WHO WE ARE
Tired of living next to a vacant or deteriorating property?If a neglected home has been sitting in your neighborhood for years—dragging down property values and quality of life—it is time to take action.
R.A.T.H. (Residents Against Terrible Housing) brings neighbors together to address long-standing vacancy and blight. We organize residents and pursue nuisance abatement actions against problem properties—turning frustration into a coordinated, results-driven effort.
Instead of waiting on slow or inconsistent responses, R.A.T.H. focuses on moving cases forward with structure and accountability.
The goal is simple:Restore neglected properties and return them to productive use—occupied by responsible owners who contribute positively to the neighborhood.
Be part of the solution in your neighborhood.
HOW WE GOT HERE
Why do these houses sit for years? Because enforcement isn’t a priority. ​In places like Cleveland Heights, the scale of the problem has grown while resources and urgency have not.
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During the 2008 housing crisis, inspection capacity was reduced—at the exact time it was needed most. Today, hundreds of vacant and neglected properties remain unresolved, far exceeding comparable cities.​
The issue isn’t a lack of awareness—it’s a lack of consistent follow-through. Housing departments are often understaffed, courts see repeat offenders cycle through without meaningful consequences, and absentee owners face little pressure to act.​
The result is predictable: properties sit, conditions worsen, and neighborhoods absorb the impact. And that impact is real.
Vacant homes reduce surrounding property values, drain tax revenue, and weaken local retail corridors. Areas with concentrated neglect struggle to support businesses, while well-maintained neighborhoods continue to thrive.
This didn’t happen overnight—and it won’t fix itself.
OUR PROCESS
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Identify vacant and neglected properties
Document with photo and video
Property owner is contacted
Owner is willing to cooperate
Code violations are identified and solved
File complaint with the city
Leverage litigation against the property owner (nuisance abatement)
City forecloses on property
Property is maintained consistently
Neighborhood property values increase
Property is sold to a responsible owner