Step Forward will celebrate the expansion of its services into Warrensville Heights this week, as it celebrates the grand opening of its newest Neighborhood Opportunity Center located at 4834 Richmond Road, Warrensville Heights, Ohio, 44128.
The newest location is one of Step Forward’s four neighborhood opportunity centers in Cuyahoga County. It replaces the Neighborhood Opportunity Center formerly located in Maple Heights.
“The move to Warrensville Heights was strategic and critical,” Douglas Bennett, Step Forward’s Vice President of External Affairs, said. “Last year, with help from The Center for Community Solutions, Step Forward published the 2022 Needs Assessment. This data showed us what services were most needed in the community and where. The information gathered indicated that Warrensville Heights was among the top 15 cities for poverty in Cuyahoga County, with about 21.9 percent of residents - and more than 33 percent of children six years of age and younger - living in poverty. Warrensville Heights was also among the ten cities that saw the highest increases in the number of people in poverty between 2014 and 2019. “
Step Forward’s Neighborhood Opportunity Centers ensure that low-income individuals and families access important resources and services to address their immediate needs and that each of Step Forward’s clients build long-term skills and opportunities to transform their lives. Family Development Specialists can help eligible residents apply for personal and professional development programs, Step Forward’s Home Energy Assistance Program and emergency assistance such as clothing, food and rental assistance.
The grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new South Neighborhood Opportunity Center, or NOC, will be held Wednesday, January 18th at 11:30am.
"Opening doors to a world of opportunity begins locally," Congresswoman Shontel Brown said. "Step Forward's new neighborhood opportunity center in Warrensville Heights is a major step toward strengthening our local community. Because each person’s story is unique and complex, meeting them where they are is important, which is precisely what this neighborhood opportunity center will do."
Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) is scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting. Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Meredith Turner, Warrensville Heights Mayor Bradley D. Sellers and the Warrensville Heights Area Chamber of Commerce Board Chair also plan to attend.
“With the assistance of Step Forward, many people in our community and the region can move toward their goals of making a better life,” Warrensville Heights Mayor Bradley D. Sellers, said. “All of these efforts create a way “forward” for those of us who need a little help. I welcome Step Forward to their new offices in the City of Warrensville Heights on Richmond Road.”
The new center will operate from 8am until 5pm Monday through Friday.
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About Step Forward
Step Forward helps people find hope, believe in their future and take steps to make it a reality. As the State’s designated anti-poverty agency for Cuyahoga County, Step Forward is tasked and trusted to lead the fight on the ground against poverty in our community. The nonprofit organization helps low-income individuals and families address immediate needs and build long-term skills to transform their lives through early childhood education programs, adult skills training and other support. Programs include Early Head Start (birth to three), Head Start (three-five years of age); personal development programs to enhance life skills, manage anger or get on track with personal goals; career planning and job training to enable people to learn or enhance skills, earn certifications or improve readiness to pursue and win better job opportunities. Step Forward also delivers the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). For more information, visit stepforwardtoday.org.