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A Brief History of East End Neighborhood House

Perched on a hill at 2749 Woodhill Road, East End Neighborhood House is a tall, rambling, turn-of-the-century structure, once the summer home of the Van Sweringen Family. Its location at the intersection of Woodhill and Buckeye Roads with Shaker Boulevard offers a spectacular view of the downtown Cleveland skyline.

East End was founded in 1907 by Miss Hedwig Kosbab, who offered sewing classes to immigrant women in her mother's home. These classes quickly expanded to include others, and Miss Kosbab's program was moved to larger quarters on several occasions. It found its final home on the Van Sweringen estate in 1916.

From its inception in 1907 until the early 1930s, East End followed the concept of traditional service delivery provided by other settlement houses. While services were provided on an individual basis, its overall concept was to foster community pride and identity and assist the community in collectively resolving their own problems.

The 1980s and early 1990s have presented their own unique challenges. Federal funds, which were plentiful during the 1970s, were sharply curtailed, forcing the Center to streamline its operations. Recent partnerships with the Cleveland Public Schools, the City of Cleveland, the Cuyahoga County Metropolitan Housing Authority, and area churches and hospitals have created a resource pool which has allowed the Center to continue to meet community needs despite diminished federal support.

During the Center's history, shifts in socioeconomic conditions and community needs have occurred. The socioeconomic conditions of the East End Neighborhood House service population have changed considerably in recent years. Simultaneously, the influence of strong and stable institutions such as family, schools, and churches has eroded. East End Neighborhood house has continually redirected its efforts and its influence to meet the changing needs of its community today's approach calls for a holistic approach to support individual, family, and community needs. The Center strives to provide direct services to individuals and families, integrated with neighborhood organizing, networking, supportive services, and outreach efforts to facilitate a process of cooperation and self-help.

Those of you who are interested in our great city of Cleveland will find the local site for THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CLEVELAND HISTORY very interesting. This site, in addition to many features, has an excellent search capability.

Paul Hill, Jr. became the CEO/President of East End Neighborhood House in June 1981 and continues to lead the organization in a climate of constant fiscal and socio-economic change. As of 2001 the agency budget stands at $2.1 million. The agency has evolved from a social services center to a family services center which offers six major programs that serve 3,800 individuals between the ages of 18 months and 100 years. These changes in service mode have been accompanied by a $1.4 million capital improvement project and a board and staff directed financial and strategic planning process.

East End Achievements

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Contact Paul Hill, Jr.: nropi@aol.com
Contact the Web Mistress: esi@ritesofpassage.org
Address: 2749 Woodhill Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44104
Phone: (216) 791-9378

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