MaxHousing

Turning off the stove shouldn’t mean reaching over a boiling pot.

For someone who cooks from a seated position or has limited reach or strength, small design choices can make a big difference. Front controls keep settings within reach, while a smooth cooktop makes it easier to slide cookware onto an adjacent, heat-safe surface instead of lifting it.

Accessibility means being able to make your own dinner AND decide what’s on the menu.

Ice cream tastes even better with neighbors!🍦We’re hosting ice cream socials at each of our Vistas properties, and this week’s photo comes from Lake Vistas in Mentor-on-the-Lake.

It’s easy to see why tenants love Lake Vistas. There’s a shady outdoor patio with picnic tables, grills, and accessible planters, which makes it a lovely place to gather on a day like this. The apartments are designed for accessible, independent living, and the lake, beach park, and library are all nearby. Most of all, gatherings like this give neighbors time to catch up and enjoy being together.

A big thank you to Stephanie, our Housing Coordinator (far right), for making these socials happen. She helps tenants with move-ins, waiting lists, recertifications, and all sorts of administrative needs. Despite also being the person who collects the rent, our tenants love her! 😊

Fun fact: Stephanie knows all 148 Vistas tenants by name, and often knows their apartment numbers, too. That says a lot about the relationships she’s built. We’re grateful for the care she brings to our communities and for everyone who joined us at Lake Vistas.

MaxHousing is proud to support our friends and partners at LEAP Cleveland as they host the 5th Annual March for Access, a rally for meaningful access to voting and full community inclusion for people with disabilities.

Here's what you need to know:

Schedule of Events:

📅 When: Saturday, September 19
📍 Where: Market Square Park, Cleveland
🎨 10:00 a.m. — Poster making
📣 10:30 a.m. — Rally and march
🤝 11:30 a.m. — Community resource tables

Join disability advocates, community members, and partner organizations as we march together for access, inclusion, and disability rights.

For access or parking information, contact LEAP at [email protected] or 216-696-2716.

Accessible housing starts with listening.

We were glad to welcome Cleveland City Councilman Austin Davis to MaxHousing’s Accessibility First Demonstration Unit at Cotman Vistas!

We had a productive conversation about the barriers people with mobility disabilities face when trying to find housing that is not only affordable, but actually safe and usable for them. We explored ways that MaxHousing and the City of Cleveland may be able to work together to improve access to accessible housing.

We appreciated Councilman Davis taking the time to visit, ask questions, listen to what we’re learning from people searching for accessible housing, and share his perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing the City.

Thank you, Councilman Davis, for making the trip and spending time with us. We look forward to continuing the conversation!

Accessible housing, healthcare, transportation and the right to live independently are all shaped by elections and important legislation decisions impacting those rights are already happening... without the voices of people with disabilities. For people with mobility disabilities, voting is especially important right now. Register, verify your registration and use your voting power. Accessible voting is available including early voting with online ASL, vote-by-mail, curbside voting, ADA ballot-marking machines, and more. Nothing about us without us!

🎉 A perfect 100 at Cotman Vistas! 🎉

MaxHousing has something pretty incredible to celebrate! Cotman Vistas recently received a perfect score of 100 on its HUD REAC inspection.

To put that into perspective, our inspector shared that he has been conducting these inspections since 2006, and in 20 years, he has only given a score of 100 17 times!

That kind of result doesn’t happen by accident. It reflects the care, pride, attention to detail, and hard work our Facilities team puts into our properties every single day.

A huge shoutout to Moises, Aaron, Darryl, Matt, Jessie and Barb for the work you do to keep our properties safe, welcoming, and in top shape for the people who call them home. 👏

We’re incredibly lucky to have this crew and a perfect 100 is a pretty great reason to celebrate them!

📸 Our team enjoying some well-earned time together at our annual staff outing.

Who's doing accessibility right? Tag your favorite accessible destinations.

🏠 Join us TONIGHT from 4–6 PM!

Tour MaxHousing’s Accessibility First Demonstration Unit and discover low-cost, practical ideas that can make a home safer, more accessible and easier to navigate.

We’re also hosting an informal Board Recruitment Information Session for community members interested in helping expand accessible housing opportunities throughout Northeast Ohio. Come learn about our mission, meet members of our team and explore what board service with MaxHousing could look like.

📍 1725 E. 115th St., Cleveland, OH 44106
🕓 Tonight, August 13 | 4–6 PM
✅ Free and open to the public
✅ No registration required

Whether you’re interested in accessible design, supporting someone who is aging in place, planning a renovation or considering board service, we’d love to welcome you!

Parking is available in the back lot. Enter from Euclid Avenue—we are the first driveway on the right—and follow the signs to the main entrance.

Accessibility lives here.

Board Member Spotlight: LaToya Blake

LaToya Blake brings more than 13 years of public service experience with Cuyahoga County’s Department of Senior and Adult Services to the MaxHousing board.

She joined MaxHousing after seeing firsthand how safe, stable housing can change a person’s life. For LaToya, board service is “less about authority and more about responsibility and partnership.”

Latoya's idea of a perfect summer Saturday is having a slow start, listening to music or a reading a good book, and just relaxing with nowhere to rush off to.

Inspired to serve? Join us at one of our board recruitment events (linked here) https://www.facebook.com/share/1F7WAz41Me/ this month to meet our team, learn about MaxHousing, and explore how your experience could help advance accessible housing in Cuyahoga County.

Thank you, LaToya, for your leadership and commitment to our mission!

STEVE HANSLER ANNOUNCES HIS PLANNED RETIREMENT IN 2027 AFTER MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP

The MaxHousing Board of Directors announced today that Steve Hansler, the organization's first and only President, will retire in early Spring 2027 after more than 40 years of leadership.

"Steve's leadership has positioned MaxHousing for continued success," said Board Chair Jordan Batch. "His vision, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to accessibility and independence have strengthened the organization and expanded its impact throughout our community. We look forward to building on the strong foundation he has created."

As part of a thoughtful succession planning process, the board will soon launch a comprehensive executive search. MaxHousing remains financially strong, mission-focused, and fully committed to expanding accessibility, independence, and housing opportunities for people with mobility disabilities.

Read the full announcement here: https://www.maxhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/Final-Press-Release-SPH-planned-retirement-7_28_26-1.pdf