Better Business Bureau Report for
Cleveland Housing Network, Inc.

Better Business Bureau Report issued August 2011
Better Business Bureau Report expires August 2013


Does not meet one or more standards
This charity does not meet one or more of the 20 standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


Find out more about this charity:

Back To Top

Charity Contact Information

Name: Cleveland Housing Network, Inc.
Address: 2999 Payne Ave, Ste 306
  Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: 216-574-7100
Web Address: www.chnnet.com
Back To Top

Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1981, Ohio
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: The Cleveland Housing Network's mission is to develop affordable housing for low- and moderate-income Clevelanders with a special emphasis on generating pathways out of poverty and providing homeownership opportunities.

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

               

Cleveland Housing Network, Inc. (CHN) does not meet the following 3 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 6: Board Policy on Effectiveness - Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

CHN does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Standard 16: Annual Report - Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

CHN does not meet this standard because the most recent annual report did not include:

  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total end of year net assets.

Standard 18: Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy - Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

CHN does not meet this Standard because:

  • Its website, www.chnnet.com, does not provide access to a privacy policy.
Cleveland Housing Network, Inc. (CHN) meets the remaining 17 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

               

CHN is widely known for our Lease Purchase Program which is now being replicated across the nation. This program allows low-income families the ability to lease a home at an affordable rate, with the option to gain significant equity upon purchase after 15 years of responsible residency. Since we began in 1981, CHN’s evolution has resulted in the addition of programs and services designed to meet the needs of the low- and moderate income-families of our city, focusing on four core services: Housing Development and Property Management: CHN develops and manages single- and multi-family homes in Cleveland that compliment neighborhood strategies. Affordability, sustainable homeownership opportunities, energy efficiency, indoor air quality and long term sustainability are core principles of our strategies. Each year, CHN develops between 100-300 single- and multi-family homes. Energy Conservation and Weatherization: CHN is Northeast Ohio’s largest energy conservation provider. Each year CHN completes over 7,000 home audits and inspections for low-income families, helping them to conserve energy and lower utility bills. Safety Net and Support Services: CHN offers services to help families overcome emergencies and support them in their needs through utility assistance, foreclosure prevention and intervention, and EITC tax preparation assistance. Each year CHN completes more than 15,000 safety net and support services. Training and Education CHN operates one of the region’s highest-capacity Community Training Centers (CTC), helping residents to manage and grow personal finances, enhance employment skills and preparing families to purchase, manage and build equity in their homes. Each year CHN provides training and education to more than 2,000 individuals.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, CHN's program expenses were:

  
Weatherization 21,534,951
Partnerships & Development 10,312,758
Community Training Center 1,442,674
Homeward 647,363
Total Program Expenses: $33,937,746
Back To Top

Governance

               

Chief Executive : Robert S. Curry, Executive Director
Compensation*: 
 $131,673

Chair of the Board: Krume Stojanovski
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Board President, Krume & Associates

Board Size: 26

Paid Staff Size: 134

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Back To Top

Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

direct mail, grant proposals
Fund raising costs were 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $23,518,260, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
Back To Top

Tax Status

               

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
Back To Top

Financial

               

The following information is based on CHN's audited financial statements - consolidated for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Public Support 23,518,260
Management Fees 4,559,705
Other Income 2,543,308
Interest Income 2,377,727
Rental Income 1,431,917
Maintenance Fees 1,091,134
Gain on Sale 101,713
Total Income $35,623,764


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 97%  Fund Raising: 1%  Administrative: 2% 

Total income $35,623,764
Program expenses $33,937,746
Fund raising expenses 189,433
Administrative expenses 788,711
Total expenses $34,915,890
Income in Excess of Expenses 707,874
Beginning net assets 18,628,525
Other Changes in Net Assets 354,855
Ending net assets 19,691,254
Total liabilities 43,895,270
Total assets $63,586,524


Back To Top

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

Send to:



What is an Accredited Charity