About Us

Mission

HOME’s mission is to eliminate unlawful discrimination in housing with a primary focus on racial discrimination. Established in 1968, HOME advocates and enforces housing regulations for all protected classes and promotes stable, integrated communities. HOME primarily serves the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area.

History

• 1959: The Greater Cincinnati Committee for Equal Opportunities in Housing begins the effort to provide Fair Housing choices in Cincinnati.
• 1968: Incorporated as Housing Opportunities Made Equal, the organization establishes its goal of advocacy for people who are being denied access to a home because of their race, color, national origin or religion. These groups were identified as part of the federal Fair Housing Act.
• 1974: The Act is amended to include federal protections for those facing housing discrimination because of gender. This change strongly affected mortgage lending practices that previously had limited women’s access to credit.
• 1988: The Act expands again to provide protections to individuals with physical or mental disabilities as well as for families, particularly pregnant women or families with children 17 and younger.
• Today: HOME’s emphasis goes beyond just helping people pursue the homes of their choice to building a neighborhood environment that welcomes and accepts diverse populations as vital residents for a healthy community.
• Tomorrow: As this century unfolds, HOME continues to face many of the questions, concerns and challenges that first prompted the Greater Cincinnati Committee for Equal Opportunities in Housing to address Fair Housing needs.

In 2008, Dr. Charles F. Casey-Leininger and his students from the Department of History at the University of Cincinnati researched and wrote an historical account of housing segregation in Greater Cincinnati. To read or download a PDF of their report, click on Going Home: The Struggle for Fair Housing in Cincinnati 1900 to 2007. 

From 1977 to 2004, Karla Irvine served as the passionate director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal. Throughout her tenure, she was a leader in the fight against illegal housing discrimination in Cincinnati. To read a bit of her story, click Karla Irvine Remembered. 

Staff

Our Executive Director works closely with neighborhood organizations, local governments and civic organizations to promote the ideals of Fair Housing.

Elizabeth Brown Ext. 3107

• Executive Director
• elizabeth.brown@homecincy.org

Our Client Services staff assists members of all protected classes who feel that they have faced illegal housing discrimination.

Carol Coaston Ext. 3109

• Client Services Coordinator
• carol.coaston@homecincy.org

LaTonya Springs Ext. 3103   

• Client Services Specialist
• latonya.springs@homecincy.org

Teresita Lewis Ext. 3110

• Client Services Specialist –  Español
• teresita.lewis@homecincy.org

Our Tenant Advocacy staff assists tenants who are having housing problems or who are in danger of losing their homes.

Nicole Kelch Ext. 3102   

• Tenant Advocate
• nicole.kelch@homecincy.org

Our Education and Outreach staff provides Fair Housing training to Realtors, investors, property managers, maintenance personnel and other real estate professionals.  We also offer informational sessions for civic, social and community organizations regarding consumer rights under the Fair Housing laws and Tenant-Landlord laws.

Deb Jetter Ext. 3104 

• Education and Outreach Coordinator
• deb.jetter@homecincy.org

Myra Calder Ext. 3105

• Consumer Education Specialist
• myra.calder@homecincy.org

Our Foreclosure Prevention Specialist advises homeowners who are struggling financially and possibly facing foreclosure with the goal of helping them to regain their financial stability and perhaps keep their homes.

Bill Hanks Ext. 3111 

• Foreclosure and Lending Counselor
• bill.hanks@homecincy.org

Our Mobility staff assists qualified clients who have government housing assistance vouchers and want to move to middle-income neighborhoods. We also work with landlords to help them find such tenants.

Dotty Hall Ext. 3114 

• Housing Counselor
• dotty.hall@homecincy.org

Janet Brown Ext. 3108

• Housing Counselor
• janet.brown@homecincy.org