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Each September, National Recovery Month is celebrated to honor the strength and resilience of the recovery community, as well as the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible. Read more... | | |
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In May, the Biden Administration ended the public health emergency, which was declared when the COVID-19 pandemic began over three years ago. While the idea of putting COVID-19 behind us may provide some relief, we must recognize the long-term pandemic-related effects that our communities continue to experience. Read more... | | |
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Each year, landlords file around 3.6 million eviction cases — and that number is on the rise. Not only does an eviction have a detrimental effect on a person’s immediate housing stability, but just one eviction on a person’s record has the potential to lock them out of future housing opportunities, sometimes forever. Read more... | | |
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The recent Supreme Court decision to strike down affirmative action prompts us to reflect on the reasons that affirmative policies are needed in the push for equity in education, housing, and all aspects of society.
Read more...
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NFHTA 2023 Conference Recap
Fair Housing Leadership: Building an Equitable Future
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In August, our Executive Director, Carrie Pleasants, and Communications & Outreach Specialist, Emily Martin, attended the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2023 NFHTA Fair Housing Leadership Conference in Denver, Colorado. The conference, which was held in honor of the 55th anniversary of the passage of the federal Fair Housing Act, provided an opportunity for fair housing advocates from across the U.S. to come together and align on the "why" of our work, while co-creating a playbook for a more equitable future.
The conference left us energized and excited to bring all that we learned back to our community, as we continue working to ensure access to fair and equitable housing opportunities for Northeast Ohioans.
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CHANTINA BUSH, CLIENT ADVOCATE | |
In July of 2023, Chantina Bush joined The Fair Housing Center team as a full-time Client Advocate. Chantina was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where she developed her interest in social justice issues. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership, with minors in Nonprofit Administration and Urban Studies, at Cleveland State’s Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs.
Chantina’s extensive knowledge in the field of organizational leadership helps her approach complex cases with a strategic mindset. Her expertise in the areas of nonprofit administration and urban studies gives her a holistic view of the issues at play in fair housing matters. Chantina’s passion for advocacy and social justice makes her well-suited to her role as a Client Advocate on the Enforcement Team at The Fair Housing Center. Her proficiency in organizational leadership, nonprofit administration, and urban studies, along with her dedication to advocating for fair housing rights, make her a powerful force for change in her community. Her desire for protecting and expanding fair housing rights and eliminating housing discrimination drives her efforts. Chantina’s work as a Client Advocate is an embodiment of her determination to fight for social justice and fair housing rights.
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MARY KNAPP, CLIENT ADVOCATE (PART-TIME) | |
Mary Knapp joined The Fair Housing Center team in September 2023 as a part-time Client Advocate. She is a graduate of Mercyhurst University with a Bachelor of Arts in Hotel, Restaurant, Institutional Management. She spent 10 years in the customer service and restaurant industries before transitioning to a career in social service. She was a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate Guardian ad Litem in Lorain County’s Domestic Relations Court through Voices for Children for 7 years.
While working for Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland, as a Human Services Worker, she worked directly with the homeless and impoverished in Lorain County, assisting with Rapid Rehousing, Coordinated Entry intake and Emergency Assistance.
During her time at the West Side Catholic Center, she managed the daily operations of their non-profit social enterprise. Mary assisted those in need with on-the-job training, employment and mentorship; working with clients toward self-sufficiency and teaching the skills necessary to become job ready.
"It is my goal to work with the most vulnerable in our communities, helping to create a future of dignity and respect for those marginalized by society.” - Mary Knapp
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Fair Housing Center Featured on #HomeForAll Podcast to Discuss Mobility Program | |
Earlier this summer, our Leasing Specialist, Lonnie Pratt, and Mobility Program Director, Michael Lepley, sat down with Jamie McMillen, ACAR's Vice President of Government Affairs, to discuss the Cuyahoga Community Choice Demonstration on ACAR's #HomeForAll Podcast. The Podcast is a bi-weekly show where the Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® discusses housing-related topics in Cuyahoga, Portage and Summit Counties in Ohio. Occasionally, topics also focus on the state and national level, or are related to politics as they apply to housing and what’s going on at ACAR. Each episode features an interview with a subject matter expert sharing their knowledge on a housing-related topic. Give Season 9, Episode 5 a listen to hear what Michael and Lonnie had to say! | |
Outreach in the Community | |
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All throughout the summer (and early fall), our Education and Outreach team has been out and about, bringing fair housing information to your communities! We have enjoyed connecting with residents at local food pantries, senior centers, resource fairs, and other community events, and sharing resources to help them exercise their right to fair housing. Our team is grateful to all of the organizations that have partnered with us in order to bring this important information into communities across Northeast Ohio!
Pictured above (from left to right) are just a few of the outreach events we have been a part of in recent months:
- Emily Martin presented on fair housing at Maple Heights Senior Center.
- Tanesha Hunter shared fair housing information at Garfield Heights Senior Center; She is pictured here presenting a Giant Eagle gift card to the winner of the raffle.
- Abby Jakobsky handed out resources and connected with attendees at this year's National Night Out Against Crime event in Steelyard Commons.
- Tanesha Hunter and Abby Jakobsky shared information with residents at Berea's Active Senior Network Luncheon at Coe Lake.
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Thursday, October 19, 2023 | 6PM-8PM | Parma City Hall Council Chambers (6611 Ridge Rd., Parma, OH)
Interested in learning more about your rights and responsibilities under fair housing and landlord-tenant laws? Register to attend this free training, presented by the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research and the City of Parma. Experts from the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research and The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland will share valuable information on your housing rights. Free and open to all.
REGISTER
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Tuesday, October 24, 2023 | 6PM – 8PM EST | Virtual, via Zoom
Are you a tenant interested in learning more about your rights under fair housing law? Register to attend this virtual training, presented by the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research and the City of Cleveland Heights. Registration is free, but required in order to attend.
REGISTER
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Thursday, October 26, 2023 | 6PM-8PM | OCS Cooper Community Center (500 E. Lorain St. Oberlin, OH)
Interested in learning more about your rights and responsibilities under fair housing law? Register to attend this free training, presented by the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research and Lorain County. Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, this training will offer you valuable information on the ins and outs of fair housing law. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is free, but required.
REGISTER
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Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community
Needs Assessment
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Intersectionality Listening Session Registration
Take part in an intersectionality listening session as part of a local LGBTQ+ research study! This research is important in helping advocates understand the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in our area and find ways to support them better.
*This assessment is not associated with The Fair Housing Center. Click the button below to learn more, or contact Andrew M. Snyder at asnyde20@kent.edu with any questions or concerns.
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NFHA Releases 2023 Fair Housing Trends Report | | |
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The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) recently released its 2023 Fair Housing Trends Report. This report is the latest in a series of annual reports about fair housing trends that NFHA has produced since the mid-1990s. The data compiled in this report is from fair housing complaints in 2022.
Read the full report and view an interactive map showing how many complaints were reported nationally and by state to various agencies.
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About Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research
The Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research (The Fair Housing Center) is a nonprofit fair housing organization whose mission is to protect and expand fair housing rights, eliminate housing discrimination, and promote integrated communities. The Fair Housing Center has been in existence for 35 years, beginning as the Metropolitan Strategy Group in 1983.
The federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination in the sale or rental of a dwelling on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability. The purpose of the law is to eliminate housing discrimination and promote residential integration.
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Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research | 2728 Euclid Ave., Suite 200, Cleveland, OH 44115
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