Boulder County Department of Housing & Human Services Merged county Housing Authority and Social Services into one

department in 2009 Section 8 Housing assistance programs, including Housing Stabilization

Program Affordable and subsidized units Food assistance Medical assistance Child and adult protection TANF Child Care Assistance Child Support Services DHHS Academy (an education and & life skills unit) Work Supports (a branch of Workforce)

Short to Medium Term Rapid Re-Housing and Prevention Program

Collaborate with local agencies and non-profits for referral and case management services (basic needs, DV agencies, shelters, child protection, family resource centers)

Provide 3-24 months of rental assistance, depending upon continued need and progress towards self-sufficiency

Coupled with intensive case management as part of a county-wide integrated case management effort

High Rent City of Boulder = 125% above FMR Surrounding areas (mostly rural) = 115% above AMI for a 1 bedroom = $863 /Market rate = $1,100 AMI for a 2 bedroom = $1,068 / Market rate = $1,400

Low Vacancy City of Boulder = 1% Surrounding areas = 2-5%

Always pay rent on time Always make efforts to personally contact each

landlord at the beginning of the relationship (taking 5-10 minutes to describe the program)

Take time to describe how their decision to rent to our participants positively impacts the community

Send thank you notes to each landlord

Boulder County Case Management Coalition Case managers from non-profit and government agencies

meet monthly to staff challenging cases, train to core competencies and discuss county-wide issues and concerns, including vacancy rates, landlord issues etc.

Boulder County Landlord Relations Collaborative Community providers, including the 3 housing

authorities in the area and non-profit agencies meet monthly to develop creative and inexpensive solutions to engage with and incentivize landlords

Formed in 2012 Approach

Adopt core principles of Landlord Relations Identify current landlords who work willingly with

Section 8 and RR and those who have recently chosen to withdraw from participation

Community Roundtable - invite these landlords to discuss and share issues and concerns and answer any questions

Landlord Training Alliance – provide training and real estate credits to landlords on specific topics, including navigating the complicated HUD rules

Rental Education Workshops – provide education and training for all RR and Section 8 participants and any tenant a landlord refers

Created and taught by the DHHS Academy Required or strongly encouraged for most housing

programs in Boulder County Workshops offered over the course of 2 days Curriculum:

Visioning Your Dream Home Finding Your Real Home Understanding Your Lease Moving in, Maintaining & Moving Out:

Protecting Your Home, Self and Environment Housing Roles and Responsibilities Your Neighbors and Landlords

OBJECTIVE- At the end of this lesson, participants will develop a better idea of the qualities/amenities they want in their dream home. EXERCISE – In the beginning of the session,

participants will do two exercises – written and visual – to identify what amenities are important to them Things to consider: Location, Timing/Flexibility, Type of

home and Accessibility

OBJECTIVE – Participants will gain skills to move from abstract envisioning to concrete reality Participants will engage in exercises focused on: Affordability/Cost Methods of searching Screening homes Screening landlords Being screened as a tenant

OBJECTIVE – By the end of this lesson, participants will better understand the lease process, and the expectations and motivations of both the landlord and the tenant. Class will go over all sections of a lease and a

realistic lease will be shown and dissected part by part

OBJECTIVE – By the end of this lesson, participants will be aware of their responsibilities and the processes for moving in and moving out of a unit, as well as how to communicate more effectively with their landlords and neighbors throughout their tenancy. Exercise 1- Facilitator will share a moving “horror story,” and

then asks participants to share previous moving experiences, as well as identify what could be done differently.

Exercise 2- A panel will be presented with guests who will be addressing housing from multiple points of interest: Property management, property maintenance, renters insurance safety and energy efficiency.

OBJECTIVE- By the end of this lesson, participants will become aware of safety issues and hazards that may arise at home and learn how to prevent or prepare for those hazards. Participants will learn where to go for help Within household Landlord Neighbors/friends Police/ Fire Department

OBJECTIVE- By the end of this lesson, participants will have usable the tools for good communication, particularly with their landlord and neighbors. Will discuss and engage in activities focused around: General communication skills Communicating with your landlord Being a good neighbor

Sarah Buss Housing & Community Partnerships Coordinator

Boulder County Housing & Human Services sbuss@bouldercounty.org

720-564-2291