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

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

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

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

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

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.

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- www.fairfaxhousingcollaborative.org 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

Contact Information Administrators of Housing Opportunities Collaborative: Rachel Helferd, Housing Locator Support Specialist Rachel.Helferd@fairfaxcounty.gov 703-324-9490 Vincent Jenkins, Housing Resource Coordinator Vincent.Jenkins@cornerstonesva.org 571-323-1396 www.fairfaxhousingcollaborative.org