RESEARCH & REPORTS
The Fair Housing Center conducts research on housing and lending patterns in Northeast Ohio and throughout the state. In addition to our annual State of Fair Housing in Northeast Ohio report, we produce a variety of reports, maps, and other publications examining fair housing and fair lending issues in the region, as well as foreclosure trends, subprime lending, and related matters.
This research has resulted in a number of policy changes at both local and state levels throughout Ohio. The Fair Housing Center has also conducted Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing reports, required under Section 808(e)(5) of the Fair Housing Act for communities that receive CDBG funds, for a number of municipalities in Northeast Ohio.
The Fair Housing Center’s most recent report, The State of Fair Housing in Northeast Ohio (2024), outlines housing inequality and barriers to fair housing in our region. This annual report also outlines recommendations that government officials, non-profit providers, and housing advocates can take to positively impact the state of fair housing and address inequalities.
POLICY WORK
Cuyahoga County Vacant and Abandoned Property Action Council (VAPAC)
As The Fair Housing Center’s Senior Policy Advisor, Frank Ford, is primarily responsible for staffing and leading the Cuyahoga County Vacant and Abandoned Property Action Council (VAPAC). VAPAC was founded in 2005 with a mission of collaboratively bringing together stakeholders to address vacant and abandoned property issues created by the mortgage foreclosure crisis. Over time, in recognition of the dynamic and complex nature of these issues, VAPAC’s mission has evolved to encompass housing and housing finance practices that could lead to vacancy, abandonment, and housing insecurity for owners and renters, as well as the negative outcomes that can impact communities and their housing markets. From its inception, VAPAC has recognized that these issues have had, and continue to have, a disproportionate impact on communities of color. Racial justice, equality and racial equity have always been implicit in the work of VAPAC and they continue to be core principles that guide VAPAC’s work.
VAPAC Participating Organizations:
- Case Western Reserve University
- CDC Housing Committee
- CHN Housing Partners
- City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office
- Cleveland Building and Housing Dept.
- Cleveland City Council
- Cleveland Community Development Dept.
- Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank
- Cleveland Legal Aid Society
- Cleveland Municipal Housing Court
- Cleveland Neighborhood Progress
- Cleveland Planning Dept.
- Cleveland State University
- Code Enforcement Partnership Program
- Community Housing Solutions
- Cuyahoga County Board of Revision
- Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
- Cuyahoga County Consumer Affairs Department
- Cuyahoga County Council
- Cuyahoga County Department of Development
- Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office
- Cuyahoga County Inspector General
- Cuyahoga County Land Bank
- Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office
- Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office
- Cuyahoga County Treasurer
- Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People
- Enterprise Community Partners
- Fair Housing Center for Rights and Research
- First Suburbs Consortium
- Home Repair Resource Center
- Ohio Attorney General – Cleveland Office
- Western Reserve Land Conservancy
VAPAC Working Groups:
- Property Tax Delinquency Working Group
- Housing Affordability & Sustainability Working Group
- Investor Working Group
- Code Enforcement Working Group
- Equity Working Group