Richmond Heights mayor warns cuts to rental assistance could displace residents

Mayor Kim Thomas told the Richmond Heights City Council on May 13 that recent cuts to federal rental-assistance programs, including Section 8, and rising property-tax burdens could lead to resident displacement and additional foreclosure risk. "We're probably gonna get some phone calls. More importantly, we're gonna get some residents that may be displaced," Thomas said.

Thomas said the city recently hosted a property-tax assistance session that was well attended and that the tax administrator reported many residents are facing difficulty paying property taxes. She said a follow-up session is scheduled "on May" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; the exact date was not specified at the meeting. Thomas noted that some seniors in surrounding communities have property-tax bills higher than their mortgages and that Richmond Heights does not currently have a city set-aside fund for rental assistance.

The mayor described how reductions to rental-assistance funding could affect both renters and group homes in the city. "When funding is cut for assistance, it's gonna affect or impact those group homes as well," she said. Thomas said she had briefed "Chief William Zana and Chief Newman" about the likely increase in calls for help and emphasized that courts will still proceed on eviction actions if rent is not paid: "the courts will say, if you don't pay your rent, you are evicted."

Thomas reminded council that about two to two-and-a-half years ago the city obtained county funding through a third party to provide two to three months of rental assistance to residents who were behind. She said that funding source is not currently available and urged preparedness for residents seeking help.

The mayor also said Richmond Heights Local School hosted a mental-health art event in partnership with MetroHealth and that the city plans to display some student art at City Hall. She noted police-bike patrols have begun after the arrival of the new bicycles.

No formal action or vote on creating a local rental-assistance fund or new eviction-prevention program was taken at the meeting; the discussion was informational.

Ending: Council members were informed of the potential for increased demand on city services and were alerted that residents may contact city offices seeking help. No formal motion or directive to create a rental-assistance program was recorded on May 13.