Cleveland Coronavirus Fund Releases $1.2 Million More In Aid

Cleveland’s COVID-19 rapid-response fund is already throwing a $1.2 million lifeline to groups offering immigrant and refugee aid, homeless assistance, food distribution and other services.

Philanthropic and individual donors have raised more than $6 million to help Northeast Ohio nonprofits weather the coronavirus pandemic, according to a news release from the Cleveland Foundation.

The latest wave of disbursements will help Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry move clients from homeless shelters to hotel rooms, where there’s more space for the social distancing that’s key to slowing the spread of COVID-19. The ministry is receiving $285,000.

Last week, the fund announced a grant to the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless to help people with nowhere else to go find safe shelter during the state’s stay-at-home order.

The rapid-response fund is dividing $185,000 among four organizations that help immigrants, refugees and the Northeast Ohio Latino community: HOLA Ohio, the Spanish American Committee, Refugee Services Collaborative and Global Cleveland.

Other grant disbursements include:

• $100,000 to the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center to prepare for a possible increase in abuse cases
• $75,000 to the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland to help provide food and other supplies amid volunteer shortages
• $50,000 to David’s Challenge Young Achievers Ohio to restart its work serving young people in East Cleveland

A full list of recipients is available here.

Business shutdowns and other coronavirus precautions have fueled a historic surge in jobless claims and strained nonprofit budgets. Local governments are also preparing for a possible plunge in sales tax revenue this year.