1. Working with Landlords

2. Permanent Housing Options Public sector serves as landlord (e.g. public housing under control of housing authority) Under contract w/the public sector, a private business or non-profit organization serves as landlord (e.g. CDC, Section 8 developments). Private rental market.

3. Challenges Families you serve have minimal incomes – very few units are affordable to them. Given dearth of rental units affordable to very poor families, landlords can be very selective. Families you serve have challenging, if any, rental history. Landlords may have had bad experiences before, want to play it safe.

4. What you can offer Help landlord (private or public) meet their goals –PHA’s – voucher utilization rates, administration challenges – inspections, etc., decrease turnover and evictions. –Back-up – a resource to resolve issues that might arise and protect the property/asset. –Opportunity to contribute to their community while minimizing their personal risk.

5. Bringing Landlords to the Table Sell your mission, your program’s services and your families. Listen to concerns and explore how to resolve, not refute, them. Be reliable & trustworthy – success breeds success.

6. Negotiations are Possible! Lower renter requirements –Credit checks, etc. are the landlords’ protection against making a bad choice – e.g. someone who will not pay their rent. Are their mechanisms you can adopt to minimize their risk AND allow them to rent to the family you are working with? Lower rent! –Upfront rental payments or assistance with upkeep of the property may allow landlord to offer unit for reduced rate.

7. Strategies – From Beyond Shelter Know what you are ‘selling’ –Marketing materials: benefits to owners, organizational history of success, educate and dispel myths/stereotypes Market to Whom –Private landlords, property management companies, other entities – including public sector Cold calls & community searches –Neighborhood searches, door to door, internet listing, newspapers Warm hits –Previous landlord partners, word of mouth, owners w/history of philanthropy, personal experience/knowledge

8. Strategies – From Beyond Shelter (cont) Networking –Associations, presentations, informal opportunities Follow-up –Follow up with current owners, go the extra mile! Lessons Learned –Non-monetary incentives can work –Beware of unanticipated costs –Understand needs and wants of landlords –DO NOT make promises you cannot keep –Document all communications w/landlords –Myth: landlords do not want to rent to homeless families or agencies serving them