CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority is asking landlords who accept its housing vouchers to hold off on raising rents as the agency tries to cut costs in preparation for a budget shortfall.
CMHA’s Dorivette Nolan, who heads its policy, planning and voucher administration efforts, sent a letter to landlords earlier this month that sought the stabilized rents due to “potential federal underfunding.”
“To preserve subsidy payments to landlords like you and prevent the termination of Housing Assistance Payment contracts, which could result in the displacement of families in our Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, we are implementing various cost-saving measures,” said the August 9 letter from CMHA’s Dorivette Nolan.
In an interview, Nolan said the amount of money the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided for vouchers in 2025 is running out faster than expected due to rising rent and utility costs.
Nolan said CMHA has asked HUD for more money to tide it over. HUD is reviewing CMHA’s request, but the funding isn’t guaranteed, said Nolan. She said HUD requires housing agencies projecting a shortfall to take cost saving measures, and that’s what CMHA is doing.
“Nationwide, a lot of housing authorities are finding themselves in a shortfall situation, as rents and costs have gone up throughout the country,” said Nolan.
The nationwide shortfalls come as the Trump administration has proposed ending federal housing vouchers, cutting rental aid by about 40% and sending that money to states to design their own rental assistance programs. The Trump administration’s budget proposal would cut off any rental subsidies after two years for able-bodied adults.
Federal HUD spending bills that have been approved by the House and Senate appropriations committees call for reduced voucher spending. If enacted, they’d result in between 243,000 and 411,000 people nationwide losing their vouchers, according to analysis of the legislation by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a non-partisan research institute that focuses on issues that affect people with low incomes.
The analysis projects that if the House bill were to become law, Ohio would lose 6,900 vouchers that serve 15,700 people. If the Senate bill were to become law, it projects a reduction of 4,100 vouchers in Ohio that serve 9,300 people.
Nolan says around 15,000 CMHA renters use the vouchers, which were formerly called Section 8. CMHA hasn’t issued any new vouchers since last August, as a cost containment measure, said Nolan, and there’s a wait list. To qualify for vouchers, she said residents have to meet income guidelines and complete a background screening.
“Without an additional shortfall award, we may have to reduce utilization and potentially assist fewer people in the community,” said Nolan.
Owners renting to tenants through the voucher program have been calling CMHA to “gain clarity and better understand what’s requested,“ Nolan said.
“Ultimately, they cite their own rising costs as a reason they still need to request increased rent,“ Nolan said. ”They understand, but their costs have also gone up. They still need an increase.”
U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown, a Warrensville Heights Democrat, said she’s urged HUD to address the shortfall.
“Thousands of families in Northeast Ohio rely on HUD vouchers to pay the rent and remain in safe and stable housing,” said a statement from Brown. “It is imperative that the federal government provide adequate funding that reflects the reality of rising rents in Greater Cleveland. My office has been in contact with CMHA on this matter and we urge the Trump Administration to promptly address this shortfall.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
