Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research
2728 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200 Cleveland, OH 44115
FOR RELEASE: May 5, 2022
Contact: Austin Cummings, Email: acummings@thehousingcenter.org, Phone: 216-361-9240, x212
Cleveland, Ohio — The 2022 State of Fair Housing in Northeast Ohio report finds that the region is failing to address the historical impacts of redlining and predatory lending, and has yet to accomplish the goals of the Fair Housing Act – ending discrimination and promoting integration. Discrimination in housing and segregated living patterns persist in the region; fair housing laws lack adequate protections and adequate enforcement; there is inequitable access to high-quality housing and loan products; and growing affordability and looming eviction crises will continue to exacerbate existing inequities in the region.
The Fair Housing Center’s review of local fair housing laws and zoning codes identified two areas of concern. Fifty area municipalities have zoning ordinances that restrict or regulate group homes in ways that may violate fair housing law. Thirty-six municipalities have criminal activity nuisance ordinances (CANOs). CANOs have been shown to disproportionately impact people of color, victims of domestic violence, and people with disabilities. Despite multiple calls to repeal these ordinances and litigation locally and around the country challenging these ordinances, numerous local municipalities maintain and enforce CANOs. The Fair Housing Center calls for the removal of restrictive language in group home zoning ordinances; repeal of criminal activity nuisance ordinances; strengthening of fair housing laws; and elimination of exemptions to local fair housing laws for small housing providers.
The findings of this report, the spike in investor activity in the residential rental market, unclear future for local fair housing planning, and tightening of the rental market inform The Fair Housing Center’s recommendations to expand renter rights and address the lasting impacts of redlining and predatory lending on communities of color. There is a significant amount of work to do to affirmatively further fair housing in Northeast Ohio; however, there are steps government officials, housing providers, and housing advocates can take to positively shape the future state of fair housing in Northeast Ohio.
This report was funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The findings of this work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the view of the Federal Government.
The Fair Housing Center is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect and expand fair housing rights, eliminate housing discrimination, and promote integrated communities.
The report is available for free download on The Fair Housing Center’s website at: https://www.thehousingcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/State-of-Fair-Housing-2022-Report-1.pdf