Benefit raises thousands for Y-Haven homeless program

Photos by Kevin G. Reeves

Y Haven Executive Director Chip Joseph, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, and Greater Cleveland YMCA CEO Glenn Haley at the Steps and Stages benefit.

CLICK HERE to view the photo page for the Steps and Stages Benefit...

CLICK HERE to read the Plain Dealer's coverage of the 2011 Steps and Stages Benefit...

Hundreds of guests packed the Cleveland Public Theatre on Detroit Avenue on November 19 for the 12th annual Steps and Stages benefit, which raises funds for the YMCA of Greater Cleveland's Y-Haven program.

Guests including Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson enjoyed hors d’ouevres and bid on silent auction items. Following dinner, the men of Y Haven presented an original play illustrating the challenges homeless men face on the streets of Cleveland.

The Y-Haven program assists homeless men, 18 years and older, to become self-sufficient and live free from drugs and alcohol. It provides transitional housing, recovery, educational and vocational services, and permanent housing placement. While residents may be self-referred, most of the referrals are from the 2100 Lakeside Emergency Men’s Shelter.

Y-Haven offers a continuum of care beginning with primary treatment for drug/alcohol dependency. When residents graduate from the primary counseling phase, their case managers focus their treatment plan on continuing care, relapse prevention, and appropriate education and training programs. The final phase of the treatment plan is finding suitable permanent housing for our residents.

Y-Haven received HUD's 2005 Award of Excellence and HUD's 1993 Outstanding Performance Award for recognition of innovative use of Community Development Block Grant funds.

Since 1993, Y-Haven has admitted 4,000 residents, and over 2,300 have successfully completed the program. Y-Haven's high supervision ratio of 14:1 contributes greatly to the program's effectiveness and continued success.

The Y-Haven program is certified biannually by the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (ODADAS). All Y-Haven staff are licensed by the State of Ohio to provide treatment services.

The program relies on grants and donations. The annual benefit is its largest fundraiser.

For more information on Y Haven, visit the Y Haven web site.

Y Haven play

CLICK HERE to view the photo page for the Steps and Stages Benefit...

CLICK HERE to read the Plain Dealer's coverage of the 2011 Steps and Stages Benefit...