call home.