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SC9-IncreasingLandlordParticipationinRentalAssistanceProgramsProjectLead:

MollyLink,ScottCountyCDAmlink@scottcda.org952.402.9022ext.222www.scottcda.org

Description:

TheScottCountyCommunityDevelopmentAgency(CDA)iscommittedtotheU.S.HousingandUrbanDevelopment(HUD)agency’sgoaloffurtheringfairhousingandultimatelyendinghomelessnessinScottCounty.Likemanysuburbanandruralcounties,ScottCounthasagrowinghomelessnessandaffordablehousingproblem,aswellasmanysocioeconomicallyvulnerablepopulations,includingtheelderly,individualswithdisabilities,andlargeHispanic/Latino,RussianandSomaliimmigrantpopulation.

TheSection8HousingChoiceVoucherProgramisthefederalgovernment’sprimaryprogramtohelpverylowincomefamiliesandindividualsaccessdecent,safe,andaffordablehousing.Vouchersareadministeredbylocalpublichousingagencies(inScottCounty,theCDAservesasthePHA),andprogramparticipantscanchooseanyhousingthatmeetstheminimumhealthyandsafetyrequirementsoftheprogram,andwherethepropertyownerormanageragreestoacceptvouchers.Inthecurrentrentalmarket,thenumberofrentalpropertyownersandmanagersinScottCountythatacceptSection8vouchersiscontinuingtodecrease.ManyarechoosingtooptoutofacceptingSection8vouchers,orareconvertingwhatwasonceaffordableorfairmarkethousingunitsintoluxuryunits.Thistrendisfurtherexacerbatingtheproblemoffindingaffordablehousinginanalreadytightrentalmarket.

ThisprojectisfocusedondiscoveringthebarriersthatdiscouragerentalpropertyownersandmanagersinScottCountyfromacceptingSection8vouchers,identifyingopportunitiestocorrectmisinformationormisperceptionsoftheprogramorthepeoplewhoparticipateinit,creatingamarketingstrategytoencouragegreaterrentalpropertyownerandmanagerparticipationintheprograminthefuture,andidentifyingotherstrategiestoincreaseaccesstoaffordablehousinginScottCounty.KeyIssues,Questions,andIdeasforExploration:

! ForrentalpropertyownersandmanagersinScottCountywhocurrentlyparticipateintheSection8voucherprogram,whatmotivatesthemtoparticipate?Whatifanychallengesorissueshasparticipationintheprogramcreated,andhowhavetheyaddressedtheseissues?

! ForrentalpropertyownersandmanagerswhodonotcurrentlyparticipateintheSection8voucherprogram,whatarethebarriersorconcerns—realorperceived—thatdiscourageparticipation?

! ForrentalpropertyownersandmanagerswhousedtoparticipateintheSection8voucherprogrambutnolongerdo,whydidtheydiscontinueparticipation?Whatwouldneedtohappenforthemtoparticipateonceagain?

! Whatarestrategiesorbestpracticestoeducateandengagerentalpropertyowners/managersabouttheprogram,howitworks,andtheimportance/benefitsoftheprogramtothepeopleitserves?

! Whatotherprograms,policies,initiatives,orstrategiescantheCDAconsidertoincreaseparticipationofrentalpropertyowners/managersintheSection8voucherprogram,aswellasmaintaininvolvementfromthosethatalreadyparticipate?

! Whatotherprograms,policies,initiatives,orstrategiescantheCDAconsidertoassistverylowincomefamiliestohaveaccesstoaffordablehousinginScottCounty,particularlyinlocationswithgoodaccesstotransitandjobs?

HowWillStudentWorkBeUsedtoBuildCommunityResiliency?

TheCDA’sgoalistousetheinformationgatheredbystudentstoretaincurrentpropertyownerswhoparticipateinthevoucherprogram,andincreaseparticipationamongthosewhocurrentlydonotparticipate,throughacoordinatededucationandmarketingcampaign.Inaddition,theCDAwillconsiderotherstrategiesstudentsidentifytoensurethatverylowincomefamilieshaveaccesstoalltypesandrangesofaffordablehousinginScottCounty.ExistingPlansandReports:

! FamilyHousingFund,Owners/ManagersCreatingOpportunity:AnalysisofOwner/ManagerFeedback(2016)

! AnalysisofImpedimentstoFairHousingChoice:TwinCitiesRegion(2014)! Addendumtothe2014RegionalAI(2017)! AppendixtotheAddendumtothe2014RegionalAI(2017)! Governor’sTaskForceonHousing,TenantandVoucherRecommendations:Stateand

RegionalAnalysisofImpedimentstoFairHousingChoicePlans! LandlordRiskandMitigationFund:ALiteratureandDesignReview(2016).

www.mnhousing.gov/get/MHFA_1040835PotentialStakeholdersandPartners:

! Cityrentallicensingstaff! SCALE’sLive,Learn,Earngroup! Rentalpropertyownersandmanagers! CommunityActionPartnershipofScott,Carver,DakotaCounties! HousingCoalition/CoordinatedEntryprogram(DanLauer-Schumacher,Housing

Coordinator,ScottCounty)! ScottCountySection8clients

TolearnmoreaboutthisprojectordiscusshowtointegrateitintoaUMNcourseoranindividualstudentproject(suchasaculminatingexperience,capstone,master’sproject,orindependentstudy),pleasecontactSarahTschidaorMikeGrecowiththeResilientCommunitiesProjectatrcp@umn.edu.