As rents rise, a look at local efforts to add more protections for tenants

Finding a safe, affordable place to live was hard before the pandemic, but more than two years later, the country is seeing the cost of rent skyrocket, along with every other cost of living increase we've seen this year such as groceries and gas. Rents on new leases are up by 14 percent from last year, and are up more than 30 percent in cities like Austin, Seattle, and Cincinnati. Prior to the pandemic, a two to three percent annual increase was normal. Just last month, the median-listed rent for an available apartment rose above $2000 a month for the first time. 

This matters because one of the most common reasons a tenant is evicted in Ohio is for failing to pay rent. In Cleveland for instance, tenants can be evicted for being just one day late with their payment. Even if they do find housing they can afford, a landlord is able to turn away families who use housing vouchers. 

That's why some Ohio cities like Akron, Columbus, Toledo and Dayton have moved in recent years to pass housing legislation aimed at protecting renters from eviction and discrimination. Housing advocates in Cleveland are hoping their city's next. 

This hour, we're going to start by talking to leaders and fair housing advocates in both Akron and Cleveland to learn more about the efforts to increase renter's rights in the region. 

- Shammas Malik, Akron City Councilman
- Molly Martin, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless 
- Dennis Ashton, Street Outreach Worker, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless 
- Kris Keniray, Associate Director, Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research

- Anna Huntsman, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media