The Alliance for Equitable Housing Launches Pilot Program to Enhance Landlord and Tenant Relations through Incentives
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – November 21, 2024 – The Alliance for Equitable Housing is excited to announce the launch of a new pilot program designed to foster positive relationships between landlords and housing-challenged tenants by directly addressing the top barriers to stable and affordable housing within our community. This innovative program aims to address common challenges in the rental market through targeted incentives while promoting stable housing and community engagement.
The Landlord & Tenant Success Initiative pilot program starts November 21, 2024, and will run for approximately one year or until pilot funding is expended. Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust gifted $100,000 to the Alliance for Equitable Housing to fund the pilot program. The goal of the pilot program is to successfully house 30 housing-challenged tenants with private, for-profit landlords within Linn County.
The pilot program consists of four core components that offer incentives and support to eligible landlords and tenants for successful efforts in the program. The core components include:
- Landlord Incentive: A $1,000 cash bonus provided to participating landlords, over and above deposit requirements, to accept housing-challenged tenants for a 12-month lease.
- Risk Mitigation Fund: Funds set aside for a landlord or property owner to mitigate or offset potential costs associated with renting.
- Landlord Support: Direct mediation support from Waypoint’s Landlord Liaison along with monthly unit inspections to prevent lease violations.
- Tenant Incentive: Up to $750 will incentivize tenants to achieve goals through case management and tenant education classes.
This pilot program aims to test strategies and develop permanent solutions for Linn County’s housing-challenged residents.
“The Landlord & Tenant Success Initiative is designed to help us learn how to support tenants and landlords more effectively,” said Karey Chase, Vice President of Community Impact of United Way of East Central Iowa and a founding member of the Alliance for Equitable Housing. “By providing incentives and resources, we hope to encourage landlords and tenants to work together, ultimately leading to improved housing stability in our community.”
The pilot program will be implemented throughout Linn County. Interested landlords are encouraged to contact Waypoint Services Landlord Liaison, Adrienne Kasner, at 319-351-9352 or [email protected] to learn more or sign up for the program.
Tenants will be selected collaboratively by local non-profit housing providers and work with interested landlords to identify an appropriate match.
About the Alliance for Equitable Housing
The Alliance for Equitable Housing is a multi-jurisdictional collaboration involving Linn County, local cities, area funders, advocacy groups, and non-profits working within the housing system. Formed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the August 2020 derecho, the Alliance is focused on creating comprehensive housing solutions with tangible action steps. These solutions address community-identified issues such as housing quality, stabilization, development, and equity. The Alliance will first build on existing work and programs to align and enhance current efforts before considering new initiatives. The Alliance maximizes its collective and collaborative power by keeping organizations focused on their areas of expertise.