Cumberland County Landlords Needed

The Cumberland County Housing First Collaborative is seeking landlords of rental properties in Cumberland County that are interested in housing one or more of the chronically homeless population that will be placed in permanent supportive housing. In particular, the Collaborative is looking for one-bedroom apartments.

“The Cumberland County Housing First Collaborative (CCHFC) is a unique consortium of social service organizations, faith-based institutions, and government officials committed to tackling the problem of chronic homelessness in Cumberland County,” said Dr. Weinstein. “The individuals in our program are working hard to turn their lives around and are in need of a second chance.  By partnering with us, landlords have the unique opportunity to help end homelessness in Cumberland County with guaranteed income for rent and support through the partners in the Collaborative.”

​The guiding agency of this collaborative is the M25 Initiative, a nonprofit organization based in Bridgeton, which also facilitates the grassroots Cumberland County Code Blue Coalition. The other partners of the collaborative include Gateway Community Action Partnership, PRAC of New Jersey, Resources for Independent Living, and CompleteCare. The collaborative is operating in partnership with the Cumberland County Jail, Inspira Health Network, Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, and Monarch Housing. PRAC of New Jersey is responsible for the housing engagement duties of the Collaborative.

Landlords that are interested in learning more about this program should contact PRAC of NJ and speak with Ralph Padilla or Rick Ortiz at (856) 982-6004/(856) 299-5800 ext. 14. Alternatively, please fill out the brief form located below.

The incentives for landlords to partner with the Collaborative include:

• Eliminate advertising costs.  Working with the Collaborative gives landlords access to a pool of ready-to-rent tenants.  Just call PRAC when a unit is vacant, and they will quickly match the landlord up with a client that is looking for housing.
• “Smart” renters. The clients have attended training on such topics as personal budgeting, understanding rental agreements, housekeeping and general apartment maintenance, being a good neighbor, etc. 
• Rent Payments through the State. Clients in the Housing First Program are required to pay to the landlord 20% of their income toward their rent. The remaining amount of rent payments are sent through the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
• Problem prevention through regular home visits.  Our case managers conduct regular home visits to ensure that clients are stabilized in their new environments, that their jobs are going well, and that they are getting the support they need.  Regular follow up with clients allows us to identify and address potential problems early on – before they become irreparable.
• Clients are attached to needed services.  Some clients have special needs, but the Collaborative works with the clients on an ongoing basis to make sure they have the support they need to succeed.  The Collaborative works with clients to correct past mistakes and prevent future problems, and through their network of partners, clients have access to an array of supportive services.