A Home for Every Neighbor surpassed its 18-month target in less than eight months using Housing First approach.
CLEVELAND — Cleveland’s A Home for Every Neighbor program, launched in mid-August 2024, originally aimed to house 150 people within 18 months. That goal was surpassed by March 2025, demonstrating the effectiveness of the city’s approach to addressing homelessness.
“Homelessness is a crisis that requires an immediate solution,” said Liam Haggerty, Cleveland’s housing and outreach =roject manager. “By providing housing first, we give people the stability they need to rebuild.”
The program operates citywide, identifying residents living in encampments or other unsafe, unsheltered locations and connecting them with permanent housing. Since its launch, AHFEN has resolved 53 encampments across 13 city wards.
For Borris White, the program meant trading a tent’s zipper for his own apartment door nine months ago.
“Being in an environment that I’m not associated with — that being in the environment I used to be in — and now I can start moving forward,” White told 3News. “Now, I’m thinking good now. I love it, and I appreciate everything they did for me.”
The initiative employs a “Housing First” model, a nationally recognized approach that offers housing without preconditions. This method is paired with case management services to help residents stabilize and connect with health care, employment, and supportive services.
Daniella Glover experienced the program’s life-changing impact after surviving 18 months in tents following an addiction battle that cost her everything. Eight months ago, she received what she calls an extraordinary offer: a home, rent-free, for 12 months with zero strings attached.
“I was addicted to drugs. I had no type of structure. I had no type of accountability,” Glover said. “But living below the post compared to having your own home, who wouldn’t take that chance?”
Her situation became more desperate when she learned she had uterine cancer while homeless. However, having four walls and a key ignited her determination to fight back. She’s now committed to a three-month recovery program at Stella Maris, knowing her sanctuary awaits her return.
“I’m not all the way out (of) the water, but I don’t have those cravings. I don’t even think about my past,” she stated. “I just appreciate what I have now. I have hope, I have strength, I have support.”
The program revolutionizes the traditional system by eliminating bureaucratic barriers. Instead of handing out generic vouchers, case workers assess each person’s needs first, then secure actual housing options.
“What our team does is we go to an encampment, learn the needs of everyone at the encampment, and figure out what kind of units we need to go find in the community, and then we have a team that goes out and does that,” Haggerty explained. “So when we come back to the encampment, we’re offering actual units to folks and saying, ‘Which of these five units are ones you want to apply for?’ as opposed to, ‘Here’s a voucher and go out and find a unit yourself.'”
While applicants still must apply and receive landlord approval, removing the burden of unit hunting during a crisis has been transformative.
“The fact that we’re sort of taking that big step out of it for them because we’re acknowledging they’re in crisis and that folks need a place to live has been, I think, the biggest game changer,” Haggerty said.
The program’s efficiency is reflected in its operational metrics. The average time from intake to move-in is just 10.7 days, and 99% of individuals offered housing units accept them, indicating both the urgent need for housing and the program’s effectiveness in matching people with appropriate accommodations.
Funding for the expanded program comes from multiple sources, including Cleveland City Council, donations from the Old Stone Church, and the Rocket Community Fund. The sustainability of the program received a significant boost when the Rocket Community Fund announced a $150,000 matching challenge for summer 2026, which will double the impact of local donations.
This financial support allows AHFEN to prepare for further expansion in 2026, building on the success of its first year of operations. The program’s rapid achievement of its housing goal demonstrates both the scale of Cleveland’s homelessness challenge and the effectiveness of direct intervention strategies.
This groundbreaking approach restores human dignity one person at a time, giving residents one year to rebuild before rent obligations begin unless they secure assistance. For Glover, the impact extends beyond housing.
“It saved my life because it gave me hope and strength,” she said. “Because I have support now, I know I want to see the future. I’m going to be a motivational speaker.”
Haggerty believes the program benefits the entire community, not just those it houses directly.
“This is something that makes our city stronger, which is (something) I think everyone in the city should be invested in — is that we have a city where people have a place to call home where people aren’t living on the street,” he said. “There’s so many studies that show that when people are in housing, so many other things go better for them and go better for the community they’re in, because they have access to health care, they have access to mental health care, and treatment to get back to work — all things that, I think, everyone in our city wants to see happen.”
Once housed, residents work with case managers who help them access health care, employment opportunities, and other supportive services that contribute to long-term housing stability. This comprehensive approach addresses not just the immediate need for shelter, but the underlying factors that contribute to housing insecurity.
The program’s success in Cleveland reflects a growing national recognition of Housing First principles, which have been implemented in cities across the United States with similar results. Research has consistently shown that providing immediate access to permanent housing is more effective and cost-efficient than traditional approaches that require individuals to progress through various levels of temporary housing.
As AHFEN prepares for expansion, program leaders are actively seeking additional landlords, donors, and community partners to join the effort. The program’s rapid success in its first year suggests strong potential for continued growth and impact in addressing Cleveland’s homelessness crisis.
Individuals experiencing homelessness can access services by calling 216-674-6700 during weekdays or 211 after hours. Those interested in supporting the program can contact Liam Haggerty at LHaggerty@ClevelandOhio.gov or 216-857-1104.