Ever since Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) opened its men’s homeless shelter at 2100 Lakeside Avenue in 2005, it  has never turned away an unsheltered individual needing a bed for the night—something that Michael Sering, LMM vice president of housing and shelter, takes great pride in.

Even though it is the largest homeless shelter in Ohio with 365 beds,  when demand was high among the estimated 5,000 homeless people in Cleveland—with an estimated 500 being unsheltered—LMM could accommodate additional men with offsite overflow beds.

“Periodically, we would take our shuttle, we would drive 20 guys to a church partner with cots, mats on the floor, just for the night, and then bring them back,” explains Sering.

Additionally, Sering says the sleeping areas at 2100 Lakeside are cramped with little privacy. “I think that one of the few good things that came out of COVID was everyone realized a congregate shelter is not good and we need to improve our spaces, be more respectful, and have more dignity,” he adds.

County Executive Chris Ronayne speaks at the Men's Shelter Expansion Ribbon Cutting EventCuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne saw the needs as well and dedicated $4.5 million of its ARPA funds to expanding and improving the Lakeside Avenue shelter. The project is part of Cuyahoga County’s 2023 action plan to decrease homelessness by 25% by 2027.

The expansion plan began in 2021 when the County purchased the 14,000-square-foot building at 2020 Lakeside, which adjoins the 2100 LMM shelter.

“We purchased the land and adjoining building with the intent of improving options for our unhoused population,” says Ronayne. “There’s been an uptick in people experiencing homelessness since the pandemic and we have to create enough safe housing.”

Ronayne says the County invested the ARPA funds in the 2020 space to make interior renovations, install HVAC systems, and modify the spaces for residential use, among other repairs. Amenities include washers and dryers, renovated bathroom and shower facilities, and common television areas.

Sering says the combined buildings at 2100 and 2020 will provide 415 total beds—the same number as 2100 and the offsite overflow space, but with more spacious living areas with more privacy and no need to shuttle people to an offsite overflow space.

Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services Men’s Shelter Addition“I'm proud that we had a response to provide enough capacity [with the offsite overflow space], but it wasn't ideal,” says Sering. “Now we've got the capacity and a much better space, so it's pretty cool.”

The beds in the 2020 building already have a semi-private setup, and renovations to the 2100 building will soon begin.

“The new building, 2020, I would say they're like pods, or you could call them semi enclosures, maybe semi private,” explains Sering. “It's mostly a bunk set with two lockers, and while not a door, it's a little bit of a wraparound sleeping area.”

He says the new amenities are pretty impressive as well.

“Each bunk has its own switch for its own light, like a reading light,” Sering gushes. “They each have their own outlet and the outlets has USB chargers on every single bed—that is one of the biggest things the guys have been asking for, for charging stations.”

He adds that waiting to charge phones is a constant struggle in the current environment, even though LMM has free WI-FI throughout the building. “We have chargers at docking stations,” he explains. “And there are six guys are sitting there charging their phones, waiting for them to charge. Now they can just do it.”

Sering says the USB ports will be a popular amenity. “They can plug in right at their own bed,” he says. “It might seem like a small USB charging station, but for our guys, it's amazing.”

Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services Men’s Shelter Addition Grand OpeningRight now, the 2020 side will serve as the overflow shelter while the connector between the two buildings is completed. Once the buildings are officially connected and the certificate of occupancy is secured, the 2020 side will become the main entrance to the LMM Men’s Shelter.

Then, renovations will begin on the 2100 side. Sering says Cuyahoga County has set aside $3.735 million in ARPA funds for renovations.

“The Department of Public Works will be doing an assessment of the physical building’s HVAC and that kind of big deal stuff,” Sering says. “Then we will have a list of requests of things the staff and residents would like to see. Then we'll come together and see what we can pull off.”

While Sering says the staff at LMM are grateful to the County for the upgrades, Ronayne says it is a pleasure to have LMM as an operating partner.

“It’s a wonderful non-profit/public partnership,” Ronayne says. “We couldn’t provide the services we provide without a partner like Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry. This is the first step in building a ladder toward permanent housing.”