The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), the first chartered housing authority established in the United States, has been the primary organization providing housing for low-income individuals and families in Cleveland since 1933.
All CMHA policies and operational guidelines are set and reviewed by a Board of Commissioners, a body of five members that meets monthly to review committee reports and vote on resolutions to authorize contracts and new policies. The meetings are open to the public and can be watched online by request or in-person at CMHA’s central offices at 8120 Kinsman Road.
The board also chairs seven committees for CMHA, including Operations, DEI, Safety Management and Resident Affairs.
Who are CMHA’s commissioners?
The mayor and Cleveland City Council each appoint two members of CMHA’s Board of Commissioners. The fifth member is appointed by the mayor of the city with the second-largest number of CMHA-managed units, currently East Cleveland. At least one member of the board appointed by the mayor of Cleveland must be a CMHA resident.
The current chair of the board is Stephanie Pope-Earley, who is also the director of Pretrial Services at Cleveland Municipal Court.
Making public comment at CMHA board meetings
According to the CMHA Board of Commissioners, eight people have given public comments during their monthly meetings since 2022. Residents commented to the board on topics such as the security deposit process, communication between staff, residents, and clients, and administration of the Reasonable Accommodation process.
Public comment is held at Board of Commissioners’ meetings directly after new business and before the commission goes into executive session. Anyone wishing to speak at the meeting must fill out a Public Comment Request Form that must be received by the due date shown on the request form page, around 10 days to two weeks before the meeting. You do not need to be a CMHA resident to comment.
Up to seven public speakers are permitted at one meeting, and permission is subject to the determination of the board chair. Approved speakers will receive a phone call the day before the meeting to confirm. No speakers can address the board more than twice in a calendar year, and no one can speak at consecutive board meetings.
According to CMHA’s rules for public comment, requests on topics that are not directly related to CMHA business will not be considered.
When is the next meeting?
The CMHA Board of Commissioners is off in July. Their next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 7, at 3 p.m. Public comment request forms for this meeting must be received by Friday, July 26.
Cleveland Documenters Mildred Seward and Marvetta Rutherford have more from the June 5 Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Meeting including:
