u/Sufficient_Law_2589

I’m in Columbus, Ohio, and I’m scared I may be on the verge of homelessness because of a CMHA-related housing issue.

Earlier this year, my property manager told me that I did not need to complete my annual CMHA recertification.  I trusted what she said because she was the person managing the property and should have known what I was supposed to do.

I recently found out that the same property manager who told me that I did not need to do the recertification was apparently fired, but tenants were not told for months. In my opinion, feels like a serious safety and communication issue.

Now, months later, I’m being told that I have been considered noncompliant since around February and that I owe around $4,000 in back rent, fines, and/or charges. I was not properly warned or clearly notified in a way that gave me a fair chance to fix it. I was just following the instructions I was given. Even so, i have not received anything from CMHA through my mail, or taped on to my door which previous property managers have done multiple times.

My current property manager told me she spoke with the asset manager and that there may be nothing I can do. But I feel like this is extremely unfair because the whole situation started because I was misinformed by management.

I have contacted CMHA four times trying to get help. The first two times, I was told that my case was marked as urgent, that the recertification and informal hearing departments would contact me personally, and that the legal team would be contacted. But no one has contacted me, and it has been weeks.

I also went in person to get copies of my paperwork, including the notices of compliance I was supposedly supposed to receive since February, and a copy of my lease. The person I spoke to refused to give me the documents and said it was because I had been terminated from the program. But CMHA staff seemed confused about why I was being denied the documents. When I called again, I explained that the first receptionist told me it was okay for me to request them. A second receptionist also said I should still be able to get my documents even if I had been terminated "15 years later."

I am not refusing to do my recertification.

I’m willing to turn in paperwork, provide documents, go to a hearing, and do whatever I need to do to stay housed.

I just don’t think I should be pushed toward homelessness because of misinformation, poor communication, and being denied access to paperwork I need to look through to see if all this is even legal.

I’m really scared, and I’m shaking. I want to stay housed so I can continue pursuing my college degree, which has already been hard because I’m trying to heal from the trauma I went through. I’m trying to move forward with my life, and now I feel like I could lose everything.

I already contacted Legal Aid, but I was told it may be difficult because CMHA says they have evidence that the recertification was sent to me, which makes it harder to prove what happened. I have completed recertifications in the past and I’m willing to complete whatever paperwork is needed now.

Who should I contact besides property management? City council? Local news?

Any advice or resources would help.

Location: Columbus Ohio

I’m in Columbus, Ohio, and I’m scared I may be on the verge of homelessness because of a CMHA-related housing issue.

Earlier this year, my property manager told me that I did not need to complete my annual CMHA recertification.  I trusted what she said because she was the person managing the property and should have known what I was supposed to do.

I recently found out that the same property manager who told me I did not need to do the recertification was apparently fired, but tenants were not told for months. In my opinion, that feels like a serious safety and communication issue. Tenants should know who is actually managing the property, who has authority to give instructions, and who they are supposed to contact about important housing issues.

Now, months later, I’m being told that I have been considered noncompliant since around February and that I owe around $4,000 in back rent, fines, and/or charges. I was not properly warned or clearly notified in a way that gave me a fair chance to fix it. I genuinely believed I was following the instructions I was given.

My new property manager told me she spoke with the asset manager and that there may be nothing I can do. But I feel like this is extremely unfair because the whole situation started because I was misinformed by management.

I have contacted CMHA four times trying to get help. The first two times, I was told that my case was marked as urgent, that the recertification and informal hearing departments would contact me personally, and that the legal team would be contacted. But no one has contacted me, and it has been weeks.

I also went in person to get copies of my paperwork, including the notices of compliance I was supposedly supposed to receive since February, and a copy of my lease. The person I spoke to refused to give me the documents and said it was because I had been terminated from the program. But CMHA staff seemed confused about why I was being denied the documents. When I called again, I explained that the first receptionist told me it was okay for me to request them. A second receptionist also said I should still be able to get my documents even if I had been terminated.

I am not refusing to do my recertification. I’m willing to turn in paperwork, provide documents, go to a hearing, and do whatever I need to do to stay housed. I just don’t think I should be pushed toward homelessness because of misinformation, poor communication, and not being given access to paperwork I need.

I’m really scared and I’m shaking. I want to stay housed so I can continue pursuing my college degree, which has already been hard because I’m trying to heal from trauma I went through as a child from my parents. I’m trying to move forward with my life, and now I feel like I could lose everything.

Has anyone dealt with something like this with CMHA, subsidized housing, Section 8, or annual recertification issues? Who should I contact besides property management? City council? Local news? CMHA directly?

I already contacted Legal Aid, but I was told it may be difficult because CMHA says they have evidence the recertification was sent to me, which makes it harder to prove what happened. I have completed recertifications in the past and I’m willing to complete whatever paperwork is needed now.

Any advice or resources would help.

I’m in Columbus, Ohio, and I’m looking for advice about a CMHA/subsidized housing issue.

Earlier this year, my property manager told me I did not need to complete my annual CMHA recertification. I trusted that because she was the property manager. Months later, I’m being told I was considered noncompliant since around February and that I may owe around $4,000 in back rent, fines, and/or charges.

I have contacted CMHA multiple times. I was told my case was marked urgent and that recertification, informal hearing staff, and/or the legal team would contact me, but I still have not received follow-up after weeks.

I also tried to get copies of documents related to my case, including notices of compliance and my lease. I was told I could not receive them because I had been terminated from the program, but other CMHA staff seemed confused and said I should still be able to get my documents.

I am not asking for money. I’m asking for advice on who to contact and what steps to take next. Should I contact CMHA again, city council, a tenant organization, or local news? Has anyone dealt with CMHA termination, recertification problems, or being denied housing documents?

I already contacted Legal Aid, but I was told this may be difficult because CMHA says they have proof the recertification was sent, making it a “he said, she said” situation.

I’m a former foster youth and I’m trying to stay housed while continuing school, so this is urgent for me. Any advice or local resources would help.