HUD is unloading vacant homes in the City of Cleveland. Call your council representative and demand some accounting for the fate of these homes.
Community Development Corporations (CDCs) are picking up these HUD homes for $100.00 ($1.00?). The CDCs are evaluating these properties for restoration and demolition. Most will be demolished quickly and with little recourse. Demolitions will take place using Community Development Block Grant funds (your money). Ask who is getting these demolition contracts?
Ask your council representative to list the homes NOT listed for CDC restoration. The community should be given some opportunity to decide the fate of these homes. If a family or person is willing to step forward to take the home and restore it--they should be given the option to own the house. These homes should not be demolished at your cost.
For the worst case scenarios--homes that must be demolished---demand that HUD demolish their own problem homes (still your money, but not the dedicated pool of money that can be used to fix problems in your neighborhood). Demand accountability on the use of CDBG and Economic Stimulus funds, which are intended to encourage investment in the neighborhood, not intended for the wholesale destruction of neighborhoods and, certainly, not intended to facilitate demolitions for development schemes as we are witnessing throughout the City of Cleveland.
The City of Cleveland says it is working to get HUD to demolish these homes beyond hope. Prove it.