2012Annual Report

Th e Art of Fair Housing

Core ValuesEquality • Respect • Honesty

Attention • Acceptance • CommitmentDedication • Knowledge

Understanding

Pay It ForwardChase McCullough, 8th grader at Heskett Middle School

MissionTo promote fair housing and diverse communities, and to work to eliminate housing discrimination in Northeast Ohio by providing effective research, education, and advocacy.

Th e Housing Center

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Th is year, the Housing Research & Advocacy Center signifi cantly increased its capacity to serve the over 30,000 individuals who ex-perience housing discrimination in North-east Ohio every year. Th is was accomplished while devoting 87.8% of the budget to pro-gram expenses and holding fast to our core values.

Th e Housing Center’s work was guided by the strategic plan de-veloped by the Board and Staff under consultation with Laurie Zuckerman, Zuckerman Consulting Group. During this fi rst year of the three-year strategic plan, the agency: • Participated in a nationwide housing discrimination testing research project, • Published Obtaining and Maintaining Housing: Fair Housing for People with Mental Health Disabilities which is requested statewide and is a National Fair Housing Alliance resource, • Published Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Ohio Mortgage Lending, a graphically engaging report, • Conducted over 250 fair housing tests and fi led 45 housing discrimination complaints, • Presented 42 fair housing law seminars and participated in 30 community outreach events,

Hilary Mason King, Executive Director

Executive Summary

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• Consulted with municipalities which resulted in amendment of their fair housing ordinances, • Partnered to expand fair housing awareness through the NEO Fair Housing Collaborative, • Relocated to a more accessible and functional offi ce on the RTA HealthLine, • Improved outreach with upgraded technology–a new telephone system, webpage, e-newsletter and Fair Housing Hotline, • Launched Rock the Block 5K, a run, walk and roll friendraiser, at Edgewater Park, and • Tackled emerging issues – sexual orientation, gender identify and source of income as protected classes; criminal background checks; and visitability.

Now, as Th e Housing Center approaches its 30th anniversary year, the agency is poised to reach more of the 30,000 people who ex-perience housing discrimination annually. It is our hope that by building on this foundation of innovative fair housing programs and best practices, we will realize our dream of inclusive commu-nities with access to desirable amenities for all.

Th e Board and Staff of the Housing Center thank everyone who has supported our mission and work.

Hilary King

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Th e Housing Center is ready to enter its fourth decade as the pre-mier fair housing agency in Northeast Ohio. Th roughout 2012, Th e Housing Center worked tirelessly to address blantant and subtle acts of discrimination, promote racial integration, and advocate on behalf of every protected class. Th is is done through education, research and enforcement eff orts.

In her fi rst full year as Executive Director, Hilary King elevated awareness of the Housing Center in the community. In addition to increasing the staff from fi ve to eight employees to eff ectively manage the new initiatives, she spearheaded the reinvention of the Northeast Ohio Fair Housing Collaborative (formerly the Greater Cleveland Fair Housing Consortium). In addition to its new name, the scope of the Collaborative expanded to a more action-oriented group aiming to bring fair housing issues to the forefront. Th is year marked the establishment of the Housing Center’s inaugural Rock the Block 5k Walk, Run and Roll fundraiser held at Edgewater Park. Close to 200 people ran, walked or volunteered to be a part of the event. Also in 2012, the Housing Center moved from its

Th e Housing Center

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location on Per-kins Avenue to offi ces on Euclid Avenue, near East 30th street. Lo-cated on the RTA Health Line, the new offi ce is easily accessed by public transit.

With an experienced staff and a greater capacity, the Housing Center remains committed to its mission of ensuring that all resi-dents of Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio can exercise their civil right to fair housing and access the housing of their choice.

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Th e Housing Center conducts recognized research on housing and lending patterns in Northeast Ohio, producing a variety of re-ports, maps, and other publications examining fair housing and fair lending issues, foreclosure trends, subprime lending and re-lated matters.

In addition to on-going ad monitoring and enforcement testing, Th e Housing Center served as the Cleveland test coordinator for a nationwide research testing study conducted by the Urban In-stitute and the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop-ment on housing discrimination in rental and sales markets across the country.

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Programs-Research

In 2012, Th e Housing Center continued to conduct both com-plaint-based and systemic testing of rental, sales, lending and homeowner’s insurance markets, and to monitor print and online advertisements for illegal statements. Th e Housing Center fi led 45 discrimination complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and municipalities during the year.

Th e Housing Center further assisted victims of housing discrimi-nation by taking fair housing complaints and referring non-fair housing complaints to other appropriate agencies for assistance.

Housing Center research reports published in 2012 include:• Ashtabula County Factbook• Cuyahoga County Community Lending Factbook• Th e City of East Cleveland Analysis of Impediments• Th e City of Parma Analysis of Impediments• Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Ohio Mortgage Lending• Rental Analysis for Lake County• Th e State of Fair Housing in Northeast Ohio

Programs-Enforcement

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Education and outreach initiatives were increased to meet the needs of the community. Th is year, Th e Housing Center con-ducted 42 fair housing law seminars and events for landlords, property man-

agers, real estate professionals, attorneys, architects, social service providers, government offi cials, community organizations, and residents of Northeast Ohio reaching a total of 1,302 individuals. Street teams hosted outreach tables at over 30 community festi-vals.

A new marketing plan was developed to raise awareness about the agency and its services. Brochures were redesigned and translat-ed to Arabic to reach a broader base of consumers. Th e quarterly newsletter previously called Housing Center News became Con-nect! and featured more substanative articles; and an enewsletter was launched, titled Reconnect.

Th e Housing Center published Obtaining & Maintaining: Fair Housing for People with Mental Health Disabilities. Th is guide is distributed and requested statewide. An accompanying training provides people with disabilities, their caregivers and service pro-viders with practical fair housing information. Th e publication

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Programs-Education & Outreach

was funded by a generous grant from the Woodruff Foundation and the Ohio State Bar Foundation.

Th e Housing Center hosted a Youth Art Contest at its annual cel-ebration during national Fair Housing Month in April. Th e 7th Annual Fair Housing Celebration featured an original illustrated video by local Artist Julia Kuo to inspire the contestants. Prizes were awarded to three students whose artwork refl ected neighbor-hood diversity, accompanied by an essay explaining what makes their community great.

Th e celebration also honored fair housing advocates Maria Smith, Esq. of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and Irving Graves, former Housing Center staff member. A special tribute was paid to outgo-ing Board President Patricia Burgess for her service on the Board

Matt & Holly’s House, Julia Kuo, Artist

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Our Community Garden, Taryn Scott, 6th grader at Wiley Middle School

for over 8 years. Th e event was sponsored in part by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture through a generous grant.

Th e Housing Center partnered with the Cities of North Olmsted and Shaker Heights on innovative fair housing proj-ects. Th e North Olmsted project increased awareness of fair housing rights for Mus-lims and Arabs and included discrimina-tion testing. Th e Shaker Heights pilot proj-ect studied accessibility and visitability in pre-1991 Shaker Heights’ rental properties. Both partnerships were possible through grants from the U.S. Department of Hous-ing and Urban Development.

Th e Housing Center continued its out-reach by joining with Services for Indepen-dent Living on their MYPLACE Coopera-tive Advisory Group. Th e purpose of the advisory group is to address the needs of disabled individuals seeking aff ordable and accessible housing in the community.

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Th e Department of Hous-ing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that two million instances of hous-ing discrimination occur on an annual basis, with over 30,000 instances in our area. Less than 1% of people who experience discrimination fi le a complaint. Th e diff erence in the actual number of cas-es of discrimination and the number of complaints fi led is due in part to people lacking

awareness of their fair housing rights and the complaint process.

Agency advocacy takes many forms. Dedicated staff work to advo-cate on behalf of victims of housing discrimination by requesting accommodations and modifi cations, assisting in the administra-tive complaint process, and working with municipalities to expand fair housing rights. Th rough all of these eff orts, the Housing Center works to further fair housing for the residents of Northeast Ohio.

Th e Housing Center launched a Fair Housing Hotline that provides greater access for consumers to our services. Th e dedicated advo-cacy line was made possible through generous support from the William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation. Examples of how Th e Housing Center advocated for individuals in 2012 include:

• Th e Housing Center received a service call from a disabled woman who was injured at her apartment complex. Th e visually impaired

Community Diversity, Katie Schwab, 8th grader at Heskett Middle School

Programs-Advocacy

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woman could not read the posted notices regarding elevator re-pairs and fell when she exited an elevator. Staff from Th e Housing Center advocated on the woman’s behalf to request a reasonable accommodation for the landlord to read building notices to her answering machine. Th e woman was able to continue enjoying her tenancy as a result.

• A woman with a disability contacted the agency regarding the denial of her reasonable accommodation request at the senior facil-ity where she resided. Th e housing provider off ered summer trips to local attractions, and the woman who previously attended such trips, could not once she became disabled due to lack of wheel-chair accessible transportation. Th e Housing Center intervened and alerted the housing provider to its responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act to grant the resident a reasonable accommoda-tion. Th e housing provider, aft er learning about the Fair Housing Act, began providing wheel chair accessible transportation, allow-ing the disabled tenant and others at the property to enjoy those summer trips.

Love, Alexis Campbell, 8th grader at Heskett Middle School

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Grants & ContractsTh e Housing Center received funding from the followingorganizations during 2012:

City of EuclidCity of LakewoodCity of North OlmstedCity of ParmaCity of Shaker HeightsCuyahoga Arts & Culture

Cuyahoga CountyDepartment of Housing and Urban DevelopmentEva L. & Joseph M. Bruening FoundationFair Housing Resource Center

Financials

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Greater Cleveland Community SharesNord Family FoundationOhio State Bar FoundationSaint Luke’s FoundationWilliam J. & Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation

Grants & Contracts-continued

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Martha AaronsOmar AbdelhamidMarilyn AdamsCarl & Kim Allamby & FamilyBarbara AllenAnonymous Contributors ATMA Center Greg AtwellMike AzzarelloChioke BarkariFred & Carrie Basasb.a. Sweetie Candy Company, Inc. Robert BechtalTh e Beck Center for the Arts Joyce BenderLynda BernaysTajuana BerryJohn BertschlerMargaret BesharaAshwani BhardwajWilliam Biscoff

Denise BleyJessica BogoKaren BongornoWilliam BongornoTongchan BoonyapataroGary BoskaLaura BoveErma BoykinClaudine BrennerSuzanne Bretz BlumMike & Katie BricknerBrown Aveda Institute Bernice BrownState Representative Armond BudishTh omas BufordPatricia Burgess & John ShelleyJim BurkeEileen Burkhart Megann BurnsBusmen’s Holiday

Jazz Trio Steve CaganWeiwei CaiAntonio & Aisha Campbell & FamilyFrank Campbell Nicole CannatoGayle CatinellaKim CerriCGB Tech Solutions,Inc. Patrick ChambersBrianne ChokanKatie ChokanDiane CitrinoDerek ClarkEdward ClarkMelissa ClarkCleveland Botanical Garden Cleveland Browns Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland

Th ank You to our Generous Donors

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Cinemas Th e Cleveland Improv Comedy Club Cleveland Mediation Center Cleveland Metroparks Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Public Th eatre Barbara ClintJohnny CogburnAndrew ComptonColleen ConwayJames CorriganCostco Claudia CoultonZachary Craft onLeigh CraigmyleTh e Crooked River Coff ee

Company Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Minh DangDave & Buster’s of Westlake Dave’s Markets David & Viginia DawsonDominica DearingMadison DennisJan DevereauxDennis DevineDewey’s Pizza Dick’s Sporting Goods Jeff rey DillmanDollar Bank Brian DorrSean DoughertyNancy DuBoiseDunkin’ Donuts Erika Durham

Patrick & Jennifer Durkin & FamilyEarth Fare Einstein Bros Bagels Rhonda EiseleWarren ElzyEmpowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People (ESOP) George EngelKathleen EngelJohnny & Darlene English Jonathan Entin & Carol Conti-EntinAmanda EtterlingJohn EtterlingJennifer FalbJohn FennellyMicheal & Maryellen FialaFift h Th ird Bank

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Mike FischerDeborah FlasherJohnny FletcherFORCE Indoor Sports Caryl FordAlison FoyStephanie FramTh e Frame Center Gallery Fresh Fork Market Steve GallTim & Susan GallDaniel GansStephanie GansRichard GansMary Ellen Gardner-TurnerElaine GimmelMartha GobleLisa Gold ScottSteven GordonZoe GordonIrving Graves

Kelli GravesKimberly GravesKrista GravesLinda GravesGreat Lakes Brewing Company Kasey GreerCamilla GrigsbyMary Jo GroppeGrovewood Tavern & Wine Bar Victoria GruberWilliam GruberDaniel GrudzinskiMark GusteticHands on Pottery Richard HanfordKathryn HarlowAllen HarrisDavid HeadenHeinen’s Frank HeinrichNorth Hendon

Shirley HendonHermes Sports & Events Jessica HoldsworthKatie HoleckoJanet HolzhaeusserHoney Hut Ice Cream Doris HonsaJoe HooverWilliam & Conchy HopkinsHospice of the Western Reserve George Hrbek & StephanieMorrison-HrbekSeth Hrbek Ryan & Rachel HuchDaylynn HuckabeeAnne HydockChris IckesInto the Wind

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Kites Eula JacksonJacqueline JacksonTerry & Letitia JacksonJohn Robert’s Spa Gwendolyn JohnsonJohnson Dance and Gymnastics Joy Machines Bike Shop Donald & Nancy JunglasJoe KayKathryn KazolPatricia KiddGregory & Hilary KingAdrienne KincaidMatt KlestaDanielle Knafl erSusan KnopeKondik Advertising &

Printing, Inc. Robert KulaJulia KuoKathryn LadLake County Captains Lake Erie Crushers Lake Erie Monsters Hockey Lake Metroparks Lakewood Animal Shelter Ken LaneMelissa LaubenthalStephen & Ellen LazarusLinda LehmanLeo LightnerKimberly LoveJenny LovellGwen LykesFrances LynnMaura Lyons

Debbie Mach & FamilyCharity MaddenPattie MandulaAnna MartinEmma MasonErvin MasonTh omasine MasonStephanie MatlockLisa MatusznyAnnette MaundCarol MaxwellTh e McCullough Family Shawntaye McCurdyRobert McFeelyMike McKenna & FamilyAndrew McMillanMary Kate McNamaraShani MeeksMandy MehlmanKathryn Metz

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Brian MichalPaula MillerMargaret MisakCora MitchellCARLETON MOORE!Robert MorelandGary & Susan MorganDenise Munguia Michael Munguia Gaynelle Myers Robert Myers, Jr.Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland Lisa NelsonSuzanne NigroAlex NosseNutrishop Cleveland Dick ObermannsTh e Olive & Th e Grape

Benjamin OwenEric PainterKi-duk ParkLaura PaquetSheila PedigoPetitti Garden Centers Marcella PetzchenPhoenix Coff ee Pickle Bill’s Lobster House Pickwick & Frolic Restaurant & Club, Home to Hilarities 4th Street Th eatre Julia PierceJames & Carrie Pleasants & FamilyNorma PolancoAndrea PriceDavid & Denise Proboski & FamilyEvelyn Protano

Terrell PruittPublic Relations Society of America Cleveland Chapter Rui QiaoQuentin & Gay QuereauFallon RadiganDena RapleyRedStar WorldWear Roberta ReichtellGil ResendaezJared RiessRising Star Coff ee Roaster Candace RistagnoKathy RoccoTonya RomeoPamela RosadoAmy Roskilly, Roskilly PhotographyWill & Donna Ross

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Gretta RyanLisa SackettSaint Ignatius High School Circus Company Abdul SawahJoseph SbroccoTh om & Pat Schwab & FamilyGreg Scott Rhonda Scott & FamilyTracy SegallNicole SeneczkoMadhavi SethMelanie ShakarianDoug ShelbyDaniel ShultzSharon SiehlLarry SlenczkaCharles & Maria SmithKerry SmithStanley SmithDaniel & Shashi

SobieskiRobert & Elizabeth SobieskiQixiang SongNancy SopherLarry & Melissa Staley & FamilyNedra StarlingKathryn SteadRay StinemanTrevor StrachanLauren StrubelStudio 11 Elaine SuarezJorge & April SuarezDaniel SutkusDanielle SydnorLoyall SynorMichael SzlohBonnie TagerScott TalleyCaille TaylorCynthia TempleTen Th ousand Villages

Sarah TermanTh acker Martinsek, LPA Th erapeutic Touch Elin Th ierryTh ird Federal Savings & Loan Pat Th omasTrudy Th ompsonSonja Th ornbloom & FamilyApril Th ornton & FamilyLou TislerRonald TraubTrolley Tours of Cleveland, Inc. Michelle TyraCarolyn TysonStacey UnderwoodUS Bank James Valco

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Gabriel & Candice VendittiEdward WarrenPeter WatersJillian WatsonJim & Beth WebsterAlan Weckerly, Jr.Jonah WeinbergKrissie WellsJessica WhiatJudith WhiteMegan WilinskiHarold & Bonnie WilliamsLemar & Barbara WilliamsWalter WilliamsAlma WilsonJeff WinchLynn WinkelmanBrian WomackMeifang WuMatthew YetterYour Bean Counters

Arina ZaciuDebra ZahandIsam & Nadia ZaiemYichi ZhangLaurie Zuckerman

Board of Directors

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Patricia Burgess, PresidentCARLETON MOORE!, Vice PresidentHarold Williams, SecretaryKathy Kazol, Treasurer Claudia CoultonMartha GobleLinda GravesJacqueline JacksonGay Quereau Isam ZaiemJonah Weinberg

Th e Housing Center Staff

Hilary Mason King, Executive DirectorZach Craft on, Test CoordinatorLeigh Craigmyle, Fair Housing SpecialistDarlene English, Education & Outreach CoordinatorDoris Honsa, Special Project AssistantMandy Mehlman, Fair Housing Community EducatorCarrie Pleasants, Associate DirectorDenise Proboski, Development DirectorTrudy Th ompson, Program Assistant Krissie Wells, Fair Housing Research AssociateChioke Barkari, Fair Housing Intern Andrew McMillan, Fair Housing InternKiduk Park, Fair Housing InternMadhavi Seth, Fair Housing InternJillian Watson, Fair Housing Intern

Th e Housing Research & Advocacy Center2728 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200

Cleveland, OH 44115www.thehousingcenter.org