Region’s response to health care for the homeless population is strengthened

In a city that talks often about change, this is what real transformation looks like. The Center for Respite Care’s purchase of the former Uptown Arts Building in Over-the-Rhine is not only a property acquisition, but also a bold commitment to stability, dignity, and expanded care for neighbors experiencing homelessness. By securing a permanent home, the organization is strengthening its capacity to heal and restore those who need it most, proving that compassion deserves infrastructure.

The $2.1 million acquisition of the Uptown Arts Building on East Liberty Street is a milestone as well for an organizational manifestation that required significant patience. After years of intentional planning, Cincinnati’s only dedicated medical respite provider for those experiencing homelessness has made a declaration that echoes beyond brick and mortar that they are staying and here for the community. This investment signals a long-term commitment not only to Over-the-Rhine, but to the broader region, serving as an affirmation that healing, stability, and dignity deserve a permanent address.

“It’s just not possible to heal appropriately while living on the street,” says Center CEO Laurel Derks Nelson. “We are one of the only agencies which provides this type of service.”

From temporary space to permanent home

Founded in 2003, the Center for Respite Care was built on a simple but urgent truth: healing requires a safe place to land. For more than two decades, it has stepped into the gap for adults experiencing homelessness by assisting men and women discharged from hospitals with nowhere to recover after illness or surgery. Operating out of rented space on Republic Street in Over-the-Rhine, the organization has consistently provided 20 beds for medical recovery, translating into over 6,000 bed nights and nearly 150,000 hours of hands-on care each year. Behind those numbers are real stories of restoration, serving as proof that dignity, when paired with intention, can quite literally save lives.

Just steps from its current home, the Center’s new building represents not only a relocation, but also an evolution. This space will allow the nonprofit to expand its reach and deepen its impact, reimagining what care can look like for neighbors navigating complex medical needs.

The Center is working with KZF Architecture and Oswald for the 20-bed facility rooted in trauma-informed design that emphasizes accessibility and safety, and conveys that healing is not accidental.

Expanding care in OTR

Nationally, medical respite care addresses a growing need. Studies show emergency department use among people experiencing homelessness more than doubled between 2010 and 2021. An estimated 30–60% rely on emergency departments as their primary source of care. The homeless population experiences disease and chronic illness at an alarmingly higher rate than the general population.

The purchase of the Uptown Arts Building opens the door to not only expansion but also creates room for restoration that lasts. With the ability to extend recuperative stays beyond the limits of its current facility, the Center can now surround residents with enhanced medical care, wraparound support, and community-connected programs designed not just to treat symptoms, but to confront the root causes of homelessness and poor health. Medical respite is no longer a quiet innovation; it is an essential bridge in the continuum of care. By standing in the space between hospital discharge and stable housing, the Center is reducing preventable readmissions and guiding individuals toward independence, in addition to proving that when we invest in recovery with intention, we strengthen the entire community.

Strategic location and partnerships

Remaining in Over-the-Rhine was intentional. Proximity matters. Being steps away from major hospitals, social service agencies, and partners like Strategies to End Homelessness and the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition strengthens the web of care that clients rely on. Healing does not happen in isolation; it happens in collaboration. These partnerships are professional alignments serving as lifelines that improve outcomes and ease the strain on emergency health systems by ensuring people receive the right care at the right time.

“Partnerships with health systems and social service agencies improve outcomes and reduce avoidable hospital use,” said Dr. Bob Donovan, co-founder of the Center. “They strengthen the continuum of care for people who are often left with few options.”

With the upgraded facility projected to welcome residents by early fall—likely September or October—the Center is preparing not just for a move, but for a new chapter. And as it transitions into this permanent home, the hope is simple and powerful: that the community will continue to stand alongside this mission, ensuring that compassionate, dignified medical respite care remains accessible to every neighbor who needs a safe place to heal.

Looking Ahead

With ownership of the Uptown Arts Building secured, the Center for Respite Care steps into a new era of stability and potential. The move not only gives the organization a lasting base of operations but also strengthens Cincinnati’s response to homelessness and health inequities while serving as a model that other communities could look to as they address similar challenges.

For more information on how to support the Center’s fundraising campaign or volunteer, visit the Center for Respite Care at centerforrespitecare.org.