Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Tenants Organization and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless oppose the closing of the Jay Hotel on Jay Avenue in the Ohio City neighborhood. Both CTO and NEOCH abhor the exploitation by the owner in charging morally indefensible rents to very low income and vulnerable populations, but we do not understand the City of Cleveland’s position to close the property, making 90 households homeless. “There has to be an alternative to closing the Jay Hotel, the last place in the City of Cleveland that charges by the night, than boarding up the property. There are many bright people in the City who should be able to come up with an alternative to forcing so many people onto the streets,” said Brian Davis, executive director of NEOCH.

One alternative, that both agencies are suggesting, is the passing of rent control for hotels that cater to very low income individuals and allow them to stay for a long period of time. Rent control would remove the exploitation of those who live in the Jay Hotel. “We believe that the City can come up with a better strategy to deal with the Jay Hotel in the model of the Detroiter, which is currently being renovated,” said Mike Foley, executive director of CTO. The Detroiter on West 65^th was recently sold to the local development corporation and is currently being renovated to serve low income individuals. No one was displaced to the streets at the Detroiter, and the property will soon return to benefit the community.

This is the worst time of the month to displace people according to shelter directors. Those who are disabled do not have money left from their monthly disability check. All the shelters are at 120-130% of capacity, and the City has not constructed a plan to find appropriate housing for these individuals. Many of the current residents have a mental illness, and need specialized care. “To turn mentally ill people out on the mean streets of Cleveland, harkens back to the cold hearted days of the previous administration,” said Davis.

The strategy currently adopted by the City has an immediate impact on increasing homelessness locally, and will result in a continued court fight. “The City has a high threshold to overcome in court in order to take property, and we do not believe that the harm created by the boarding of the Jay Hotel outweighs the good of temporarily shutting down this building,” Foley said. Non-profit organizations, Cuyahoga County, and other community activists have worked for months to try to come to an alternative than creating more homelessness locally.

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Press Release

For more information call: Brian Davis or Angela Joyce at 216/241-1104

Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless

2012 West 25^th St. #717

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

For Immediate Release
January 9, 2003

Why Fund a Program that is Out of Business Over One that Houses over 100 people per year?

In December 2002, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Senator George Voinovich announced $13 million in federal funding to assist homeless agencies in better serving homeless people. The story that was missed was that the Bridging the Gap program, which works with over 200 homeless people a year in assisting people in transition into permanent housing, was not funded, while a program currently out of business received money.

Triumph House, a transitional housing program under the direction of CMHA, opened in 1998 and was closed in 2002. The program was provided renewal funding in 2002, but only operated in the first four months of the year. The program was funded by HUD at nearly $200,000 in 2002 but closed early in the year. HUD still renewed their grant for 2003 at $185,000 as part of the $13 million announcement.

BTG assists homeless people with housing applications by providing a voice mail box and a place to receive mail. BTG staff tracks the individual’s application and notifies the applicant of a scheduled interview. After placement, one BTG staff person remains in contact with the newly placed tenant to assure that they are not in danger of being evicted.

Foundations currently fund the project, but that will soon be significantly reduced. BTG was asking for $50,000 a year over the next three years from HUD. Triumph House is expected to back sometime in 2003, but without HUD funding BTG may close.

The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless is the fiscal agent for the BTG program, and has appealed the denial of funding. Congressman Dennis Kucinich has assisted in asking HUD to review this decision.

The Homeless Grapevine

2012 West 25^th St. #717

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

216/241-1104

FAX: 216/241-1104

neoch@bbs2.rmrc.net

January 28, 2003

Governor Jennifer Granholm

State of Michigan

P.O. Box 30013

Lansing, MI 48909

Dear Governor Granholm:

I wrote to your predecessor with this request, but did not hear a response. We have found that our state is in serious financial deficit, and need bold solutions. I know that we have had our problems between Ohio and Michigan in the past, but it is time to bury our differences. I understand that your citizens are still upset over the military loss at the battle of Toledo over 200 years ago. And I am sure the Buckeyes national football championship did not bring the state's closer together. It is time to put all this rivalry behind us and come to some reconciliation. I would like to ask if you would consider buying the Counties of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Medina from Ohio thus allowing us to join the state of Michigan.

We had originally proposed $5 billion for the four counties in Ohio, but we have met here in Cleveland and approved a fire sale of $4.5 billion because of the need to generate money quickly. We are willing to do a petition drive or a ballot initiative in Ohio to show you our commitment to the move. We are asking the State of Michigan to buy the four most prestigious counties of Ohio for a bargain basement price. These prices will never again be so low. Our Governor campaigned on the fact that the deficit may not be as deep and claimed his Democrat challenger was acting like a fortune teller in predicting huge deficits. Now we find that the deficit may be deeper than Democratic predictions and in fact we have a $700 million deficit over the next five months.

As a new Democratic Governor of a blue collar strong Midwestern state, this initiative would catapult you into the national limelight if accepted. This would solidify your state’s position as the state with the longest shoreline. We also have a couple of lighthouses that would augment your tourist industry. I know that you will find the citizen's of the four Ohio Counties to be hungry for real political leadership and progressive thinking. We no longer can maintain affiliation with a state dominated by the self described "cavemen caucus." We need your help.

Michigan would gain the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame, the Browns, the Indians, the world renowned Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Public Theatre, and the Museum of Art. I think that the citizens of Michigan would embrace the four cluster counties as the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. For an extra $1 billion, we would be willing to throw in Summit County, the home of Akron, into the deal. I know that you would be taking on the Ohio County with the largest number of poor people, but both Geauga and Medina have high property values and Michigan would add 2 or 3 members to your Congressional delegation thus adding to your state's power in national politics.

We do not believe that Northeast Ohio fits into Ohio. Our city was chiseled out of the steel and manufacturing background as were many of your cities. We have a strong commitment to unions, and we would prefer your state funding system for supporting schools to the Ohio system. Greater Cleveland elected officials are ignored at the State House, and our governor has no vision for how to respond to the needs of the citizen's of Ohio. The Governor and state legislators continue to balance the budget on the backs of poor people by cutting services and funding to social programs and education. Homeless and hungry people, other low income people, those coming out of corrections situations, people with mental illnesses, and the medically indigent are ignored by our state elected officials.

Clevelanders are tired of our elected officials working on concealed weapon's legislation, how to avoid debating a fair system for funding schools, and how to avoid passing anti-predatory lending legislation, while poor people suffer. We believe that Michigan is more diverse and more accepting and willing to help people living in poverty. We believe that Northeast Ohio would be a good fit in the state of Michigan. At this time, we are only looking at Michigan, and we are not attempting a bidding war with other states. We hope to have this transfer will take place during the summer of 2003 to assist Ohio with its massive expected deficit.

The Governor of Ohio did not seem interested in selling Cleveland or Toledo when asked during the election, but I am sure with a massive petition drive and ballot initiative we could convince him. We have lived as political exiles for 15 years and seek asylum in the State of Michigan.

Sincerely,

Brian P. Davis

Editor, Homeless Grapevine

cc: Governor Robert Taft