LMM VP of Housing & Shelter, Michael Sering, was recently nominated for Downtown Cleveland Alliance's (DCA) 2023 Ruth Ratner Miller Green + Clean Award!

According to DCA, the Green + Clean award recognizes an individual, company or organization who demonstrates a commitment to creating a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for all. Nominees exemplify leadership in maintaining an environment of well-being for everyone in Downtown Cleveland, including residents, visitors, employees and individuals experiencing disadvantages.

The 2023 Ruth Ratner Miller Awards will take place at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower (1360 West Mall Drive Cleveland, OH 44114) on June 7 at 3:00 PM.

LMM Staff Partners are proud to have attended the ADAMHS Board Annual Meeting Brunch earlier this week. 

We are glad to be a part of this strong network of behavioral health providers, especially with May being #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth!

Sign-on Opportunity

The Partnership for Just Housing is seeking organizational and individual supporters of their letter that was written in response to the FTC’s and the CFPB's request for information on tenant screening. Their letter is a comprehensive critique of the use of common tenant screening procedures like background checks and credit checks. LMM will be endorsing the letter. The deadline to sign on is 1:00 PM on May 30, 2023. Read the letter and sign on:  

Stop Cuts to Federal Housing

President Biden and congressional leaders are expected to meet this week to continue negotiations to raise the nation’s debt ceiling after staffers spent the weekend hashing out a prospective deal, which includes potential cuts to affordable housing and homelessness programs. The nation could default on its debt as soon as June 1 if congressional leaders and the White House do not reach an agreement to lift the debt ceiling. It is critical for advocates to reach out to their members of Congress and urge them to oppose these harmful cuts.  Here are some ways to take action:

• Post your work on social media using the hashtag #CutsHurt and tag your members of Congress and @NLIHC
• Email, call, or tweet your members of Congress
• Use NLIHC’s advocacy toolkit for talking points, sample social media messages, and more

The Staff Advocacy Committee is a group of LMM staff members from across the agency with an interest in advocacy and policy that meet once a quarter to help guide and carry out the agency's yearly Advocacy Priorities.

The Staff Advocacy Committee is excited to have recently hosted the Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center's (OCVJC) Bri Beech to discuss victims' rights, outreach, and resources, and how the work OCVJC does can positively impact the individuals we serve at LMM.

LMM staff partners are attending the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless' Cleveland Housing 101 three-part training this week! This training offers an overview of how people become housing insecure and homeless, what their options are in Cuyahoga County, and how they can access the resources they need to regain stability, as well as info about fair housing law, tenants’ rights, and the eviction process.

LMM operates the Men's Shelter at 2100 Lakeside, the largest shelter in the state of Ohio, aiming to support individuals in ending their homelessness by finding appropriate housing as soon as possible.

"When a person does not have their most basic human needs – like housing – met, they have a more difficult time maintaining their overall health, including their mental health." - National Alliance on Mental Illness

At LMM, we know that housing is healthcare and that affordable housing is a critical social determinant of health. As part of National Mental Health Awareness Month, we must continue to recognize the importance of affordable housing for all and carry out our belief that housing is a human right. Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with our #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth campaign:

To support the mission and programs of LMM, donate today!