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These Are The Faces of Eviction in Ohio
PHOTO & STORY COURTESY OF THE NORTHEAST COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS (NEOCH)
Last month, the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) and a group of 80 organizations delivered a letter to Governor DeWine calling for a statewide residential eviction moratorium. Since then, over 700 people have signed the letter, 100 of whom are at risk of eviction at this very moment. On April 1, Gov. Mike DeWine issued 90-day eviction and foreclosure protections for commercial businesses. Now, the governor should provide similar supports for Ohio residential renters.
Minimizing evictions in Ohio during this period is critical to reducing the spread of COVID-19. Yesterday, national housing expert Matthew Desmond and The Eviction Lab released its COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard, giving Ohio a failing score of 0.08/5. The Scorecard evaluates on a number of emergency measures in the eviction process, from filing initiation, the enforcement of eviction orders, to providing tenant protections like requiring landlords to accept late payments and prohibiting them from charging late fees during the moratorium period. Even if a moratorium were granted across Ohio, tenant protections are necessary to prevent an eviction tsunami later this summer.
Here are some of the stories of people facing eviction across Ohio right now, which you can listen to here. Each individual is willing to share their story publicly.
Joy lives in Bedford Heights with her 7 year old daughter. She was laid off in March due to COVID-19 closures. She’s paid rent on time for the place she’s lived for 15 years, but without child care and no word from the unemployment office, she’s bracing herself for an eviction hearing next month.
Angela from Mansfield is staying in a motel after getting evicted for being 3 days late on rent while she was in the hospital. She’s finding it difficult to find a new place to live while the state is shut down and as she recovers from surgery complications.
Stephen, who lives with his family in Springfield, was laid off in January and received an eviction notice back in March. The hearing was delayed until May, but he’s struggling to make arrangements during the pandemic with no income and no apartment showings available.
Vieda, a gig worker in Cleveland, lost 70% of her income since the demand for Uber/Lyft plummeted. She’s unable to pay April or May rent, and she’s nervous that her landlord might not be patient while she waits to start a new job, which might get delayed since she’s been feeling sick.
Many Ohioans have experienced a substantial loss of income as a result of layoffs and the loss of wages related to COVID-19, hampering their ability to keep up with rent and leaving them vulnerable to eviction. During a time when many Ohioans are already experiencing a homelessness crisis, the COVID-19 outbreak has made it clear that our state cannot afford to compound the problem by not offering tenant protections for renters impacted by the pandemic.
NEOCH launches Mutual Aid Fund to support rapid responses to COVID-19 crisis
COURTESY OF NORTHEAST OHIO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS
The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) launched a Mutual Aid Fund to provide support for grassroots, community-based responses to the COVID-19 crisis. NEOCH was inspired by Cleveland Pandemic Response (CPR), a group of local organizers and volunteers who launched a community hub, to directly match people in need with neighbors offering support. Knowing that large systems can be slow to respond, CPR uses a mutual aid model to link community members to free goods and services, and to volunteers who can run errands for people at high risk of infection.
NEOCH began receiving offers of financial support soon after the pandemic struck from community members who trusted them to direct those funds where they would have the biggest impact. “When disaster strikes, data shows that the most marginalized people in our society get left behind by large-scale solutions, particularly poor people of color,” says Maggie Rice, who has been coordinating NEOCH’s mutual aid education and outreach. “In response, NEOCH allocated some of the funds we’ve raised to provide rapid response assistance to those disproportionately impacted.”
NEOCH launched its Mutual Aid Fund on March 23rd, soon after Gov. DeWine issued the state’s stay-at-home order. Organizers answer a few questions, NEOCH responds within 48 hours, and up to $500 in funding is dispersed to people organizing projects. To date, NEOCH has supported 12 projects totalling $4,300 in support. Funds have been used to provide food, hygiene, and cleaning products to at-risk neighborhoods, materials to make masks for essential workers, and transportation fare for people being released from prison.
Suncere Ali Shakur is no stranger to mutual aid work before the COVID-19 pandemic began. A seasoned activist, Shakur did mutual aid disaster response after Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. He has also been continuing that effort in his CMHA housing community.
“I had already been feeding people in my community,” says Shakur. “I got continued support from Food Not Bombs and others, and just had to add on my Katrina experience to build a supply line to a underserved community.” Shakur, who calls himself a “hope dealer,” used his micro-grant funds to provide toilet paper, hygiene supplies, cleaning products, and food to his neighbors.
Gabi Mirelez is a local business owner who has used her funds to make masks for NEOCH, Planned Parenthood, and other essential service providers. Through Sweetlime Queer Tailoring in Tremont, Mirelez has been providing individualized services to the community for several years. She sees mutual aid as a way to meet unique needs, without forcing people to conform to institutional standards that may not be a good fit (pun intended) for them. She says that one-on-one approach is what makes mutual aid so successful.
“I’m really grateful to grassroots organizations like NEOCH and CPR that do the work to link people like me up with individuals who can put my masks to immediate use,” Mirelez says. “With the stress of everything that’s going on, I don’t have the capacity to go find the resources I need to move quickly. It was awesome that NEOCH reached out to me and invited me to apply, instead of the other way around.”
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Click here to view NEOCH’s Mutual Aid Fund Micro Grant Application
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To make it possible for more mutual aid work to be done in northeast Ohio, people can donate to NEOCH’s emergency response fund here
Out like a lion? March job report closed the books too early to see COVID-19’s toll
COURTESY OF POLICY MATTERS OHIO
The numbers: Seasonally adjusted data released today by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) show Ohio employers shed 39,700 jobs in March as Gov. Mike DeWine slowed the spread of the coronavirus by ordering many businesses to close. Total nonfarm jobs fell to 5,559,400, from a revised number of 5,599,100 in February.
March’s numbers lag weekly claims filings. They were gathered during the week ended March 14, a day before Gov. DeWine closed restaurants and bars, and eight days before his stay-at-home order shuttered many more businesses. Thus, they don’t yet reflect most of the effects of COVID-19. ODJFS reported yesterday that 158,678 Ohioans filed initial unemployment claims in the week ended April 11. Initial claims for the past four weeks of 855,197 exceed filings for all of 2018 and 2019 combined. Adams, Clinton, Logan and Union Counties experienced their highest filings last week. Policy Matters has tabulated initial filings for each county.
The numbers from the monthly jobs report:
- Employers in goods producing cut 2,800 jobs in March as estimated over the week ended March 14. Manufacturers cut 1,200 jobs, construction firms shed 1,500, and mining and logging firms shed 100.
- Private service sector employers shed 36,300 jobs. The biggest recorded losses were in leisure and hospitality (-27,000). Trade, transportation, and utilities cut 4,400, educational and health services cut 2,200, other services cut 1,600, professional and business services cut 400 and information cut 200.
- Public sector employment fell by 600 jobs with cuts in state government jobs (-500) and federal government jobs in Ohio (-100). No change was yet reported in local government jobs.
Ohio’s unemployment rate for March reached 5.5%, up from 4.1% in February. During the stay-at-home order, the unemployment rate will understate the true scope of joblessness, because it only counts those actively seeking work.
What it means: “Last month’s jobless numbers don’t yet tell the story of COVID-19’s impact, since they were gathered so early in the month,” said Policy Matters Ohio researcher, Michael Shields.
“Many more workers are already off the job following Gov. DeWine’s ‘stay-at-home’ order. They’re the folks working in jobs not classified as essential, and who can’t do their jobs from home. We want those workers at home to keep them and others safe. But if ODJFS doesn’t move quickly to push unemployment comp to them, then even those who work from home could see their jobs at risk from a drop in consumer spending.”
Solutions:
Get Ohioans the support they need: “The DeWine administration and ODJFS must do everything they can to get unemployment compensation to these folks as quickly as possible,” Shields said. “Governor DeWine made the right decision to protect Ohioans by closing businesses, but now he must take action to alleviate the pain. Many of the restaurant and bar workers sent home by Gov. DeWine over a month ago won’t be able to get benefits for another month. Ohio law excludes workers if they are paid less than $269 per week. They’ll be covered now under temporary federal measures. ODJFS needs to move more quickly to get benefits to these and other newly eligible workers.”
“Supporting workers furloughed by COVID-19 is necessary to prevent a deeper contraction. Some workers are continuing to work because they can do their jobs at home. But if policymakers don’t ensure laid-off workers can continue to pay the rent and buy groceries, the livelihoods of those who are still working could be at risk as well.”
Fix the tax code: “Policy choices that prioritized the wealthy and corporations over families and workers have kept many Ohioans in a precarious position a decade after the last recession. Ohio leaders have misspent 10 years of prosperity on tax cuts for the wealthiest and tax breaks for special interests. In the recovery from this crisis, Ohio needs to rebuild our economy in a way that strengthens everyone. This time we’ve got to get it right.”
Visit some parks, not playgrounds, CDC recommends
While getting outdoors is important any time of the year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says do not visit playgrounds.
“Do not use playgrounds, including water playgrounds, located within local, state, or national parks,” says the CDC.
The CDC states: “Using playgrounds might lead to the spread of COVID-19 because:
- They are often crowded and could easily exceed recommended guidance for gatherings.
- It can be challenging to keep surfaces clean and disinfected.
- The virus can spread when young children touch contaminated equipment and then touch their hands to their eyes, nose, or mouth.”
Visiting a playground is advised against until further notice. However, select state and local parks remain open. Remember to practice safe social distancing practices no matter where you are, including at all public parks which remain open.
According to the Cleveland Metroparks, its ’18 reservations’ currently remains open and golf course hours are limited (9 a.m. to 5 p.m), depending on the weather. Find information regarding their updates here. To protect employees, they are asking individuals to ‘pack in, pack out.’ This means bring your own garbage container (bag) and bring any garbage with you when you leave.
The Cleveland Metroparks website does note: “Avoid playgrounds: all playgrounds and outdoor fitness stations are closed for safety.”
Swimming for now appears to be safe, given individuals continue taking appropriate measures to avoid shared spaces, etc. According to the CDC, there is no proof that currently exists indicating COVID-19 can be transmitted via water or swimming.
“There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the water. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (with chlorine or bromine) of pools should kill COVID-19,” states the CDC’s web page.
It is NOT recommended to use water parks or playgrounds, or hot tubs, says the CDC.
Getting out isn’t impossible during COVID-19 but it is still important to continue safe social distancing; practicing adequate hygiene habits, and additional precautions such as wearing a mask.
Find information from the National Parks Service regarding individual parks here.
Coronavirus cases spike in Ohio, latest 24-hour total surpasses 1,300 new cases
In the last 24-hours, the Ohio Department of Health has reported 1,353 new cases of the coronavirus.
This excludes the “CDC Expanded Case Definition (Probable)” amount. The overall coronavirus case total for the state reached 11,292 on April 19. For the last few days, a significant jump in 24-hour case increases can be seen (below):
4/19: Today’s 24-hour increase= 1,353 Today’s total= 11,292. Yesterday’s total= 9,939.
4/18: Today’s 24-hour increase= 1,081 Today’s total= 9,939. Yesterday’s total= 8,858.
4/17: Today’s 24-hour increase= 619. Today’s total= 8,858. Yesterday’s total= 8,239.
4/16: Today’s 24-hour increase= 611. Today’s total= 8,239. Yesterday’s total= 7,628.
4/15: Today’s 24-hour increase= 475. Today’s total= 7,628. Yesterday’s total= 7,153.
4/14: Today’s 24-hour increase= 272. Today’s total= 7,153. Yesterday’s total= 6,881.
View more totals here. https://bit.ly/34MfOxk
According to sources, the U.S. currently tops the world in numbers of coronavirus cases.
25 new cases of coronavirus in Cleveland, one new resident fatality
The City of Cleveland continues to take numerous precautions across multiple departments and divisions amid increasing cases of coronavirus (COVID-19). Mayor Frank G. Jackson has extended the Proclamation of Civil Emergency through April 30, 2020. Click here to view the mayor’s declaration. Essential services such as Police, Fire, EMS, waste collection and Utilities are operational. 25 […]
“The Cleveland Department of Public Health has been notified of 25 more confirmed test results for coronavirus in residents of the city. The department has also been informed of one new resident fatality. The patient was a male in his 90’s. This brings the total to 377 confirmed cases in the City of Cleveland and ten fatalities, ranging from less than one year to their 90’s. The new cases include males and females, whose ages range their teens to their 90’s. CDPH is working to identify any close contacts of these residents who would require testing or monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19.”
Coronavirus stimulus checks payment portal
INFORMATION REGARDING THE IRS PAYMENT PORTAL FOR CORONAVIRUS STIMULUS CHECKS:
If the IRS does not have your payment information, you can enter it here at their portal. https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof-wmsp/notice
Do note: If you have ‘0’ as your refund amount, etc., it may not work yet as many have been experiencing technical issues with this. As of 04/17/2020, a solution for this was still being looked into and/or developed, according to this thread here. https://www.reddit.com/r/IRS/comments/g236kx/zero_filers_those_who_filed_taxes_but_dont_owe_or/
When seasons collide
Photo and above caption credit of Melanie Sklarz.
Easter in West Park
A very Happy Easter to everyone in the West Park neighborhood and beyond. What are some of your favorite traditions?
Pictured: bald eagle
2015 photo by Jerry Masek
Although this bald eagle is a resident of the Metroparks Zoo, West Park residents can also see them flying over the Rocky River, looking for fish.
Ohio policymakers can harness collective resources to take on COVID-19 crisis
POLICY MATTERS OHIO
PRESS RELEASE
Author: Wendy Patton
As Ohioans face down the COVID-19 pandemic, a new report from Policy Matters points the way for policymakers to marshal the state’s collective resources to keep everyone safe today and rebuild for the future.
To keep Ohioans safe, Governor DeWine closed huge portions of the economy, including restaurants, movie theaters, factories and other workplaces. Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans are laid off and state and local governments are losing revenue from income and sales taxes. Earlier this week, the Ohio Office of Budget and Management reported the state’s total general revenue fund tax receipts came in $159.4 million (10.5%) below estimates last month. If Ohio’s tax collections in the general revenue funds drop at the same rate they did in the wake of the 2008 recession, adjusted for inflation, the state could have $3.9 billion less than projected by the end of budget year 2021, according to calculations of report author Wendy Patton, Policy Matters Senior Project Director. Governor DeWine has asked agencies to plan for cuts of 20%. Austerity measures will drive Ohio into a deeper recession, said Patton.
“Like all states, Ohio needs a strong partner in the federal government, which can generate the resources large enough to meet the moment,” Patton said. “State policymakers also have options. Instead of cutting funding for schools, parks or transit, they can reverse some of the special interest tax breaks that cost Ohio $9 billion a year. In the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2008, state policymakers chose to cut taxes for the wealthiest and slashed support for communities and public services. This time, we can have a recovery that, unlike the last one, decreases inequality and poverty as jobs return.”
In coming months, Ohioans are likely to need more support from federal, state and local governments, not less. Even with the $2 trillion federal CARES Act stimulus, as many as 955,000 Ohioans could be unemployed by July and the unemployment rate could hit 16.4%, according to Economic Policy Institute estimates. Ohio’s rural communities have been hit hard by economic fallout from the pandemic. Ashtabula County, where unemployment claims have risen more than 2,000% in recent weeks, is the worst prepared in the state to cope with a crisis according to the CDC’s social vulnerability rating index.
Meanwhile, even though social distancing has helped flatten the curve, cases are mounting in Ohio. Early data shows that a disproportionate share of Black Ohioans are getting sick with COVID-19. Although Ohio’s reporting on race is not comprehensive, the data so far indicates Black people make up 18% of COVID-19 cases compared to 14% of Ohio’s total population. Longstanding structural barriers to employment opportunities, deeply entrenched segregation, and health care disparities put communities of color at higher risk.
“The coronavirus doesn’t discriminate, but policy choices have put some communities in worse positions than others,” Patton said. “Today, policymakers can choose to make sure everyone can thrive by rebuilding the services communities need instead of cutting taxes for the wealthy and corporations.”
Ohio’s food assistance policy in the time of pandemic
BY POLICY MATTERS OHIO
No matter our differences, we all need to eat. We all want to support our families and live with dignity. Now is the time for our leaders to make policy choices that help all people — not just the wealthy and powerful few. In this moment of uncertainty, state and federal lawmakers need to do everything they can to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and stabilize families, households, and the economy.
This brief examines elements of the federal stimulus packages and policy changes in Ohio that can help people access food during this difficult time. It also highlights additional recommendations to make sure all Ohioans have enough to eat.
A strategy to stabilize families and the economy
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the most effective programs during a recession. First, SNAP meets people’s immediate needs and allows people to keep feeding their families. Research shows that children whose families use SNAP are healthier and do better at school.[4] Second, SNAP can help stabilize the economy during a downturn by quickly supporting people who lose their jobs or income. As unemployment rises, more people get their food through SNAP, and research shows that people who use SNAP spend it quickly in their community.[5] Four-fifths of SNAP benefits are spent in the local economy within two weeks, and 97% within a month. SNAP also frees up resources for Ohioans to meet other basic needs, like paying for rent, diapers, medication, or toilet paper.
National steps taken to provide food to people who need it
Congress passed three major bills in response to COVID-19. The first provided funds for medical equipment, vaccine development and other research. The second, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, addressed immediate, pressing health and social needs. The third, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, addressed income support, business assistance, and aid to state and local governments, among other things.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides important flexibility and relief to meet emerging needs. The bill extends food assistance by:[6]
- Allowing states to provide SNAP benefits to households with children who received free or reduced-price meals, if a school is closed for at least five days due to COVID-19.
- Making it easier for people to access SNAP and freeing up administrative capacity to connect people to SNAP. The bill allows states to offer all recipients the maximum benefit amount, which many do not get. It also allows the interview, screening, and processing of benefits to be more streamlined for the applicant and the caseworker.
- Suspending the three-month time limit. Adults without children were required to report 80 hours of work or training each month to receive SNAP for longer than three months. The act temporarily suspends this requirement.
- Allocating $500 million in emergency funding for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which provides nutrition education, and food for pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to 5 years old. The bill gives states flexibility to waive certain administrative requirements to make it easier to serve WIC participants.
- Allocating $400 million to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fund food purchases through the Temporary Food Assistance Programs to support emergency aid for food banks.
These changes are all temporary and available only during the public health emergency.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is the third federal stimulus package. It includes several major elements to buffer Americans from the recession, such as expanded unemployment compensation (UC), payments to individuals and families, and financial assistance to states. By not increasing SNAP benefits, the CARES Act misses an opportunity to both stimulate the economy and help families make ends meet, like policymakers did during the last recession.[7]
Policymakers can temporarily increase the maximum SNAP benefit by 15% in the next stimulus package. This would provide roughly $25 per person per month, or a little less than $100 a month to help a family of four afford food and help stabilize consumer spending in local economies.[8] We urge federal lawmakers to include this in the next relief bill, which is being discussed now.
Steps Ohio has taken to support people in need
Food is the most basic human need. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act gives Ohio more flexibility to respond to the needs of the moment. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is taking important steps to make sure current SNAP participants don’t lose benefits and help newly eligible people apply and access benefits quickly.
The USDA has granted Ohio waivers toward these goals. The first waiver prevents Ohioans who participate in SNAP from losing access to benefits due to expiration or redetermination.[9] This means that SNAP benefits scheduled to expire in March, April and May 2020 will be extended six months until September, October and November 2020. This will keep Ohioans enrolled in SNAP and free up caseworkers to connect people with critical food assistance.
The USDA also authorized new, flexible guidelines for processing new SNAP applications.[10] Federal rules had required people to complete an interview to receive SNAP benefits. The new, temporary rules will allow ODJFS to waive the interview requirement as long as the applicant’s identity has been verified and other mandatory verifications have been completed.
ODJFS should establish procedures to guide county Job and Family Service (JFS) agencies to operationalize these changes. ODJFS has already developed temporary procedures for county JFS agencies to accept verbal signatures over the phone. These measures will make sure more Ohioans who need it get help affording food.
The USDA also approved a waiver to bring all households receiving SNAP “up to the maximum benefit due to pandemic related economic conditions for up to 2 months.”[11] This would infuse over $150 million into Ohio’s economy over two months and help households pay for food expenses. This will allow households to receive up to the maximum benefit based on their household size. Typically, households with higher monthly income receive less SNAP assistance, and households with the lowest or no income receive the maximum benefit. Federal lawmakers decided that households already receiving the maximum amount will not see a boost.
Policymakers are taking steps to help Ohioans safely use SNAP to buy food. The DeWine Administration issued an order to allow SNAP recipients to pay for curbside grocery pickup with their SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.[12] School districts across the state have also taken initiative to get food to students who need it. The USDA granted a waiver to Ohio for schools to package and distribute meals to students.
What else is needed
Metro County JFS agencies are reporting staff shortages all across the state as they transition to at-home or remote work environments. County JFS offices have reported being overwhelmed by calls for UC claims. Food banks across the state are reporting major increases in demand — 250% in Dayton and 300% in Cincinnati.[13] While schools are working to get food to students, the Plain Dealer reported that only around 10% of students in Cleveland are picking up free meals.[14]
Recommendations
While state and federal lawmakers have moved quickly, Ohioans in crisis need more support.
Federal policy makers can:
- Increase the maximum SNAP benefit by 15%. This would provide roughly $25 per person per month for food and help the nation weather the emerging recession by boosting consumer spending in the economy.
State policymakers can:
- Support Ohio’s emergency food distribution network. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks has asked for an additional $25 million to purchase, pack, and distribute over 1 million emergency food boxes that will be needed to feed hungry Ohioans over the next month.
- Get resources to kids who no longer have access to free school meals. The Families First Coronavirus Act authorized Pandemic EBT to support children who were receiving free or reduced-price meals at school. ODJFS needs to get benefits to households that have SNAP EBT cards and develop a system to make sure households that don’t have EBT cards get them as soon as possible. Pandemic EBT will provide roughly $114 per child per month on the SNAP EBT card.
- Make it easier for more households to access SNAP. Ohio can expand eligibility for SNAP from 130 to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level through broad-based categorical eligibility.[15] The state could also include the SNAP application on the UC website (https://unemployment.ohio.gov) and add instructions for how to check for SNAP eligibility in determination letters that ODJFS sends to UC claimants. This would help more Ohioans get support through SNAP and help stimulate the economy.
- Expand food options for people with SNAP. Ohio can request a “hot foods” waiver to allow SNAP participants to purchase a wider variety of foods in grocery stores. This will provide more options for populations with less capacity to cook at home.
- Expand curbside pick-up options at grocery stores. While Governor DeWine authorized curbside grocery pickup with SNAP EBT cards, most Ohio grocery stores don’t offer online ordering and curbside pickup. The state should work with grocers to make this option available for all Ohioans, including SNAP participants.
- Educate the public about how to access SNAP benefits. Food banks are being overwhelmed by demand. ODJFS Director Hall can use one of Governor DeWine’s daily press briefings to educate Ohioans about how to access food assistance through SNAP.
We are all in this together. While individuals, nonprofits, and businesses all play a part, only government can mobilize our shared resources to ensure all of us can eat. In the midst of the COVID-19 emergency, we need to remember what we learned during the Great Recession. A swift expansion of SNAP (as well as Unemployment Compensation and Medicaid) is one of the best ways to meet the emerging needs of kids and families, and stabilize our economy.
Citizens Bank to fund $440,000 for Ohio Community and Small Business Support
Bank is directing more than $5 million to support relief across service area
CLEVELAND – Community organizations and small businesses in Ohio will receive $440,000 in funding as part of a previously announced initiative through which Citizens Bank will direct more than $5 million to support relief and recovery across communities it serves, including $365,000 that will go directly to small businesses across the state.
“We believe our approach strikes a strong balance between rapid aid to community partners addressing immediate needs and longer term support for small business recovery,” said Jim Malz, Ohio state president, Citizens Bank. “Our small business customers are a vital engine of the Ohio economy so it is critical that we both give them an immediate leg up and bolster their long term viability.”
Citizens Bank and the Citizens Charitable Foundation will direct $440,000 in Ohio as follows:
- $200,000 to the Economic & Community Development Institute for grants to small businesses in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Geauga, Summit, Stark and Lucas Counties.
- $165,000 in direct grants to Citizens Bank small business customers in Ohio and to help them continue operating and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The program will provide $15,000 grants to 11 of the bank’s small business customers. Details of the award program can be found at Citizensbank.com/smallbusinessrecovery.
- $75,000 between the Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund via The Cleveland Foundation and the Akron Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund via United Way of Summit County who are both deploying resources to community based organizations offering emergency relief to families and individuals in need.
In addition to providing new funding, Citizens removed programmatic restrictions on 2020 funding to non-profit partners to allow support to be diverted to the areas of greatest need.
About Citizens
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $165.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2019. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a 24/7 customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 2,700 ATMs and approximately 1,100 branches in 11 states in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers corporate, institutional and not-for-profit clients a full range of wholesale banking products and services, including lending and deposits, capital markets, treasury services, foreign exchange and interest rate products, and asset finance. More information is available www.citizensbank.com or visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.
About Citizens Charitable Foundation
The Citizens Charitable Foundation is a philanthropic organization funded by Citizens Financial Group, Inc. The Foundation’s mission is centered in the belief that citizenship is at the heart of Citizens’ identity, and when people and communities reach their potential, we all thrive. The Citizens Charitable Foundation currently focuses its giving in three key areas: helping people to manage their money, engaging with partners in the fight against hunger, and strengthening our communities. By investing in these important issues, the Citizens Charitable Foundation strives to improve the lives of our fellow citizens through building partnerships with public, private, and community interests to develop neighborhoods, transform lives, and stimulate economic renewal.
Reminder: Bulk pick-up suspended throughout April & May in Cleveland
Bulk pick-up is typically during the first full week of the month, on your regularly scheduled pick-up day. However, in light of the coronavirus, bulk pick-up has been suspended throughout the month.
“For the safety of our waste collectors, bulk pick-up has been suspended for May. Bulk pick-up requires multi-person teams that interact in close proximity while roll cart collection is automated. In addition, we sadly announced that Senior Day 2020 has been canceled in order to protect to those most vulnerable to the coronavirus,” announced Mayor Frank G. Jackson.
Find more information here. http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/ParksRecreationandProperties/Waste
Sherwin-Williams donates 3,000 N-95 masks to EMS
PRESS RELEASE
City of Cleveland Provides General Updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Protocols -Update #19
In accordance with Mayor Frank G. Jackson’s Proclamation of Civil Emergency, the City of Cleveland continues to take numerous precautions across multiple departments and divisions amid increasing cases of coronavirus (COVID-19).
During this time, essential services such as Police, Fire, EMS, waste collection and Utilities are fully operational. There are still limited hours for the public to access some City buildings like City Hall for limited services and the City has moved to an essential workforce until further notice.
Sherwin-Williams Donates 3,000 N-95 Masks to Cleveland Emergency Medical Service
Sherwin-Williams has generously donated 3,000 N-95 masks to the Cleveland Division of Emergency Medical Service. Sherwin-Williams has been and continues to be a vital community partner to the City of Cleveland. This contribution highlights their commitment to being a part of the solution to this global crisis.
“The N-95 masks donated to the Division of EMS will help provide the women and men on the front lines with proper protection as they provide medical care to our community,” said
Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “This essential equipment comes at a time when there is a nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment for healthcare providers and first responders. I thank Sherwin Williams, Chairman & CEO John Morikis, their leadership team and employees for their partnership.”
The donation was organized by Heidi Petz, President & General Manager, Sherwin- Williams, Consumer Brands Group NA to protect the Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics while providing in-field care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Updates
- Stay-at-home order: View and download the Director’s Order and FAQ sheet fromthe governor’s office with additional information on the order.
- Essential businesses: The State of Ohio has released guidance for essential businesses during this time. Click here to view the information.
- Together Ohio – Every Ohioan has a part to play in helping to save lives. If you are interested in helping your fellow Ohioans, please email together@governor.ohio.gov. Click here for additional info.
- Ohio PBS stations offer at-home learning: The Ohio ‘At Home Learning’ initiative will include daily programming for students in prekindergarten through grade 12 on Ohio PBS channels in every community starting on most stations Monday, March 30.Code RedSign up for CodeRED alerts to receive calls and emails from the administration with important info regarding Coronavirus.
About the City of Cleveland
The City of Cleveland is committed to improving the quality of life for its residents by strengthening neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing diversity and making
Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, play, and do business. For more information on the City of Cleveland, visit online at www.clevelandohio.gov, Twitter at @cityofcleveland or Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofcleveland.
Current coronavirus cases in Ohio
UPDATE:
(FOR CURRENT CORONAVIRUS CASES VISIT: https://westparktimes.com/coronavirus-24-hour-case-updates/
05/16: Today’s 24-hour increase= 487. Today’s total= 25,836. Yesterday’s total= 25,349.
05/15: Today’s 24-hour increase= 549. Today’s total= 25,349. Yesterday’s total= 24,800.
05/14: Today’s 24-hour increase= 555. Today’s total= 24,800. Yesterday’s total= 24,245.
05/13: Today’s 24-hour increase= 436. Today’s total= 24,245. Yesterday’s total= 23,809.
05/12: Today’s 24-hour increase= 409. Today’s total= 23,809. Yesterday’s total= 23,400.
05/11: Today’s 24-hour increase= 509. Today’s total= 23,400. Yesterday’s total= 22,891.
05/10: Today’s 24-hour increase= 331. Today’s total= 22,891. Yesterday’s total= 22,560.
05/09: Today’s 24-hour increase= 591. Today’s total= 22,560. Yesterday’s total= 21,969.
05/08: Today’s 24-hour increase= 837. Today’s total= 21,969. Yesterday’s total= 21,132.
05/07: Today’s 24-hour increase= 507. Today’s total= 21,132. Yesterday’s total= 20,625.
05/06: Today’s 24-hour increase= 553. Today’s total= 20,625. Yesterday’s total= 20,072.
5/05: Today’s 24-hour increase= 463. Today’s total= 20,072. Yesterday’s total= 19,609.
5/04: Today’s 24-hour increase= 515. Today’s total= 19,609. Yesterday’s total= 19,094.
5/03: Today’s 24-hour increase= 557. Today’s total= 19,094. Yesterday’s total= 18,537.
5/02: Today’s 24-hour increase= 575. Today’s total= 18,537. Yesterday’s total= 17,962.
5/01: Today’s 24-hour increase= 677. Today’s total= 17,962. Yesterday’s total= 17,285.
4/30: Today’s 24-hour increase= 684. Today’s total= 17,285. Yesterday’s total= 16,601.
4/29: Today’s 24-hour increase= 473. Today’s total= 16,601. Yesterday’s total= 16,128.
4/28: Today’s 24-hour increase= 429. Today’s total= 16,128. Yesterday’s total= 15,699.
4/27:Today’s 24-hour increase= 339. Today’s total= 15,699. Yesterday’s total= 15,360.
4/26: Today’s 24-hour increase= 377. Today’s total= 15,360. Yesterday’s total= 14,983.
4/25: Today’s 24-hour increase= 402. Today’s total= 14,983 . Yesterday’s total= 14,581.
4/24: Today’s 24-hour increase= 439. Today’s total= 14,581 . Yesterday’s total= 14,142.
4/23: Today’s 24-hour increase= 533. Today’s total= 14,142 . Yesterday’s total= 13,609.
4/22: Today’s 24-hour increase= 359. Today’s total= 13,609 . Yesterday’s total= 13,250.
4/21: Today’s 24-hour increase= 734. Today’s total= 13,250 . Yesterday’s total= 12,516.
4/20: Today’s 24-hour increase= 1,224. Today’s total= 12,516. Yesterday’s total= 11,292.
4/19: Today’s 24-hour increase= 1,353 Today’s total= 11,292. Yesterday’s total= 9,939.
4/18: Today’s 24-hour increase= 1,081 Today’s total= 9,939. Yesterday’s total= 8,858.
4/17: Today’s 24-hour increase= 619. Today’s total= 8,858. Yesterday’s total= 8,239.
4/16: Today’s 24-hour increase= 611. Today’s total= 8,239. Yesterday’s total= 7,628.
4/15: Today’s 24-hour increase= 475. Today’s total= 7,628. Yesterday’s total= 7,153.
4/14: Today’s 24-hour increase= 272. Today’s total= 7,153. Yesterday’s total= 6,881.
4/13: Today’s 24-hour increase= 363. Today’s total= 6,881. Yesterday’s total= 6,518.
4/12: Today’s 24-hour increase= 331. Today’s total= 6,518. Yesterday’s total= 6,187.
4/11:Today’s 24-hour increase= 351. Today’s total=6,187. Yesterday’s total= 5,836.
4/10: Today’s 24-hour increase= 324. Today’s total=5,836. Yesterday’s total= 5,512.
4/9: Today’s 24-hour increase= 364. Today’s total=5,512. Yesterday’s total= 5,148.
4/8: Today’s 24-hour increase= 366. Today’s total= 5,148. Yesterday’s total= 4,782.
4/7: Today’s daily increase for #Ohio is 332 confirmed cases. This is up from 4,450 reported yesterday, for a total of 4,782 cases.
4/6: Today’s 24-hour increase is 407; numbers of coronavirus cases in Ohio have increased from 4,043 to 4,450.
4/5: Since yesterday, #coronavirus cases in Ohio have increased by 304; from 3,739 to 4,043.
4/4: Confirmed #coronavirus cases in Ohio have jumped to 3,739, according to numbers released by the Ohio Department of Health.
4/3: Since last reported on March 31, the total #Coronavirus count for #Ohio has risen to 2,902, according to information released by the Ohio Department of Health. The average daily rate of infection is on the rise statewide. (Avg. 323 per-day).
3/31: In 12 days, the total #Coronavirus count for those in #Ohio has risen from 119 to 1933. That means there are an average of 151 new cases developing throughout the state, per day. In retrospect, states like New York are reporting increases per-day by the thousands.
If you have a story to share concerning how the virus has impacted you, email the West Park Times at westparktimes@gmail.com, or feel free to send us a direct message.
*All data extracted from the Ohio Department of Health.
If you currently live in the West Park neighborhood of Cleveland, OH, we’d love for you to contact us. Tell us how you’re making it through the coronavirus, closures, and more by emailing westparktimes@gmail.com.
Whether your wedding has been cancelled or you are temporarily out of work, your story matters and we want to hear it from you!
Current needs, gaps in Cleveland COVID-19 homelessness response
SUBMITTED
There are nearly 2,000 people utilizing emergency shelters and over 200 people are experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the greater Cleveland area. This pandemic will continue to disproportionately impact the unhoused people in our community, especially since many of the unhoused are over 60 and struggle with COPD, asthma, HIV, and other chronic health conditions. A new report from the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, and Boston University estimates that as many as 40% of people experiencing homelessness could contract the virus, up to 10% could require hospitalization and are 2 to 3-times as likely to die when compared to the general population. The time to act is now.
First, the quick response from our homeless Continuum of Care to reduce shelter census by acquiring hotel rooms for up to half of the single adult shelter population in Cuyahoga County is commendable and will hopefully reduce the impact of COVID-19 among the unhoused population in our community. However, this is only a first step, and broader emergency planning and input must consider our community’s entire Continuum of Care. The unsheltered population, people staying in smaller shelters, and those utilizing smaller service providers have been left out of government planning and funding. Conversations have been siloed and there has been a lack of transparency from local government officials planning for the most vulnerable for our community. Emergency planning must consider the input and resources of groups who are not included in planning conversations but are ultimately left to serve those who are unsheltered.
We want to avoid having coronavirus run rampant in homeless encampments, on the streets, and in congregate shelters during the COVID-19 outbreak. NEOCH believes it is urgent for public officials to continue treating homelessness as a public health emergency so that we are minimizing the risk of infections and death among the people experiencing homelessness in our community. Now is the time for inclusion, cooperation, and innovation to respond to the needs of all people who find themselves in a housing crisis during this pandemic.
The first disbursement of funds from the CARES Act that will be allocated for homelessness and housing will be coming to our community, but there are remaining public health concerns that we believe have not been adequately addressed to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness, many of whom will either remain unsheltered or in congregate shelter settings for the remainder of the outbreak:
- NEOCH calls for the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County to immediately provide hotel rooms for all identified people experiencing homelessness. Every homeless shelter and allocated hotel space provided to people experiencing homelessness is either full or struggling to meet social distancing requirements. It is not safe for people to enter into congregate living situations based on CDC recommendations that discourage gatherings greater than 10 individuals. Our community needs to provide comprehensive support to those “sheltering-in-place” outside. Rather than wait for people to grow ill and require quarantine or hospitalization, we can be proactive by putting people into isolated units. The CDC’s guidance for responding to COVID-19 among people experiencing unsheltered homelessness reinforces that sleeping outdoors often does not provide protection from the environment, quick access to hygiene and sanitation facilities, or connection to healthcare.
- NEOCH calls for immediate action from the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County to provide hand washing stations, portable toilets, and charging stations to help protect those outside. It has been 3 weeks since crucial spaces like public libraries, drop in centers, and churches began closing their doors. This means that there are fewer and fewer places for people on the streets to have basic access to water, and bathroom access to allow for proper handwashing and hygiene. It should be a priority to provide the basic human right of soap and water outside during a pandemic for our most vulnerable neighbors. We already have reports of people not drinking water and urinating on themselves because they lack access to restrooms.
- NEOCH calls for Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland to immediately secure up to 900 isolated units before the projected surge for people experiencing homelessness who are statistically likely to test positive. We are currently not prepared for the projected impact the virus will have on the unhoused community. Based on the above infection rate of 40% among the homeless population, it is estimated that 880 of our community’s 2,200 total homeless population will become infected. We have not secured enough hotel rooms for individuals who have no option for isolation and recovery outside of the homeless system if they test positive. Furthermore, the limited rooms that are being secured are not being offered to the entire homeless Continuum of Care.
- NEOCH calls on the City of Cleveland and the Municipal Housing Court to expand the eviction moratorium until September 1st, 2020. Many people at risk of eviction are low-income working class Clevelanders and people living below the poverty line. They are already facing a loss of income due to protective measures we are taking as a society to minimize the threat of the COVID-19 outbreak. Without the guarantee of secure housing during this critical time, the most vulnerable Ohians will be unable to mitigate the threat of COVID-19.
- NEOCH calls for the prioritization of testing among people experiencing homelessness. We know that people that are experiencing homeless have tested positive. Contact tracing will be essential to control COVID-19 once adequate testing is made available. Until then, it is essential that we prioritize testing among people experiencing homelessness who are most at risk for contracting the virus. Knowing who is positive will help our system plan and coordinate how individuals can be relocated from congregate settings. Local shelters, NEOCH, and other providers are following the same advice as the general public: screen for key symptoms and make the appropriate medical referral. Our community is deeply at risk if we do not establish testing protocol and prioritization for people experiencing homelessness.
- NEOCH calls on the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County to direct the Office of Homeless Services to prioritize everyone who is experiencing homelessness in our community by allocated resources for people who are equally in need of services. Thus far, the Office of Homeless Services has only offered funding for 10 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness when there are approximately 200 that are unsheltered in our community. The majority of services that have been provided to unsheltered people have been privately-funded and volunteer-driven. By not coordinating a more inclusive and comprehensive plan for all people experiencing homelessness, some of the most vulnerable people in our community may miss out on access to needed healthcare and dignified quarantine options that could be lifesaving.
The mission of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless is to organize and empower homeless and at-risk men, women and children to break the cycle of poverty through public education, advocacy and the creation of nurturing environments.