Transcript Working with Landlords to Find Housing The Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Experience Kay Moshier McDivitt Vice President for Programs Tabor Community Services, Inc. 308 East King Street, PO.

Working with Landlords to
Find Housing
The Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Experience
Kay Moshier McDivitt
Vice President for Programs
Tabor Community Services, Inc.
308 East King Street, PO Box 1676
Lancaster, PA 17608-1676
[email protected]
717-397-5182, ext 120
Tabor Community Services
• Established in 1968 with a mission: To rebuild
communities by helping families find housing
and financial solutions
• HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency
since 1971
• A Member of the National Federation of
Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies since
1988
• Accredited by COA (Council on Accreditation)
since 1996
• 1988 Began our “housing first program”, the
Shelter to Independent Living Program
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Challenges to finding housing
• Program provides no housing subsidy
• Community has limited subsidized housing
options: Section 8 and Public Housing Waiting
Lists are Closed
• “Affordable” Housing Developments are not
affordable to households on fixed incomes
• Limited Supportive Housing Slots which is
essential for some
• 85% of households are housed in general
housing stock without subsidies
• Very low vacancy rate which translates to rent
increases and competition
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Developing Landlord Partnerships
Creative partnerships are key to successful
programs
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Staff have dual role of landlord and
client advocacy-takes skill to manage
both tasks
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Landlords are viewed as key partners
to the solution
•
No magic solutions: innovation is key
and developed on a case by case basis
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It is possible to engage the private
sector without financial assistance
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Develop good marketing strategies
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Communicate and Evaluate
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Why the Dual Counselor Role?
• One staff is better able to see the
whole picture and can create more
successful matches
– Allows for more choice of what works the
best for the landlord and for the client.
• Keeps an ongoing connection
– Allows for developing more ongoing trust
with landlords
– Better able to negotiate terms of the lease
• Allows for more balance in work
– Finding landlords and housing search is
very demanding
– Less burnout with diversity of tasks
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Remember: Landlords are key
Partners
• HONESTY
– Be truthful about what is in your control
and what is not
– Don’t promise something that will not
happen
– Be clear about your role
• INTEGRITY
– Always follow through with what you
say you will provide/do
– Be accountable to the landlord, keep
him/her informed of any changes
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Innovative Design Elements
What’s in it for them: The Win/Win
No Magic Here: Just Win Wins
• Required Landlord/Tenant Education
Class (pay rent, keep your unit clean, be a good neighbor)
• Protective Payee Services
• Budgeting Services
• Lease Addendum
• Additional Housing Support to address
housing/lease issues
• Tenant Home Visits
• Finder Service
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Engaging the Private Sector Market
• Meet one on one with potential landlords
• Use marketing tools that describe the
win/win…what’s in it for them
• Use your organization’s reputation in the
community.
• Sell your program with documented
successes/key outcomes.
• Use any contact (even outside of work) as an
opportunity to identify potential landlords and
sell your program.
• Consider the faith based community
• Host an event to connect with landlords/market 8
housing first.
Our Marketing Packet
• Agency Brochure gives general overview of our
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organization and all the services we offer.
Program Brochure developed specifically for the
landlord can answer program specific questions.
Client Success Stories of past successes gives a
sense of a personal involvement.
Copy of the Lease Addendum to review the
details and explain any questions that may arise.
Orientation Flyer given to participants at their
orientation allows them to see the same information that
we provide to a potential tenant.
A Personal Letter is specific to the client’s need for a
particular property that landlord may have.
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Optional Marketing Tools
• Testimonials from other landlords allows
them to get a landlords perspective on the program
• Recent newspaper/media articles
validating the program
• Recent agency newsletters
• “Landlord of the Year” Information
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Communication & Evaluation:
Critical to Maintaining Partnerships
• Ongoing contact with landlords
• Quarterly newsletter to all partnering
landlords keeping updates on program
and staff
• Evaluation tool to each landlord at the end
of the first year lease to allow for feedback
• Annual meetings to invite feedback
• Annual “landlord of the year”
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Remember
• Everyone deserves a home. Helping a client
rent in the private market empowers them to be
a long term successful renter.
• Smart communication and ongoing feedback is
critical when working with landlords.
• Always think “honesty” and “integrity”.
• Market the win/wins.
• Don’t make Promises you can’t keep.
• There is no “quick fix” for engaging the private
sector market. It takes tenacity and hard work.
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