Housing Relocation Program
IHN operates the Housing Relocation Program for the Family
Support Network. The Housing Relocation program has two goals,
one is to actually find housing for our families and help them
move them in, and one is to encourage local landlords to house
our families. The program offers assistance to approximately
80 families in Washtenaw County every year.
Some of the General Obstacles to housing for our families
are:
- Affordability – their income level is not sufficient
to cover most rents in the area and living expenses. This
is especially true for our larger families.
- Poor credit – many
of our families have outstanding bills and unpaid loans,
as well as eviction histories.
- Lack of landlord references,
poor housing history. Families with histories of living
in poverty and perhaps experiencing
domestic violence, addiction illnesses or mental illness
in their family are likely to have had some difficulties
meeting
the conditions of their lease.
Families are referred into the Housing Relocation program
once they have started generating a steady income. The majority
of our family heads of households are employed. The housing
relocation coordinator reviews the family’s credit history,
their income, any money they may have saved up, the size unit
they require, and any other issues that may impact their housing
potential.
The Housing Relocation team is committed to establishing new
working relationships with the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Housing
Commissions, Washtenaw Affordable Housing, McKinley Properties
and Avalon. The housing relocation team is working closely
with these organizations to develop partnerships that lead
to more ready access to affordable housing for homeless families.
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