The original version of this article was updated to show that Summit County Continuum of Care was an organizer of the housing event.
Empowerment.
Knowledge.
Transformation.
That’s what The Freedom BLOC, Summit County Continuum of Care, and Fair Housing Contact Service Inc., organizers of Saturday’s “Housing Is a Human Right” symposium, were hoping to achieve with about 80 attendees ready to make change.
Akron attorney Imokhai Okolo, a Freedom BLOC organizer, defined the organization’s housing campaign, which states: “Every human being is entitled to housing (if they choose) that is fit for human beings, regardless of race, socio-economic status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any one of the number of labels we place on people.”
To achieve this vision, the housing campaign aims to transform, reform and reorganize many aspects of society and the economy.
“If we come together, and if we can identify that we have common struggles, together we can change things,” Okolo said.
Saturday’s audience, gathered at Emmanuel Christian Academy at 350 S. Portage Path, learned about federal, state and local policies, programs and funding streams they said have both enabled and inhibited wealth building.
A brief history lesson took participants from the days of colonialism and the establishment of the United States to the current housing crisis faced by residents of Akron and Summit County.
Learning from others in Akron neighborhoods
During a panel discussion, three community members — Karmaya Kelly, Camille Smith and Monique Sales — spoke about housing issues they have experienced while living in the Akron area.
Kelly said she has worked to advocate on behalf of her father, who is a tenant in a subsidized housing unit. Smith talked about her efforts to protect her family from dangerous living conditions and dealing with an unresponsive landlord. Sales recounted an electrical fire that destroyed her home and left her family homeless for six months.
When communicating with landlords, building inspectors and city officials, Kelly suggested tenants keep a journal or binder dedicated solely to their housing issues. This can help them: keep track of who they’ve spoken with during phone calls; store receipts for expenses they may have because of repairs; and retain copies of important documents.
All are valuable pieces of information that can support their case if they have to go to court.
Smith encouraged those with housing issues to talk with their neighbors about their shared experiences. One goal of The Freedom BLOC’s housing campaign is to support and build tenant unions and educate leaders to address issues with landlords.
“Communicate with your neighbors. They are a valuable piece to the puzzle,” Sales added. “There is definitely strength in numbers.”
Where is help with housing available?
Following the panel discussion, attendees chose from three breakout sessions, where they could learn more about tenant organizing, eviction awareness and data collection, and local resources available to Akronites who are renting or fighting to stay housed.
During the local resource session, moderator Parinita Singh led a discussion with representatives from the Akron Municipal Court, Summit County Continuum of Care, Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center and Fair Housing Contact Service Inc.
They spoke about support programs — most available at no charge — for Summit County residents. These programs can help people find an affordable home, ensure it is safe for their family and provide assistance if housing concerns are not being addressed.
Some helpful websites discussed during this session included:
SummitHousingSearch.org – This site, funded by a grant from the City of Akron and United Way of Summit & Medina, is a free rental property search service that links people with available rental housing and tenant resources in the area. It features an affordability calculator, rental checklist and information about renters’ rights and responsibilities. It also is supported by a toll-free bilingual call center, available at (877) 428-8844, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
SummitCOC.org – This website, from Summit County Continuum of Care, provides a list of emergency shelters and offers a centralized intake system that people can contact by calling 211.
Operated by United Way, this system can “ensure that all people experiencing a housing crisis have fair and equal access and are quickly identified, assessed for, referred, and connected to housing and assistance based on their strengths and needs.”
FairHousingAkron.org – Fair Housing Contact Service Inc.’s website offers information in a variety of languages regarding tenants’ rights and the duties of a landlord under the Ohio Landlord Tenant Act.
The agency’s website also includes sample letters tenants and landlords can use as a guide to communicate about housing issues. Speakers at the symposium suggested sending these types of letters by certified mail so there is a record that the letter was delivered.
It’s also important, they added, to keep the receipt for the cost of sending the letter by certified mail because it’s an added expense that may support their case down the road.
Speakers in this breakout session also encouraged attendees to rally their neighbors and attend Akron City Council meetings. (For a schedule of upcoming meetings, visit www.akroncitycouncil.org/city-council-meeting.) Residents can sign up in advance to speak in person or remotely. It is an impactful way to educate city leaders on new or unresolved issues in the community, they said.
Looking for humanity
After the breakout sessions, the group reconvened to discuss local policies and cooperative housing solutions. Then — using The Freedom BLOC’s new housing workbook as a guide — they broke into pairs to interview each other about their own experiences living in Summit County and changes they’d like to see in their community.
There were pairs of young and not-so-young people, white and Black residents, college students and community leaders. Some shared stories and laughed out loud, while others sat in the pews, deep in conversation. Many continued their discussions long after the program ended, breaking bread together and enjoying a catered luncheon in the school cafeteria.
“The conversation we had at the end is really the essence of what we do here at The Freedom BLOC — getting folks to know one another, to see the humanity in one another,” Okolo said. “We can come together to build power and change the realities in our community.”To learn about The Freedom BLOC’s upcoming events, visit www.thefreedombloc.org.