HPPP to implement local homelessness rent program
For the City Times
STEVENS POINT – Local non-profit, Hunger and Poverty Prevention Partnership of Portage County (HPPP), a non-profit consortium of local governmental agencies, community based organizations, educational institutions, shelters, faith based organizations, food pantries and general citizenry, approved implementation of the RentReady Wisconsin homelessness certification program at its Dec. 4 meeting.
The program, the first of its kind, was created from scratch with help from a variety of community partners. RentReady will provide a mechanism for homeless persons with “checkered pasts,” which effectively keep them out of housing, to overcome those hurdles and allow them an avenue to get back into the rental market. Participants will be provided training, resources, and specific actionable items to be certified through the program.
Mark Kordus, with the Stevens Point Community Development Department said, “Building this from the ground up was an amazing experience for all those involved. With each person we met to discuss RentReady over the summer, it quickly became a better, well-rounded program. It truly turned into a ‘hand-up’, verses a ‘handout’, for those within our community who most needed it”.
The initial intake and training sessions will be held through the Salvation Army Hope Center, with small class sizes – a maximum of eight per class – and two counselors. Participants will then need to complete a personalized homework assignment which would become their renter portfolio. Upon successful completion of both, individuals will become RentReady certified and are eligible for a rent default guarantee program, a list of participating landlords, and a post-placement community sponsor.
“In my 17 years at the shelter this is first and only program I have seen to help homeless persons enter the rental market at large, while avoiding predatory renting practices,” said Bob Quam of the Salvation Army. “We welcome the opportunity to be an active partner”.
One of the two critical components of this program, which make it unique while contributing to its success, is participation from local landlords in offering rental housing, and post-placement support offered through community/faith based organizations.
The second component which will help RentReady graduates transition into housing is post-placement assistance offered through local organizations.
Providing education and a mentoring-type relationship post-placement has shown to be an important element of success with several trial housing placements done over the last 6 months.
The goal for the RentReady program is to graduate and place 16 – 24 persons and/or families who are homeless or borderline homeless within Portage County into housing during the calendar year 2020.
The first class is scheduled for February, with classes tentatively every other month. The group is currently soliciting funds and sponsorship for the rent guarantee risk pool from local community based organizations totaling $16,000.
Additional information about RentReady can be obtained from Mark Kordus at 715- 346-1554 or [email protected].
Donations to support the RentReady program, which is staffed by local volunteers, can be sent to HPPP, PO Box 570, Stevens Point, WI, 54481.