County cuts will squeeze shelters and crisis care — and cost more later, providers warn

CLEVELAND, Ohio – If Cuyahoga County Council follows through with plans to cut Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board funding by $8.5 million over the next two years, providers who rely on that money warn it will ripple through the county’s behavioral health and homelessness systems — pushing more people toward hospitals, jails and the streets.

County Executive Chris Ronayne has proposed cutting the annual subsidy to the ADAMHS board by $4 million in 2026 and $4.5 million in 2027 as part of a larger effort to balance the county’s budget amid numerous funding strains. To make up for the loss, the ADAMHS Board’s Interim Director Felicia Harrison said they’re planning “a shared sacrifice” of 20% cuts across the board, which she believes will keep the entire system