Women at Norma Herr shelter allege staff gave donations selectively and urged to write positive report

Two people speaking during public comment on Tuesday told the Committee of the Whole they had encountered differential treatment at Norma Herr, a women's homeless shelter in Cuyahoga County.

Kimberly Novak said she is staying at the Norma Herr shelter and described an incident she said occurred the prior Saturday at about 8:19 p.m., when she sought a snack. Novak said a staff member gave her two packets of Goldfish crackers and a wrapped blueberry muffin from donation supplies, then privately ushered her into a staff office and asked her to prepare a staff report with specific praise for that worker. "She says, 'Shh, put that in your purse right now and put it up,'" Novak said. She said the staff member "told me, begin it with my name" and suggested phrases to include, adding the staff member handed her donated Oreos and a full bottle of shampoo that Novak said were meant to be distributed as smaller shared portions.

Another commenter, who identified himself only as Lou, described a pattern he called "differential mistreatment" at shelters and similar institutions. Lou said the conduct Novak described—selective distribution of donations and pressure on residents to write favorable reports—fit a broader pattern he has observed and warned the council it could occur in shelters, group homes or jails unless funding and oversight practices change.

The committee did not take action on the public comments; the chair closed the public-comment period after those remarks. No formal investigative or enforcement steps were recorded in the meeting minutes as part of the public-comment exchange.

Ending: The comments were received during the meeting's public-comment period. Novak and Lou urged the council to note the allegations; staff or council did not announce immediate follow-up actions during the committee meeting.