AKRON, Ohio — The city of Akron and Fair Housing Contact Service have partnered to launch a program designed to help tenants find, and keep, affordable housing across the city that meets their needs.
The new program, Home Connection Service, is paid for through the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development and offers services both for low- and moderate-income renters and for landlords, the city said in a release.
Fair Housing Contact Service is a local nonprofit that has worked for more than 50 years in the Akron area to ensure fair housing practices are available to all residents, assisting in tenant-landlord disputes and providing counseling on a range of housing matters, the organization said.
"Every Akron resident deserves a home that is safe, affordable and stable," said Mayor Dan Horrigan. “Targeted resources and education will benefit both tenants and landlords, and enhance tenant access to accommodations of their choosing."
Home Connection Service provides tenants with connection to potential landlords, counseling before and after a move-in, and educational workshops, the city said.
Landlords will have access to potential tenants looking for long-term housing, and training and education on Ohio’s Tenant‐Landlord Law and Fair Housing Laws.
Pre-eviction mediation services are also available for tenants and landlords who participate in the program.
“FHCS believes housing is the social determinant of all,” said Executive Director Tamala Skipper. “We are revisiting our roots through this program, which will focus on desegregation and increased access to housing opportunities.”
The Princeton University Eviction Lab uses national data to shine a light on residential instability, forced moves and poverty in America, according to the group’s website.
In 2016, Eviction Lab’s latest year for city rankings, the data places Akron at No. 24 in a listing of the 100 large U.S. cities, with populations of 100,00 or more, with the highest eviction rates in the nation.
That year, 2,492 evictions took place in Akron, equating to 6.83 renter households evicted every day, or 6.06% of every 100 rented homes evicted each year, Eviction Lab reports.
Eviction Lab data shows Ohio’s six largest cities, including Akron, all appear in the top 100 U.S. cities with the highest eviction rates:
- Dayton at No. 26
- Toledo at No. 30
- Cincinnati at No. 46
- Columbus at No. 52
- Cleveland at No. 53
Under Akron’s Home Connection Service, tenant referrals to the program will come through community resource programs, the city said.
For landlords, Fair Housing Contact Service will host an informational townhall at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 1 at Compass Coffee in Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood, 647 E. Market St.
For more information, send an email or call 330-376-6191.