Help!!!!! (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati: low income, crime, homes)

[tiara]

I am a 22 year old with a two year old daughter. I am thinking about moving to Ohio. The only problem is that i don't know actually which part should i consider. I want diversity. meaning the blacks the white mingle together as one, somewhere safe, great schools, inexpensive housing, all together a great place to call home. I am a college student which means i don't have all the money to go great things with but i want something where my daughter can grow up. So Ohio natives tell me about the housing costs. the night life, the schools, the people, is this a place where someone of color can get ahead?, anything u will like to share i willing to hear it all!

[paintballer1708]

Oh well Ohio is great for you. Columbus was voted back in 2005 as the most succesful city for blacks to live in. Cleveland's population is 51% black and they are really doing well all across Ohio. My next door neighbors are black and he is in banking and she is a lawyer, this is in Westlake in the western burbs of Cleveland. Ohios black population is growing which isnt common for most states. This might sound small but, this is really a great growth rate. Ohio's black population grew 2% in the last year. Ohio has one of the fastest black population growths.

The night life is really good in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland. Here in Cleveland there are many new clubs and districts going up all around the city. Cleveland's school system isnt the best but, the suburbs have great school systems. If i were you i would look into Brook Park. It is a very nice suburb not far from downtown Cleveland. Also you might want to check out Lakewood. Im not to familiar with the Columbus metro so i really dont want to give you a place that isnt right for you. Lakewood and Brook Park seem like they would fit you just fine.

If you need anymore information i would be happy to help.

[tiara]

Paintballer1708 u mentioned that lakewood and brook park was a nice place to look into. are these areas diverse? I was reading some other forums and people have been saying things about how the blacks and whites live in to differant areas. How is the crime rate?

[paintballer1708]

Yes, thats in Cincinnati. But, Brook Park and Lakewood have higher and growing black populations also very fast hispanic population growths. Brook Park and Lakewood are in the Cleveland metro. Crime is not bad in Brook Park same with Lakewood.

[paintballer1708]

I have checked into some other areas for you. Maple Heights is a suburb on the SE side of Cleveland. It is 44% black so its got a big black population. Also check out Garfield Heights. It is going through a construction boom right now. It is also on the SE side of Cleveland. It is 16% black. There is over half a billion dollars in projects in the city. Currently they are building a new shopping mall. My pick would probaly be Garfield Heights.

[gschatts]

There is a non profit organization in Alliance OH that offers Self help housing to persons that qualify. They have property in Sebring OH in the West Branch School area. Its small town living but its still close to the larger cities. Let me know if you'd like more info.

[tiara]

Thank u paintballer1708 and gschatts. Its not really about how many black people live there but i like it to be diverse. I am live in lansing,michigan and i can defintley say that it is very diverse. u see a little bit of everybody, there is nothing really here to do except go to the movies, the baseball game, out to eat, or to a night clubs. and there are no jobs I am going to look into garfield heights area are there any jobs in that area?

gschatts i would really like it if u can give me a little more information about the housing programs going on in Alliance as well as some information about the cost of living, jobs, and schools

thanks

[gschatts]

About the self help prog...the USDA founded the Mutual Self Help Prog to provide rural low income people the opportunity to build their own homes. I am the Housing Coordinator and just fell onto this sight while doing some research. East Alliance Neighborhood Development is located in Alliance and you can check out their website at removed....I'll help you anyway I can...I am a single mom raising 4 babes of my own...sometimes change is difficult

[paintballer1708]

tiara, glad we could help. Garfield Heights is a really really nice suburb to live in. Not far from Cleveland, and the entertainment is really growing in GH. Like i said there is over half a billion dollars going on in development. I didnt realize you were coming from Michigan. I lived there for 6 months. I couldnt stand the unemployment rate and the crime so i moved back to PA and then my job moved me to NE Ohio.

Like gschatts mentioned Alliance is a very nice city of about 20,000 people. Its not far from Canton or Youngstown and is about 45 mins from Akron. If you need more information please feel free to ask. We're here to help.

[MABCle]

For diversity paintballer's suggestions are good, as well as most of the eastern suburbs. Except East Cleveland-100% black, no diversity. The West side oF Cleveland proper is Hispanic/white, while the east i overwhelmingly black. The west/south side suburbs tend to be more white.