Homeownership is the foundation of a stable community. Not only are residents more engaged civically, they are more committed for the long term to the health of their neighborhood, their children thrive and all are happier. Giving this opportunity to both individuals and neighborhoods is the joy of getting to do the work we do. 

Five years ago, Cuyahoga Land Bank partnered with City Mission’s New Horizons. This program works with area non-profits and faith-based organizations to find housing solutions for single mothers and families served by Laura’s Home, a crisis center for women on Cleveland’s west side. Together, our work created a home for Star and her three children. 

Today, Star and her family are continuing their success as thriving homeowners and more. In a recent interview, she shared an update on her life and the profound impact of homeownership.

A Thriving Career and Family

Star is now a housing specialist for CGI Federal, a company contracted through the federal government that assists housing authorities nationwide. Her children are also flourishing. Felisity is 10 and in fifth grade, Zyon is 8 and in third grade, and Malaya is 7 and in second grade.

The Stability of Home

“How has homeownership impacted my daily life? Well, I have a sense of not worrying about having a roof over my children’s heads and knowing that we have a safe place to grow in and that they are able to see what stability looks like and feel secure,” Star said.

Star also cherishes her friendly neighborhood, where neighbors look out for one another. Her children enjoy playing outside, riding their bikes and exploring nearby parks. The neighborhood is conveniently located near essential services like the police and fire station, providing a sense of security. “Everyone basically knows each other, and I feel like that’s a really good thing,” she said.

Lessons Learned and Applied

Star credits the New Horizons program at Laura’s Home with providing her with invaluable life skills. “Since finishing the homeownership program at Laura’s home, I have utilized many tools I learned there, and one of the biggest was setting boundaries. It taught me how to be more secure with myself and know that I can’t jeopardize my livelihood for someone else when I’m taking care of my family.”

Overcoming Challenges

Star’s journey to homeownership was not without its challenges. Living in Detroit and struggling with housing instability, she packed up her kids and moved to Ohio to stay with her father in a small studio apartment, but the situation was difficult. “My life was unstable when I moved here,” she recalls. “I had no car, no resources.” Once she managed to get a vehicle, the search for work was further complicated by the lack of childcare and a support network. Determined not to burden her father further, she reluctantly explored shelters. One shelter downtown directed her to Laura’s Home, urging her to call daily. On a night marked by a heated argument with her father, when she felt utterly defeated and considered sleeping in her car with her children, she finally received the life-changing call from Laura’s Home with an opening. “That was probably the best day of my life,” she said. “I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. The kindness and warmth they showed me was calming. I didn’t know what I was stepping into, but now, looking back, I see it was all a plan for me, and I’m just so thankful for everything.”

Looking Ahead

Star’s hopes for the future are to keep building a strong foundation for her family and positively impacting others. “Sometimes I find myself talking to people and not knowing how much what I say to them matters until I see them down the line and they tell me how much of an impact I was able to make just by sharing my story, how much that helped them to move on and do something great with themselves,” Star said. “If I can tell my story and it’s going to be that one person I reach, I feel like that’s a success.”

Star’s story is a testament to the transformative power of stable housing and supportive programs like New Horizons. Cuyahoga Land Bank is proud to have played a role in her journey, and we celebrate her continued success as a homeowner and a role model for her children.

The post Five Years Later: Star’s Journey from New Horizons to Homeownership appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

The Land Bank’s impact can be seen in virtually every neighborhood in Cuyahoga County. The innovative approach we take to our work has made the Land Bank a valuable tool in our region’s economic development efforts and in revitalizing neighborhoods, creating affordable housing and improving the environment. In honor of our anniversary, we’ve put together this rundown of some of the Land Bank’s favorite and impactful projects. Next up Ð a look at some of our favorite community collaboration projects.

Community Collaborations

Our collaborations with many tremendous partners like Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, the City Mission, Building Hope in the City and many others, support the work of social service, faith-based and non-profit organizations in their work to bring affordable housing, community stabilization and skilled training opportunities to many special needs and at-risk populations in our community. These partnerships have resulted in safe housing solutions for more than 2,500 individuals and families over the years.

The Land Bank supported a Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity project that built five new construction ranch-style homes on vacant land in Cleveland’s Bellaire-Puritas neighborhood by providing the vacant lots and supporting the project through grant funding through its affiliate Land Bank Charities. Read more about this project HERE.

The Cuyahoga Land Bank has partnered with the City Mission’s New Horizons Program, which works with area non-profits and faith-based organizations to find housing solutions for single mothers and families at Laura’s Home Women’s Crisis Center, many times over the years.

The renovation of this three-bedroom, one-bath home on Cleveland’s west side was made possible through a partnership between the Cuyahoga Land Bank, the City Mission and the Bellaire-Puritas Development Corp. Members of the Cleveland Police First District Community Relations team volunteered their time off-duty to renovate the home. Read more about this project HERE.

A collaborative effort between Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities, Mejor Via Foundation, Engelke Construction Solutions, LLC, Global Cleveland, MDG Flooring, OneHopeNEO and Saint Ambrose Parish brought the renovation of this refugee and humanitarian transition home on Cleveland’s west side and welcomed two newly arrived international families. Read more about this project HERE.

Our blog is filled with even more inspiring stories and project highlights. We invite you to explore our successes and heartwarming transformations HERE.

The post Cuyahoga Land Bank Celebrates 15 Years of Impactful Work: Giving Buildings, Homes & Spaces New Life Ð Part IV appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

By Jacqui Knettel

In this ongoing series, we revisit some of our extraordinary collaborations that are making a real difference in our community.

It’s no secret that we love a good collaboration at the Cuyahoga Land Bank. Over the years, we have partnered with dozens of exceptional social service, faith-based and non-profit organizations on projects that assist many special needs and  at-risk populations.

From affordable housing to community stabilization to skilled training opportunities, the missions of the organizations behind these collaborations are honorable; the faces of those who benefit are unforgettable.

So why do we engage in these community partnerships? Simple,  it supports our mission of reducing blight, increasing property values, and improving the quality of life for County residents through property acquisition and facilitating home renovations.  

We have many vacant and abandoned properties in our extensive inventory. By donating properties to these groups with unique human service needs, we can help them advance their community mission. It’s a win-win for all.

We’ve helped to address housing needs for veterans. (Thank you for your service!) We’ve aided in developing much-needed recovery housing. We’ve made homes available for those aging out of foster care and those re-entering the community after incarceration. All of these collaborations have resulted in affordable housing solutions for those most in need.  

Our staff is committed to these efforts wholeheartedly. You can find us at the sites when during planning stages, picking up a paintbrush and lending a hand on the weekend, and welcoming individuals and families into their new home at the project’s end (bring the tissues!). That’s true collaboration, and there is nothing better than that!

The post My Favorite Collaborations appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.