Nine organizations and groups receive funding in latest round of grantmaking from Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund

Dollars also awarded from Cuyahoga County CARES Act grant for homelessness

Release Date: 4.6.2021

The Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund announced today its 11^th cycle of biweekly grants as part of its Phase II efforts to support the Greater Cleveland nonprofit community during the ongoing pandemic. In total, $803,395 was granted to nine organizations and groups serving Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties. Additionally, $1,860,516 was awarded out of the Cuyahoga County CARES dollars that were earmarked to combat homelessness. Since the start of Phase II in mid-November, partners have granted nearly $5.8 million.

The latest round of grant recipients includes:

• Cleveland Clergy Coalition ($53,550): To support a transportation program established and operated by a network of faith-based entities to bring residents to the Wolstein Center for their vaccinations
• Comité Mexicano de Cleveland ($50,000): To provide culturally sensitive COVID-19/vaccination information, transportation vouchers, health education outreach and cultural programs for Hispanic families in Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake counties
• Cudell Improvement Inc. ($50,000): To fund a critical new position that will help connect neighborhood residents to resources in order to prevent eviction
• Journey Center for Safety and Healing ($45,000): To provide youth and adults access to trauma therapy services, the demand for which has increased since the start of the pandemic
• Living Truth Center for Better Living Inc. ($20,950): To provide PPE, basic needs, and food supplies to the most economically vulnerable in East Cleveland
• Love INC of Cuyahoga County ($20,000): To provide basic needs, personal care items, and direct stipends to support housing and utility assistance
• Mass Vaccination Site Mobilization ($520,000): To coordinate getting residents registered and vaccinated at the COVID-19 mass vaccination site at the Wolstein Center, utilizing the following organizations as hubs in their respective communities: Bellaire Puritas Development Corporation, Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc., Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Global Cleveland, May Dugan Center, Northeast Ohio Alliance for Hope, University Circle Inc. and University Settlement Inc.
• Mommy and Me Too Inc. ($8,895): To provide basic needs support and wraparound services for moms and pregnant women in recovery
• Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center ($35,000): To increase facilities and capacity of the legal clinic to support and prevent homelessness among members of the Latinx community and those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS

The Homeless Services Taskforce, an ad hoc subgroup of the Rapid Response Fund, is also working to make investments in the homeless services system leading to long-term, systemic impact on clients and how services are provided. Investment priorities include those increasing the capacity of the system to provide safe, healthy non-congregate shelter and those supporting rapid movement of clients out of emergency shelter and into stable housing. The Taskforce continues reaching out to system providers to discuss these priorities and invite proposals meeting these goals. Thus far, the Taskforce has made three investments totaling more than $1.86 million:

• Emerald Development and Economic Network, Inc. (EDEN) ($287,000): To assist the movement of individuals into permanent housing, including the purchase of basic items such as cookware, towels and bedding
• Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (on behalf of the Continuum of Care) ($1,214,200): To continue the coordination of hotel rooms to help reduce the likelihood of a COVID-19 outbreak in an emergency shelter, with the expectation that this initiative will continue at least through the end of 2021
• YWCA Greater Cleveland ($359,316): To support a secondary women’s shelter to help maintain social distancing, and to support young adults who are homeless – many of whom are aging out of the foster care system – and their transition into stable housing

The Fund welcomes applications from nonprofits seeking support to address community needs in the areas of basic needs, housing, PPE, testing and vaccination access. Applicants are asked to demonstrate that the program or project will have a direct impact on reducing the spread of COVID-19. The Fund is especially interested in applications that help vulnerable populations access the vaccine.

Including the previously announced $4 million grant from Cuyahoga County’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act fund earmarked for investments in the homeless services system, contributions to the second phase of the Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund total nearly $10.7 million; this includes new gifts from Community West Foundation and Three Arches Foundation. Funding partners urge other foundations, corporate entities, individuals and organizations to contribute to the Fund. Donations of any amount are welcomed, and all contributions are tax deductible.

Based upon the charitable structure of the Rapid Response Fund, the second phase is currently accepting grant applications from eligible organizations serving Cuyahoga, Lake and/or Geauga counties. The Fund is designed primarily to support human service nonprofits with operational budgets of less than $20 million. The Fund partners encourage collaborative proposals that involve multiple organizations within similar sectors or neighborhoods working on shared issues.

Grants during Phase II of the Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund are awarded every two weeks and will continue for one year. Awards range in size from $5,000 to $100,000, with a maximum grant amount of $100,000 for any nonprofit organization throughout the current cycle ending Oct. 31, 2021. Organizations that were funded during Phase I (between March-July 2020) are eligible to apply for additional funding. Grants are limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, groups fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, or other charitable organizations able to receive a tax-deductible contribution.

For more information or to donate, visit ClevelandFoundation.org/Response.

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