CLEVELAND — A groundbreaking Cleveland institution, Eliza Bryant Village, is ending a chapter its storied history that dates back more than 125 years.
The Eliza Bryant Village opened its doors 1897 to care for poor elderly African-Americans -- who at the time -- were shunned by white-owned nursing homes. The facility in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood announced today it will close its 99-bed facility in June but will continue to offer other services.
Named for its founder, Eliza Simmons Bryant, who was born into slavery, the facility was the first here to offer nursing home care to poor African Americans.
“There are many fine nursing homes in the city,” said Danny Williams, CEO of Eliza Bryant Village, told 3News. “But we came into being because we wanted to serve these people being neglected by other institutions.”
It also became a safe haven for people not welcome elsewhere.
“We have been here longer than United Way, longer than Red Cross and longer than the Cleveland Foundation, doing that very mission of taking folks that no one else wanted and not just accepting these people -- but embracing them,” Williams said. “And that piece is going to a loss to the community.”
Staffing shortages, losses and new costs largely related to the pandemic were too much to overcome.
“Every day for every Medicaid patient, we lose more than 100 dollars a day per patient. That’s just not a sustainable model,” Williams said.
Eliza Bryant Village will maintain its adult daycare center, long-term housing for able bodied seniors and its shelter for people escaping elderly abuse.
But for now, it’s focused on finding new nursing beds for residents.
“This has been their home for years,” Williams said. “So, we just got to be very compassionate and thoughtful about how we make that transition so that they are not anymore traumatized anymore that they will be already.”
The facility told the state the closure will trigger nearly 100 layoffs. Williams said he’s identified for residents seven or eight nursing care facilities that have capacity to take them. And he said he’s hopeful some employees can find work at these places as well.
Eliza Bryant Village, located at 201 Wade Park Ave, first opened in 1897 as a nursing home for indigent Black senior citizens. It was found by Eliza Simmons Bryant and has remained a staple in the Black community for the past 126 years.
Click here to read the full release from the Eliza Bryant Village.
*Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous report.