EANDC Helping Families Achieve and Keep the American Dream
EANDC Begins Welcoming Families at I PROMISE Apartments
5 Things Everyone Should Know About Home Fire Safety
At EANDC, we are committed to providing safe, affordable homes for the community — and we recognize that home safety starts with you. The following tips and suggestions will help keep your home and family safe, especially in the winter months when heating units cause an increased risk of fire.
In November of 2022, Akron City Council passed an ordinance requiring Carbon Monoxide detectors in all homes and apartments that use fuel-burning appliances. When the city announced the decision, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Clarence Tucker said, This ordinance helps us better protect Akron residents by not only requiring detectors in residential buildings but also bringing this issue to the forefront so we can educate residents about the dangers of not having a detector in their home.”
Thank you to our community partners at the Akron Fire Department for all their efforts to protect lives in our community. The list below is based on their Preventing Fires in the Home: Fire Safety Checklist and printed copies of their fire safety brochure are available in the EANDC lobby at 550 South Arlington, Akron, OH 44306.
1. Pay Attention to Fire Safety In the Kitchen
Most home fires are caused by cooking. Please share the steps below with your family to prevent a cooking fire in your home:
Stay in the kitchen when you are frying food
If you leave the kitchen, turn the burner off
Keep things that can burn (paper towels, etc.) away from your cooking area
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so they won’t get bumped
Keep children away from the stovetop and oven
2. Heat Your Home Safely When the Temperatures Drop
Please reach out to the maintenance department or landlord right away if you rent an apartment or home and have any concerns about the heat. Winter heating is the second leading cause of home fires, but you can keep your home and family safe with these safety tips:
Portable heaters should not be used as the main source of heat in your home
Keep children and anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from wood stoves, portable heaters, fireplaces, and radiators
When you leave a room to go to bed, turn heaters off or unplug them
Have your furnace, chimney, and chimney connector inspected and cleaned regularly
3. Install Smoke Alarms and Check Batteries Regularly
The following smoke alarm recommendations could help keep your home and family safe:
Smoke alarms should be on every level of the house
Smoke alarms should be in sleeping areas and in main hallways
Change smoke alarm batteries as needed
All smoke alarms should be less than ten years old
4. Know the Risks of Space Heaters and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
“Carbon monoxide is commonly known as the 'silent killer' because it's colorless, odorless, tasteless, and in most cases non-irritating," says Akron’s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Clarence Tucker. “If you don't catch the early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning (headache, dizziness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion), it's quite possible that you may lose consciousness before being able to call for help and then it may be too late.”
Unvented space heaters in the home are the most common source of CO poisoning. An unvented space heater puts the gas from fuel or gasoline into the room instead of outdoors. Heaters used regularly inside the home should have the following:
A “tip over” switch that shuts the unit down if it falls over
Overheat protection that shuts the unit off if it gets too hot
A thermostat that monitors room temperature, turning the unit off and on automatically
For combustion units, a low-oxygen sensor that shuts the heater off before a room loses too much oxygen
For electric heaters, pay attention to any damaged or fraying cords, especially if you have pets in the house that might chew cords
A carbon monoxide detector can help protect your home and family. Carbon monoxide detectors are also recommended for all homes. One should be on each level of your house. These should be less than seven years old to ensure they pick up dangerous gas.
5. How to Use Candles Safely
Cold winter days are when people want to snuggle up with a warm blanket and candle. Unfortunately, using an open flame always comes with fire risks, so keep in mind the following suggestions for safe home candle use.
Do not light candles for longer than 4 hours and let them return to room temperature before relighting the wick
Candles should only be used while an adult is present
Any candles should be in sturdy, fireproof containers that can’t be tipped over
Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to bed
Pets and children should not be left alone with burning candles
Pre-Application for I Promise Housing
Updated March 1, 2023
The pre-application process for I Promise Apartments at 445 Maple Street, Akron, Ohio, will be open to the public as of February 20, 2023.
To learn more about our available units, rental rates, and eligibility requirements, call EANDC at 330-724-1210. Our team will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
To make the application process run smoothly, complete and return with a non-refundable fee of $18.00 per adult. MONEY ORDERS ONLY, made payable to “EANDC Property Management.”
Return to: 550 S. Arlington St., Akron, Ohio 44306.
2023 Home ownership CLASSES Announced
Are you a homebuyer in Akron Ohio looking for expert advice? Look no further! Cynthia, a housing counselor at EANDC, is here to share her top tips for first-time homebuyers:
Be Patient 🕰️: Cynthia wants first-time buyers to know that buying a house can be a long and emotional process, so be patient and give yourself grace. Trust the process!
Make a Checklist 📝: Create a list of your must-haves and like-to-haves. This will help you focus on your priorities and make buying easier.
Keep Saving 💰: Keep saving money to ensure you have a comfortable down payment and can afford all the expenses of buying a home.
Make a List of Things You'll Need 📋: After buying a house, you'll need movers, utilities, appliances, tools, and outdoor equipment. Make a list of what you'll need and start shopping early to ensure a smooth move-in process.
Find a Realtor You Trust 👨💼👩💼: Cynthia suggests asking family and friends for recommendations and finding a realtor you trust. Your realtor will be your guide throughout the buying process and it's important to find one you feel comfortable with.
Be Responsive to Your Lender 💬: When working with your lender, ensure you are responsive and get them what they need as soon as possible. This will help the process move along smoothly.
Cynthia wants all first-time buyers to know that buying a house can be emotional, but with patience and guidance, you can achieve your home ownership goals. And EANDC is here to help you through the whole process! Click here or visit the link below to register for an upcoming HomeToday workshop at EANDC.
A Season of Gratitude at EANDC
Generosity and gratitude are not limited to the holiday season for the staff and board members of East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (EANDC). Year after year, our most eagerly anticipated events are the times we can give back to our community and this year was no exception.
As the year comes to a close, we are grateful to be part of such a generous organization, and for all the community care and connection that we experienced throughout the year.
Some of the highlights from the past year include:
Christmas Families
EANDC staff members select gift tags from the tree in our lobby and purchase gifts to give away. This year, our staff provided gifts for three families, two from the Energy Services program, and one family of tenants. This includes eight children whose smiles make this event one of our most cherished holiday traditions.
Veteran's Lunch
Staff personally delivered prepared meals to ten veterans and their families, and also sent thank you cards to honor the service veterans who live in our community. We are deeply grateful for their service, and we are honored to provide safe, affordable housing for veterans.
Books-a-Million Holiday Toy Drive
Wow! People were VERY generous for this city-wide event. The EANDC community collected 392 donations, including toys and books for youth and teens. These donations, which were collected as part of the Books-a-Million annual drive, has an estimated value of $4,000+.
Project Grad
EANDC staff collected and donated two boxes of books and crafts for children in first – sixth grades in our community, with an estimated value of $250+.
Winter Wonderland
More than 300 community members attended this festive annual tradition where Santa visited, and youth enjoyed crafts, treats, and activities sponsored by EANDC and our community partners. We are especially grateful for the support of a $5,500 grant from CareSource for making this event possible.
COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: THE CITY OF AKRON
When Cheryl Stephens became President and CEO of East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation in 2018, she promptly announced her intention to become a “best friend” to Jason Segedy and Helen Tomic, in the City of Akron’s planning and development office. In other words, Stephens said, “let’s get to work and accomplish as much as we possibly can for this community.”
Segedy is Akron’s planning and urban development director, and Tomic is the long-range planning manager. Their department has always relied on EANDC as a solid investment partner, a relationship that has only strengthened recently. Stephens, who has held similar roles at the county and city level, understands the complexities of public financing and city government, made even more complicated when it comes to affordable housing.
Says Tomic, “I know we can rely on EANDC to get things done. As a city, we used to do quite a bit on our own, but we recognized that some of this work couldn’t be accomplished unless we had partners. EANDC is an amazing partner. Chery and her team are so easy to work with. She understands where we’re coming from and will always find a way to make things work.”
The success of any multi-million-dollar planning and development initiative is directly tied to the strength of its leadership and community partners. With this in mind, EANDC and Akron are both champions in working to fill the affordable housing gap in Summit County.
“They are willing to go the extra mile,” Stephens says of Tomic and Segedy. “When I had a tentative verbal agreement with the Lebron James Family Foundation to be their housing development provider, I needed a site within one mile of the I PROMISE school. Jason got in my Jeep and drove around the city to help me find one. Then when the project’s initial funding requirements were too restrictive, Helen helped us find a more liberal funding source that worked better for us.”
Both partners have expressed interest in creating housing units within the city for young mothers with fragile incomes, recognizing that stable housing is a crucial indicator of health and safety in the year leading up to a child’s first birthday.
“I know we can take on projects like this,” said Cheryl about the potential development, “because they care about this work, and Jason empowers Helen to be creative and helpful in getting things done. Sometimes a good project never moves forward because teams don’t think outside the box. So, we deeply value how Helen, Jason, and Mayor Horrigan help us overcome barriers and make dreams come true for Akron families.”