Voucher-Friendly Housing in Cleveland

CMHA is one of the largest public housing authorities in Ohio, serving Cleveland and the surrounding Cuyahoga County. It operates public housing estates — such as Outhwaite, King Kennedy, and Cedar Central — as well as the Housing Choice Voucher program that lets tenants rent from private landlords. Rent in CMHA public housing is income-based, set at roughly 30% of adjusted household income.

CMHA maintains waitlists for both public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program. Waitlists open and close periodically depending on availability and funding. Applicants can rank development preferences and are contacted as units become available. Check current waitlist status directly with CMHA before applying.

Ohio has no statewide source-of-income discrimination law, which means landlords are not automatically required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. However, several Cuyahoga County municipalities have enacted local source-of-income ordinances. Protections depend on the specific city or suburb where the apartment is located — confirm the rules for your municipality.

Apply through the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). Create an application for public housing and/or the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist at cmha.net or a CMHA application office. Rent is based on income (about 30% of adjusted household income); eligibility is generally limited to households at or below local income limits. Call CMHA at (216) 348-5000 for current waitlist information.