For years now, local housing advocates have been stressing the importance of increased renter rights, like Source of Income protections and Pay to Stay legislation. As Cleveland prepares to elect a new Mayor, expanding renter rights in the City might finally be a possibility.
Renters make up 60% of Cleveland households, yet the City is doing renters a disservice by not ensuring several key renter protections. The next Mayor of Cleveland will have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of Cleveland renters, and local advocates are working to make sure that impact is positive.
The Fair Housing Center has joined a number of local advocacy organizations – including Enterprise Community Partners, Neighborhood Connections, the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, and others – in asking the next Mayor of Cleveland to support renter rights on their first day in office, as part of the #RenterRightsDay1 initiative. The initiative has three main asks of the next Mayor of Cleveland:
1. Immediately pass Source of Income (SOI) Protection Legislation.
SOI protections make it illegal for a landlord to deny a person housing because they use a voucher to pay rent. In a recent Ideastream article, The Fair Housing Center’s Senior Research Associate, Michael Lepley, commented, “Allowing outright denial based on the source of rent is a waste of one of the most important sources of affordable housing we have. We’ve been working on both pieces of legislation for years. They’re ready to go. We hope the future mayor puts these renter protections in place.”
2. Immediately pass Pay to Stay Legislation.
Ohio is 1 of only 5 states in the country where a landlord can file an eviction against renters who are just one day late on rent. Pay to Stay laws make it possible for tenants who are behind on their rent to stay in their homes, as long as they come up with the rent and any late fees they owe before the eviction is granted by the court. These laws are important tools in protecting renters from being unfairly evicted. Several Ohio cities already have Pay to Stay laws on the books, including Euclid, Lakewood, Maple Heights, Newburgh Heights, South Euclid, Toledo and Yellow Springs.
3. Develop Comprehensive Renter Protections.
Cleveland renters deserve a grassroots, resident-led action group to develop a comprehensive Renter Bill of Rights. This would help to address discrimination, prevent eviction, and improve quality and long-term affordability. The Bill of Rights would include (but not be limited to) establishing Fair Chance legislation, expanding right to counsel, strengthening the eviction sealing and expungement process, increasing ongoing rental assistance, and utilizing strategic code enforcement to improve housing quality.
Housing advocates are asking residents to show their support by signing on to the #RenterRightsDay1 petition, urging the City of Cleveland to stand up for the rights of renters. Mayoral candidates Justin Bibb and Kevin Kelley responded to questions about their plans for housing legislation during the recent Cleveland Mayoral Candidate Forum on Housing and Urban Development, hosted by Cleveland State University. More information on the housing priorities of Justin Bibb and Kevin Kelley can also be found on their campaign websites. All Cleveland residents should have the right to safe, healthy, affordable housing. If you agree, please make your voice heard. Join local housing advocates in urging the City’s next mayor to take immediate action to protect Cleveland renters.