The Cleveland Christian Home Story
Cleveland Christian Home was founded in 1900 when Rev. Henry Timme, a pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), took in a family of children left on his doorstep. Word soon spread that Rev. Timme's home was a safe haven for children, and other abandoned or orphaned children followed. Soon, Rev. Timme was running an orphanage from his home near Broadway & Aetna Avenues in Cleveland.
In 1905, the Home moved to the Bosworth farm on Lorain Avenue, and the orphanage expanded to care for 60 children. In 1924, with the help of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the farmhouse was replaced with a modern brick building, complete with recreation rooms and dormitories. This building, which still stands today on Lorain Avenue on Cleveland's near west side, eventually cared for 100 orphans from babies to teenagers.
By the 1960's, fewer children were orphaned, and Cleveland Christian Home found itself taking care of many children who had been the victims of abuse or neglect. To better provide for these children, CCH transformed its orphanage on Lorain Avenue into a residential treatment center for abused and neglected children, which it remains today.
Over the next 30 years, Cleveland Christian Home expanded its ministry and mission to include additional programs and services for children and families in need, including specialized residential treatment services, an independent living program for teens and young adults, outpatient counseling, school-based counseling for at-risk youth and family preservation and reunification services, among others.
Today's Cleveland Christian Home
Today’s Cleveland Christian Home is a non-denominational organization that works hand-in-hand with local county governments to identify and refer children, youth and families to our programs. However, we continue to be called Cleveland Christian Home to honor our heritage. Our ongoing Covenant with the Christian Church (D.O.C), the crucial support from the Christian Church in Ohio (Disciples of Christ) and individual Disciples’ congregations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia and many other states.