Dorothy Richardson legacy extends to next generation

Dorothy Richardson

By Brian Levinson, senior regional public affairs and communications adviser (Midwest Region)

The legacy of Dorothy Richardson, whose efforts to save her Pittsburgh neighborhood led to the creation of what is now NeighborWorks America, has special meaning for one member of the NeighborWorks network.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh’s North Side, Tanisha Rush is proud of her ties to the city and her old neighborhood.

“The pride comes from knowing that the area used to be plagued with deteriorating housing and is now a vibrant neighborhood that includes new residential properties and restored historic homes,” she said of the area just north of downtown Pittsburgh. “It’s completely different from what it used to be.”

The neighborhood that Dorothy Richardson fought to preserve is now home to the Andy Warhol Museum, Heinz Field (where the Pittsburgh Steelers play) and PNC Park (Pittsburgh Pirates), as well as many other attractions.

“When I was growing up the area was primarily black and low-to-moderate income, with quite a few Section 8 housing projects and a lot of crime,” Rush said. “It started to change in the late ‘90s, which meant uprooting a lot of residents. The city saw the area’s potential because of its proximity to downtown and the nexus of all major transportation arteries.”

Rush moved from Pittsburgh to Cleveland nearly 20 years ago after graduating from college, and ultimately became a Community Reinvestment Act officer with a major bank. Her responsibilities included working with community-based organizations throughout northeast Ohio, including network member Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland.

Tanisha Rush with
Lou Tisler, executive
director of NHS of
Greater Cleveland

“NHS of Greater Cleveland always stood out to me … knowing that Cleveland was one of the epicenters of the foreclosure crisis and seeing NHS helping so many residents,” Rush said. “NHS of Greater Cleveland was always there, so I’m honored to have an opportunity to serve on the board.”

Rush joined the NHS of Greater Cleveland board four years ago and went through an orientation in which Relationship Manager Angela Rohs presented the NeighborWorks history.

“When Angela started giving information about NeighborWorks and how it started and telling the story of Dorothy Richardson, my heart started pounding,” Rush said. “I said to myself, ‘that’s where I was born, how did I not know this,’ and I had an epiphany. I realized that NeighborWorks was ‘born’ in my neighborhood.”

Today, Rush is chair of the board of NHS of Greater Cleveland. However, she regularly makes the two-hour drive back to the North Side because her parents and many other relatives still live there. Many of her cousins, who had to move when the North Side started to revitalize have all “made their pilgrimage back,” Rush said. “Everybody lives within walking distance of each other.”

Rush said her service to NHS of Greater Cleveland is her way of giving back, not only to Cleveland but also to the North Side.

“My situation is very unique from a lot of my family. They didn’t get to walk the same path I walked. They are still living in affordable housing, still in need of assistance (in Dorothy Richardson’s old neighborhood), so it is only right for me to serve in any way that I can, and how fitting that I have gone full circle and can now serve NHS of Greater Cleveland.”

Rush adds, “I think serving NHS of Greater Cleveland is the ultimate reward. I’m associated with an organization that is really helping to make an impact on the community. I think of all the homebuyers we have educated, the free tax preparation services we have provided, and the number of homeowners we have created … Then I multiply that by all of the NeighborWorks organizations throughout the country. This is all happening because of this one woman in a neighborhood who launched this grassroots effort to say our homes are worth saving, our people are worth saving.”

How Tax Prep Sites Help Recruit New Clients

By Darren Hamm,
deputy director, NHSGC

The yearly obligation to file taxes is often a rare opportunity for people to really reflect on their finances and to connect with community organizations that can help them year-round. This can help save them money and help nonprofits reach new clients.

Last year Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland (NHSGC) started a financial capability program and this tax season marks the second year of our first Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which helps Cleveland residents of lower incomes receive free help filing their taxes. We chose to run this VITA site because, if you’re talking about asset building, there’s really nothing more direct than saving someone $450 in tax prep and having their refund— often 50% of their annual income—invested in the local environment (utilities, groceries, car repair, tuition) or helping that person pay down debt.

So far this season, NHSGC has assisted in returning more than $750,000 in income tax returns to more than 400 people throughout northeast Ohio, further saving these taxpayers more than $160,000 in filing fees.  This is great for the residents and it’s also an important way for NHSGC to reach new clients.

We identify potential clients by having VITA site tax filers complete surveys on how they will use their refund, their biggest challenges financially and other such questions that can assess their financial capability. We then connect tax filers to services that can address those needs. Sometimes the services are ones we provide and other times we connect tax filers to our local partners. Our hope is that those who haven’t worked with us yet will remember we are here if need arises.

Volunteers from Charter One Bank and Darren Hamm, NHSGC

This approach has already paid off for us and for our new clients. In the past few months we’ve assisted tax filers with foreclosure, helped them register and take homeownership courses, and apply for home repair loans. We’ve been able to help these new clients because they share many characteristics with our current clients, such as geographic location. However, as a group, the new clients/tax filers are more likely to rent than own and they generally have more modest incomes, so we keep that in mind when explaining our services.

Overall, we feel it’s been a successful tax season and we hope to maintain relationships with clients in the coming year.  To close out, we’re hosting a Super Saturday event on April 13 in partnership with Charter One Bank. Tax filers will have their taxes prepared, learn about opportunities to save their tax refund, and be entered into a Cleveland Saves drawing for opening up a savings account on site.

NHS of Greater Cleveland: A Port in the Foreclosure Storm

This blog is part of our 35^th Anniversary Celebration series, highlighting NeighborWorks affiliates which are celebrating milestone years marking either their membership in the network or their incorporation as an organization. This month, NHSGC is celebrating 15 years since incorporation. 

By Brittany Hutson, NeighborWorks
America Public Relations fellow

The 2008 housing crisis caused many to wonder if buying a home could still be considered the "American dream." In spite of all the uncertainty about the housing market, Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland, Inc. (NHSGC) has remained steadfast in its mission to assist their clients in becoming homeowners. “A lot of people will say Cleveland and Slavic Village was the epicenter of foreclosure, mortgage fraud, flipping, etc.,” says Executive Director Lou Tisler. “But it was also the epicenter for solution based programs for the foreclosure crisis.”

Tisler says that the foreclosure crisis gave NHSGC an opportunity to prove their value and leadership and that the crisis required the organization to be more flexible and creative. The organization was selected for the Ohio Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, accumulated nearly $5.6 million to assist people in need with the NeighborWorks Collaborative of Ohio, and provided testimony at congressional hearings.

Dave Wilson came to NHSGC to avoid foreclosure. He had
suffered an injury and struggled to make ends meet. By working with
NHSGC, Wilson was able to get an affordable loan modification.

This month, the Cleveland, Ohio organization celebrates 15 years as part of the NeighborWorks network.  NHSGC offers a number of programs to “help people get, fix and keep their homes,” says Tisler. These programs include a homebuyer education program, a down payment assistance program, providing rehab loans to those who cannot get lending from traditional banks, a sustainability program that focuses on foreclosure prevention and intervention; mortgage counseling; and EnergYOU, which helps clients and residents conserve their budgets for utilities and food costs. The organization serves primarily low-to-moderate income people, as well as people with moderate-to-high income that seek foreclosure prevention assistance. “Our clients are usually underserved, under-banked and under-represented in the housing market,” says Tisler. The organization serves up to 3,500 people per year.

Raylene Hood reached out to NHSGC for assistance in saving her home. A
NHSGC counselor helped her apply for rescue funds to bring her mortgage current.
NHSGC also helped Hood when she needed emergency repairs on her roof.

Though NHSGC has seen its fair share of challenges in home equity, lack of access to capital, and limited lending, Tisler praises his staff of 16 for their motivation and commitment to serving the organization’s targeted community. “The staff [has been] the greatest asset to the organization,” says Tisler. “Our staff has gotten us to a solution based delivery system. To see them come in everyday and make what they do happen is incredible.”

In addition to the staff, Tisler says that being a part of the NeighborWorks network is “an incredible, valuable asset for the organization and the people we serve.” He adds, “As a network member, NHSGC has access to best practices and funding, and can share experiences and ideas with other network organizations. It is truly a network of excellence.”