Y-HAVEN 
Transitional Housing & Treatment

​About Y-Haven

Y-Haven provides transitional housing, recovery services, treatment for mental illness, educational training, vocational services and permanent housing placement to men who are homeless.

Y-Haven aims to help men live free of drugs and alcohol, become self-sufficient and end their homelessness once and for all.  

Y-Haven has the capacity to serve 113 single homeless men at a time in its Transitional Housing program. Y-Haven also serves 14 veterans and oversees the "Open Door" re-entry program which serves up to 45 men at a time leaving prison with no place to go.  Referrals to Y-Haven are made through the Coordinated Intake office at 1736 Superior Ave (216-674-6700).

We also now offer recovery housing through our Rising Hope: Bill Denihan Center, which provides recovery housing to women and men who are addicted to opioids. This sober program supports recovery, helps prevent relapse and offers the opportunity to find work, housing and healing.

Y-Haven offers a continuum of care beginning with primary treatment for drug/alcohol dependency. When residents graduate from the primary treatment phase their case managers focus treatment plans on employment, permanent housing, relapse prevention, and education and training programs.

Y-Haven is a branch of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland and works in close partnership with CMHA (Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority). Y-Haven received HUD's 2005 Award of Excellence and has received HUD's Outstanding Performance Award for recognition of innovative use of Community Development Block Grant funds. Since 1993 Y-Haven has served over 4,000 men with over 2,300 having successfully completed the program.  Y-Haven's low clinical staff-to-client ratio of 15:1 contributes to the program's effectiveness and continued success.

Y-Haven is accredited by CARF for "Day Treatment: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions" and is certified biannually by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS). All Y-Haven clinical staff are licensed by the State of Ohio to provide treatment services.

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Rising Hope Program 

Y-Haven has opened a recovery housing program for 80 opioid addicts seeking to heal from their addiction. Rising Hope provides a safe, sober residence that supports sobriety, helps prevent relapse and overdose, and offers time to work on healing one’s life. Rising Hope provides an opportunity to find and act upon “hope”. 
 
Rising Hope Details

• Serves adults, 24-years and older, who have recently completed detox and treatment. 
• Serves both women and men, each on separate floors with no access to the other floor.
• Provides round-the-clock resident support and security. 
• Provides 2-person suites, each with a kitchen and bath. Residents cook their own food.

Through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center (on site) Medication Assisted Treatment is offered in the form of naltrexone (Vivitrol). 

​Rising Hope is located at 6001 Woodland Ave. in the Carl B. Stokes Service Mall.  

Y-Haven’s Rising Hope program has several key partners to help provide support: Care Alliance Health Center, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, and the Centers for Families & Children. Financial partners include the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County, the Cuyahoga County Office of Re-Entry, and the Cleveland Foundation.  
 
For more information please call (216) 431.2018 ext. 3884 or email intake@clevelandymca.org for referrals and/or admission in to program. 

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Y-Haven Admission Process

​Contact
Colleen Warnock, Assessment Specialist 
email: cwarnock@clevelandymca.org
phone: 216-431-2018, Ext. 3445

Referrals to Y-Haven are made by the Coordinated Intake office at 1736 Superior Ave (216-674-7700). Y-Haven screenings for admission are conducted at the 2100 Lakeside Emergency Shelter or other shelter sites. Beds are limited and entry is scheduled in advance.  

Eligible participants must be male, 18 years or older, homeless, have no active warrants or arrests and without having committed the following crimes: arson, kidnapping or sexual offenses. The first 90 days will consist of primary treatment.

Quality of Care and the Rights of Clients

The YMCA of Greater Cleveland's (dba Y-Haven) standards of client care meet or exceed Federal and State laws, and regulations, respective clinical practice guidelines, professional standards and accrediting body standards.

The staff is responsible to respect and preserve the rights of those who come for service. The standards for privacy are drawn from several sources including Division of Mental Health 42 CFR Part 2, HIPAA and the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. Y-Haven is committed to maintaining or surpassing industry standards for protection of client information.

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How You Can Help 

Y-Haven financial support comes through grants from the Federal, City and County government, the Dept. of Veteran Affairs, philanthropic foundations, donations from individuals, and fund raising events.  

Private Donations
Y-Haven is required to match its government grants with private donations.  Please support our efforts to help men turn their lives around by donating securely online via PayPal by clicking the button to the right, or call us at 216-431-2018 to make other payment arrangements.

In-Kind Donations
Y-Haven is always seeking donations of the following items:

• Silverware
• Dishes
• Glasses
• Pots and pans
• Television converter boxes
• Small televisions
• Canned and non-perishable foods
• Coffee pots
• Microwaves
• New hygiene items such as deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, shaving cream, soap
• Newly cleaned interview clothing (suits, ties, dress shirts and slacks, khakis, etc.)

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Program Contacts

Ed Gemerchak, LISW-S
Executive Director
egemerchak@clevelandymca.org

Karen Wukela
Operations Director
kwukela@clevelandymca.org

Phil Buck, LISW-S
Clinical Director
pbuck@clevelandymca.org 

Shamarah Thomas-Hutchins
Recovery Housing Director
shutchins@clevelandymca.org

Chris Griffin
YMCA Green Team Vocational Director
cgriffin@clevelandymca.org

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Contact us
Phone: 216-431-2018
Email:     kwukela@clevelandymca.org
Address: 6001 Woodland Ave
​              Suite 703
              Cleveland, OH 44104

Y-Haven in the news
April 14, 2017
​-YMCA expands Y-Haven Program

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