Crain’s Cleveland Business Features Op-Ed Written by Anna Stormer

Crain’s Cleveland Business recently published an opinion piece written by Executive Director Anna Stormer. The Op-Ed, titled “Cleveland must be brave enough to care,” went live on September 14. If you are a Crain’s Cleveland Business subscriber, you can read Anna’s entire piece by clicking here.

Additionally, a PDF version of the Op-Ed is available here.

Anna was inspired to write the Op-Ed after reflecting on the number of Ohioans – more than 160,000 – who have lost Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage over the past year. This, coupled with the 356,000 additional Ohioans who could soon lose Medicaid coverage due to federal changes taking effect, make medical respite more necessary than ever before. It is both morally right, and fiscally responsible, for medical respite to operate in the continuum of care.

As Anna says in her Op-Ed, “For our neighbors experiencing homelessness, losing health coverage is not simply a data point. It is often a matter of life and death. Even a brief interruption in care can have devastating consequences for someone already living without stable housing…No one should be expected to recover from a serious illness alone or in unsafe conditions. No one should be forced to choose between stable housing, medication or food. And no medical provider or social worker should have to discharge a patient into homelessness or unstable housing because our community failed to provide a safe place for that person to continue healing.

For 175 years, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine have shown Cleveland what courageous service looks like. Their example reminds us when circumstances are difficult and the need is greatest, we stand together. We protect our neighbors. We build what our community needs. Now is the time for Cleveland to be brave enough to care.”