Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Cuyahoga County Executive discusses county’s COVID-19 response at City Club forum

Community Solutions Team
Transforming data into progress
Additional Contributors
No items found.
March 31, 2020
Read time:
Download Fact Sheets
Register now
Share this resource
Subscribe to our Newsletter
By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Download this as a PDF

The City Club of Cleveland held a virtual forum on March 27, at the ideastream studios, with Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish. Moderated by the Chief Executive Officer of the City Club, Dan Moulthrop, the hour-long forum focused on several issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is a disaster. It’s tough,” Budish began, noting that the pandemic is having a significant impact on all aspects of county government. He first sought to explain what the county is doing to help small businesses. He mentioned that the county contributed $500,000 towards a collaborative loan fund set up to help small businesses weather the economic storm. The fund currently stands at $3 million. Additionally, the county contributed $1 million to the Greater Cleveland COVID19 Rapid Response Fund which is being managed by the Cleveland Foundation. From a logistics standpoint, the county has activated the Emergency Operation Center, a collaborative facility to bring together leading health care institutions in the county, as well as law enforcement.

This is a disaster. It’s tough.

Most county workers are working from home, Budish said, which is contributing towards difficulties in the management of massive increases in unemployment and authorizations for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). However, the county is working diligently to get people enrolled and supported as soon as possible.

To slow the spread of the pandemic, the county has taken several steps to reduce populations in several facilities. For example, in collaboration with the prosecutor and the sheriff, the county has reduced the current number of occupants in the Cuyahoga County jail, from 2,100 down to 1,100. Some who were previously held at the facility are being monitored via ankle bracelet.

The county has also reduced the number of individuals in homeless facilities.

The county has also reduced the number of individuals in homeless facilities. Budish said that the county reached out to family and caregivers, who could temporarily house individuals who are homeless. As a result, the number of men at the 2100 Lakeside Avenue homeless shelter has dropped from 400 to 240. The number of women in the Norma Herr homeless shelter has also fallen from 180 to 125. Moulthrop noted that the county was already working towards reducing the population and asked if it meant that the county recognized that there were people who were in jail who did not need to be in jail. Budish said that the county worked collaboratively towards reducing the jail population, but that “things have changed” and that the pandemic “sped up the process.”

One-third of the individuals who have tested positive for coronavirus in Cuyahoga County are caregivers.

Budish pointed out that about one-third of the individuals who have tested positive for coronavirus in Cuyahoga County are caregivers, meaning that people who are working on the front lines of the pandemic need supplies to ensure that they stay safe. The county has also placed orders for shipments of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for county personnel, who must still conduct in-person visits for protective services investigations.

It is very important for county citizens to take the census, because it impacts the dissemination of federal dollars in the coming years.

Budish also underscored two very important issues, the census and Issue 33, the Cuyahoga County health and human services levy. Budish explained that it is very important for county citizens to take the census, because it impacts the dissemination of federal dollars in the coming years. Additionally, the health and human services that are funded by the levy play a critical role in assisting county residents who are in need. The pandemic has underscored the importance of having a strong social safety net in place.

The pandemic has underscored the importance of having a strong social safety net in place.

Finally, Budish said that he was encouraged to hear that Keybank announced a moratorium on foreclosures and on evictions. He said that it was important for the county to do what it can to support county residents, but that it was important for all sectors to work together to get through the crisis.

Download Fact Sheets

Ohio Statewide Data

Download

Wood County

Download

Wyandot County

Download

Williams County

Download

Washington County

Download

Vinton County

Download

Wayne County

Download

Warren County

Download

Van Wert County

Download

Union County

Download

Tuscarawas County

Download

Stark County

Download

Summit County

Download

Trumbull County

Download

Shelby County

Download

Seneca County

Download

Scioto County

Download

Ross County

Download

Sandusky County

Download

Richland County

Download

Putnam County

Download

Huron County

Download

Portage County

Download

Preble County

Download

Pike County

Download

Pickaway County

Download

Perry County

Download

Noble County

Download

Paulding County

Download

Ottawa County

Download

Morrow County

Download

Muskingum County

Download

Morgan County

Download

Montgomery County

Download

Meigs County

Download

Monroe County

Download

Miami County

Download

Mercer County

Download

Marion County

Download

Madison County

Download

Medina County

Download

Mahoning County

Download

Lucas County

Download

Lorain County

Download

Logan County

Download

Licking County

Download

Lawrence County

Download

Lake County

Download

Holmes County

Download

Jackson County

Download

Knox County

Download

Jefferson County

Download

Hocking County

Download

Henry County

Download

Highland County

Download

Harrison County

Download

Hancock County

Download

Hardin County

Download

Greene County

Download

Geauga County

Download

Guernsey County

Download

Hamilton County

Download

Gallia County

Download

Fayette County

Download

Fulton County

Download

Franklin County

Download

Fairfield County

Download

Erie County

Download

Darke County

Download

Defiance County

Download

Coshocton County

Download

Delaware County

Download

Cuyahoga County

Download

Crawford County

Download

Columbiana County

Download

Clinton County

Download

Clermont County

Download

Clark County

Download

Champaign County

Download

Carroll County

Download

Athens County

Download

Ashtabula County

Download

Brown County

Download

Butler County

Download

Belmont County

Download

Auglaize County

Download

Ashland County

Download

Allen County

Download

Adams County

Download

Lake County

Download

Geauga County

Download

Cuyahoga County

Download

All Municipalities Geauga County

Download

All Municipalities Lake County

Download

All Municipalities Cuyahoga County

Download

Thompson

Download

South Russell

Download

Russell

Download

Parkman

Download
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Download report

Subscribe to our newsletter

5 Things you need to know arrives on Mondays with the latest articles, events, and advocacy developments in Ohio

Explore the fact sheets

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique.

No Related Fact Sheets

Explore Topics

Browse articles, research, and testimony.

Poverty & Safety Net
Article

A look at the Ohio House-passed version of the state budget

Community Solutions Team
April 28, 2025
Medicaid
Article

What’s at stake in Ohio? Reimagining the new Medicaid

Brandy Davis
April 28, 2025
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Eighteen health and human service levies in May election

Kyle Thompson
April 28, 2025
Maternal & Infant Health
Article

Infant and early childhood mental health: Bridging gaps and ensuring early intervention

Tamikka James-Haygood
April 28, 2025
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Connecting with legislators at Policy Advocacy Days

Kyle Thompson
April 21, 2025
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

AIDS Funding Collaborative community briefing at The Centers on April 29th

Julie Patterson
April 21, 2025