Cleveland Tenants Organization
Bridging the Gap

Bridging the Gap Accepting Referrals Again 

Bridging the Gap is the Cleveland Tenants Organization’s program to help find housing for the homeless. As of the first of August, Bridging the Gap is again accepting referrals to its program from area homeless agencies. The program has been closed for new applications since the end of October, 2008.  Since October, we have been able to house most of the clients that applied in 2008.  We are now ready to bring in new clients. 

All clients must be referred by a homeless agency such as emergency shelters. Agencies that are interested in participating in the BTG program, should contact program director Randy Cunningham at 216-432-0616 (btg@clevelandtenants.org)  to receiver program information and a participation agreement.  All participating organizations are required to sign an agreement. 

Staff:

• Randy Cunningham, Program Director

Area of Service:
Cuyahoga County
Services Provided:
Staff help homeless individuals who complete transitional housing programs find an affordable place to live, provide them with life skills classes, basic landlord-tenant trainings, follow-up support and resources so they can successfully live independently in permanent housing.

Phone: 432-0616
Fax: 432-0620

e-mail: btg@clevelandtenants.org

Bridging the Gap (BTG) is a non-profit program that works to link homeless individuals to affordable housing through collaborating and creating partnerships with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), local service agencies and private landlords.

        Bridging the Gap was originally a program of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless that was created in 1998 in an effort to address the problem of the lack of affordable housing in Cleveland.  CTO, in cooperation and continued partnership with NEOCH has taken over the program as of February 1, 2008.

      The program is designed to help homeless individuals who complete transitional housing programs find an affordable place to live, provide them with life skills classes and resources so they can successfully live independently in permanent housing.

Bridging the Gap staff members conduct a variety of activities to help our clients reach their goal of living independently in permanent housing including:

- Identify and contact Project Based Section 8 subsidies in Northeast Ohio

- Maintain and update affordable housing database at www.housingcleveland.org

- Contact landlords, who offer affordable housing

- Contact property managers and keep current on wait list/vacancy status

- Track applicant status with referring agency- Process applications and conduct intake interviews in a timely manner

- Follow-up with clients quarterly for a year after obtaining permanent housing

- Liaise between clients, partner agencies and landlords to discuss matters pertinent to the program

- Attend appeal hearing upon request of partner agency or applicant

- Provide Life Skills Classes, Basic Landlord-Tenant training, Peer Mentoring and Welcome Home Baskets