Rental subsidies planned for new veterans’ housing in Cleveland

CMHA Board approves vouchers for planned veterans housing

Two housing projects in Cleveland designed for veterans and their families will offer rental subsidies.

The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Directors approved two agenda items at its August 7 meeting that will allow the authority to enter into housing certificate contracts with developers for two upcoming projects:

• Cleveland West Veterans Home on the West Side
• Emerald Senior Apartments in Glenville

Neither are CMHA properties. CHN Housing Partners is developing Cleveland West Veterans Housing and is partnering with Emerald Development and Economic Network, Inc. to develop the Glenville property.

Dorivette Nolan, CMHA chief of policy, planning and voucher administration, said units at Cleveland West Veterans Housing will be available in fall 2026. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will make direct recommendations.

The Glenville project will include 62 fully furnished one-bedroom apartments, Nolan said, adding that the apartments will also be available to older veterans whose income is 50% or less of the area median income.

$7.5 million to fill vacancies in CMHA properties

In addition, CMHA is increasingly relying on temporary staff to fill vacancies in its properties.

The board signed a one-year contract with 24 developers, with a total cost not to exceed $7.5 million. Sharhonda Greer, CMHA’s chief of housing, administration and operations, said the contract is to prepare vacant units on housing authority land for occupancy.

Greer said there are 694 vacant apartments in CMHA’s low-rent and rental subsidy portfolios. She added that on average, CMHA vacates about 100 apartments per month.

The 24 new contractors will be in addition to the 36 already in place, Greer said. Gordian Associates, Inc. manages the program, but CMHA works closely with the contractors, Greer said.

The goal, according to Greer, is to meet the standard set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which requires that one-bedroom apartments be prepared for re-rental within seven to ten days of being vacated.

Read the notes of documentarian Ashley Lubecky:

Read documentarian Marvetta Rutherford’s live tweet thread: