Groundwork Ohio Roadshow 2026: Cuyahoga County
Groundwork Ohio’s Roadshow continued in Cuyahoga County on October 21, focusing on housing stability, maternal and infant health, and access to quality early childhood education. As the Roadshow nears the completion of visits across Ohio’s 33 Senate districts, these conversations continue to highlight the challenges families face and opportunities to strengthen the systems supporting them.
The day began in Cleveland for a conversation centered around housing challenges for families across the county. Groundwork Ohio partnered with First Year Cleveland and The Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) to host a housing roundtable at Cuyahoga Community College’s Jerry Sue Thornton Center. First Year Cleveland shared early findings of the recent implementation of the Rx Kids program, which provides universal and unconditional income during pregnancy and the first year postpartum for certain high-risk ZIP codes.
Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and John Brad Deane, representing Congresswoman Shontel Brown’s (D-OH-11) office, also participated in the roundtable discussions, hearing directly from community organizations about the housing challenges facing local families, the gaps in available resources, and opportunities for policy solutions. Groundwork Ohio and COHHIO then provided a statewide perspective on housing affordability, homelessness, funding, and advocacy priorities.
COHHIO shared data from its The Gap Report – 2026, that Ohio workers need to earn approximately $23.82 per hour to afford a two-bedroom rental, yet the average renter earns just $19.59 per hour. For someone earning minimum wage, affording that same apartment would require working approximately 87 hours per week. These figures highlighted the growing gap between housing costs and what Ohio families can afford.
Following the presentation, community partners participated in roundtable discussions about the housing challenges facing pregnant women, young children, and families in Cuyahoga County.
Housing Stability Is a Maternal and Child Health Issue
During the morning roundtable, community partners discussed housing challenges through the lenses of homelessness and emergency services, economic stability, maternal mental health, and access to health care. Participants described families struggling with rising rental costs, limited affordable housing, long waitlists, and eligibility requirements that often leave families without assistance until they are already experiencing a crisis.
One concern was the lack of emergency housing options that allow families to remain together. Partners shared that some families choose to sleep in their cars rather than enter shelters where parents and children may be separated or exposed to additional trauma. Others stay temporarily with relatives, live in overcrowded conditions, or remain in unsafe housing because they have nowhere else to go.
For pregnant and postpartum women, housing instability creates additional challenges. Providers raised concerns about mothers leaving hospitals without a safe place to stay, and families who hesitate to disclose housing insecurity because they fear potential child welfare involvement. Participants described the ways housing instability, financial stress, and frequent moves can affect maternal mental health and make it difficult for families to maintain relationships with health care providers and community organizations.
Even when resources exist, accessing them can be overwhelming. Families may have to navigate multiple organizations, repeat their stories, complete complicated applications, and manage referrals while also addressing immediate needs such as food, transportation, and child care. Partners noted that high caseloads and staff turnover make coordination even more difficult.
The discussion also highlighted the important work already happening in Cuyahoga County. Organizations such as First Year Cleveland, federally qualified health centers, and community-based programs are helping connect families with housing assistance, health care, and other essential services. However, participants emphasized the need for stronger coordination, more accessible information, sustained funding, and trusted relationships that help families receive support before challenges escalate.
Throughout the room, a consistent concern emerged: families often need help with several challenges at once, but the systems designed to support them do not always work together. Strengthening housing stability requires not only more affordable housing but also coordinated services that recognize the full needs of pregnant women, young children, and families.
Following the roundtable, First Year Cleveland provided an opportunity for community organizations serving families with babies to take diapers in a variety of sizes to distribute to the families they support. It was a fitting way to end the morning, seeing firsthand how these organizations help families meet everyday needs. By the end, every diaper had been taken, ready to provide a little relief to parents already navigating so many challenges. It was a reminder that even something as simple as a pack of diapers can make a meaningful difference for a family.
Parma Preschool: Protecting the Importance of Childhood
Following the robust conversations of the morning at the intersection of housing and maternal and child health, the Groundwork Ohio team stopped in Senate District 24 to visit Parma Preschool for a tour and discussion with educators about early childhood education, affordability, and developmental supports. Here, the team saw a Reggio Emilia-style learning environment designed around curiosity, creativity, and exploration.
Outside, children had opportunities to explore mud kitchens, gardens, and pumpkins growing from seeds left behind from the previous year. Inside, classrooms encouraged children to ask questions, experiment, and discover answers through play. The visit demonstrated that early childhood education is about more than learning letters and numbers, but includes developing social skills, emotional regulation, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
During a roundtable discussion with administrators and teachers, educators shared how changes to public benefit application processes have created barriers for some families to access preschool. Challenging online portals and delayed responses to applications prevent some families from accessing public assistance they otherwise qualify for, while others earn just above income eligibility thresholds but still cannot afford tuition. For some families, these barriers mean keeping children home for another year rather than enrolling them in an early learning program.
Educators raised concerns about children missing opportunities to build relationships with peers, develop social skills, and practice emotional regulation before kindergarten.
The discussion also highlighted the important role preschool teachers play in identifying developmental needs. Staff described helping families navigate evaluations, connect with school districts, and attend individualized education program (IEP) meetings. However, long waitlists for developmental services and limited staffing make it difficult to ensure children receive timely support.
Workforce challenges were another concern. Despite employing highly educated and experienced teachers, retaining staff can be difficult when school districts offer higher-paying opportunities. Administrators also discussed increasing pressure to prioritize enrollment and academic expectations rather than children's individual developmental needs.
One educator raised a question that captured the heart of the visit:
“Who is going to support and protect childhood?”
From the mud kitchens and gardens to the educators advocating for children’s developmental needs, Parma Preschool demonstrated the importance of protecting opportunities for young children to learn, explore, and grow at their own pace.
Child Care Site Visits Highlight Affordability, Workforce Challenges, and Family Supports
Meanwhile, another Groundwork Ohio team visited two child care programs, beginning at My Kids Childcare in Mentor, where staff toured the center and spoke with administrators, educators, and parents. Joined by representatives from the Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children and Starting Point, the team heard firsthand about the challenges of providing high-quality care while keeping tuition affordable and paying educators competitive wages. The center has grown significantly over its 10-year history, but demand remains high, particularly for infant care. Parents described the financial strain of child care, the difficulty of finding available infant slots, and the peace of mind that comes from having a trusted provider. One parent described the center as an extension of their family, saying it was "almost our village." Parents also emphasized the need for paid family leave, workplace flexibility, and stronger support for early childhood educators.
The second visit took the team to Shells Childcare and Learning Center in Maple Heights, where they were joined by State Senator Kent Smith (D-Euclid), State Representative Darnell Brewer (D-Cleveland), Cleveland City Councilmember Joe Jones, and representatives from Children's Hunger Alliance. The visit highlighted the critical role child care providers play in meeting children's nutritional needs. Through its partnership with Children's Hunger Alliance, Shells provides nutritious meals and snacks, along with weekend meals to help ensure children have enough to eat when they are not at the center. Participants discussed the importance of these programs, the financial pressures facing child care providers, and the need for continued investment in the services that support young children and working families.
These visits reinforced that child care is much more than a place for children to spend the day while parents work. These programs support children's learning, health, nutrition, and social-emotional development while helping families remain employed and financially stable. The conversations also underscored the importance of listening directly to parents and providers as Groundwork Ohio develops policy recommendations for Ohio's next governor and General Assembly.
Connecting the Conversations
The conversations in Cuyahoga County highlighted how closely connected housing stability, family economic security, and early childhood education are. Community partners and educators emphasized that families need more than available resources. They need affordable services, trusted relationships, and coordinated systems that make accessing support easier.
As Groundwork Ohio continues its Roadshow across Ohio’s 33 Senate districts, these conversations reinforce the importance of policies that address families’ interconnected needs and ensure Ohio’s youngest children have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
Learn More
Explore Groundwork Ohio’s county fact sheets to learn more about the data behind this Roadshow stop.
