About Us

The East Side Organizing Project (ESOP) was founded in 1993 to create organized leadership around issues impacting neighborhood life in the Cleveland area. In the late 1990s, ESOP began to shift its focus toward predatory lending and foreclosures. Over the past several years, much of ESOP's work has focused on foreclosure prevention in Cuyahoga County. ESOP is currently expanding its efforts throughout the state of Ohio. In August of 2007, ESOP changed its name to "Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People" to emphasize the new state-wide focus.

Our Mission

Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People (ESOP) creates organized leadership around issues that impact neighborhood life. Community members most affected by neighborhood issues are at the head of all ESOP organizing efforts, as they are in the best position to create and implement effective solutions.

Foreclosure Prevention Assistance

ESOP has fair lending agreements with the following lenders/servicers, but can work with home owners who have mortgages with any lending company. For assistance with a foreclosure or predatory lending issue, contact ESOP by phone to set up an appointment. ESOP has an 85% success rate for stopping the foreclosure process, and obtaining affordable loan modifications for homeowners. Over the past year, ESOP has assisted over 1,600 homeowners in this way.

ESOP History

ESOP began its work in 1993 by organizing and empowering to increase safety and parental involvement in the Cleveland Public Schools, and to strengthen East Cleveland neighborhoods through the creation of grassroots block clubs.

In the late 1990s, ESOP began to shift its focus, as the rise of predatory lending and foreclosures became apparent as the most pressing issues.

In August of 2007, ESOP changed its name to "Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People" to emphasize the new state-wide focus of the organization's work.