Save a Family Home & man Jailed trying to save it

For Jeff

Hi, we ask your help to preserve a century home in a historic district and to free the man, Jeff, who is trying to save it.

For vanessa, Jeff is her village, and for me, my soulmate. Jeff, a photographer, has documented the Black community in Cleveland for over 20 years. His home belonged to his grandmother, and though he is fighting to keep it in the family, he wants to utilize it for the community. All of us are artists that work in a gig economy and struggle to survive between paychecks. We serve our community as teachers, artists, and volunteers.

The Challenge:

Jeff was sentenced by the housing court judge to 90 days in county beginning January 30th. This will cost him his job and ability to care for his family's home. This also comes with a cost to his physical and mental health. He has worked with the court system for over two years. However, preservation is unaffordable, but incarcerating Jeff is an extreme and unusual sanction for a minor misdemeanor. Jeff is an asset to the community, not a threat. The move to incarcerate Jeff while blatantly unjust, may also likely be a ploy to seize this valuable and highly sought-after property.

The House:

Jeff’s home is located in the historic Cultural Gardens neighborhood of University Circle, https://clevelandculturalgardens.org/ The area and its large, beautiful homes have been undergoing a significant amount of gentrification. His home was robbed several times; each assault was a costly setback to restoration efforts. Sanctioned jail time for one’s inability to afford costly repairs is but another crime.

The Importance:

Jeff has been a source of support and connection, particularly throughout the pandemic. He is a key member of our village, a grandfather figure for vanessa's children. He is a positive person and pillar in our lives. It pains us both to think of the suffering caused by this sick rite of passage for this upstanding, beautiful, valuable Black man, who, in his senior years, is faced with the ugly experience and mark of being locked up. Especially to know and feel how poverty and demographics play into this situation--if Jeff had the financial means, all of our aging homes would be up to code and immaculately maintained. We need Jeff home. We need him safe. We need him released. We need to see him supported and resourced rather than punished for not having the money to bring his family home up to code.

The Funds:

We seek funds to resolve all violations listed in the attached court document. Repairs are needed to windows the roof, and to tear down and rebuild front and back porches, as well as some utility work. We will also pay the remaining property taxes and legal fees.

Click on the link below for the new story:

https://fox8.com/news/i-team/breaks-my-heart-man-jailed-for-failing-to-make-repairs-to-cleveland-home/