Walton Avenue Location
2710 Walton Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44133
Tel: 216.621.0120

Site Description & Programs

This very active 30000 sq. ft. 85 bed facility is the location for several of the community Human Service programs operated by Volunteers of America. In addition to beds, the facility has kitchen, laundry, meeting and training areas. The facility has served as the core resource providing outreach to homeless individuals in the Cleveland area since 1994. It also acts as the coordinating, training, and office site for outreach workers employed by other agencies, including the Veteran's Administration's Homeless Assistance Program and Care Alliance.

Mobile Outreach and Referral

Our Outreach Program uses teams of trained workers ( team member in picture)
to go into the streets,encampments, and other places where homelss individuals congregate to engage them in conversation, establish trust and link them with available community resources. Keenly aware that trust has to be earned, our teams demonstrate patience in engaging these often fearful and isolated persons. Success is measured if we can persaude them to come to the emergency shelter for the night, or by their willingness to accept a kind word, a blanket, a Street Card and a hot cup of coffee.

Holiday Meal Program

Officers of the Cleveland Police Department's Second District join forces with Volunteers of America and deliver's hot meals to senior citizens and shut-ins on Thanksgiving Day. The shelter opens its doors to the hungry in the community for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

Emergency Shelter

. The facility operates a twenty bed Emergency Shelter for homeless men. We have an overflow capacity of four, which often increases during harsh weather conditions. Warm, safe and secure housing and meals are provided. Community support in terms of linens, clothing, hygiene kits is always needed. If you care to help support this effort read the "Help Support Your Community" page of this web site.

Transitional Housing Program

In addition to the emergency shelter program, we also operate a longer term transitional housing program. This program is designed to help homeless men gain the skills necessary to obtain employment and move to independent living. Twenty-six homeless men are provided with essentials such as food, housing, and a broad array of services including case management, life skills training and employment skills development. Volunteers utilize the facilities kitchen to cook three meals a day fo these men. The average length of stay is six months with a maximum of two years. The program is based on the believe that with proper assistance and intrinsic motivation, an individual who is gainfully emloyed with the appropriate living skills has the opportunity to break the cycle of homelessness and secure and maintain permanent or permanent supportive housing.

Homeless Veterans Program

Volunteers of America provides twenty-four crisis emergency shelter beds for homeless veterans through a local partnership with the Brecksville VA Medical Center. Volunteers of America provides housing, meals, case managemnt, and supportive services. Additional supportive services are provided by VA Medical Center personnel.

Recovery Resources Daywood II Program

Volunteers of America and Recovery Resources team up to meet the substance abuse treatment needs of the homeless. Volunteers of America provides the food and shelter while Recovery Resources provides an intensive substance abuse treatment program.

Other Facility Activities

The facility also has a relaxation area where the men can engage in casual converstion. In addition, the facility also has personal computers that have been donated and are used to provide a basic understanding of their function and how the internet can be used to obtain knowledge on many subjects.