Removing Barriers to Rental Housing Opportunities
Greater Cleveland remains one of the most segregated metropolitan areas in the United States. Source-of-income discrimination is one of the major factors that sustains this pattern. This event is being held on Wednesday, March 28th at Cleveland State’s Levin College of Urban Affairs. Presentations will begin at noon in the Bonda Room. CLEs Pending.
This forum will address the barriers to finding decent & affordable housing including source of income, others forms of discrimination, and the lack of available housing for low-income families. This topic was recently highlighted in The Scene magazine, which sees an obvious connection between race, voucher holders, and full access to the rental market. Many advertisements in local papers and online listing sites indicate “No Section 8.” In Cuyahoga County, the City of South Euclid has established a statute prohibiting discrimination based on source-of-income. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a similar law.
Research completed by The Housing Research & Advocacy Center has documented the systemic discrimination against voucher holders in Cuyahoga County. LaTweeta Smyres, Director of Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher program, will identify barriers affecting rental housing choices, including utility issues and deposits. Other panelists include Michael Lepley of the Housing Research & Advocacy Center. Phil Star will moderate.