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CTO's BRIDGING THE GAP PROGRAM, which provides support to homeless individuals and families in transitioning from shelters, temporary, or short-term housing to permanent public or private affordable housing placements, IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING REFERRALS! CALL RANDY AT (216)432-0616 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

New Federal law provides protections for renters living in properties facing foreclosure

The Protecting Tenants in Foreclosure Act, which is Title VII of the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009, became effective May 20, 2009. It protects tenants from immediate eviction by persons or entities that became owners of residential property through the foreclosure process. Public Law No. 111-22 (Senate Bill 896). With limited exceptions, tenants with leases must be permitted to occupy the property until the end of their lease terms. At a minimum, tenants must receive 90 days’ notice prior to eviction. The law also addresses the rights of Section 8 tenants living in properties undergoing foreclosure.

For a copy of the summary of the new law (courtesy of Peter Iskin, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, click (PDF file) Here.

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Free grants for lead repairs up to $10,000 are available in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County through the Lead Safe Living Grant Program. Call CTO at (216) 432-0617 and ask for Mike or Gladys for more information.
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On July 18, 2008, PBS' Bill Moyer's Journal featured Cleveland and the foreclosure crisis. The segment included interviews with Mayor Jackson, Councilman Brancatelli, Brian Davis from the Homeless Coalition, some local renters caught up in the foreclosure mess, County TreasurerJim Rokakis, and CTO's Executive Director, Mike Piepsny. It is available to watch on the internet at:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07182008/watch.html

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Rental Rights Workshops
Every Wednesday from 5:30 - 7:30 pm,Cheryl Boyer is at Lakewood Christian Service Center, 14230 Madison Ave., Lakewood, Ohio, to answer individual questions about landlord - tenant rights and responsibilities.

Looking for Affordable Rental Housing... Go to www.housingcleveland.org This is the new data base created by a whole host of non-profit and governmental organizations to put in one place as comprehensible a list of for rent, affordable vacancies in Cuyahoga County.

Out of Reach Study Released
The National Low Income Housing Coalition has published its annual study on the state of affordable housing in America. Go to the www.nlihc.org for details.

Cleveland Lead Ordinance passed

Cleveland City Council passed in August 2004 (amended in 2006), a new ordinance which requires landlords to disclose their knowledge of lead based paint hazards on their property to new tenants. The ordinance mirrors the Federal Statute which has been in effect since 1994. The ordinance allows local enforcement of the law, rather than having to rely on Federal actors. For more information about the ordinance, call Juana at CTO. 432-0617

To view a copy of the ordinance go to www.ehw.org and look under lead paint information.