- Cleveland Tenants Organization

3631 Perkins Avenue, Suite 3A-4 – Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Tel: 216-432-0617 – Fax: 216-432-0620
2011
Annual Report
2011 Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees:
Ruby Nelson – President
Frank Pojman/Phil Star - Co-Vice-Presidents
Marge Smith – Secretary
Peter Iskin – Legal Committee Chairman
Michael Piepsny - 1
Executive Director
Ken Evans – Treasurer
Cleveland Tenants Organization Annual Report for 2011
The Cleveland Tenants Organization (CTO) is a non-profit organization established in 1975 for the
purpose of assisting tenants and landlords in understanding their rights and responsibilities under the
Ohio Landlord-Tenant Law.
The mission of the Cleveland Tenants Organization is to expand the supply of safe, decent, fair,
affordable and accessible rental housing in Greater Cleveland by:
 informing citizens of their rights and duties in rental housing;
 representing tenants and the interest of tenants in the preservation and promotion of rental
housing rights;
 empowering tenants individually and collectively to represent themselves and their interests;
 advocating for the needs of low and moderate income tenants;
 resolving disputes between landlords and tenants;
 preventing homelessness; and
 combating discrimination based on race, religion, color, gender, handicap, familial status,
social/economic class, military status and sexual orientation.
CTO staff, through our programs, were able to reach out to 43,251 households and assist via
telephone or face-to-face to 19,277 clients in 2011!
CTO Board of Trustees
CTO is governed by a 21-member Board of Trustees comprised of community representatives,
political leaders, corporate members, concerned citizens, advocates, and constituents, who are
responsible for the overall well-being of the organization. The Board oversees and guides the general
operation of CTO, ensuring that CTO remains faithful to its governing principles and dedicated to
carrying out its mission. CTO’s by-laws stipulate that 1/3 of the Board must be comprised of tenants
in order that their voice is guaranteed in the planning, implementing, and policy-making activities of
the organization.
Listed below are the current members of the Board of Trustees and their affiliations.
NAME (Exec. Cmtee. Member)
Ackerman, Chuck
Albright, Mylayna
Antonio, Nickie
Antonio, Wynne
Bongorno, Chris
Callahan, Bill
Corrigan, Bill
Davis, Brian
Evans, Ken (Treasurer)
Ford, Mary
George-Merrill, Pam
Iskin, Peter (Legal Comm. Chair)
Lamont, Tara
Lewis, Al
McCall, Valarie
Nelson, Ruby (President)
Patton, Connor
Pojman, Frank (Co-Vice-President)
Smith, Marge (Secretary)
Star, Phil (Co-Vice-President)
Thomas, Isiah X.
AFFILIATION
Famicos Foundation
AT&T
State Representative
Senior Voice / AFL-CIO
University Circle Inc.
Community advocate, One Community
Retired Judge, Board member emeritus
Exec. Dir. NEOCH
Financial Consultant
Tenant Leader
Shaker Sq. Area Dev. Corp
Attorney, Legal Aid Society
Tenant
Security Consultant
City of Cleveland – Chief of Govt. Affairs
Warrensville Hts. Councilwoman
McDonald Hopkins LLC, Tenant
Tenant Leader
Retired Tenant Leader
Cleveland State Univ.
Tenant leader
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CTO Year in Review
From our ongoing work in assisting tenants in addressing affordable housing issues, to continuing to
advocate for a County housing trust fund, to working to address a growing bedbug problem and fight
voter suppression efforts, CTO did an amazing amount of work this past year helping local renters
and landlords who are facing the economic realities of the day.
CTO has been an instrumental partner in a collaborative effort to create a local Housing Trust Fund.
The housing trust fund was a critical recommendation of “Heading Home,” a local report released in
2006 which outlined the County’s affordable housing and homelessness crisis as well as a list of
potential solutions and tools for addressing it. In 2010, County leadership voted to create the
Cuyahoga County Housing Trust Fund and Cuyahoga County Housing Advisory Board to
oversee the trust fund. In recognition of CTO’s work on the effort, our Executive Director, Mike
Piepsny has been elected the Co-Chairman of the Board along with Chris Warren, the City of
Cleveland’s Chief of Regional Development. CTO Board of Trustee members Peter Iskin is also a
member of the Housing Advisory Board and Board Co-Vice-President Phil Star has been hired by the
County as a consultant on the effort to create this important resource. Our work now focuses on
working with our County Executive, County Council, and the State legislature to fund the housing
trust fund through a number of potential funding mechanisms. As the concurrent effort to fund a
National Housing Trust Fund becomes a reality, it will be imperative that we have a funded local
fund in order to leverage more federal dollars to benefit Cuyahoga County.
While working to generate new resources to address the region’s affordable housing crisis, CTO
continued our instrumental work in reaching out to tenants living in properties facing foreclosure.
Nearly a third of all foreclosed properties in Cuyahoga County have tenants living in the property
(Policy Matters Ohio report -"Collateral Damage: Renters in the Foreclosure Crisis" released in June
2008.) These tenants often have no knowledge of the foreclosure action and, despite the passage of
Federal protections in 2009, still often receive little or no notice before being removed from the
property.
CTO’s
Rental/Foreclosure
Nearly a third of all
Outreach Program
foreclosured properties
(RFO), funded by the
in Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County
Department of
have renters living in
Development, works
the property.
with our partner
agency Policy
Matters Ohio, and
Case Western Reserve University's NEO CANDO database to send notice of the foreclosure out to
every household in the County in which a likely tenant is living in a property facing foreclosure.
Although tenants are given a resource guide and CTO's phone number to call for assistance, United
Way’s First Call for Help is also included in the event the mailing reaches a homeowner facing
foreclosure. First Call for Help is able to assist homeowners in reaching out to HUD designated
housing counseling agencies specifically trained in helping homeowners renegotiate troubled loans.
All tenant callers to First Call for Help are referred to CTO. In 2011, CTO mailed this critical
information to over 4,500 households and assisted, over the phone and through face-to-face meetings,
nearly 1,500 tenants caught in these precarious circumstances.
3
Also in 2011, CTO and our partner agency Environmental Health Watch
were the recipients of a United States’ Environmental Protection Agency
– Environmental Justice grant to provide outreach and education on a
growing bedbug epidemic facing our region. On November 10th, nearly
450 landlords, tenants, community safety forces, and property managers
attended our conference to learn about this expensive and socially devastating issue, as well as the
tools available to address it. CTO and EHW continue to collaborate with one
another and other non-profits and local municipalities to eliminate childhood
lead poisoning and other home health hazards through our work on the
Healthy Homes Advisory Council of Greater Cleveland (HHACGC), As a
key partner agency, CTO received funding from the St. Luke’s Foundation
and the City of Cleveland Department of Public Health to provide critical
community outreach, education and advocacy regarding the dangers of lead
paint and other environmental health dangers.
This past Fall, CTO took some time to reflect on its 36 year history and to celebrate its
role in preserving safe, decent, affordable housing in a region with over 230,000 rental
units, and a core community (Cleveland) with a 52% rental rate. On October 21st, CTO
held its 5th annual benefit. The event was held at Window’s on the River and this
year’s theme was “Masquerade!” Nearly one-hundred friends, partners, and supporters
joined us at the fun-filled event, which was
generously sponsored by AT&T, allowing
CTO to benefit from 100% of the proceeds.
Thanks to support from local businesses and
contributors, CTO was able to auction over $6,000 worth of
donations! The Honorable Raymond L. Pianka, Cleveland
Housing Court Judge, was this year’s inductee into CTO’s
highly regarded Wall of Fame in recognition of his work not only with the Housing Court, but also
for a lifetime in promoting Social Justice and the importance of affordable housing.
The Honorable
Judge Raymond L.
Pianka - 2011
inductee into the
CTO Wall of Fame.
In 2011, CTO continued our collaboration with the City of
Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services, the City
of Lakewood, the City of Cleveland Heights, and an unprecedented
number of community non-profit partners to reach out to households at risk of losing their housing to
provide short term cash assistance to prevent them from entering the shelter system; and second, to
work with persons currently in shelters or on the streets to more quickly enable them to secure
permanent housing. The newly developed system is funded by Federal stimulus grant money and is
called the "Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP)." HPRP has been
evaluated on an ongoing basis to assess the impact of the program as we refocus our efforts to align
this coming year with the requirements of the HEARTH Act. As a part of the effort, CTO's Eviction
Diversion Program has received funding to continue its eviction diversion efforts for approximately
15,000 at-risk households annually. As a partner, CTO continues to screen callers who have received
an eviction notice and make referrals for HPRP assistance when appropriate. Additionally, HPRP
funds have enabled CTO to enter into a sub-contract with the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland to
accept eviction referrals for legal assistance for HPRP eligible households.
4
In 2011, our Rental Information Center continued to provide high quality services to nearly 8,300
individuals inquiring about landlord and tenant rights, responsibilities, remedies and resources.
Program staff, headed by Gladys Reed worked daily answering phones and patiently explaining the
implications of the Ohio and local Landlord/Tenant Laws upon individual situations.
This past year also brought new challenges to our Bridging the Gap program, which is designed to
help homeless individuals transition into and sustain safe, decent, affordable rental housing. With
Federal and State cuts to social service funding, available resources to meet growing demand for
assistance were limited. Program Director, Randy Cunningham, has done a magnificent job
stabilizing the program (which CTO took over in 2008) as needed to provide quality service to his
clients and enhance outcomes, despite the limited resources. Randy has assisted numerous formerly
homeless individuals in obtaining safe, decent, affordable, accessible housing and in understanding
the application process over the past 12 months.
With the region facing steep
declines in resources, nonCTO’s Development Director, Denise Cooper, is
profit agencies continue to
responsible for diversifying funding sources in order to
struggle to meet the
promote financial stability for CTO as we face the
increasing demands for
consequences of the region’s economic crisis. At the same
services.
time Northeast Ohio has experienced deep declines in
resources, non-profit agencies are struggling to meet the
increasing demands for services. Denise has proven to be an extremely reliable and talented
individual and works daily with the Executive Director and Board to identify potential new and
creative funding sources to allow CTO to continue working towards its mission.
Finally, through CTO’s Tenant Advocacy &
Organizing Program, coordinated by Mike Piepsny,
Gwen Lykes, Juanalicia Duran and our Senior
Employment Center volunteer Larry Davis, CTO
has met with thousands of tenants during face-toface workshops and coordinated tenant meetings all
geared towards helping tenants create and sustain
strong, democratically-elected tenant organizations
and advocate to protect their rights. As part of our
effort, on June 15th, CTO and our partner agency,
the Phillis Wheatley Association, hosted a Town Hall for tenant leaders with Cleveland Mayor
Frank G. Jackson. Seventy-seven of our tenant leaders attended the event to learn about the budget
crisis facing the City of Cleveland as a result of policy and priorities set in Columbus.
Following the presentation by the Mayor, tenants had an opportunity to ask questions about how the
budget and the reduction in capacity for the City of Cleveland will affect
their households and neighbors. The meeting lasted for over 3 hours and the
Mayor patiently addressed not only questions on the budget, but also each
landlord/tenant issue that was presented to him. Special thanks to
Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland for hosting the event at the Phillis
Wheatley Association! Additional thanks go out to County Councilman
Pernel Jones who attended the event, and to City of Cleveland Councilman
Tj Dow, Councilman Brian J. Cummins and Councilman Tony
Brancatelli for sponsoring the event through CTO’s Tenant Advocacy and
Organizing Program. Finally, thanks to Mayor Frank G. Jackson who
5
patiently listened and worked with the tenants for over 3 hours!
All in all, 2011 was a year to remember and provided CTO and the Greater Cleveland community
with the opportunity to work on a number of important initiatives. CTO pledges to continue working
hard in 2012 and beyond to assure that these important stepping stones turn into milestones!
CTO Program Highlights for 2011
Below is a statistical compilation of CTO’s program
activities in 2011. In 2011 CTO had a staff of 7 full-time
employees, 3 part-time employees, 1 Senior Employment
volunteer, some student help, and a Development Director
that split time three-ways between CTO, the Housing
Research and Advocacy Center, and Environmental Health
Watch. Each staff member works daily answering calls,
knocking on doors, organizing meetings, conducting
outreach—all while being accessible and patient in
addressing local landlord-tenant issues.
CTO staff, through our
programs, were able to reach
out to 43,251 households and
speak via telephone or face-toface to 19,277 clients in 2011!
CTO performs amazing work
for a nonprofit organization of
our size.
Eviction Diversion Program (Key Personnel: Scott Wells, Tony D’Amico)
The Eviction Diversion Program assists tenants facing eviction and offers assistance when possible to
prevent evictions. Program staff are available to explain the eviction process, outline various options
for tenants being evicted, and provide information and referrals for a number of community-based
services, which assist with locating housing, providing financial assistance for rent and security
deposits, and offering legal assistance.
Statistics for 2011
 Total Number of families receiving mail from CTO regarding their eviction = 14,993
 Total Number of calls to the program = 4,892
 Total Number of families eligible for HPRP assistance (financial or legal assistance) = 2,150


Average monthly income of households we talked to = $933.30
Median monthly income of households we talked to = $700.00


Average monthly rent for households we talked to = $500.79
Median monthly rent for households we talked to = $475.00


Average monthly rent burden (rent as a percentage of household income) = 53.66%*
Median monthly rent burden (rent as a percentage of household income) = 67.86%
* The U.S. Department of HUD considers affordable rent (as a percentage of household income) at or
below 30%.
In 2008 and 2009, households calling CTO’s Eviction Diversion Program had a rent burden
exceeding 70%. Both in 2010 and 2011, CTO saw an increase in average household income
6
coupled with a decrease in average rent. Hopefully, this is indicative of an economic rebound for
our region.
Rental Information Center (Key Personnel: Gladys Reed)
The Rental Information Center offers advice to both landlords and tenants with rental housing
concerns and provides information regarding landlord-tenant laws and landlord and tenants’ rights
and responsibilities. A phone hotline is staffed Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm by housing
counselors, who are available to answer questions regarding rental housing issues and provide
referrals for additional services. Informational Rental Rights Workshops are offered in the
community on a weekly basis and by special request to assist landlords and tenants with individual
questions. Clients are also able to receive one-on-one, face-to-face assistance by appointment.
Statistics for 2011
We had contact with 8,298 renters and landlords in 2011. The breakdown of the origin of the calls is
as follows:
Contract
# of contacts
Cleveland
Cleveland Heights
East Cleveland
Cuyahoga Urban Communities
Lakewood
Euclid
Other Calls
TOTAL
3,241
488
302
2,893
750
305
176
8,298
In 2011 Cleveland Tenants Organization provided city of Cleveland tenants and landlords with
information counseling and referral assistance. In implementing this service, CTO had contact with
3,241 City of Cleveland tenants and landlords. The breakdown of these contacts in various formats
are as follows:
4000
3000
2000
Calls to the Rental
Information Center
1000
Tenant meeting / workshop
attendee
Total Clients served
0
clients
Calls to the Rental
Information Center
1865
Tenant meeting /
workshop attendee
1376
Total Clients served
3,241
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2011 Cleveland Tenants Organization
City of Cleveland Contacts
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Description
# of contacts
Utility shut offs - non-pay
Gas account switch overs
Inadequate heat
Crossed electrical wires
How to get repairs made
How to get Security Deposits back
24 Hour notice violations
Eviction Process calls
Landlord harassment/retaliation
Lease term questions
Fair housing questions
Self Help eviction
Rent increase questions
Quiet Enjoyment
General Information requests
Looking for new apartment
Tenant meeting/workshop attendees
Wants to organize
Post Judgment calls
Landlord being foreclosed on
Needs rent assistance
Can’t find owner
70
19
4
12
463
137
50
263
87
155
9
46
21
16
176
90
1376
6
16
133 *
80
12
Total = 3,241
* an additional 715 Cleveland calls related to renter/foreclosure were paid for by the Cuyahoga County Dept. of Development
Breakdown of Cleveland Callers to the Rental Information Center
Donor to CTO
Landlord unknown/unavailable
financial assistance needed
Owner facing foreclosure
Post judgement - Collect/Appeal?
Want to organize new tenant council
Looking for housing
Request literature or general info.
Violation of Quiet Enjoyment
Rent Increase question
Self Help Eviction / Lockout
Discrimination
Lease term question
Landlord Retaliation/Harassment
Eviction - 3 day notice
Illegal Entry /Access
How to get Security Deposit Back
Repairs needed by Landlord
Electrical wires crossed
Heat too low
Gas service on at previous address
Utility Shut off
0
50
100
150
200
Number of clients
8
250
300
350
400
450
500
A hybrid of CTO’s Eviction Diversion Program and our Rental Information Center, the Rental
Foreclosure Outreach Program (RFO) is made possible through funding from the Cuyahoga County
Department of Development. The RFO utilizes information provided by our partner agency Policy
Matters Ohio (obtained through Case Western University’s NEO CANDO database) to mail information
to rental property on which a foreclosure action has been filed. Tenants are provided with information
about their rights and options and encouraged to call CTO or United Way’s First Call for Help phone line
for more assistance. The material has been developed in partnership with the Legal Aid Society of
Cleveland and represents a comprehensive summary of the tenants’ rights. This program has been
nationally recognized and represents an unprecedented effort to protect tenants living in these precarious
circumstances from becoming homeless. Additionally, informational workshops are offered in the
community by request to assist landlords and tenants with individual questions. Clients are also able to
receive one-on-one, face-to-face assistance by appointment.

Total Number of households receiving mail from CTO regarding foreclosure on a rental
property in 2010 = 4,531

Total Number of households who responded to the mailing and called for help = 1,493
Tenant Advocacy & Organizing (Key Personnel: Mike Piepsny, Juanalicia
Duran, Gwen Lykes, Larry Davis)
The Tenant Advocacy & Organizing Program (TAO) assists tenants in multi-family apartment
complexes to organize around common housing issues and concerns. Staff is available to work with
tenants on a variety of issues and to assist in advocating for improved housing conditions.
Notable accomplishments for 2011

CTO organizing staff continued work in over 27 project-based Section 8 properties and 34
unsubsidized properties throughout Cuyahoga County. 90 tenant meetings were hosted
throughout Greater Cleveland and 1,520 individuals were assisted with tenant concerns,
building issues, and other advocacy activities. The goal is to create tenant councils which are
active (meet on a regular basis), operate democratically, are inclusive of all the tenants at the
property, and are wholly independent of management. Staff assists tenants in:





Distributing leaflets in lobby areas;
Placing leaflets at or under tenants' doors;
Distributing leaflets in common areas;
Initiating contact with tenants;
Conducting door-to-door surveys of tenants to ascertain interest in establishing a tenant
organization and to offer information about tenant organizations;
 Posting information on bulletin boards;
 Assisting tenants to participate in tenant organization activities;
 Convening regularly scheduled tenant organization meetings in a space on site and accessible to
tenants, in a manner that is fully independent of management representatives. In order to preserve
the independence of tenant organizations, management representatives may not attend such
meetings unless invited by the tenant organization to specific meetings to discuss a specific issue or
issues; and
 Formulating responses to owner's requests for:
(i) Rent increases;
(ii) Partial payment of claims;
9



(iii) The conversion from project-based paid utilities to tenant-paid utilities;
(iv) A reduction in tenant utility allowances;
(v) Converting residential units to non-residential use, cooperative housing, or condominiums;
(vi) Major capital additions; and
(vii) Prepayment of loans.
CTO played an important part in advocating for and helping develop the effort to create a
local County Housing Trust Fund. CTO continues to work diligently with County/City
leadership and local advocates, service providers, and foundations, in order to make this
much needed asset a reality for helping address our region’s critical affordable housing
needs.
Continued participation on the planning committee for HousingCleveland.org, a free
website available to landlords and tenants to post and search for available rental housing
based on a number of different characteristics.
Assisted the Association of Manufactured Home Residents in Ohio (AMHRO) in their
statewide effort to advocate for the passage of legislation which would strengthen the
rights of manufactured home community residents and home owners.
Tenants for Healthy Homes (Key Personnel: Juanalicia Duran, Gladys Reed,
Mike Piepsny)
The Tenants for Healthy Housing Program conducts inspections of apartment units and assists tenants
in identifying potentially hazardous environmental conditions in rental housing. Staff work to educate
and empower tenants with the tools needed in remedying the conditions and to avoid harm associated
with exposure to environmental hazards and toxins.
Notable accomplishments for 2011
 With our partner Environmental Health Watch, CTO was the recipient of one of only four
Environmental Justice grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The grant is
part of the EPA’s Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving program that
supports environment and health improvements in low-income communities across the nation.
Through the grant, we will be able to educate and arm low-income tenants and their landlords
will the tools and methods of dealing with our growing bedbug epidemic.
 Through a grant from the St. Luke’s Foundation, in collaboration with the Healthy Homes
Advisory Council of Greater Cleveland, CTO contacted and provided over 7,500 Cuyahoga
County landlords and tenants with important information on the dangers of lead paint, other
environmental health hazards and the steps necessary to protect their children.
 CTO has been an important partner in assisting eligible low-income tenants complete
applications for City and County home improvement assistance grants related to lead hazard
control.
 CTO remains an active partner and member of the Healthy Homes Advisory Council of
Greater Cleveland (formerly the Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council), a collaboration
of non-profit agencies, private foundations, and government entities, whose goal is to
eliminate childhood lead poisoning and environmental health dangers throughout Greater
Cleveland.
10
Bridging the Gap (Key Personnel: Randy Cunningham)
CTO’s Bridging the Gap (BTG) program is a program that works to link homeless individuals to
affordable housing by collaborating and creating partnerships with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan
Housing Authority (CMHA), the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), local service agencies and private landlords. Program staff help homeless individuals find an
affordable place to live, provide them with life skills classes and resources so they can successfully
locate and live independently in permanent housing.
Bridging the Gap was originally a program of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. The
program was created in 1998 in an effort to address the problem of the lack of affordable housing in
Cleveland.
Notable accomplishments for 2011





12 formerly homeless individuals have been placed into and have maintained safe, decent,
affordable housing placements.
14 new clients and 91 previous have completed applications for Project based Section 8
properties, CMHA, and/or properties located throughout Cuyahoga County, and are currently
climbing the waiting lists for each specific property.
In 2011, 112 clients and community partners have worked with the program and our Housing
101 program to find out about their housing rights, options, and/or the availability of
affordable housing.
Bridging the Gap Director, Randy Cunningham, has continued the successful monthly
meeting between social service providers in order to encourage dialogue, partnership, and
cooperation concerning not only housing placement services, but also homeless prevention
activities.
Bridging the Gap is a founding partner of Housing 101, a two session course (CLE, CEU
credits available) designed to help agency case managers and social service providers become
better acquainted with the housing institutions, resources, and issues in the Cleveland area.
With this knowledge, those attending these two classes, will be better able to help their clients
access housing resources, and avoid many of the pit falls that can prevent clients from
obtaining and keeping permanent housing.
11
Community Planning (Key Personnel: Mike Piepsny)
CTO's Executive Director doubles as Community Planning Program Director. His work is
supplemented by students and volunteers and supported by United Way Services and the members of
CTO. Community Planning activities include developing and advocating for public policies and
legislation to preserve fair and affordable housing, expand protections for families threatened by lead
poisoning and other home health hazards, protect the rights of residents in manufactured home
parks, and educate housing providers about their duties under the landlord-tenant and fair housing
laws.
Notable accomplishments for 2011
 On October 24th, CTO and our history of good work in informing the population on their
rights and responsibilities, empowering low-income tenants, and advocating for policies that
promote safe, decent, affordable housing were formally recognized on the floor of the United
States House of Representatives.
 CTO was an avid proponent and partner in the creation of the Cuyahoga County Bedbug Task
Force, a collaboration of government agencies, non-profit and private corporations and
concerned citizens working together to dispense information and problem solving methods
related to this threat to the home-environment.
 CTO has been an instrumental partner in a collaborative effort to create a local Housing Trust
Fund. In 2010, County leadership voted to create the Cuyahoga County Housing Trust Fund
and Cuyahoga County Housing Advisory Board to oversee the trust fund. In recognition of
CTO’s work on the effort, our Executive Director, Mike Piepsny has been elected the CoChairman of the Board along with Chris Warren, the City of Cleveland’s Chief of Regional
Development.
 CTO continues to participate in the Cuyahoga Affordable Housing Alliance, a monthly
gathering of advocates: city, county, and federal officials; community organizations and other
interested parties, who meet to keep informed and stay on top of the critical issues facing our
affordable housing community.
 CTO participated in the Homeless Stand Down, a community forum hosted for homeless
individuals in order to inform them of the services and opportunities available to assist them
in locating housing and other needed resources. The event also serves as a reprieve for
homeless individuals during the cold winter months and an opportunity for them enjoy free
entertainment, meals, and services such as dental examinations and haircuts.
 CTO remains a steering
committee member of
housingcleveland.org, a
data base created by a
whole host of non-profit
and governmental organizations (including CTO!) to put in one place a comprehensible list of
for rent, affordable vacancies in Cuyahoga County. In 2011, nearly over one-million searches
were performed and over 30,000 units were added to the site.
Special thanks to the following for their long-term support and recognition of CTO’s important work
in our community:
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13
CTO Staff
Full-time staff







Michael Piepsny – Executive Director
Gladys Reed – Information Specialist and Lead Outreach Specialist
Scott Wells – Program Director, Eviction Diversion Program
Tony D’Amico - Eviction Specialist, Eviction Diversion Program
Randy Cunningham – Program Director, Bridging the Gap Program
Juanalicia Duran – Outreach Specialist
Gwen Lykes – Lead Organizer, Tenant Advocacy & Organizing Program
Part-time employees & Consultants




Valerie Holley-Staten, part-time information specialist
Debra Ike, part-time information specialist
Denise Cooper, Shared Development Director
Michelle Gregorczyk, accountant
Volunteers and interns
 Larry Davis - Senior Employment Center, Mature Services Volunteer
 Pertina Underwood, Student Intern
 Katie Anderbery, Student Intern
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Financial Statement for 2011
Below are the unaudited CTO Income and Expense statements for Fiscal Year 2011 (January 1
through December 31). Statement does not include year-end cash-flow adjustments which will be
available following CTO’s 2011 independent audit.
ACTUAL TO DATE 12/31/11
SUMMARY OF SUPPORT & GENERAL
SUPPORT
CONTR GENERAL & MEMBER DUES
CONTR FR FOUND & TRUSTS
SPECIAL EVENTS REVENUE
UNITED WAY SERVICES ALLOCATIONREGULAR
UNITED
WAY SERVICES DESIGNATIONS
GOVERNMENT AGENCY FEES & GRANTS
CONTRACTED LANDLORD TRAININGS
TOTAL SUPPORT
1,947.00
8,795.87
40,999.00
1,301.24
406,922.23
3,000.00
462,965.34
REVENUE
MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
TOTAL REVENUE
6,540.00
14,470.00
21,010.00
TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE
483,975.34
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
PERSONNEL COSTS
SALARIES & WAGES
KAISER HOSP INSURANCE EXP
FICA PAYMENTS-EMPLOYER'S EXP
UNEMPLOYMENT INS EXPENSE
WORKER'S COMP EXPENSE
TOTAL PERSONNEL COSTS
298,081.56
48,070.28
22,803.24
712.18
1,243.39
370,910.65
NON-PERSONNEL COST
PROFESSIONAL FEES & CONTR SVC
AUDIT EXPENSE
PURCHASED COMPUTER SERVICES
SUPPLIES
CELL PHONE EXPENSES
TELEPHONE EXPENSE
POSTAGE EXPENSE
OCCUPANY
RENTAL & MAINT OF EQUIP
TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT
PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT
PRINTING & PUBLICATIONS
TRAVEL & RIEMBURSABLE EXP
CONFERENCE, CONVENTIONS & MEET
CLIENT ASSISTANCE
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
SPECIAL EVENTS EXPENSE
DIRECTORS & OFFICERS LIAB INS
GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSE
BANK SERVICE FEES
DEPRECIATION EXPENSE-EQUIPMENT
TOTAL NON-PERSONNEL COSTS
9,165.06
6,800.00
266.87
2,452.62
3,704.84
7,172.34
10,366.72
20,115.81
7,463.93
14,076.06
3,191.86
2,921.06
15,963.63
845.00
3,213.35
1,611.65
1,976.60
172.39
1,429.51
2,451.00
115,360.30
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
486,270.95
NET OPERATING RESULTS
(2,295.61)
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SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to the following CTO individual donors and members contributing financial
support in 2011!
2011 NOTABLE CONTRIBUTORS TO CTO’s ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT
EVENT SPONSORS ($100 ticket purchase)
AT&T
The Charles & Helen Brown Memorial Foundation
NHS of Greater Cleveland
Pam and Ken Evans
Philip D. Star & Jane Peterson
Jim & Laurie Rokakis
Association of Manufactured Home Residents in
Ohio
Columbia Park Homeowners/Tenants Association
Michael & Lisa Piepsny
Frank & Diana Pojman
Ruby Nelson
EVENT ADVOCATES ($75 ticket purchase)
Randy Cunningham & Tris Roberts
Bill Callahan
Amy Weahry
Chuck Ackerman & Catherine Donnelly
CORPORATE & INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT RAFFLE DONATIONS
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Alpine Valley
Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resorts
Capitol Theatre
Cinemark Valley View
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Metroparks
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
The Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Public Theatre
East Coast Custard
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Great Lakes Brewing Company
Great Wolf Lodge
Gypsy Beans & Baking Co
Improv Comedy Club & Restaurant
Lake County Captains
Lake Erie Monsters Hockey
Lake MetroParks
Laura's Shear Paradise
Mike and Lisa Piepsny
Miller Boat Line
Near West Theatre
Ohio Wine Producers Association
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Phoenix Coffee
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and
Museum
The Cleveland Pops Orchestra
Starbucks (from Denise)
Best Buy (from Denise)
Grovewood Tavern & Wine Bar
Tris Cunningham
Laurice Skin Care & Cosmetics
Emily Kudej (Bath & Body Works)
Thank you to the following Municipalities, Elected Officials, Corporations, and Foundations for their
2011 program and operating support:
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AT&T
City of Cleveland
City of Cleveland Councilman Anthony
Brancatelli, Ward 12
City of Cleveland Councilman Brian
Cummins, Ward 14
City of Cleveland Councilman T.J. Dow,
Ward 7
City of Cleveland Councilwoman Phyllis
Cleveland, Ward 5
City of Cleveland Heights
City of East Cleveland
City of Euclid
City of Lakewood
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City of Shaker Heights
Cleveland Foundation
Cuyahoga County
Eva & Joseph Bruening Foundation
National City Community Development
Corporation
The Saint Luke’s Foundation
State of Ohio
U.S. Department of Housing & Urban
Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
United Way of Greater Cleveland