Committee advances YWCA contract amendment to continue women’s shelter operations

A Cuyahoga County committee on March 5 voted to send Resolution R2025‑0095 to the full committee under second‑reading suspension, a step that will advance a contract amendment with YWCA Greater Cleveland to continue operations and case management at the Norma Herr and Walton Road women’s shelters.

Marcos Cortez of the Office of Homeless Services told the committee the amendment would extend the contract through Dec. 31, 2025 and add funds not to exceed $2,536,793, effective Jan. 1, 2025; he said county staff plan a subsequent amendment to extend services through March 31, 2026 and to add additional funding after negotiations are completed. "We wanted to get this contract in place so we can make sure we pay them for the services they are currently providing," Cortez said.

Helen Forbes Fields, president and CEO of the YWCA, and Cynthia Daley, executive vice president of programs, described operations and recent capacity changes. YWCA staff said Walton Road opened last year while renovations continued at the Norma Herr site; Walton Road was reported at about 94 beds and has recently increased toward roughly 110, while the Norma Herr main site was described as a combination of beds and mats totaling about 124 with additional spots available. The YWCA said it housed about 101 women last year and served roughly 2,000 women across its shelters.

YWCA officials said renovations are underway at Norma Herr and that the elevator there has been completed and permitted; once the elevator is online, they expect to open additional prepared space. Because of construction and capacity pressures, the YWCA said it has been using Saint Paul’s Church as a temporary overnight location for about 15–20 women on nights when beds are unavailable.

Council members pressed staff on service quality and demographics. Cynthia Daley said the shelters are serving a higher share of African American women and that the average age is in the mid‑30s to 40s, with an observable increase in older women who have greater health needs. Councilman Schlepper asked about average length of stay; YWCA staff said average stays have risen from roughly 35–37 nights about two and a half years ago to around 91 days in 2024, reflecting challenges in finding and sustaining affordable housing.

Chair moved the referral; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The committee’s action forwards the amendment to the full committee for further consideration.

The committee said it will follow up on public comment concerns at a meeting with Director Kevin Gowen next week. No final contract adoption was recorded at this meeting; the referral advances the amendment to the next committee stage.