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Nonprofit leader outlines plan to convert Imani Temple rectory into transitional housing; $100,000 allocation proposed
Summary
Bob Ivory presented a proposal May 5 to convert the rectory at Imani Temple into a transitional living facility for homeless women and children in Cleveland Heights, noting a draft resolution before council would allocate $100,000 and that the project has county ARPA support and a planning commission conditional use permit.
Bob Ivory, director of the Student to Promise initiative, told Cleveland Heights City Council on May 5 that he plans to convert the former rectory at Imani Temple into a transitional living facility for homeless women and children and asked council to consider a draft resolution allocating $100,000 to the project.
The project aims to provide transitional housing plus services to help residents move from intake to independence. "To my surprise, actually, I learned that in the district, there were some 140 students affecting some 91, families that were actually homeless," Ivory told council, describing the need he said he encountered while working in local schools.
Ivory said the facility would not be a simple shelter but a transitional program combining housing with services such as financial literacy provided by partners including PNC. He told council he believes the site can serve "some 30 families at a time." Ivory also said the county had awarded about $250,000 in ARPA funds to start renovations and that the Planning Commission previously issued a conditional use permit to allow the project to proceed.
Council members who spoke after the presentation thanked Ivory and Imani Temple for the work; Vice President Russell said she had convened meetings of stakeholders and local businesses to support the effort. Council did not vote on the proposed $100,000 allocation during the May 5 meeting; Ivory said the draft resolution will come before council for formal consideration at a later date.
Ivory asked for continued dialogue and support from council and staff as the project moves into renovation and service-delivery planning. He also said he was coordinating with local partners on programming to help residents pursue long-term housing goals.
Next steps: council will receive the draft resolution and any related legislation in a future meeting for review and possible vote. Staff-level actions such as renovation planning and grant administration remain the responsibility of project partners and the city departments that handle building and permitting.
