Presentation Minutes


Landlord Liaison Project

  • Alexis Eykel, Program Director - AlexisE@AssociatedMinistries.org
  • Sean Lewis, Program Assistant - SeanL@AssociatedMinistries.org
  • Kiesha Triplett – Landlord Engagement - KieshaT@AssociatedMinistries.org
  • Who knows what we are?
  • We launched in October – did work to develop the program from January through October of last year
  • The new tenant ordinances in Tacoma do have landlords a bit scared. 
  • Landlord Liaison is a prepaid service that provides resources to landlords to incentivizes them – we supplement service providers with risk management funds
  • The overall program steps:
    • Recruit units from landlords
    • Advertise those to RRH partners
    • Fill units with rent-ready tenants
    • Provide support to property owners
  • Incentive offers
    • Quick tenant filling – no need to advertise units
    • 24-hours support hotline if there are any issues – this saves property partners from having to do a judgement or eviction – good for landlord and tenant
    • Access to risk mitigation funds
    • Tennant have access to renter readiness
  • All housing have to pass Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection
  • Housing needs – need housing at or below FMR that is clean and located in each school district in the County (that can’t be easy. –ed).
  • What we don’t do:
    • Handle property and case management
    • Don’t handle client screening – we wanted to do this, but lots of complexity. 
    • Don’t do housing and shelter
    • Don’t do housing assistance
  • Impact since October 2018 –
    • Gained 11 property partners – 7 private partners and 4 property management companies
    • Housed 68 people – 34 adults and 32 children. (I’m not sure what the other two are, either. –ed)
    • Out of all folks housed, we’ve had 10 total  issues
      • 2  resulted in a relocation - not a judgement or eviction, just a graceful exit (like a trip to Elba? –ed)
    • Held 6 renters readiness courses – seen increasing positive response – more tenants coming to these courses
  • Issues are pretty normal – unauthorized guests, noise complaints, large pets when there shouldn’t be.  The case managers we work with are so responsive.  I usually get an e-mail from a property manager – like someone was vomiting over the balcony, and we’ve asked them  to stop and they won’t.  We’ll have the case manager intervene to fix the issue.  We had a DV situation that was causing problems in the apartment complex.  None of these issues resulted in an eviction 
  • 2019 fundraising goal – goal of $20,000, currently raised $1,500.  Working on move-in kits.  Often renters need renters insurance, so LLP would like to provide that.
  • Questions – what is a move-in kit?   Cleaning supplies and such that folks don’t have. 
  • Reach out to us - let us know any property owner and property managers. 
  • Carolyn – how do you encourage landlords to sign up.  Are you a non-profit?  Alexis – we are a nonprofit – housed at Associated Ministries, but we have rebranded away from Associated Ministries.  I have a history with property management and as a realtor and such.  Landlords can contact me or we can reach out to them 
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