The DSCDO Department of Community Involvement is in charge of getting information out to the community regarding housing, youth engagement, safety, and organizing for social programs/activities. Here is a listing of some programs to which we can connect you:

• Home Repair Programs
• Youth Programs
• Safety Programs
• Housing Assistance Programs

• Afford-A-Home (AAH)
  • Administered by the City of Cleveland Division of Neighborhood Services, AAH helps buyers purchase and repair affordable Cleveland homes. Local banks and neighborhood housing organizations participate in this program which offers low-interest loans and interest-free second mortgages of $5,000 or $10,000. Call 216-664-2045 or click here.
• Senior Homeowner Assistance Program (SHAP)
  
  • Administered by the City of Cleveland Department of Aging, SHAP provides grants to Cleveland residents age 60+ or disabled adults who meet income eligibility guidelines and own single or two family homes in need of critical, health, safety and maintenance repairs. Applicants must live in the property in question and be able to show clear title. Call 216-664-2833 for more details. Learn more about the program and download an application here.
• Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP)
  • With funding from federal, state and local sources, DSCDO administers the Energy Conservation Programs for income-eligible residents. These programs help to reduce the gas and electric bills for low-income households. Call 216-961-4242 x 247 for details.
• Paint Refund Program
  • Administered by DSCDO, the City of Cleveland provides up to $500 in paint vouchers for low-income homeowners to paint the exterior of their houses. Application process begins in May. Call 216-961-4242 x 225 for details.
• Loan Programs
  • There are a variety of other organizations who provide loan programs for property owners hoping to rehabilitate or repair their homes, and we make many referrals to:
    • Cleveland Action to Support Housing (CASH) 
    • Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS)
    • Housing Enhancement Loan Program (HELP)
    • Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) 

Youth Programs

• Parkworks
  • This nonprofit organization is responsible for much of the programming in the local Herman, Madison, and Lake Parks, including DJ workshops, outdoor movies, and interactive art activities just to name a few. Find out more here.
• Respect Our Community and Kids (ROCK)
  • For junior high students, this program engages youth during the school year in community issues through murals, skits, performances, and creative discussions of local issues. Call 216-961-4242 x 223 for more details.
• A Better Way/Touch of Class
  • The North End Block Club, in cooperation with West Bethel Baptist Church, has created programs to teach leadership skills and social skills to local youth. They are funded through Neighborhood Connections grants for which DSCDO is the fiscal agent. Call 216-961-4242 x 223 for more details

Safety Programs 

• Phone Trees
  • Each block club has a phone tree for quick alerts regarding immediate safety concerns. Call 216-961-4242 x 226 to sign up.
• STEPS Walks
  • For people of all ages, these walks occur every Wednesday evening at 7pm leaving from the corner of West 65th and Detroit Ave. A healthy neighborhood has healthy people, so these are an active way to get out of the house and enjoy walking with neighbors through Detroit Shoreway. Call 216-961-4242 x 226 for more details.
• Patrols
  • Whether walking, driving, or riding bikes, block clubs organize nightly block patrols and community-wide patrols to deter crime and report suspicious activity. The police cannot be everywhere, so these are pro-active ways to get involved and show safety is important to you. Call 216-961-4242 x 226 for details.
• Courtwatch
  • Know of a crime in the area and want to be heard at court? These activities bring together community testimony, whether in person or through letter drives, to the court cases. Let the judge and jury know how the community was affected by someone's actions. Call 216-961-4242 x 226 for details.

 Westside Housing Center

 

6604 Detroit Avenue (Gordon Square Arcade)
Monday-Thursday: 11 am to 7 pm
Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 3 pm
(216) 961-4242

The Westside Housing Center serves to lessen the negative effects of the foreclosure crisis while providing a supportive environment for people to locate affordable housing and help them to maintain financial stability. To achieve these results, the Westside Housing Center includes both a housing assistance component and an educational and financial literacy component. Call today for help and take a look below at services the Westside Housing Center offers.

Housing Assistance

• Foreclosure prevention
• Home repair loan offerings and application assistance
• Promote homeownership
• Promote rental housing options
• Linking investors and home rehabbers with available properties

Education and Financial Literacy

• First-time homebuyer awareness
• Moving from renting to owning
• Individual Development Accounts
• Financial literacy
• Responsible renter awareness