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Healthcare workers Cleveland employed by Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services (NEON) have gone nearly a month without pay. They have also lost essential benefits.
Staff across NEON’s community clinics say they haven’t received regular paychecks as the nonprofit grapples with serious financial challenges and a court dispute over potential receivership, reports from Signal Cleveland say.
Employees of NEON, the long-standing health provider serving vulnerable Cleveland neighborhoods, say wages and health insurance coverage stopped in December.
A growing number of clinicians, administrative staff, and support workers describe mounting financial stress as they try to support their families without income.
Healthcare workers Cleveland walk financial tightrope
Healthcare workers Cleveland report that the missed paychecks — now weeks old — are affecting every part of life. Employees told Signal Cleveland they are struggling to cover rent, buy groceries, and pay bills without regular wages. Moreover, one worker said her bank repeatedly charged nonsufficient funds fees because her account ran dry.
“I’m at the point I just want to cry,” a NEON employee said. “I can’t keep borrowing from people.”
Healthcare workers Cleveland have faced lost income and lost health insurance. NEON informed staff that its employer-sponsored health insurance plan was terminated effective Dec. 1, leaving some workers without coverage.
The organization said it is trying to reinstate insurance retroactively. They may refund insurance deductions if the plan cannot be restored.
Several employees reported canceling or postponing medical care. This is because they lacked active health insurance while they wait for payroll and benefits to return.
NEON’s financial battle and receivership fight
Healthcare workers Cleveland are caught in the middle of a broader institutional struggle at NEON. The nonprofit has been ensnared in a legal battle with a lender seeking to place the organization under court-appointed receivership. This would effectively transfer control to an external manager.
In recent months, NEON and its lender asked a federal judge to pause the receivership order. They want to negotiate a potential resolution to outstanding loan defaults. The dispute stems from NEON’s alleged failure to repay millions in borrowed funds.
A judge agreed to temporarily halt the receivership while talks continue, but the underlying financial uncertainty remains unresolved.
In late 2025, the court appointed a receiver after NEON defaulted on a multimillion-dollar loan. This move has deepened concerns about the organization’s future. NEON has appealed that decision to a higher court.
Furthermore, healthcare workers Cleveland say the mounting legal and financial issues are directly affecting day-to-day operations.
Their own livelihood is affected too. The cuts are felt most acutely by staff who spend their days providing care to low-income and uninsured patients in East Cleveland, Hough, Collinwood, and other underserved communities.
Impact on patient care and community services
Healthcare workers Cleveland are continuing to show up despite the hardship. NEON provides a range of services including primary care, pediatrics, behavioral health, dental, and chronic disease management.
According to NEON’s official information, the organization offers care on a sliding fee scale. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial plans.
Yet the stress on staff — and possible layoffs or terminations associated with the financial strain — has raised concerns about service continuity. In November 2025, several employees told Signal Cleveland they were let go amid the escalating fiscal crisis.
Local advocates worry that disruptions at NEON could leave a gap in care for Clevelanders. Many rely on the nonprofit for accessible medical services. Providers who remain have expressed concern that fatigue and financial insecurity could affect morale and service quality.
Calls for support and accountability
Moreover, the healthcare workers Cleveland are urging local leaders and state officials to intervene as financial pressures mount. Some have called for emergency funding or state assistance to stabilize NEON’s payroll and protect patient care. Others have called for more transparency about the nonprofit’s finances and management decisions.
City and county health officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to news reports. NEON’s leadership has cited efforts to secure federal funding and loan negotiations. However, they have not publicly detailed a clear timeline for restoring paychecks or benefits.
One recent communication from NEON suggested staff should continue providing services while the organization seeks funding and revenue. This adds stress to already strained employees.
Voices from the front lines
Healthcare workers Cleveland say they are committed to serving patients despite personal hardship. Several told reporters they fear retaliation for speaking out. This highlights a tense work environment amid uncertainty about jobs, pay, and care continuity.
“I am stressed,” one provider told the local outlet. “My mortgage is due … I need that paycheck to make ends meet.”
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