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Housing Locators Solutions Panel Carolyn Gordon Family Promise of Northern New Castle County Victor Feliciano Valley Interfaith Promise Barbara Coggins Family Promise of Las Vegas. Diverse Housing Solutions. Agency/Board Commitment Establishing the Need/Locating the Funding
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Housing Locators Solutions Panel Carolyn Gordon Family Promise of Northern New Castle County Victor Feliciano Valley Interfaith Promise Barbara Coggins Family Promise of Las Vegas
Diverse Housing Solutions • Agency/Board Commitment • Establishing the Need/Locating the Funding • Join networking groups, learn about issues facing landlords- how can you be value-added?
Diverse Housing Solutions • Build Relationships • Visit Apartment complexes that your affiliate is interested in • Host an Open House for Landlords/invite them to your day center • Connect with realtors that can help spread the word • Look within current supporters/volunteers for possible sources
Diverse Housing Solutions • Lead with results; how effective is FP in your community? • Market agency’s value to the landlord and community • Share success stories • Former Family success stories • Previous Landlord success stories
What contributes to the success: • Think like a landlord… • why should they partner with you? • What is in it for them? • Has to be win-win • Independent landlords vs. property management companies
What contributes to the success: • Honesty: don’t oversell, don’t over commit • Clearly define program & services and its impact on successful tenancy • Combination of financial assistance WITH case management
Thinking like a landlord:Why Partner with Family Promise? • Intensive Case Management Support for 6mo-1yr; staff works with family, landlords, and employers • Support includes budgeting • Mission-focused on Families: help homeless children remain with their families, stay on track with school
Thinking like a landlord:Why Partner with Family Promise? • Good Tenants: many of our families have positive rental history before unforeseen circumstances occurred • Financial Support: loan the security deposit to families, subsidize rent, cover other expenses such as transportation, etc.
Learn What is Helpful to Landlords? • Security Deposit-revolving loan fund? • Furnishing apartments- supplying families with necessities? • Shortened leases? “Test phase”? Long-term commitment?
What is Helpful to landlords • Ongoing graduate (case management) services for families; communication with landlords • “Master Leasing” • Family Promise as the tenant and subleases to a family • Ability to work with landlord to transition lease over to family • Family Promise helps with apartment turnover • Renovation of (vacant) property by licensed contractor volunteers(?)
Housing Solutions…Las Vegas • Mentoring Programs • CPOD (Community Partnership for Opening Doors) • Joint Partnership with families • Family is tenant/Agency still provides case management/aftercare support • Highlight Program in action…recruitment for other landlords
Housing Solutions…Delaware • Pathways Program Pathway to Housing • Apartment Partnership Program: Family Promise NNCC as a master leaseholder • Grant Assistance Program: Closing the GAP on your new home! • These are initiatives we have piloted in past year with success. Aim to utilize the GAP program where possible; shorter financial investment • Joined the Housing Networking Association
Housing Solutions…Columbus, GA • Almost Home Program • Housing support for families with full-time employment • 6-month bonding program • Partnering with other agencies within community • Habitat for Humanity • Congregations with rental property • Landlords
What is Helpful to Our Families: • Flexibility with the application process: • Credit Report • Length of employment history • Gross Income Ratio- families struggle to keep rent at 50% let alone 25-30% • Flexibility with the rent- $50 or $100 less a month can be the difference between “impossible” and “lasting independence” for our families • Appreciating occupancy needs: children sharing a room; one bedroom with den used for a baby