June 5: Board of Commissioners, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority

Covered by Documenters Mildred Seward (notes) and Marvetta Rutherford (live-tweets)

Repairing Outhwaite Homes in Central

A historic housing complex in Cleveland is set for millions of dollars worth of repairs. The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Board of Commissioners approved a contract costing up to $3.2 million between CHMA and M-A Building and Maintenance Co. for masonry facade and ventilation repairs at Outhwaite Homes. M-A Building and Maintenance is based in Independence. 

The complex offers low-rent apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms in the Central neighborhood. Youth and families who live at Outhwaite can also access programming through its community center, according to the CHMA website.

Did you know that Carl and Louis Stokes lived in Outhwaite Homes in 1938? Carl Stokes went on to become the first Black mayor of a major U.S. city when elected in Cleveland in 1967. His older brother, Louis, became Ohio’s first Black congressman in 1968. 

Click here to learn more about the history of Outhwaite Homes, which was Cleveland’s first federally funded housing for rent-burdened residents.

Breaking down barriers

An organization that works with people exiting incarceration is set to receive a one-year contract for up to $125,000 to help with CMHA maintenance and beautification services.

The Center for Employment Opportunities Inc. (CEO) helps people find – and keep – full-time employment while also teaching financial literacy and other skills.

CEO is based in New York but operates throughout the country, including in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus. Most of the participants are on probation or parole, have no prior work experience and have children.

Beefing up (cyber)security

While the City of Cleveland investigates its own cyber attack, CMHA has also turned its attention to funding cybersecurity efforts. The largest contract approved by the board – nearly $3.4 million – is a two-year agreement for technology planning, cybersecurity and consulting costs.

The contract, with FIT Technologies, Inc., has a one-year renewal option.

Read the notes from Documenter Mildred Seward:

Read the live-tweet thread by Documenter Marvetta Rutherford:

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Service Journalism Reporter (she/her)
I am dedicated to untangling bureaucracy so Clevelanders can have the information (and the power) they want. I spent 10 years on the frontlines of direct service working with youth and system-impacted communities before receiving my degree in media advocacy at Northeastern University.

Cleveland Documenters pays and trains people to cover public meetings where government officials discuss important issues and decide how to spend taxpayer money.