The Council on Older Persons (COOP) has been a standing committee of The Center for Community Solutions for more than 70 years. Each year brings new faces, new challenges and new opportunities. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year was no exception. Under the leadership of Chair Stacey O’Brien and Vice Chair Bert Rahl,...
Author: William Tarter, Jr.
December 7, 2020
Cuyahoga County Executive and Council to spend remaining CARES Act dollars
A few weeks ago, Community Solutions wrote about the county’s proposed plan to spend $100 million in CARES Act funds, as well as that the county still had some undesignated dollars remaining. The Budish administration proposed the county take advantage of some new guidance issued by the Treasury Department, which permitted CARES Act dollars to...
October 23, 2020
Budish administration makes major decision on remaining $100 million of CARES Act funds
In the spring, Cuyahoga County received $215 million in federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act. These dollars were a part of a $2.2 trillion overall relief package passed by Congress and signed by the president. The dollars came with strict language and guidance from...
October 6, 2020
HHSA Committee approves contracts, hears about effect of pandemic on homeless
The Cuyahoga County Council Health, Human Services and Aging committee reconvened for the first time since July due to a planned Council break. The meeting focused on four contracts presented for consideration. The first was an extension of a contract with Case Western Reserve University for the First Year Cleveland Initiative. The contract duration was...
August 21, 2020
Cuyahoga County HHS levy process enters new phase
This past spring, Cuyahoga County voters passed an increase as a part of a replacement health and human services levy, otherwise known as Issue 33. Approved with more than 70 percent of the vote, it was a statement by county voters on the high value they place on health and human services. With the approval,...
July 13, 2020
Cuyahoga County HHSA Committee approves emergency assistance contracts in June meetings
The Cuyahoga County Health, Human Services and Aging Committee met twice during the month of June. In both meetings, they discussed emergency assistance for children and families who may find themselves in need due to crisis. Seventy-nine percent of the contract is funded with federal dollars and 21 percent comes from county health and human...
June 22, 2020
Don’t forget to support Black elders at this critical time in American history
“What the elders see while sitting, the young ones standing on their toes won’t see.” – African proverb For the past three months, Americans from all backgrounds and of all ages have dealt with COVID-19, and its dramatic alteration of everyday life. The disease, combined with the structural racism playing over and over on screens...
June 19, 2020
Congresswomen Marcia Fudge headlines HSAN on food insecurity
More than 150 people heard from the Honorable Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-Warrensville Heights) at the Human Services Advocacy Network (HSAN) via Zoom on June 19. Fudge has been a champion for food access during her tenure in Congress, and provided opening remarks about the issue of food insecurity during and after the pandemic. In...
June 19, 2020
Cuyahoga County Council hears update on diversion center
The Cuyahoga County Council committee of the whole heard an update on June 9 on the newly proposed Cuyahoga County Diversion Center, from the Chief of Special Operations, Brandy Carney. The council had not heard an update in more than six months, according to Council President Dan Brady, so there were quite a few updates...
May 18, 2020
Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services levy passes with flying colors
On April 28, Cuyahoga County voters overwhelmingly approved an increase to the Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services (HHS) levy, passing by an unofficial margin[1] of approximately 70 percent to 30 percent. The 4.7 mill levy[2] is a replacement levy for the county’s previous 3.9 mill levy. Cuyahoga County homeowners will pay an additional $41.58...