1. Coordinated Housing Location and Landlord Engagement
2.13 Community wide landlord engagement
NAEH 2017
Rachel Helferd
July 18,2017

2. How Does The Collaborative Work?
The Housing Opportunities Collaborative:
Coordinates housing location services throughout our continuum: PSH, RRH, special preference HCV, Bridging Affordability
Participation is based on signed Partner Agency MOU, not a particular rental assistance program
Supports and trains staff who work with clients
Recruits landlords, big and small, to consider renting to clients experiencing homelessness
Stimulate engagement with Landlord Incentive Program
Designated staff member to coordinate landlord marketing and engagement efforts
Frontline staff funnel unused leads through Collaborative as well- ultimate goal of landlord retention!
Oversees homeless preference referrals with local housing authority for Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing opportunities

3. Collaborative Scope
Two admins; one in County’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness and one with a nonprofit partner in our CoC, Cornerstones
Empower housing locators to contribute to system-wide landlord recruitment efforts
Program funded through local county dollars; landlord incentive program is based on public-private partnerships
Website and property listing database created to support marketing and real-time housing opportunities
12 homeless services providers are currently signed on as partner agencies, as well as the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
Will expand to SSVF providers and County agencies that use rental assistance with other populations in the coming months

4. County of Fairfax, Virginia
407 square miles
Over 1.1 million people
Area Median Income (AMI)= $113,208
Average income of homeless served <15% = $16,500
Average rent = $1,857 for a 2 bedroom

5. Homelessness in Fairfax County
Latest Point in Time (PIT) = 964
47% PIT reduction since 2008

6. Landlord Incentive Program
We have established workflows for landlord engagement dependent on unit/property size.
Levels of engagement for landlords
Housing Partner- standard level; frames services offered through RRH CM as incentives; LL only has to agree and qualify to accept rental assistance
Game Changer- premium incentive level; offers access to robust supports including risk reduction fund, landlord support line, lease writing assistance, mediation services; LL has to lower barrier to access housing (lower rent, include utilities, accept additional form of rental assistance, amend screening criteria for unit)
We created thorough supporting documentation for how our program operates so nonprofit staff and Collaborative Admin.’s have clear expectations for landlord engagement.

7. Where are we now? 2016 = planning program with partner agencies
2017 = implementation of program; training frontline staff users, first landlord partner recruited!
Database tool will launch in August
Website went live in July-
34 professional development trainings hosted since April of 2016
Over 100 staff members trained
Created introductory and intermediate course levels to train new frontline staff and provide ongoing education to supervisors and senior employees
Launched Shadow a Locator program; pairing experienced locators with new locators from other agencies for support and guidance in positions

8. Contact Information
Administrators of Housing Opportunities Collaborative:
Rachel Helferd, Housing Locator Support Specialist
Vincent Jenkins, Housing Resource Coordinator