Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority

TheCuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) is a public housing authority that provides affordable housing options to residents of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Its primary mission is to develop, manage, and maintain public housing properties that offer safe and sanitary living conditions for low‑income individuals and families. In addition to owning and operating housing units, CMHA administers the Housing Choice Voucher program (commonly known as Section 8), which assists eligible households in renting privately owned dwellings. The authority works closely with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to ensure compliance with federal housing regulations and to secure funding for its programs.

CMHA provides housing assistance to residents across Cuyahoga County. The agency operates throughout the county, managing properties and administering voucher programs in various localities. Its activities are guided by a board of commissioners appointed in accordance with Ohio state law governing public housing authorities. As a governmental entity, CMHA is subject to public accountability and oversight mechanisms typical of municipal agencies.

A distinguishing attribute of CMHA is its direct responsibility for delivering federally funded housing assistance, which ties its performance to HUD program standards and audits. The authority’s specialization in affordable housing positions it as a key player in addressing housing insecurity and homelessness in the region. In February 2021, CMHA experienced a ransomware attack attributed to the Doppel Paymer group, leading to the theft and publication of sensitive data and causing an eight‑day website outage. This incident highlighted the importance of cybersecurity resilience for public housing agencies that manage large volumes of personal and financial information.