Seasonal shelter offers refuge for Cleveland’s unhoused during winter storm

The brick building tucked between two parking lots on East 19th Street in Cleveland once served as a fraternity house. After a significant amount of elbow grease, volunteers with the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) converted this location into a seasonal homeless shelter for the winter of 2026. It opened Jan. 12.

So far, this winter appears to be one for the record books, with heavy amounts of snow arriving as early as last November. Dangerous cold and intense storms continue to hit Northeast Ohio and the region is in the midst of a near-record-breaking cold streak. Winter events are hard for individuals and families who lack permanent shelter and a safe, warm place to reside. The new facility will remain open through April 14 to help those at risk. 

“A seasonal shelter is like an extra space that opens up that really caters to individuals that traditionally will not go into larger shelters in our community,” said Chris Knestrick, executive director of NEOCH, during an interview with News 5.

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Mikail Lumumba, outreach navigator for the NEOCH and manager of the shelter, told the Land that it took a weekend of day and night working to get the structure up and going after the fraternity moved out.

“It was filthy,” said Lumumba. “Apparently, they gave themselves a going-away party after their lease was up, but neglected to clean up afterwards. Fortunately, there were refrigerators and stoves left behind.”

As homeless shelters go, the (now clean) location is a gem. The nonprofit owns the building, which boasts a massive dining and kitchen area with space for approximately 10 tables, and seating to accommodate around six people at each table. A long kitchen island is set up to prepare food or serve as a buffet for prepared dishes. A large TV is mounted on a freshly painted white wall in the dining area. Food can be prepared at the location, but it’s mostly donated by organizations and individuals.

The bedrooms and bathrooms are clean. Each bedroom has two bunk beds and areas where visitors can put their belongings. The facility is open to all adults and pets. No children are allowed.

The doors open to visitors at 6 p.m. each evening. After signing in, guests are invited into the dining area for snacks and beverages. Dinner is served around 7 p.m. Everyone is asked to leave by 8 a.m. Afterward, many trek over to the Bishop William M. Cosgrove Center, a drop-in day shelter, on East 17th Street.

“We have two rooms on each side with a bathroom and a shower in the middle,” Lumumba said. “There are eight people in total sharing one bathroom. So, there are four people on one side and four on the other. I do the best I can, giving couples and families their space. It’s possible that couples may have to share a room with two women. We have crates  for those with service dogs to sleep in for the night. Two extra rooms being used for storage can be easily converted to accommodate an additional eight people.”

The first week they opened, they received approximately 19 people, which is significantly lower than their capacity of 40 individuals. NEOCH expects the number to rise quickly due to the extreme cold and word getting out about the new digs.

How Admission Works

According to the Cuyahoga County website, in 2023 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said there were approximately 5,000 Cuyahoga County residents who were homeless, with more than 80% of homeless persons being single. While homelessness in Cuyahoga County has decreased slightly since 2019, Black residents represent nearly 70% of the county’s homeless population.

The process of getting accepted at the facility begins with filling out an application with NEOCH. If a person is accepted, a referral is sent to Lumumba so he will know who’s coming. Traditionally, several of the referrals are no-shows. Once the referrals expire, they must reapply, said Lumumba.

Rolando Rodriguez, his partner Halle Rothschild and their dog Nya arrived at the shelter a bit late. The couple’s faces showed signs of weariness on this cold and snowy evening. Rothschild immediately poured a cup of coffee, bringing one to Rodriguez, and tossed Nya a treat.

Months of displacement have taken a tremendous toll physically and emotionally on the pair. The saving grace was finding a safe and friendly place to stay warm during the night.

“It’s a clean, safe place to be,” said Rodriguez. “I think the needs of the homeless are not being met. There are many issues that contribute to homelessness, such as mental health, drugs and alcohol abuse. It’s wonderful to have a warm, comfortable place to come to like this. But we need help getting our lives back on track.  She had employment issues, and I had an injury from an accident. I’ve been denied Social Security several times. We both have developed psychological problems during this ordeal. Being on the street is a traumatic experience.”

Since the latest blast of winter this past weekend, the shelter has cleared out the extra two bedrooms to accommodate more guests. They are now at their capacity of 38 people, and open 24 hours a day. No one has been turned away, but would be referred to the City Mission. Food donations are welcome, said Lumumba. 

Lumumba is working on getting medical professionals to make visits to help guests keep track of blood pressure, diabetes and mental health issues. Watching him work the crowd once everyone arrives is like watching the ease of LeBron James when he’s gliding to the basket. It’s clear there’s comfort.

“I have lots of empathy for them because I can identify,” he said. “On a more personal note, I have not only experienced homelessness, but I’m in recovery as well. So, I can understand each step most of them have taken. You know what I’m saying?”

NEOCH can be reached at 216-432-0540.