Council committee approves $500,000 increase to summer youth jobs contract with YOU

The Cleveland City Council Committee on Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on Monday approved Ordinance 383-2025, an emergency amendment to contract PS2024-86 that adds $500,000 to the citys contract with Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) to recruit up to 150 more applicants, hire four additional job coaches for 2025 and exercise the contract renewal option.

The ordinance was presented by Chief Pryor Jones of the Office of Prevention, Intervention and Opportunity and supported on the floor by Councilwoman Santana; Councilman McCormick asked to be added as a co-sponsor during the meeting. The committee approved the ordinance with no recorded roll-call tally in the meeting transcript.

City officials and YOU representatives said the additional funding increases the local share of summer youth employment slots. "The work that the PIO office has been doing with YOU for the last several years is really an essential part of the city's ... prevention work," Chief Pryor Jones said during the presentation. Eric Dillenback of YOU outlined program scale and operational plans.

City and YOU staff told the committee their planning numbers reflect multiple funding streams. As of April 3, staff said the program had received roughly 6,100 applications countywide, of which 3,360 were City of Cleveland residents; 2,487 applicants had been selected in the first round, and 1,670 of those selected were Cleveland residents. Staff said the program combines county, city, federal (TANF) and private funds to reach what they estimate will be 1,900 total slots across all funding sources this summer; using historical percentages, they project about 1,330 of those slots will be filled by Cleveland residents. The city general fund dollars approved in this ordinance will pay for 400 of those Cleveland slots, staff said.

Council members pressed staff to explain the arithmetic and per-youth costs. Councilman Casey said the city-funded 400 slots equate to about $3,750 per youth and asked how much of that is direct wages. Program staff said wages are budgeted at $13.50 per hour for 150 hours over six weeks, or $2,025 in wages per participant. Councilman Casey asked YOU to provide a detailed breakdown of administrative costs and the remainder of the per-participant allocation; staff agreed to supply that information.

YOU representatives described program supports intended to improve long-term outcomes. "We added a new position with the support of a private funder called our career pathway navigator," Eric Dillenback said; the navigator will work with high-school seniors and recent graduates to identify pathways to college or employment and provide follow-up once participants gain work.

Staff also described supervision and targeting. YOU staff said the current coach-to-youth ratio is roughly 1 to 40 and that the added coaches funded by the amendment should lower that ratio; the program also operates separate diversion and year-round training initiatives that coordinate with community partners.

Committee members repeatedly urged expanding the program and pressing the private sector and other funders to increase support. Councilman McCormick and others said hiring youth is a high-priority investment in public safety and workforce development.

The ordinance record in the committee indicates approval; the transcript contains no roll-call vote totals. Council members asked staff and YOU to return or follow up with additional documentation, including a full administrative-cost breakdown, the final slot allotment once selection rounds are completed, and confirmation of the total local funding package for 2025.