Did you know...

...Single moms head about 40% of families experiencing housing insecurity in the St. Charles region?
...About one-third of people who are housing insecure are children?
...With support, many families can be successful renters?

Now there’s a program to help!

The St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren Continuum of Care is a group of organizations working together to end homelessness and bring affordable housing to people in our community. Through a new program, Continuum organizations work with potential renters to empower them to be successful renters with education, financial assistance and ongoing support. We are looking for landlords who are willing to work with these families as they get a new start. Consider the following benefits for participating landlords:

• Eliminate advertising costs. Our program connects you to ready-to-rent tenants. Just call when you have a vacant unit. We’ll immediately match you with a client looking for housing.
• “Smart” renters. Our clients have attended training on such topics as personal budgeting, understanding rental agreements, housekeeping and general apartment maintenance and being a good neighbor.
• Damage/security deposits. Many low-income clients can afford monthly rent, but have difficulty saving enough money for their security deposit. We help clients put together this one-time payment.
• Time-limited subsidies. Eligible clients receive a subsidy to help them cover the first three months of their rent, giving them time to stabilize and build an emergency fund for the future.
• Supportive Services. Some clients face a number of challenges. We connect clients to an array of supportive services, so they have the support they need to succeed.
• Regular home visits. To be proactive in identifying and addressing potential problems, our case managers conduct regular home visits to make sure clients are stabilized in their new home, their job is going well and they are getting needed supports.
• Neutral party to mediate problems. We care as much about our relationship with our landlords as we do our clients. If a problem arises, a case manager acts as a neutral party to ensure everyone is treated fairly and problems are resolved quickly.
• Satisfaction from helping others. Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to live. By helping house our clients, you play an important role in helping them take charge of their lives, while also in making your community a better place to live. 

If you're a landlord interested in participating in the Renter Success Program, EMAIL US your contact information or call 636-978-2277 x404.