Cuyahoga County’s Housing Crisis: What Cleveland Needs Now

Cuyahoga County is facing a housing crisis, and this episode of Cleveland Pulse breaks down what that really means for Cleveland families, renters, homeowners, and neighborhoods. Host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Anthony Scott, Esq., Director of Housing and Community Development for Cuyahoga County, for a grounded conversation about housing access, vacant lots, affordability, code enforcement, and the real barriers keeping people from safe, dignified housing. Anthony shares how a lack of resources sits at the center of the crisis, from the shortage of available housing to the difficulty of repairing older homes that families have lived in for generations. He also explains why vacant properties, demolitions, and rising development costs continue to shape Cleveland’s housing landscape. The conversation also explores “zombie titles” and heirs property issues, showing how unclear ownership can keep families from accessing assistance or preserving generational assets. Anthony breaks down the county’s role in housing, including HUD funding, CDBG dollars, HOME funds, down payment assistance, and the hard choices local government has to make when there is never enough funding to meet the full need. Later in the episode, Anthony discusses the push for a new housing fund and a broader vision for “workforce housing” for residents who earn too much for some programs but still struggle to afford stable housing. He outlines four key priorities: development, down payment assistance, repair and rehab, and emergency rental assistance. This is a must-listen conversation for anyone who cares about Cleveland community advocacy, economic equity in Ohio, Cleveland civic engagement, and the future of Black leadership in Cleveland. If you want real talk about housing policy, neighborhood stability, and what practical solutions could look like in Cuyahoga County, this episode delivers.