[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 64 (Monday, May 16, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ON RECEIVING THE NORTHEAST OHIO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS LIFETIME 
                   COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 16, 2005

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of 
Michael Foley, the executive director of the Cleveland's Tenants 
Organization (CTO), for his activism and dedication on behalf of 
Northeast Ohio's families who pay rent for their housing. Mr. Foley has 
proudly served the Cleveland community and has focused on meeting the 
housing needs and protecting the housing rights of Cleveland area 
tenants.
  Mr. Foley has dedicated his entire professional career to fighting 
for social justice on behalf of Cleveland's residents. Mike received 
his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the University of Dayton 
and his law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. He has 
served as a community organizer for the St. Clair-Superior Coalition 
and was a Field Representative for the City of Cleveland Community 
Relations Board. From 1990 to 1996, Mike was the court administrator 
and personal bailiff for Judge William H. Corrigan at Cleveland 
Municipal Housing Court. In 1996 and 1997 he was an instructor with the 
Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Housing Law Clinic. In 1997 he began 
working with the CTO--Cleveland's premiere organization focusing on the 
rights of tenants--as the Director of the Rental Information Center. He 
became the assistant director of CTO in 1998 and in late 1999 Mr. Foley 
became CTO's Executive Director.
  Mr. Foley has worked collaboratively with me since I began serving in 
the US. House of Representatives. He was a guiding force and active 
participant in my Homelessness Summit, an advisory group with more than 
200 Cleveland area activists working to end homelessness and advise me 
on legislative proposals. When out-of-state landlords bought one of the 
largest 55-and-over communities in Ohio's 10th Congressional District 
and immediately increased seniors' rent by as much as 25 percent, Mr. 
Foley worked with me, and the seniors, to organize one of the largest 
tenant organizations in the State. He went on to work with the seniors 
to organize the largest rent strike in Ohio's history. Mr. Foley has 
also facilitated the passage of a local landlord tenant act and 
extended the services his agency provides to include an eviction 
diversion program and a lead testing program.
  Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition 
of Michael Foley. His long-time advocacy on behalf of rent-payers in 
the Cleveland area exemplify the Lifetime Commitment to Social Justice 
Award that he received from the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the 
Homeless at the NEOCH Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on May 13. 
Because of the dedication and focus of Michael Foley, the lives of 
thousands of people have been lifted.

                          ____________________