After 40 years, HRRC planning for sustainability

Home Repair Resource Center is a non-profit organization located at 2520 Noble Road.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Home Repair Resource Center. From its inception, its mission has been to maintain and strengthen the houses of Cleveland Heights, to support the community’s rich diversity.

HRRC began when concerned members of Forest Hill Church gathered to assess the fair housing needs of Cleveland Heights, and discuss whether a church committed to open housing and racial harmony could do anything to meet those needs. In a time of anger and fright—especially fear of deteriorating neighborhoods and declining housing values—the group wondered whether, if the issue were defined as maintaining quality housing, and not racial integration, people of all persuasions and attitudes might become involved. These efforts led to the birth of HRRC (originally FHC Housing Corporation) in September 1971.

Over the years, HRRC expanded its programs, moved several times and changed its name to more accurately reflect its mission. The organization built a broad base of support and became the primary advocate for housing in Cleveland Heights. Many financial institutions, businesses and organizations, as well as hundreds of individuals partnered with HRRC to meet shared goals.

Grants from the Cleveland Foundation helped establish the Challenge Fund, and the George Gund Foundation provided funding for the Project Repair program and its tool loan. Community Development Block Grant funding through the City of Cleveland Heights enabled HRRC to offer financial assistance programs that help homeowners repair their homes. Through these programs, more than $14 million has been invested in Cleveland Heights homes. 

HRRC has seen the difference its assistance has made. Its financial programs, counseling, and educational opportunities emphasize self-help and enable families to maintain not only the physical structure of their homes, but also a positive living environment. Clients grow in self-esteem as they learn to manage the process of contracting for home repairs, as they pay back their loans, and as they gain experience working with tools and repair techniques. In the larger community, HRRC’s efforts have instilled pride in neighborhoods and afforded volunteers and donors an opportunity to make a difference at the local level.

In recent months, HRRC’s board and staff have been planning the organization's course for the future. With a strategic planning grant from the Cleveland Foundation, HRRC analyzed its services and the resources it takes to provide them. With fewer public funds available to support programs in the future, HRRC has developed a comprehensive fund development strategy to ensure the future of the organization. The organization has also begun to envision new ways of carrying out its mission, and is exploring partnerships with other organizations that could expand its impact on the community. 

Everyone at HRRC is excited about these possibilities. HRRC invites community residents to mark its 40th anniversary at the annual meeting on Wednesday, June 8, at 7 p.m. at the Cleveland Heights Community Center. The keynote speaker will be Chuck Miller, of Doty & Miller Architects, who will address “Housing Issues for the 21st Century: Looking Forward.” Celebrate HRRC’s role in “keeping Cleveland Heights in good repair.”