2. Core Values
Equality • Respect • Honesty
Attention • Acceptance • Commitment
Dedication • Knowledge
Understanding
Pay It Forward
Chase McCullough,
8th grader at Heskett
Middle School
Mission
To promote fair housing and diverse communities, and to
work to eliminate housing discrimination in Northeast Ohio
by providing effective research, education, and advocacy.
The Housing Center
2
3. This year, the Housing Research & Advocacy
Center significantly increased its capacity to
serve the over 30,000 individuals who ex-
perience housing discrimination in North-
east Ohio every year. This was accomplished
while devoting 87.8% of the budget to pro-
gram expenses and holding fast to our core
values.
The Housing Center’s work was guided by the strategic plan de-
veloped by the Board and Staff under consultation with Laurie
Zuckerman, Zuckerman Consulting Group. During this first year
of the three-year strategic plan, the agency:
• Participated in a nationwide housing discrimination
testing research project,
• Published Obtaining and Maintaining Housing:
Fair Housing for People with Mental Health Disabilities
which is requested statewide and is a National Fair
Housing Alliance resource,
• Published Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Ohio
Mortgage Lending, a graphically engaging report,
• Conducted over 250 fair housing tests and filed 45
housing discrimination complaints,
• Presented 42 fair housing law seminars and participated
in 30 community outreach events,
Hilary Mason King,
Executive Director
Executive Summary
3
4. • Consulted with municipalities which resulted in
amendment of their fair housing ordinances,
• Partnered to expand fair housing awareness through the
NEO Fair Housing Collaborative,
• Relocated to a more accessible and functional office on
the RTA HealthLine,
• Improved outreach with upgraded technology–a new
telephone system, webpage, e-newsletter and Fair
Housing Hotline,
• Launched Rock the Block 5K, a run, walk and roll
friendraiser, at Edgewater Park, and
• Tackled emerging issues – sexual orientation, gender
identify and source of income as protected classes;
criminal background checks; and visitability.
Now, as The Housing Center approaches its 30th anniversary year,
the agency is poised to reach more of the 30,000 people who ex-
perience housing discrimination annually. It is our hope that by
building on this foundation of innovative fair housing programs
and best practices, we will realize our dream of inclusive commu-
nities with access to desirable amenities for all.
The Board and Staff of the Housing Center thank everyone who
has supported our mission and work.
Hilary King
4
5. The Housing Center is ready to enter its fourth decade as the pre-
mier fair housing agency in Northeast Ohio. Throughout 2012, The
Housing Center worked tirelessly to address blantant and subtle
acts of discrimination, promote racial integration, and advocate on
behalf of every protected class. This is done through education,
research and enforcement efforts.
In her first full year as Executive Director, Hilary King elevated
awareness of the Housing Center in the community. In addition
to increasing the staff from five to eight employees to effectively
manage the new initiatives, she spearheaded the reinvention of the
Northeast Ohio Fair Housing Collaborative (formerly the Greater
Cleveland Fair Housing Consortium). In addition to its new name,
the scope of the Collaborative expanded to a more action-oriented
group aiming to bring fair housing issues to the forefront. This year
marked the establishment of the Housing Center’s inaugural Rock
the Block 5k Walk, Run and Roll fundraiser held at Edgewater
Park. Close to 200 people ran, walked or volunteered to be a part
of the event. Also in 2012, the Housing Center moved from its
The Housing Center
5
6. location on Per-
kins Avenue to
offices on Euclid
Avenue, near East
30th street. Lo-
cated on the RTA
Health Line, the
new office is easily
accessed by public
transit.
With an experienced staff and a greater capacity, the Housing
Center remains committed to its mission of ensuring that all resi-
dents of Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio can exercise their
civil right to fair housing and access the housing of their choice.
6
7. The Housing Center conducts recognized research on housing
and lending patterns in Northeast Ohio, producing a variety of re-
ports, maps, and other publications examining fair housing and
fair lending issues, foreclosure trends, subprime lending and re-
lated matters.
In addition to on-going ad monitoring and enforcement testing,
The Housing Center served as the Cleveland test coordinator for
a nationwide research testing study conducted by the Urban In-
stitute and the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment on housing discrimination in rental and sales markets across
the country.
7
Programs-Research
8. In 2012, The Housing Center continued to conduct both com-
plaint-based and systemic testing of rental, sales, lending and
homeowner’s insurance markets, and to monitor print and online
advertisements for illegal statements. The Housing Center filed 45
discrimination complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and
municipalities during the year.
The Housing Center further assisted victims of housing discrimi-
nation by taking fair housing complaints and referring non-fair
housing complaints to other appropriate agencies for assistance.
Housing Center research reports published in 2012 include:
• Ashtabula County Factbook
• Cuyahoga County Community Lending Factbook
• The City of East Cleveland Analysis of Impediments
• The City of Parma Analysis of Impediments
• Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Ohio Mortgage Lending
• Rental Analysis for Lake County
• The State of Fair Housing in Northeast Ohio
Programs-Enforcement
8
9. Education and outreach
initiatives were increased
to meet the needs of the
community. This year,
The Housing Center con-
ducted 42 fair housing law
seminars and events for
landlords, property man-
agers, real estate professionals, attorneys, architects, social service
providers, government officials, community organizations, and
residents of Northeast Ohio reaching a total of 1,302 individuals.
Street teams hosted outreach tables at over 30 community festi-
vals.
A new marketing plan was developed to raise awareness about the
agency and its services. Brochures were redesigned and translat-
ed to Arabic to reach a broader base of consumers. The quarterly
newsletter previously called Housing Center News became Con-
nect! and featured more substanative articles; and an enewsletter
was launched, titled Reconnect.
The Housing Center published Obtaining & Maintaining: Fair
Housing for People with Mental Health Disabilities. This guide is
distributed and requested statewide. An accompanying training
provides people with disabilities, their caregivers and service pro-
viders with practical fair housing information. The publication
9
Programs-Education & Outreach
10. was funded by a generous grant from the Woodruff Foundation
and the Ohio State Bar Foundation.
The Housing Center hosted a Youth Art Contest at its annual cel-
ebration during national Fair Housing Month in April. The 7th
Annual Fair Housing Celebration featured an original illustrated
video by local Artist Julia Kuo to inspire the contestants. Prizes
were awarded to three students whose artwork reflected neighbor-
hood diversity, accompanied by an essay explaining what makes
their community great.
The celebration also honored fair housing advocates Maria Smith,
Esq.ofthe Legal Aid Society ofCleveland and IrvingGraves, former
Housing Center staff member. A special tribute was paid to outgo-
ing Board President Patricia Burgess for her service on the Board
Matt & Holly’s House, Julia Kuo, Artist
10
11. Our Community Garden, Taryn Scott,
6th grader at Wiley Middle School
for over 8 years. The event was sponsored in part by Cuyahoga Arts
& Culture through a generous grant.
The Housing Center partnered with the
Cities of North Olmsted and Shaker
Heights on innovative fair housing proj-
ects. The North Olmsted project increased
awareness of fair housing rights for Mus-
lims and Arabs and included discrimina-
tion testing. The Shaker Heights pilot proj-
ect studied accessibility and visitability in
pre-1991 Shaker Heights’ rental properties.
Both partnerships were possible through
grants from the U.S. Department of Hous-
ing and Urban Development.
The Housing Center continued its out-
reach by joining with Services for Indepen-
dent Living on their MYPLACE Coopera-
tive Advisory Group. The purpose of the
advisory group is to address the needs of
disabled individuals seeking affordable and
accessible housing in the community.
11
12. The Department of Hous-
ing and Urban Development
(HUD) estimates that two
million instances of hous-
ing discrimination occur on
an annual basis, with over
30,000 instances in our area.
Less than 1% of people who
experience discrimination file
a complaint. The difference
in the actual number of cas-
es of discrimination and the
number of complaints filed is
due in part to people lacking
awareness of their fair housing rights and the complaint process.
Agency advocacy takes many forms. Dedicated staff work to advo-
cate on behalf of victims of housing discrimination by requesting
accommodations and modifications, assisting in the administra-
tive complaint process, and working with municipalities to expand
fair housing rights. Through all of these efforts, the Housing Center
works to further fair housing for the residents of Northeast Ohio.
The Housing Center launched a Fair Housing Hotline that provides
greater access for consumers to our services. The dedicated advo-
cacy line was made possible through generous support from the
William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation. Examples of how
The Housing Center advocated for individuals in 2012 include:
•TheHousingCenterreceivedaservicecallfromadisabledwoman
who was injured at her apartment complex. The visually impaired
Community Diversity, Katie Schwab,
8th grader at Heskett Middle School
Programs-Advocacy
12
13. woman could not read the posted notices regarding elevator re-
pairs and fell when she exited an elevator. Staff from The Housing
Center advocated on the woman’s behalf to request a reasonable
accommodation for the landlord to read building notices to her
answering machine. The woman was able to continue enjoying her
tenancy as a result.
• A woman with a disability contacted the agency regarding the
denial of her reasonable accommodation request at the senior facil-
ity where she resided. The housing provider offered summer trips
to local attractions, and the woman who previously attended such
trips, could not once she became disabled due to lack of wheel-
chair accessible transportation. The Housing Center intervened
and alerted the housing provider to its responsibilities under the
Fair Housing Act to grant the resident a reasonable accommoda-
tion. The housing provider, after learning about the Fair Housing
Act, began providing wheel chair accessible transportation, allow-
ing the disabled tenant and others at the property to enjoy those
summer trips.
Love, Alexis Campbell,
8th grader at Heskett
Middle School
13
14. Grants & Contracts
The Housing Center received funding from the following
organizations during 2012:
City of Euclid
City of Lakewood
City of North Olmsted
City of Parma
City of Shaker Heights
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Cuyahoga County
Department of Housing and
Urban Development
Eva L. & Joseph M. Bruening
Foundation
Fair Housing Resource Center
Financials
14
15. Greater Cleveland Community
Shares
Nord Family Foundation
Ohio State Bar Foundation
Saint Luke’s Foundation
William J. & Dorothy K. O’Neill
Foundation
Grants & Contracts-continued
15
16. Martha Aarons
Omar Abdelhamid
Marilyn Adams
Carl & Kim
Allamby & Family
Barbara Allen
Anonymous
Contributors
ATMA Center
Greg Atwell
Mike Azzarello
Chioke Barkari
Fred & Carrie Basas
b.a. Sweetie Candy
Company, Inc.
Robert Bechtal
The Beck Center for
the Arts
Joyce Bender
Lynda Bernays
Tajuana Berry
John Bertschler
Margaret Beshara
Ashwani Bhardwaj
William Biscoff
Denise Bley
Jessica Bogo
Karen Bongorno
William Bongorno
Tongchan
Boonyapataro
Gary Boska
Laura Bove
Erma Boykin
Claudine Brenner
Suzanne Bretz Blum
Mike & Katie
Brickner
Brown Aveda
Institute
Bernice Brown
State Representative
Armond Budish
Thomas Buford
Patricia Burgess &
John Shelley
Jim Burke
Eileen Burkhart
Megann Burns
Busmen’s Holiday
Jazz Trio
Steve Cagan
Weiwei Cai
Antonio & Aisha
Campbell & Family
Frank Campbell
Nicole Cannato
Gayle Catinella
Kim Cerri
CGB Tech
Solutions,Inc.
Patrick Chambers
Brianne Chokan
Katie Chokan
Diane Citrino
Derek Clark
Edward Clark
Melissa Clark
Cleveland Botanical
Garden
Cleveland
Browns
Cleveland
Cavaliers
Cleveland
Thank You to our Generous Donors
16
17. Cinemas
The Cleveland
Improv Comedy
Club
Cleveland
Mediation
Center
Cleveland
Metroparks
Cleveland
Metroparks
Zoo
Cleveland Public
Theatre
Barbara Clint
Johnny Cogburn
Andrew Compton
Colleen Conway
James Corrigan
Costco
Claudia Coulton
Zachary Crafton
Leigh Craigmyle
The Crooked River
Coffee
Company
Cuyahoga Valley
Scenic
Railroad
Minh Dang
Dave & Buster’s of
Westlake
Dave’s Markets
David & Viginia
Dawson
Dominica Dearing
Madison Dennis
Jan Devereaux
Dennis Devine
Dewey’s Pizza
Dick’s Sporting
Goods
Jeffrey Dillman
Dollar Bank
Brian Dorr
Sean Dougherty
Nancy DuBoise
Dunkin’
Donuts
Erika Durham
Patrick & Jennifer
Durkin & Family
Earth Fare
Einstein Bros
Bagels
Rhonda Eisele
Warren Elzy
Empowering and
Strengthening
Ohio’s People
(ESOP)
George Engel
Kathleen Engel
Johnny & Darlene
English
Jonathan Entin &
Carol Conti-Entin
Amanda Etterling
John Etterling
Jennifer Falb
John Fennelly
Micheal &
Maryellen Fiala
Fifth Third
Bank
17
18. Mike Fischer
Deborah Flasher
Johnny Fletcher
FORCE Indoor
Sports
Caryl Ford
Alison Foy
Stephanie Fram
The Frame Center
Gallery
Fresh Fork
Market
Steve Gall
Tim & Susan Gall
Daniel Gans
Stephanie Gans
Richard Gans
Mary Ellen
Gardner-Turner
Elaine Gimmel
Martha Goble
Lisa Gold Scott
Steven Gordon
Zoe Gordon
Irving Graves
Kelli Graves
Kimberly Graves
Krista Graves
Linda Graves
Great Lakes
Brewing
Company
Kasey Greer
Camilla Grigsby
Mary Jo Groppe
Grovewood Tavern
& Wine Bar
Victoria Gruber
William Gruber
Daniel Grudzinski
Mark Gustetic
Hands on
Pottery
Richard Hanford
Kathryn Harlow
Allen Harris
David Headen
Heinen’s
Frank Heinrich
North Hendon
Shirley Hendon
Hermes Sports &
Events
Jessica Holdsworth
Katie Holecko
Janet Holzhaeusser
Honey Hut Ice
Cream
Doris Honsa
Joe Hoover
William & Conchy
Hopkins
Hospice of the
Western
Reserve
George Hrbek &
Stephanie
Morrison-Hrbek
Seth Hrbek
Ryan & Rachel
Huch
Daylynn Huckabee
Anne Hydock
Chris Ickes
Into the Wind
18
19. Kites
Eula Jackson
Jacqueline Jackson
Terry & Letitia
Jackson
John Robert’s
Spa
Gwendolyn Johnson
Johnson Dance and
Gymnastics
Joy Machines Bike
Shop
Donald & Nancy
Junglas
Joe Kay
Kathryn Kazol
Patricia Kidd
Gregory & Hilary
King
Adrienne Kincaid
Matt Klesta
Danielle Knafler
Susan Knope
Kondik
Advertising &
Printing, Inc.
Robert Kula
Julia Kuo
Kathryn Lad
Lake County
Captains
Lake Erie
Crushers
Lake Erie Monsters
Hockey
Lake
Metroparks
Lakewood Animal
Shelter
Ken Lane
Melissa Laubenthal
Stephen & Ellen
Lazarus
Linda Lehman
Leo Lightner
Kimberly Love
Jenny Lovell
Gwen Lykes
Frances Lynn
Maura Lyons
Debbie Mach &
Family
Charity Madden
Pattie Mandula
Anna Martin
Emma Mason
Ervin Mason
Thomasine Mason
Stephanie Matlock
Lisa Matuszny
Annette Maund
Carol Maxwell
The McCullough
Family
Shawntaye
McCurdy
Robert McFeely
Mike McKenna &
Family
Andrew McMillan
Mary Kate
McNamara
Shani Meeks
Mandy Mehlman
Kathryn Metz
19
20. Brian Michal
Paula Miller
Margaret Misak
Cora Mitchell
CARLETON
MOORE!
Robert Moreland
Gary & Susan
Morgan
Denise Munguia
Michael Munguia
Gaynelle Myers
Robert Myers, Jr.
Neighborhood
Housing
Services of Greater
Cleveland
Lisa Nelson
Suzanne Nigro
Alex Nosse
Nutrishop
Cleveland
Dick Obermanns
The Olive &
The Grape
Benjamin Owen
Eric Painter
Ki-duk Park
Laura Paquet
Sheila Pedigo
Petitti Garden
Centers
Marcella Petzchen
Phoenix
Coffee
Pickle Bill’s Lobster
House
Pickwick & Frolic
Restaurant & Club,
Home to Hilarities
4th Street
Theatre
Julia Pierce
James & Carrie
Pleasants & Family
Norma Polanco
Andrea Price
David & Denise
Proboski & Family
Evelyn Protano
Terrell Pruitt
Public Relations
Society of America
Cleveland
Chapter
Rui Qiao
Quentin & Gay
Quereau
Fallon Radigan
Dena Rapley
RedStar
WorldWear
Roberta Reichtell
Gil Resendaez
Jared Riess
Rising Star Coffee
Roaster
Candace Ristagno
Kathy Rocco
Tonya Romeo
Pamela Rosado
Amy Roskilly,
Roskilly
Photography
Will & Donna Ross
20
21. 21
Gretta Ryan
Lisa Sackett
Saint Ignatius High
School Circus
Company
Abdul Sawah
Joseph Sbrocco
Thom & Pat Schwab
& Family
Greg Scott
Rhonda Scott &
Family
Tracy Segall
Nicole Seneczko
Madhavi Seth
Melanie Shakarian
Doug Shelby
Daniel Shultz
Sharon Siehl
Larry Slenczka
Charles & Maria
Smith
Kerry Smith
Stanley Smith
Daniel & Shashi
Sobieski
Robert & Elizabeth
Sobieski
Qixiang Song
Nancy Sopher
Larry & Melissa
Staley & Family
Nedra Starling
Kathryn Stead
Ray Stineman
Trevor Strachan
Lauren Strubel
Studio 11
Elaine Suarez
Jorge & April Suarez
Daniel Sutkus
Danielle Sydnor
Loyall Synor
Michael Szloh
Bonnie Tager
Scott Talley
Caille Taylor
Cynthia Temple
Ten Thousand
Villages
Sarah Terman
Thacker Martinsek,
LPA
Therapeutic
Touch
Elin Thierry
Third Federal
Savings &
Loan
Pat Thomas
Trudy Thompson
Sonja Thornbloom
& Family
April Thornton &
Family
Lou Tisler
Ronald Traub
Trolley Tours of
Cleveland,
Inc.
Michelle Tyra
Carolyn Tyson
Stacey Underwood
US Bank
James Valco
22. 22
Gabriel & Candice
Venditti
Edward Warren
Peter Waters
Jillian Watson
Jim & Beth Webster
Alan Weckerly, Jr.
Jonah Weinberg
Krissie Wells
Jessica Whiat
Judith White
Megan Wilinski
Harold & Bonnie
Williams
Lemar & Barbara
Williams
Walter Williams
Alma Wilson
Jeff Winch
Lynn Winkelman
Brian Womack
Meifang Wu
Matthew Yetter
Your Bean
Counters
Arina Zaciu
Debra Zahand
Isam & Nadia
Zaiem
Yichi Zhang
Laurie Zuckerman
23. Board of Directors
23
Patricia Burgess, President
CARLETON MOORE!, Vice President
Harold Williams, Secretary
Kathy Kazol, Treasurer
Claudia Coulton
Martha Goble
Linda Graves
Jacqueline Jackson
Gay Quereau
Isam Zaiem
Jonah Weinberg
24. The Housing Center Staff
Hilary Mason King, Executive Director
Zach Crafton, Test Coordinator
Leigh Craigmyle, Fair Housing Specialist
Darlene English, Education & Outreach Coordinator
Doris Honsa, Special Project Assistant
Mandy Mehlman, Fair Housing Community Educator
Carrie Pleasants, Associate Director
Denise Proboski, Development Director
Trudy Thompson, Program Assistant
Krissie Wells, Fair Housing Research Associate
Chioke Barkari, Fair Housing Intern
Andrew McMillan, Fair Housing Intern
Kiduk Park, Fair Housing Intern
Madhavi Seth, Fair Housing Intern
Jillian Watson, Fair Housing Intern
The Housing Research & Advocacy Center
2728 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200
Cleveland, OH 44115
www.thehousingcenter.org
