Tenants' Rights

Helping Greater Clevelanders access stable housing, legal protections, and tenant support groups

Young black woman with concerned expression sitting at a paper-strewn table talking on the phone

About

Over 50% of Cleveland residents are renters, and many face challenges like neglectful landlords or fear of retaliation for reporting issues. The City of Cleveland’s Tenants’ Rights initiative aims to connect tenants with housing resources and help them organize against absentee landlords.

This initiative will provide education, legal assistance, mediation, and emergency housing resources to vulnerable renters. 

Impact

By addressing the city’s housing challenges through education, advocacy, and direct support, this program aims to restore stability for Cleveland’s renters and foster long-term systemic improvements.

Young black woman with concerned expression sitting at a paper-strewn table talking on the phone

About

Over 50% of Cleveland residents are renters, and many face challenges like neglectful landlords or fear of retaliation for reporting issues. The City of Cleveland’s Tenants’ Rights initiative aims to connect tenants with housing resources and help them organize against absentee landlords.

This initiative will provide education, legal assistance, mediation, and emergency housing resources to vulnerable renters. 

Impact

By addressing the city’s housing challenges through education, advocacy, and direct support, this program aims to restore stability for Cleveland’s renters and foster long-term systemic improvements.

The program empowers tenants through collective action, education, and direct support, including:

Education & Organizing: Workshops and training on tenant rights, fair housing, and forming neighborhood-based tenant unions.
Emergency Housing: Assistance with cash support, temporary housing, and essential needs.
Legal & Mediation Services: Pre- and post-eviction mediation, legal education, and tenant advocacy.
Centralized Intake: United Way’s 211 line will serve as the primary referral source, connecting tenants to resources tailored to their needs.

The program empowers tenants through collective action, education, and direct support, including:

Centralized Intake: United Way’s 211 line will serve as the primary referral source, connecting tenants to resources tailored to their needs.
Education & Organizing: Workshops and training on tenant rights, fair housing, and forming neighborhood-based tenant unions.
Emergency Housing: Assistance with cash support, temporary housing, and essential needs.
Legal & Mediation Services: Pre- and post-eviction mediation, legal education, and tenant advocacy.

Tenants' Rights Initiative: Key Partners

The Tenants’ Rights ordinance passed by Cleveland City Council in January of 2025 allocates $1 million over three years to six non-profits. 

The funding will expand existing programs at Legal Aid Society of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Mediation Center, Smart Development, Fifth Christian Church, and the Morelands Group. 

United Way of Greater Cleveland will serve as the initiative’s fiscal administrator, and United Way’s 211 helpline will refer callers with housing condition or landlord issues to the agencies best equipped to address their individual situation.

Learn more

Download the Tenants' Rights Program flyer

Read the press release

Read the press release from Cleveland City Council.

Read about the housing crisis in Cleveland

Data from the United Way 211 helpline and the Right to Counsel – Cleveland evaluation show that Cleveland residents are experiencing a housing crisis. Housing needs have been increasing since the pandemic, affordable housing has become scarcer, and more renters are living in poor conditions because there are no affordable alternatives. 

Read the full blog here: Addressing the housing crisis in Cleveland: insights from data.

Explore our other programs

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A public-private partnership committed to reducing lead exposure among Cleveland's children and families.
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