REPORT TO THE COMMUNITYHousing Quality, Housing Choice, Housing Supports… Leading You Home.

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Emerald Development & Economic Network, Inc.

2016

1991

A LETTER from the Executive Director Dear Friends and Neighbors:

As we approach EDEN’s 25th anniversary, I have been reflecting upon the many milestones that make up our past, while growing increasingly excited about forging ahead into our future with new vision and expanded agency goals.

In 1991, Emerald Development & Economic Network, (EDEN), Inc. turned on its first porch-light. At that time, we were equipped with very few tools, other than an unwavering conviction that all residents of our community deserved safe, affordable homes, and the will to put this belief into action. Since our first day, the mission of EDEN has remained simple: to end housing insecurity and homelessness for people with disabilities who live in Cuyahoga County.

Despite our straightforward mission, we have always recognized that homelessness itself is not simple, but, rather, is incredibly complex and systemic. Since our inception, EDEN has introduced groundbreaking and results-oriented solutions—such as pioneering the Housing First Movement, and championing sustainable design for low-income housing. As we embrace our future, we are broadening our programming scope to reach even more community members in danger of homelessness— including young people without any support systems, and families that might be a single paycheck away from the streets.

While anniversaries are a time for celebration, they are also a time to for contemplation. I am hopeful that you will take this opportunity to review the enclosed report, read the stories of a few of our clients, and reflect upon how your own support of our work can help to stabilize the lives of countless neighbors in needs. We hope that you know that your investment in our annual fund will have a profound impact upon EDEN’s ability to combat homelessness in our community.

Everyone at EDEN is extremely proud of the past 25 years of dedication and effort that has enabled thousands of people to escape and avoid homelessness. I would like to especially recognize EDEN’s founding director, Kathy Kazol, for her vision and her dedication to providing housing to the most vulnerable in our community. We have much to celebrate, but recognize that much work remains. We also know that we can only continue to expand upon the breadth and quality of our programs and services through partnership with those that similarly believe in our mission.

We are so thankful and excited to embark upon the journey of the next 25 years with you!

Sincerely,

>> EDEN OPENED FOR BUSINESS ON FEBRUARY 26, 1991.

MEET RavonA New Client Learns to Embrace Solitude and Achieve Stability

In 2014, Ravon was a full-time college student majoring in engineering. His roommate stopped paying rent, and they were evicted from their apartment. He bounced around, staying with friends, but after all of his belongings were stolen, he found himself walking the streets on a bitter cold day in January, 2015. Ravon could have never imagined that he would ever become homeless. He “cursed God and everyone. I was in utter shock that I had to go to the shelter.”

Ravon lived at the shelter for a year and 4 months. Once he was approved for a voucher for an EDEN rental subsidy, he knew that he would focus every effort on never being faced with homelessness, again. Each day, he worked with Khaz, an EDEN Housing Stability Specialist to find a place that would make him feel safe, and enable him to return to school. “I admit that

I was very driven. Every time I found a possibility, I called Khaz. He did so much footwork, for me. And, I know that I can call him anytime.”

During the first days in his new home, Ravon felt that “it was too quiet. I was used to people yelling and banging things around, constantly. The silence made the noise in my own head deafening. I almost left. I had to remind myself what it was like to have privacy. Now I think silence is golden.”

__________

“I love my apartment. It has given me the space, and the quiet, to truly know, and love, myself.”

__________

Ravon is now back in school, enrolled in the Tri-C EMT program, with the ultimate goal of becoming a psychologist, so that he can help others whose lives have spiraled downward, out of their control. “At the shelter, I had to withdraw from all of my classes. Now, I am always working on my home-work. My table is full of paperwork.”

To remind himself of how far he has come, Ravon “goes back to the shelter 3 times per month, to volunteer, and to remind myself of the noise, chaos, and hassle. It humbles me. It reminds me that homelessness can happen to anyone. It also makes me so determined to lay the best foundation I can, so that I will never be faced with homelessness again. I love my apartment. It has given me the space, and the quiet, to truly know, and love, myself.”

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MEET AndreAfter He Was Led from the Darkness, a Longtime Client Shares His Light with Others

Andre has a coined a term for the people that helped to guide him out of homelessness, 20 years ago. He calls them “Light Conductors.” He stated that “I was so blind, then. I couldn’t even see my worth. I couldn’t even see that I could actually have a life. I couldn’t even see that I could actually have goals.”

Through encouragement by EDEN staff and his case manager, Andre finally “surrendered to their light,” and moved into EDEN housing. He stated that this stability “gave me everything. I was safe. I was able to work on my sobriety. I was able to be a father to my daughter, and give her a home.”

Today, Andre believes it is his “duty to show my gratitude to Ms. Jean, and everyone else at EDEN, for what they have done for me, and for always believing in me, by being Light Conductors for others that are struggling.” His biggest piece of advice for others that find themselves faced with homelessness: “Do not give in to the darkness. Know your worth. It takes persistence.”

EDEN MissionEDEN, Inc. provides, operates, and advocates for safe, decent, affordable housing and support services for persons living with disabilities or special needs who have low income and may be experiencing homelessness.

EDEN SnapshotStarting with one residential care facility in Cleveland Heights in 1991, EDEN has grown exponentially over the past twenty-five years. EDEN now owns and operates nearly 80 properties in Cuyahoga County, from small apartment buildings to single family homes, manages and owns 8 permanent supportive housing buildings, and administers 8 affordable housing programs throughout the county—including one of the largest Shelter Plus Care programs in the United States. EDEN also manages 5 HUD multi-family buildings, four 811 projects and one 202/8 project for a total of 76 units.

Today, EDEN is a nationally recognized housing provider through our scattered site properties, Permanent Supportive Housing buildings and rental voucher programs. While EDEN focuses on such housing activities as development, location, landlord relations, inspection, maintenance, and management, the agency also partners very closely with over dozens of community based agencies in Cuyahoga County to ensure that tenants obtain the support services they need to improve their health and well-being, and sustain permanent housing. EDEN currently serves over 3,000 people each month through its various programs.

2014 Financials

Rental Assistance74%

9%

3%1%

13%

Other

Rental Income

Contributions

PropertyMgmt & Dev

TOTAL INCOME ........................$26,810,860

74% Rental Assistance ............... $19,863,052 13% Property Mgmt & Dev .......... $3,399,9071% Contributions ............................ $25,6613% Rental Income ......................... $927,5129% Other .................................... $2,594,728

Programs96.8%

Administration3.2%

TOTAL EXPENSES ................... $26,205,658

3.2% Administration ......................$822,43596.8% Programs..........................$25,383,223

INCOME EXPENSES

The past year has been an extremely productive year for EDEN. Below are just a few of the financial highlights for 2015.

• Secured $400,000 from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (ODMHAS) for substantial renovation of an EDEN owned eight-unit building in Cleveland.

• Raised $523,000 from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and Cuyahoga County to renovate an EDEN-owned seven-unit building in Garfield Heights.

• Raised $586,000 from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and the city of Cleveland to renovate an EDEN-owned eight-unit building in Cleveland.

• Initiated approximately $700,000 in repairs and renovations to the Norma Herr Women’s Center, including new roofing, new HVAC systems, new parking lot, and upgrades to the shelter’s restrooms.

• Secured a grant of $200,000 from the Home Depot Foundation to help fund construction of the 66-unit Permanent Supportive Housing Building on Detroit Ave. We also secured HUD-VASH vouchers, to ensure that 25 units would be designated for homeless veterans.

>> 25 YEARS LATER, WE HAVE 130 EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING FULL-TIME, PART-TIME AND TEMPORARY.

>> ORIGINALLY, EDEN HAD FOUR EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. EDEN in Action

Below are just a few of the activity highlights for 2015.

• Completed a substantial rehabilitation to a 6 unit apartment building in Cleveland, on behalf of the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County.

• Completed significant repair work to Carey West Apartments, including the addition of a new parking lot.

• Awarded 100 project-based vouchers from the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority.

• Received a tax-credit award from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, in partnership with Cleveland Housing Network, for a future Permanent Supportive Housing project on Cleveland’s east-side.

• Implemented Tenmast Property Management Software and an agency-wide employee performance management system.

• EDEN served as a member of A Place for Me’s planning committee sessions, which resulted in a Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Youth Homelessness.

• Recognized as the 24th Largest Nonprofit by Crain’s Cleveland Business

A NOTE from the Programs Department:The Programs Department is currently serving over 2500 households with permanent monthly rental assistance. The department consists of 9 staff working on our permanent housing programs verifying eligibility, answering client, landlord and case manager’s questions, and helping clients to remain on the program to receive assistance with rental subsidy payments. Additionally, 2 Stability Specialists assist participants at risk of termination from the program with retaining their housing through outreach and mediation as well as assisting clients with finding units. They have served 163 clients this year to date with housing retention and housing location services. Finally, 4 staff members in the department work with the short term rental assistance programs, ESG and SSVF. These staff assist homeless families and veterans with locating housing in the community and rapidly exiting them from shelter. We have served over 200 families with short term rental assistance since the beginning of the year. Thanks to a grant from United Way, we are excited to expand our deparment by adding a Community Resource Agent that will work to recruit new landlords, develop our units available list, and improve our marketing materials.

>> OUR PRESENT HEADQUARTERS LOCATION IS EDEN’S 3RD; OUR STAFF IS NOW EMPLOYED AT TEN SITES.

HOUSING FIRSTApproximately 15% of those who are homeless are long-term or chronically homeless. These individuals have been homeless for more than a year, or multiple times over several years. The chronically homeless are sometimes referred to as “hard to house” due to their non- responsiveness to traditional outreach efforts, and the challenges to stability posed by severe and persistent mental illness, chronic health conditions, and/or chemical dependency. In 2005, Eden added an expansive level to its programming home, when it became involved in the development, ownership, provision, and management of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). EDEN and its Continuum of Care partners were among the first homeless coalitions to embrace the “Housing First” model, which was seen as a revolutionary approach to combating chronic homelessness. Before addressing any other issues, EDEN first enables people experiencing chronic homelessness to find a permanent place to call home. After moving into their home, residents are given the opportunity to participate in a number of different social services; however, housing is not contingent upon their participation in services. Our buildings preserve historic landmarks, replace neglected properties with state-of-the-art facilities, and introduce new resources and opportunities to surrounding communities. This Fall, EDEN began construction on its 9th Permanent Supportive Housing Building in Cleveland’s Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood. The PSH buildings provide a safe, stable, supportive living environment to approximately 500 chronically homeless individuals. EDEN and its Housing First Initiative partners have been able to reduce chronic homelessness in Cuyahoga County by 73%. In 2015, the partnership submitted a proposal that was selected by Enterprise Community Partners to be the #1 Permanent Supportive Housing Priority Project for the next three years, developing at least 150 additional units to serve the community’s chronically homeless.

>> OVER 20% OF OUR PSH RESIDENTS ARE VETERANS.

EDEN’S SupportersEDEN Remains Tremendously Grateful for the Support of its DonorsThe Following Represents Grants and Gifts from 2014 Through 10/2015:

All Ohio Plumbing, Inc.Abington FoundationADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga CountyAids Healthcare FoundationBatteries Plus, LLCCity Builders, Ltd. Superior PointeCity of Cleveland - Department of Public Health and Department of DevelopmentCleveland-Akron Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma PiCleveland FoundationCleveland Housing NetworkCorporation for Supportive HousingCuyahoga County - Office of Homeless Services and Department of DevelopmentCuyahoga Metropolitan Housing AuthorityDenik Associates Inc.DJD Land Investment, Inc.Energy Management SpecialistsEnterprise Community Partners FoundationEva L. and Joseph M. Bruening FoundationForest City EnterprisesHerman Gibans Fodor, Inc.Home Depot FoundationLubrizolKeyBank FoundationMcMaster-Carr Supply Co.McSherry and Co., LPAMarous Brothers ConstructionOhio Capital Impact Fund of the Ohio Capital Corporation for HousingOhio Development Services AgencyOhio Department of Mental Health and Addiction ServicesOhio Housing Finance AgencyPGA Tour-Tickets Fore CharityRBC Capital MarketsThe Reinberger FoundationSK Wellman FoundationSkoda MinottiThomas H. White FoundationUnited Way of Greater ClevelandU.S Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentWest Roofing Systems, Inc.

Andrea and Charles BaierBennie and Vanessa BarteeFurman Brown, Sr.James and Rebecca BurringtonSam P. Cannata, Esq

Patrick C. CarneyIrene and Gary CollinsAlfonso and Rosa CorcueraCarlin CulbertsonDonald and Carmela DaltonLinda and James DiefendorffJulie DemorTherese Sweeney Drake, EsqFrances EngelJudi and Chris EngelMichelle EnglishLinda ErbPaul EttoreColleen EzzeddineJustine and Robert FiehnElaine GimmelWade and Chelsea GottfriedMichael HallidayDiana HollyGeorge and Deborah HollyMike HollyElise Jancura, PhDClement JohnsonDale and Christine KaprosyHilary and James KuleszaBarbara Langhenry and Richard WernerAngela LetznerAmanda MartinMatthew and Christine McCallJoyce MihalikDennis and Mary MortonMaureen MurmanPatrick J. O’ConnorEmma Petrie-Barcelona and Robert BarcelonaChristine PetroffJennifer N. PfleidererBrand and Lori Ann PulleyKhambong Vongsouvanh RiazShannon RichardsonRobert and Kathleen RosowskiErica SantarelliPamela and Thomas SayreDavid Schrader and Terri WilfongCynthia D. SchumackerDouglas and Shirley ShelbyMr. Randall B. Shorr, Esq.Margaret and Nicholas SlifcakWalter and Mary SkoropysRenee SlawAnnette and Patrick StevensonJohn StoryNicholas and Anna Stroup

Christie Tatman-Stroh and Mark StrohLynn and Tyrone WalshTimothy WilberMary WilliamsLisa Zelenka

EDEN’S MANAGEMENTIrene Collins

Executive Director

Elaine Gimmel Chief Operating Officer

Diana Holly Director of Asset Management

Richard Carr Director of Construction and Facilities

Christopher West Director of Finance

Jennifer Pfleiderer Director of Housing Programs

Christie Tatman-Stroh Director of Property Management

Emma Petrie Barcelona Manager of Compliance

Frank Koncz Manager of Facilities and Maintenance

Judi Engel Manager of Fund Development

Kim DiCillo Manager of Housing Programs

Linda Erb Manager of Human Resources

Michael McKay Manager of HQS Inspections

Nick Stroup Manager of Information Systems

Laurel Martinson Office Manager/Executive Assistant

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Therese Sweeney-Drake PresidentDennis Morton Vice PresidentPatrick Carney TreasurerDouglas Shelby SecretaryMarsha Houston Elise Jancura Suellen OswaldMichelle SummerfeltSherry Toodle

Emerald Development & Economic Network, Inc.

7812 Madison Ave., Cleveland, OH 44102Phone: (216) 961-9690 • Fax:(216) 651-4066,

TDD/TTY: 800-545-1833, ext. 873 Email: info@edeninc.org

Website: www.edeninc.org