(Plain Press, September 2017)       The Near West Side and Cleveland lost a tenacious activist and advocate for the issues of low income Clevelanders when Norman Wolfe died on August 4.

Formerly homeless himself, Norman Wolfe became a long-time advocate for homeless individuals and homeless issues. Recognizing his many contributions, the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) named him their advocate of the year in 2014.

Understanding the impact of the Ohio state budget on low income residents, Norman Wolfe became actively involved and was eventually named the co-chair of the Northern Ohioan for Budget Legislation Equality (NOBLE), a local organization that works to have residents involved in the budget issues impacting their lives. Through that organization, Norman advocated strongly for Medicaid Expansion and protecting Medicaid health care.

Norman took a leadership role in other issues impacting low-income residents.  He was the co-chair of United Clevelanders Against Poverty, an organization of low income residents addressing the issues affecting their lives.  In that position, he helped to initiate and lead the organizing of the End Poverty Now March at the Republican National Convention.

In all his endeavors, Norman took a low-key, but effective, approach that brought people together to work for social justice. He would do whatever was needed or necessary to move a campaign forward.

Norman Wolfe will be missed by all who knew him and those who have been impacted by the work that his has done.