Aug. 7: Board of Commissioners, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority

Covered by Documenters Ashley Lubecky (notes) and Marvetta Rutherford (live-tweets)

CMHA board OKs vouchers for planned veteran housing

Rental assistance is set to be available at two Cleveland housing developments intended for veterans and their families. 

The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Commissioners approved two agenda items at its Aug. 7 meeting allowing the authority to enter agreements with developers for housing vouchers at two forthcoming projects: 

  • Cleveland West Veterans Housing on the West Side
  • Emerald Senior Apartments in Glenville 

Neither are CMHA properties. CHN Housing Partners is developing Cleveland West Veterans Housing, and it’s teaming up with Emerald Development and Economic Network, Inc. to develop the Glenville property.

Dorivette Nolan, CMHA’s chief of policy, planning and voucher administration, said units are set to be available in fall 2026 at Cleveland West Veterans Housing. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will offer direct referrals.

The Glenville project will feature 62 fully furnished one-bedroom units, Nolan said. She added that units will be available to senior veterans whose income is at or below 50% of the area median income.

Area Median Income: The midpoint of a specific region's income distribution. Half of all households in the region make more than this amount and half make less. Area Median Income can be used to determine who is eligible for affordable housing.
A definition card for area median income (AMI). Credit: Signal Cleveland

$7.5 million to help fill vacancies at CMHA properties

CMHA is also enlisting more help to fill vacancies at its properties.

The board signed off on a one-year agreement with 24 contractors for a total cost not to exceed $7.5 million. Sharhonda Greer, CMHA’s chief of housing, administration and operations, said this is for prepping vacant units at housing authority properties for occupancy.

There are 694 vacant units across CMHA’s low-rent and rental assistance portfolios, Greer said. She added that, on average, about 100 units per month become vacant at CMHA. 

The 24 new contractors are in addition to an existing 36, according to Greer. Gordian Associates, Inc., manages the program, but CMHA works closely with the contractors, Greer said.

The goal, according to Greer, is to meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s standard, which she said is to prepare one-bedroom units for re-leasing within 7-10 days of a vacancy.

Read the notes from Documenter Ashley Lubecky:

Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority – Board of Commissioners 08_07_2024 (2)

Read the live-tweet thread from Documenter Marvetta Rutherford:

Signal background

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