EDEN: Emerald Development & Economic Network

09/08/2026

Congratulations to The Centers on last week's ribbon cutting for the new Glick Recovery Campus!

This important new resource represents a significant investment in our community’s behavioral health care system, providing 24/7 crisis services, detox services, behavioral health urgent care and connections to longer-term treatment and support.

We know that access to timely, compassionate behavioral health care can be critical to helping individuals achieve greater stability—including housing stability. We are grateful to see this much-needed resource available to our community and congratulate The Centers and all of the partners who helped make the Glick Recovery Campus a reality!

09/08/2026

Congratulations to CHN Housing Partnerss on last week's ribbon cutting for their beautiful re-development, Arch at St. Michael!

We are thrilled to celebrate this important addition of affordable, supportive housing for seniors in our community. As the need for safe, stable and affordable housing for older adults continues to grow, developments like Arch at St. Michael are critically important—helping seniors remain housed, connected and supported in the communities they call home.

Congratulations to CHN and all of the development partners for bringing this historic space to new life!

09/02/2026

EDEN is grateful to announce it has been granted a $50,000 grant from Norfolk Southern through its Thriving Communities Grant Program. The grant will support EDEN's Housing Stability and Homelessness Prevention Initiative. Without timely intervention, many households encountering barriers to housing risk slipping back into homelessness. EDEN's initiative eliminates these barriers by providing targeted support that helps families secure housing. This fund serves two purposes:

1) Help families secure housing, prevent eviction, and maintain housing stability by providing timely emergency assistance. We bridge the gap between crisis and long-term security, ensuring families build lasting foundations. In 2025, 1,076 households (2,410 individuals) received this assistance. Because of the availability of the Fund, these households were able to leave homelessness and move into new homes or avoid homelessness altogether because their eviction was prevented.

2) Many households coming out of homelessness arrive with nothing but a bag of clothes and a few personal items. Newly housed residents are provided with essential household goods—such as dishes, cookware, bedding, bathing items, and cleaning supplies—so that they can successfully sustain their new home environment from day one.

This grant is part of Norfolk Southern's commitment to strengthening the communities it serves across its 22-state network. Launched in 2023, Norfolk Southern's open-application grant programs are designed to support organizations working to further the areas of safety, sustainability, workforce development, and community resilience.

"EDEN's housing programs provide a critical service to the northeast Ohio community—not only to its economy and reputation as a thriving community, but to the people who are impacted by housing insecurities in any way," says Elaine Gimmel, Executive Director of EDEN. "Throughout the affordable housing crisis, we've never stopped working to provide housing solutions to those facing homelessness and housing insecurity. However, we also recognize that we have much work left to do, as the needs are ongoing—and increasing."

Nationwide, there was an 18% increase in people becoming homeless in 2024, mostly due to the after-effects of the resulting economic and affordable housing crises following the COVID pandemic. Here in Cuyahoga County, it is estimated that five thousand people are homeless every year.

"The Thriving Communities Grant Program supports initiatives that bolster local economies and promote long-term resilience," said Kristin Wong, Director of the Norfolk Southern Foundation & Community Impact. "From sustainability efforts and job training to community-building programs, the grant empowers nonprofit and community organizations working to create lasting impact."

The Norfolk Southern grant application process for 2026 is open through Aug. 3. More information is found on the company's website: www.NorfolkSouthern.com.

08/28/2026

Want a chance to win thousands of dollars while supporting EDEN's mission? As part of EDEN's 35th Anniversary Celebration: Building on Our Foundation, we are excited to once again offer our annual 50/50 Raffle.

One lucky winner will receive 50% of the raffle proceeds, while the other half supports EDEN's programs and operations. The more tickets sold, the bigger the prize grows.

Tickets are $35 each or a set of 4 for $100. The drawing will be held at EDEN’s 35th Anniversary Celebration on October 22, 2026, and all tickets must be purchased by then. You do not need to be present to win. If we call your number and you are not at the event, we will mail you a check after informing you of your winnings.

Buy your tickets today: www.EDENcle.org/50-50

08/26/2026

During Supportive Housing Week, August 24–28, EDEN is joining communities across the country to highlight how supportive housing works.

Safe housing paired with supportive services helps people build stability, remain housed, and strengthen our communities.

For more than 35 years, EDEN has worked alongside individuals and families facing the challenges of housing insecurity and homelessness by providing housing solutions paired with supportive services. Research shows that when people have the stability of a home and the individualized support they need, they are more likely to remain safely housed.

Housing is more than a roof over someone’s head. It is the foundation that allows people to reconnect, recover, and pursue their goals.

Much of EDEN’s work takes place out of the spotlight, but its value cannot be overstated. Without these efforts, many more of our neighbors would face homelessness and housing instability, and our entire community would be less healthy, less stable, and less resilient.

This week, we celebrate the residents, staff, partners, supporters, and community members who make housing stability possible.

Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Supportive housing provides the stability and support needed to make that possible.

08/13/2026

We are honored to share the press release with more information regarding the Norma Herr Center transformation and yesterday’s ribbon cutting!

08/13/2026

08/12/2026

What an incredible day at the Norma Herr Center!

Today, we gathered to celebrate a truly transformative undertaking, and a milestone that has been years in the making.

Center guests have begun moving into completed areas of the campus. Work continues on the final phases of the capital project, but reaching this point deserved to be celebrated. What began as a vision to fundamentally transform the shelter environment is becoming a reality: a safer, more welcoming and dignified space designed to better meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness.

When the entire project is complete, the Norma Herr Center will:

• Increase shelter capacity from 175 to 203 beds.
• Replace congregate sleeping arrangements with primarily private, non-congregate rooms.
• Provide bathrooms that are either attached to individual rooms or shared by only two guests.
• Include new lounge and computer areas, an expanded courtyard and improved dining and kitchen facilities.
• Provide a more secure entrance and dedicated office and service space for YWCA of Greater Cleveland.
• Add elevators to improve accessibility.
• Incorporate solar panels and generators to increase the facility’s energy efficiency and resiliency when there are outages.

And, most importantly, it will provide an environment designed around the privacy, safety and dignity of the people who come here for shelter.

We are tremendously grateful to everyone who joined us today, and to our speakers who helped us mark this very special occasion.

This transformation would not have been possible without extraordinary collaboration and teamwork. Our deepest thanks to our partners at Cuyahoga County, the City of Cleveland - City Hall and YWCA Greater Cleveland; to our architect, Hiti, DiFrancesco and Siebold, Inc.; and to our general contractor, Drake Construction.

We are also incredibly grateful to the many public, private and community funders whose investment and belief in this project made it possible. Bringing a project of this size and complexity to life required an extraordinary level of commitment, partnership and perseverance.

Most of all, our greatest gratitude goes to the guests of the Norma Herr Center, past and present. Their lived experiences helped inform this transformation, and they remind us every day why this work matters. We are continually inspired by their humanity, resilience and determination.

Today was about more than cutting a ribbon. It was about celebrating how far we have come, recognizing all those who helped us get here, and reaffirming our belief that every person deserves safety, dignity and hope.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this extraordinary day possible.

08/10/2026

EDEN Secures New Markets Tax Credit Financing for Norma Herr Center Renovation and Expansion

EDEN is pleased to announce the successful closing of a New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) transaction that provided critical financing to support the renovation and expansion of the Norma Herr Center, a transformational project that strengthens emergency shelter services for individuals experiencing homelessness in Cuyahoga County.

The transaction closed on July 29, 2026, representing years of planning, collaboration, and partnership among public, private, and nonprofit organizations committed to expanding high-quality shelter and supportive services in the region.

The New Markets Tax Credit equity filled a critical gap in the project's development budget, ensuring the completion of the newly renovated and expanded facility, which will provide a safe, welcoming, and dignified environment for individuals and families as they work toward permanent housing and greater stability.

EDEN engaged Chicago-Based SB Friedman Development Advisors as its New Markets Tax Credit consultant to structure and facilitate the transaction. CohnReznick LLP provided specialized accounting expertise, while Applegate, Thorne-Thomsen, P.C. of Chicago served as outside legal counsel throughout the process.

Several Community Development Entities committed New Markets Tax Credit allocations to the project, including The Finance Fund, Enterprise Community Partners, Building America CDE, and Capital One. As the primary investor, Capital One provided more than $9 million in equity, making the financing package possible. Enterprise Community Loan Fund also provided bridge financing to support the transaction.

The successful closing was made possible through the partnership and support of the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, the Ohio Department of Development, the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati.

"The Norma Herr Center renovation and expansion represents far more than a construction project. It represents a beacon of hope and an open door to a fresh start." said Elaine Gimmel, Executive Director of EDEN. "This financing allowed us to close a critical funding gap and complete a welcoming and nurturing facility that will serve our community's most vulnerable residents for decades to come. We are deeply grateful to every partner who believed in this vision."

The renovated and expanded Norma Herr Center enhances the region’s ability to provide safe and dignified shelter while connecting guests with housing-focused services, case management, and community resources that support successful transitions to housing.

This successful New Markets Tax Credit closing demonstrates what is possible when mission-driven financial institutions, government partners, and nonprofit providers work together to invest in projects that strengthen the community and improve lives.