Who Does What in Cuyahoga County
| Where | What it does | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry | Coordinates reentry efforts and funds partner organizations. Its FAQ says it does not provide direct services itself; it connects people to partners. | (216) 698-3437, cuyahoga-reentry@jfs.ohio.gov, or the Cuyahoga County Welcome Center lobby, 4261 Fulton Parkway |
| North Star Neighborhood Reentry Resource Center | The county calls it a one-stop shop: referrals, employment readiness, GED classes, substance use classes and support, benefit help, and vouchers for state IDs and birth certificates. | 1834 E. 55th St., Cleveland. Check its website for current hours. |
| relink.org | A free online directory the county partners with, for reentry, addiction recovery and basic needs resources. It can be searched anonymously. | Online |
| United Way 2-1-1 | Free, confidential referrals, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, per the county. | Dial 2-1-1 |
| Free legal help | The county's FAQ lists the Public Defender's office, the Second Chance Reentry Legal Clinic at Case Western Reserve University, the Pardon, Clemency and Reentry Clinic at Cleveland State University, and the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, for help with record sealing, housing issues, child support changes, CQEs, license suspensions and more. | Contact each one directly |
Details above are from the county's Office of Reentry FAQ, checked November 9, 2026. Phone numbers and hours change, so confirm before you go.
Before Release: Five Things to Line Up
- Talk to the case manager or reentry specialist about where the person can live on release, and any rules from supervision that limit where they can live. Those rules come first.
- Start on ID documents. Most housing and jobs ask for ID. North Star lists vouchers for state IDs and birth certificates, and our guide to replacing lost ID documents in Cleveland walks through each one.
- Write down income for the first months: a job lead, benefits, family help. Every housing option will ask how rent gets paid. Our page on paying for sober living in Cuyahoga County covers common ways people pay.
- Plan transportation. Our post on RTA fares and discount IDs covers getting around Cleveland without a car.
- Book legal help early if a record is likely to come up in housing or job applications. Sealing, expungement and certificates all take time.
The Certificate of Qualification for Housing
Ohio created the Certificate of Qualification for Housing (CQH) in House Bill 50, effective September 20, 2024. According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the certificate creates an assumption that a person's past convictions alone aren't enough to deny them housing, unless there is convincing evidence otherwise. The key points from ODRC and ORC 2953.26:
- When to apply: for a felony, one year after release from incarceration for the offense (or one year after final release from all other sanctions if there was no incarceration). For a misdemeanor, six months after release from local incarceration or from all sanctions, including supervision.
- Where: the Court of Common Pleas in the county where you live. Ohio residents in Cuyahoga County file in Cuyahoga County.
- Cost: a $50 filing fee, which the court may waive in whole or part for someone who is indigent.
- Timing: ODRC says a decision is made 60 days after the court receives the completed petition and everything it asked for.
- Limits: a CQH does not require a housing provider to rent to you, and does not relieve sex offender registration requirements. A court can revoke it after a new conviction or guilty plea for a felony or a misdemeanor offense of violence.
- For landlords: ODRC says a CQH gives a housing provider immunity on a negligent-leasing claim if the provider knew of the certificate.
The legal clinics listed above can help decide whether a CQH, a CQE (the employment version) or record sealing fits a particular case. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Questions to Ask Any Housing Option
- Who is the housing for, and does that match the person's situation?
- What does it cost each week or month, what's included and when is it due?
- What are the house rules, and what happens if one is broken?
- Is it treatment or housing? They are different things, and someone who needs treatment should keep or set up a separate provider.
- How far is it from work, supervision appointments and support meetings?
Our guide to finding sober living in Cuyahoga County goes deeper on these questions.
Where ACC Solutions Fits
ACC Solutions offers group home living in Cleveland for people in recovery and for veterans. Our homes are housing, not treatment. If the person coming home is in recovery and wants a sober living setting, or is a veteran looking for stable housing, our homes may be worth a conversation. See sober living group homes in Cleveland and veteran group homes in Cleveland.
Case workers, discharge planners and re-entry specialists can contact us for a client. It helps to share what kind of setting the client is looking for (sober living, veteran-focused or both), when they hope to move and the best way to follow up. We answer questions about our homes and talk through next steps; we don't decide anything about a person's situation from a web page.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I start looking for reentry housing in Cuyahoga County?
Start with the Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry at (216) 698-3437. It doesn't provide direct services but connects people to partner organizations. North Star Neighborhood Reentry Resource Center, relink.org and United Way 2-1-1 are other starting points.
What is a Certificate of Qualification for Housing in Ohio?
A certificate created by House Bill 50, effective September 20, 2024. ODRC says it creates an assumption that past convictions alone aren't enough to deny housing, unless there is convincing evidence otherwise. It doesn't require a landlord to rent to anyone.
How do I apply for a CQH in Cuyahoga County?
File a petition in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas if you live in the county. The filing fee is $50, which the court may waive for someone who is indigent. You can apply one year after release for a felony or six months for a misdemeanor.
Can I get help replacing my ID after release?
Yes. The county says North Star Neighborhood Reentry Resource Center offers vouchers for state IDs and birth certificates, among other services.
Does ACC Solutions offer reentry housing?
ACC Solutions offers group home living in Cleveland for people in recovery and for veterans. Our homes are housing, not treatment. Case workers and re-entry specialists are welcome to contact us to talk through whether our homes fit a client.
Talk to us about a client or a loved one.
Call (216) 238-5999, email support@accmgmtsolutions.com or book a call.