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 … Continue reading
Legal Aid partners with local organizations and resident groups to promote business growth, home ownership by Tonya Sams (Plain Press, November 2021) As Managing Attorney for Community Engagement at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Anne Sweeney knows how important it is for neighborhood residents’ voices to be heard. “It’s important to build local power,” she … Continue reading
Utilities for All holds vigil at City Hall to remember those who died due to utility shutoffs by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, October 2021) Seven deaths from hypothermia were reported during a single month earlier this year after utility companies shut heat off in the middle of the winter to customers unable to pay their bills. … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Call to action: Cleveland needs to address lack of low-income housing options To the Editor: (Plain Press, May 2021) My name is Paul Sherlock and last Friday (April 9th) my friend Jim Schlecht and I staged a protest of four apartment development sites currently underway on the Near West Side of Cleveland. We were protesting the lack … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
(Plain Press, February 2021) CareSource, the state’s largest Medicaid managed care organization, will invest $5 million to help Cleveland families and property owners protect children from lead hazards in their homes. The commitment, which the Dayton-based nonprofit called “unprecedented,” recognizes the profound effect that housing has on health, CareSource officials said. Exposure to the brain-damaging environmental … Continue reading
by Rachel Dissell (Plain Press, January 2021) Cleveland residents will have access to a new resource center and hotline dedicated to helping parents and property owners reduce the chances of lead poisoning by making homes in the city lead safe. The Lead Safe Resource Center and Home Fund fulfill, in part, a public pledge that the … Continue reading