Since 2014, the Cuyahoga County Housing Stakeholder Group – a group of housing advocates convened by Enterprise Community Partners – has made recommendations to the County to create a comprehensive housing plan and take a more proactive approach to addressing housing issues in the county.
Over the years, we’ve identified priority areas and developed working groups to advance those priorities, including the Fair Housing Working Group. Last month, we were thrilled to come together again to set priorities for the road ahead.
Past Successes
In 2017, the stakeholder group developed a prospective housing plan, and in 2019, the County adopted the plan as the County’s official housing program.
Three years later, in response to a continuously changing housing landscape, we released A Tale of Two Markets: Equitable Housing Platform for Cuyahoga County, focusing on advancing racial equity and increasing economic mobility for residents. Our equitable housing platform is supported by four pillars:
- Increase Resources for Housing Stability
- Reduce Barriers to Housing
- Strengthen Fair Housing
- Equitably Invest in Housing Markets
We also recommended three concrete steps that Cuyahoga County’s new leadership could take to start to advance equitable housing:
- Create a cabinet-level housing czar.
- Dedicate revenue for a local housing fund.
- Adopt a “housing is a human right” policy.
Earlier this year, we were encouraged to see the County appoint the first director for the new Department of Housing and Community Development.
The group represents a diverse set of interests and constituencies, yet we all share one goal: creating and advancing an equitably resourced and comprehensive approach to housing in Cuyahoga County.
Convened the County Housing Stakeholders and Fair Housing Working Group
On September 26, 2023, we came together once again to set our policy priorities for the group going forward. Stakeholders across sectors participated in the convening, including leaders from city and county government, housing providers, realtors' association, and a range of community development organizations focused on housing.
In breakout groups, we focused on our four pillars for equitable housing and had a wide ranging and engaging conversation about:
- Innovating ways to expand housing supply.
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- Enhancing tenant protections.
- Keeping people stably housed with mediation and eviction diversion.
- Combating housing discrimination.
- Making sure homes are high-quality and lead-safe.
- Exploring funding for a local housing trust fund.
- Prioritizing housing for those impacted by homelessness and the criminal justice system.
- And much more.
Stakeholders emphasized the importance of collaboration across sectors to ensure diverse perspectives are at the table and the need to develop actionable items to further our shared goals.
Get Involved
We look forward to continuing to convene stakeholders on a regular basis to advance our policy platform for a more equitable housing market in Cuyahoga County.
To join the stakeholder group, reach out to Hazel Remesch, Enterprise State and Local Policy Director. For updates about our work subscribe to our newsletter!
Thanks to all who attended our convening last month:
- Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS
- CHN Housing Partners
- City of Cleveland Department of Building and Housing
- City of Cleveland Department of Community Development
- Cleveland Neighborhood Progress
- Cuyahoga County Department of Development
- Cuyahoga County Planning Commission
- Cuyahoga Land Bank
- Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
- EDEN, Inc.
- The Fair Housing Center
- First Suburbs Consortium
- Home Repair Resource Center
- The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
- Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
- Maximum Accessible Housing of Ohio
- Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless
- United Way of Greater Cleveland
- Vacant and Abandoned Property Action Council