Thread by @DocumenterK

Hi, my name is Keith and I'm post-tweeting Monday, January 31, 2022, Cleveland City Council's Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee ("FDEIC") Meeting that started at or around 2:00PM.

The stream for this Commitee was broadcasted by @TV20Cleveland and is accessible on the Council's Youtube channel,

Read about FDEIC,

clevelandcitycouncil.org/council/commit…

Note: This was previously the Finance Committee. Council updated their rules & committees for 2022-2025.

It was renamed and the broadened scope included to,

"monitor compliance with community benefits, agreements, policies and procedures; review legislation and monitor the city’s efforts on diversity, equity and inclusion."

Committee Leadership and Members

Chair, Ward 6 Council Member @Griff4CLE6 informs that a quorum of members is not necessary today as they will be hearing a presentation about Cleveland's Right to Counsel. He acknowledged @kevinkelleyCLE and @TBrancatelli for the role they had in this initiative.

Rule 14 of Rules of Council, 2022-2025 requires a quorum of the majority of members for the transaction of business.

Rule 15 requires a quorum in order to take action on legislation, aside from reading and discussion.

Colleen Cotter, the Executive Director of Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, is present. (Center)

August "Auggie" Napoli Jr., CEO of United Way of Cleveland is to her right. "Proud p

Niel Steinkamp, Managing Director at Stout, is to her left. He performed the annual evaluation of Cleveland's Right to Counsel.

Off screen several individuals introduced themselves, but you can't really hear them.

Cotter begins by briefly summarizing the law as it pertains to Right To Counsel ("RTC") which is only constitutionally protected in criminal cases. She acknowledges that Cleveland City Council has sought to offer counsel in eviction cases and will offer a report on that.

Auggie reviews some history. In Sept 2020, Stout collaborated with United Way and CLE Legal Aid to assess program success and evaluate Cleveland's model of right to counsel. A report was due January 31st, Council received it this morning.

Steinkamp is going to share the highlights of the evaluation of Cleveland's eviction right to counsel. Their report was organized around six key themes.

Note: Review below image.

Tracked 25 distinct client goals and assessed the percentage of reaching various outcomes.

Note: review table in image for outcome information and percentages.

Right To Counsel in Cleveland is specifically targeting households with children.

Steinkamp "With respect to housing conditions, we were able to learn about the intersection between housing conditions and eviction issues. ... There is a very deep intersection between the two, close to 80% of cases."

Conditions included plumbing issues, ceiling damage, infestation, water damage.

Many client seek to leave the damage house.

Next several slides depict how evictions impact black and female households.

"42% of all 2021 Cleveland eviction filings were in majority Black/African American census tracts compared to only 19% in majority white census tracts."

"There is a frequency of substandard housing conditions is higher than it is for white clients."

Note: in the earlier Council Caucus meeting, there was much discussion about the role outsized landlords have in Cleveland's market and recently @ClevelandScene reported on the conditions of the real estate market in Cleveland.

The Right To Counsel program has helped amplify and leverage rental assistance. Legal Aid helps clients navigate that process.

79% of clients were aware of rental assistance during client intake

21% of clients were not aware of rental assistance during client intake

Financial impact of RTC Program: quantifiable costs

Financial impact of RTC Program: unquantifiable costs

Steinkamp, "RTC Program is creating a systemic transformation of access to justice in Cleveland."

Note: Review percentages below

Visual Representation of RTC Program

Steinkamp / Stout reached out to landlords who generally supported client's right to counsel.

Note: this is interesting given the previous comments made in the Caucus meeting.

Eight (8) recommendations for RTC Program for 2022

"Wow! Very very good news! Far exceeded our expectations. Did you layover data from the schools? Did we stop ats much transiency that happens in the schools?"

Steinkamp replies, "Not specifically, I do think that is an opportunity this year. ... Research around the country shows that evictions is connected to chronic absenteeism at schools but Cleveland has yet to do a quantitative analysis but I would like to for 2022."

W6 Griffin, "How much does this cost per case? How much investment do we put in per case?"

Steinkamp, "We can definitely get those numbers."

W9, Kevin Conwell chimes in and states "Look at the good will it costs, sometimes you can't measure that. ... The prevention part, that's important, a lot of people can't measure prevention. I'd like to see the numbers on that."

W8, Michael Polensek asks, "Where the majority of the evictions filed for late-rent payments, no rent payments? What's the number one reason for an eviction?"

Steinkamp, "The way evictions are filed by landlords. Most are for non-payments. We have tried to go deeper to assess what are the other circumstances that are arising. Things that arise like conditions, verbal agreements, and mental health."

W8, Polensek, "Do the majority of evictions filed, do the occupants/tenant have a [written] rental agreement?"

Steinkamp, "Most of them have a signed rental agreement."

W8, Polensek, "I'm look at your census tract data and I can see in my own community where evictions versus other sections - the highest concentration of 2 family homes, properties owned by LLCs, or high-rises."

W8, Polensek, "What has your been findings and interaction with CHMA?"

Steinkamp, "CHMA didn't file any eviction last year. ... They worked to not bring any. It dramatically changes the landscape in Cleveland when you remove the largest evictor."

W8, Polensek, "None of us want to see anyone evicted because they have fallen on hard times. On the other side of the equation are landlords that are trying to get out [bad tenants]."

He shares a story about a pastor and his wife dealing with bad tenants.

Ward 12, Rebecca Maurer asks, "If we had an infinite amount of money, what would be the next roadblock to expand Right To Counsel to residents in Cleveland?"

Cotter, "This program cost $2,700,000, Council gives $300,000/yearly, we were also recipients of CBDG and CNDG CARES fund through the city - about $1,000,000. There is $1,700,000 gap filled by philanthropic measures. That will not be sustainable."

Cotter, "This only covers tenants at 100% of the Federal poverty guidelines with a child in their home. So elderly people without a child that are 100% below the poverty do not qualify. People above the poverty guidelines do not qualify."

Cotter, "So, about 30% of Cleveland tenants qualifies. 60% would qualify if it went up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines."

Auggie, "IF you think about it, we saved $4,700,000 saved which is a very good investment made for $300,000 [plus the CBDG funds of $700,000].

Ward 15, @jennyspencercle "What is the overal budget as it now stands?"

Cotter, "2.7 million in total."

Spencer, "300k allocated by Council. 700k allocated by CBDG and CARES Act?"

Cotter, "That is correct, so far in Cleveland there is 300k being funded."

Spencer, "So the 1.7 million has been fully funded until?"

Cotter, "Through 2021, so we need funds for 2022."

W15 Spencer, "We want to expand but we need to make sure we are shored up for the current amount?"

Cotter, "That is correct. ... Cleveland is the 4th city in the Country to offer RTC. Legal Aid has applied for ERA Federal funds and CBDG funds from the City but has yet to hear."

W12, Maurer enquire if Legal Aid had to change how they helped others.

Cotter informs they've added staff and expanded.

Auggie suggest the number to watch is the savings number that the City secures by helping people. It will only increase if it continues to help more people.

W15 Spencer, "You requested funds from what Department?"

Cotter, "Development and I can't recall the other one."

Spencer enquires if cash flow is a concern.

Auggie responds yes, it is a concern, but the public-private partnership is designed to buffer that.

Cotter, "Concerning 2022, Stout has provided real good mechanisms for predicting the resources we need going forward. ... I would expect the 2022 budget to be greater as more evictions are filed."

Auggie gets to the point. They want to expand the amount that City Council spends annually on the RTC program.

"We want to stay focused on what the City can do."

Spencer asks, "In what # or % of cases were rental assistance dollars used?"

Steinkamp offers a detailed reply.

Steinkamp summarizes, "Rental assistance is very important in these cases. Legal Aid is very important in these cases. ... These are complicated non-payment cases. Lawyers are essential for solving it for everybody involved."

W16, Kazy "How many cases did you work on during 2021 during the moratorium? Explain that process."

Cotter, "Landlords can still file and did. We would get a call and help them raise a defense. If successful, the court would stay the eviction."

Kazy asks for clarification on the RTC program acceptance requirements versus Legal Aid not turning anyone away.

Cotter, "RTC as passed by this body has 100% and a child. So, for that category we represent them, every single one. if someone is outside of that, we try to represent them. There is no RTC."

Kazy asks who came up with that requirement.

Cotter states it was not Legal Aid or United Way.

Kazy asks about if the funding Cleveland provided covered the cases they did work on.

Auggie reminds him it was only 300k, but 2.7 million was spent so it worked with non-profit helps [and other Federal grants via the City].

Kazy enquires about CHN rental relief funds and the role it has played in helping Cleveland residents in their home and plans when it dries up.

Cotter responds, "Rental Assistance has been very helpful. It is a key component to a good RTC program."

Kazy thanks them and advocates that we need to look at expanding this program to all residents.

Steinkamp, "Rental assistance helps prevent eviction filing."

Auggie, "Rental assistance is hugely important in stabilizing housing."

Kazy asks if United Way offers budget management to people.

Auggie, "We would love to develop a program to address that."

Ward 14, Jasmin Santana gives a shoutout to the off-screen support staff of United Way and Cleveland Legal Aid.

She asks what happens when a client finds out about rental assistance.

Cotter, "We have a close relationship with CHN. Our experience has been as long as we keep all parties informed, everyone is willing to delay so the landlords can be made whole."

Santana, "Are property owners turning away rental assistance?"

Off-screen Hazel is now on-screen, "There are some that does."

Griffin asks about the funding requests, is it to grow or fill the gap to 2.7 million from 300k.?

Auggie "it's important we solidify the funding for 2022 and 2023...then we can scale it."

Cotter responds, "It is both, the budget may be greater in the future if we have to expand. ... If Counsel is to expand, Legal Aid is ready. ... We need the financial commitment from the City."

Griffin, "What percentage of the city are renters?"

Hazel, "I don't recall but it is in the report."

Monday, January 31, 2022, Cleveland City Council's Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Meeting adjourned at or around 3:35PM.

Remember to check out recorded notes and live-tweets for other governance meetings. They are posted on the Cleveland Documenter's website, access past meetings here:

cleveland.documenters.org/meetings/?alt=…

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This was for @cledocumenters and @NeighborUpCle.