Tina Merlitti, Moderator
Robert Taylor, Resource Delegate

Workgroup Members:
Raymond L. Borom, Michael Brillhart, Ralph Christ, Orrin Von Koenig, Theresa Morelli and Rose Strelbicki

The task of the Imagine.Akron Housing-Landlord/Tenant Workgroup was to examine the current relationships between Landlords and Tenants and the City of Akron, and make recommendations as to how we would like to see things in the year 2025. We discovered in our examination of the current climate in Akron’s Landlord/Tenant relationships is that the problems seem to stem from a simple lack of communication. As we discussed the current difficulties with the organizations serving housing needs, it became clear that the information and services that seem to be lacking do exist, except that very few people know about them. It has been observed that many social service and governmental agencies provide a myriad of service to meet the community’s needs but they do not have the resources to properly market their programs. For those who find themselves in need of guidance through this quagmire of agencies and forms there is little assistance to help them navigate through it.

In an effort to increase the flow of information the Landlord/Tenant Workgroup has developed two goals it is felt can be easily implemented now and hopefully perfected by the year 2025.

Landlord Registration Packet

In an effort to facilitate the flow of information between the City and local landlord a packet of helpful information should be provided upon registration of rental properties. Landlords are encouraged to share this information with their tenants. The packet should include the following:

• The City of Akron Department of Health Environmental Health Housing Code 150
• Fair Housing Contact Service Tenant-Landlord Handbook
• Housing Network brochure
• Permits Required
• Akron Action Guide

The resource for this packet would come from the Department of Health Marketing Budget and from fees collected through the Rental Unit Registration Program.

Advisory Board

In our early discussions, the Housing-Landlord/Tenant Workgroup felt the need to create an independent Advisory Board to act as an information resource for landlords and tenants. This Advisory Board would be an independent board made up of various groups in the Akron area with an interest in housing. The Advisory Board would act as a liaison between landlords and the City for disputes over alleged violations of the City’s ordinances having to do with health codes, building codes, etc. This Board would be a resource for affordable legal service for both landlords and tenants and would provide information on available grants and loans from local, state and federal sources. This Advisory Board would provide "one stop shopping" for anyone who has housing needs. What we found was the Housing Network.

Although the Housing Network is currently reorganizing, it was noted that the Housing Network has many of the elements that were envisioned for the Advisory Board. The Housing Network is an independent member organization made up of various groups with housing interests. Their mission of education and support meets the Housing-Landlord/Tenant Workgroup’s goal of "one stop shopping" for information and services. Through our research into the Housing Network we found that the Housing Network has the ability to act as a liaison between the City of Akron and landlords.

The Housing Network, however, seems to have some of the same communication problems that other governmental and social service agencies have, namely, lack of marketing. By supporting and marketing the Housing Network this will in effect be marketing all the groups and agencies that are Housing Network members. Interested parties would have only to go to the Housing Network to get contact information about Block Grants, Lead Paint, or Emergency Home Repair. We strongly encourage all City of Akron Departments that deal with housing issues to take a more active role in the Housing Network. The Housing Network has the ability to take a great burden off the City by acting as an independent mediator to work through complicated housing issues and provide the citizens of Akron with the assistance they seek. We are aware that the City sponsors the Housing Network Home Repair Workshops but we feel that further support is needed to enable the Housing Network to reach the people that need to be reached.