• All storefronts in Greenline Buildings at Memphis and Pearl are empty

    HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF OLD BROOKLYN MUSEUM AND MARIA THE BARBERETTE WERE EVICTED LAST MONTH  by Lynette Filips(Plain Press December 2025) In the article about the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation’s (OBCDC’s) Memphis Pearl project in the April 2025, issue of the Plain Press, I wrote some commentary about Ward 13 Councilman Kris Harsh’s visit to…


  • Right to Counsel continues to help people facing eviction

    by Tonya Sams      (Plain Press August 2025) For many years, Cleveland tenants who were facing eviction were not guaranteed an attorney. That changed when the City of Cleveland passed a Right to Counsel (RTC) ordinance, which became effective July 1, 2020. Cleveland became the first city in the Midwest and only fourth in the…


  • Anti-eviction program helps residents in Northwest Neighborhoods

    by Bob Sandrick, The Land    (Plain Press October 2024) A nonprofit provider of affordable housing in Cleveland has devised an innovative and perhaps groundbreaking eviction-avoidance program that it hopes will serve as a model throughout the city and even the country.    Northwest Neighborhoods, which owns and manages more than 350 rental apartment units…


  • New Neighborhood Housing Court Kiosk opens at the South Branch Library

    New Neighborhood Housing Court Kiosk opens at the South Branch Library by Bruce Checefsky Plain Press, August 2022        Cleveland Housing Court and Cleveland Public Library have teamed up to bring the court to the community. Starting this month, the new Neighborhood Housing Court Kiosk at the South Branch of the Cleveland Public Library, located at…


  • Teach-in outlines efforts to protect renter’s rights

    Teach-in outlines efforts to protect renter’s rights by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, March 2022)      Edmikia Minter, a resident of Ericsson Apartments in East Akron, and an organizer for The Freedom BLOC, was elected in 2021 to lead the Ericsson Apartments Tenant Union. The Black Led Organizing Collaborative (BLOC) builds Black political power in the Black community…


  • Coalition of community groups rally to “Stop Evictions Now!”

    Coalition of community groups rally to “Stop Evictions Now!” by Chuck Hoven (Plain Press, November 2021)                 A coalition of groups of community activists from throughout Northeast Ohio converged on Public Square on October 20th for a “Stop Evictions Now!” rally as part of a coordinated national effort to speed the distribution of already allocated federal dollars designed…


  • Facing Eviction? Legal Aid Can Help!

    Facing Eviction? Legal Aid Can Help! by Tonya Sams      On August 26, the Supreme Court’s decision not to extend the federal eviction moratorium has left many tenants who lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic fearful of losing their housing. Northeast Ohioans at risk of eviction can get help through the new Free Eviction Help…


  • Advocates for free eviction help urge increased commitment by the City of Cleveland to fully funding the program

    Advocates for free eviction help urge increased commitment by the City of Cleveland to fully funding the program by Chuck Hoven      United Way of Greater Cleveland, the Cleveland Legal Aid Society and CHN Housing Partners have teamed up in a public private partnership with the City of Cleveland to offer free help to qualified Clevelanders…


  • Forum examines protections for tenants

    Forum examines protections for tenants by Jack Barnes On March 17th Organize! Ohio hosted a zoom forum event called “Expanding Tenant Protections: Pay to Stay and Source of Income” as part of the Ohio Fair Lending & Vital Communities Brown Bag Forum series. Moderated by Cuyahoga Affordable Housing Alliance (CAHA) Chair Phil Star, meeting attendees heard from…


  • Cleveland City Council’s three women share their reflections on politics and public policy

    by Jack Barnes Plain Press, March 2021      On January 26th the Cuyahoga Democratic Women’s Caucus organized a “Conversation with Cleveland City Councilwomen” via Zoom hosted by its Chair, Cynthia Demsey. The hour-long event featured all three of the women on the 17-person Cleveland City Council reflecting on their paths to public service; on being women in…