During Quarter 1 of 2022, the Department of Development was able to continue its efforts in reducing homelessness and the risk of becoming homeless with the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program facilitated through Cleveland Housing Network-Housing Partners.  In 2021, we received approximately $25M from the U.S. Treasury to administer the program for the county's low and very low-income residents with up to three months of rental assistance paid directly to the landlords for rental arrears or future rent in order to avoid/prevent eviction.  As such, over 370 individuals and families have received approximately $1.6M in assistance within the first quarter of 2022.  

Moreover, as the U.S. Treasury has retrieved and re-collected outstanding unencumbered funds from grantees that did not fully utilize the initial appropriations, Cuyahoga County was able to request and receive $51M of additional Treasury funds that were reallocated to continue the mission and goal of assisting county residents with rental assistance.  In Quarter 2 of 2022, we will have more insight of how these additional funds will be administered, monitored, and reported through the Department of Development.  

Affordable Rental projects were approved for five (5) large projects at $450K each including:

1. Cleveland Warner-Swasey
2. Cleveland The Arch at St. Michael
3. Cleveland EDEN Cuyahoga-Tay
4. Cleveland Hts Margaret Wager Apts III
5. Maple Hts Hazelwood Court

Each of these projects will provide several low to moderate income units per site to assist with the Affordable Housing concerns in Cuyahoga County.

Other housing program highlights for the first quarter include Sixteen (16) CDBG Emergency Furnace repairs through Cleveland Housing Solutions (CHS) totaling $14,065.40 and Eleven (11) HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Down Payment Assistance agreements totaling $126,281.00. There was no homeowner rehab activity in the winter months but should increase as we transition into spring and warmer weather.  

The goal for Homeowner assistance for 2022 is 60 projects at $1M which has already been surpassed in the first quarter with 398 projects with $1.8M invested.  In total, Quarter 1 of 2022 produced approximately $4M of investments which include $2.25M for Affordable Housing for over 403 projects.  We look forward to increasing production as we transition into spring and ease out of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as contractors being able to proceed with projects that were previously delayed.  

Cuyahoga County Housing Plan