By Amy Qin | Arizona Republic
A new collaboration between Maricopa County and low-income housing operator HOM Inc. aims to help landlords rent to more people experiencing homelessness.
The public-private partnership will offer financial incentives, risk mitigation funds and support to property managers and owners to rent to the growing population of people who are unhoused.
With a $5 million initial investment from federal COVID-19 relief funds, housing advocates and landlords hope the program will reduce barriers in one critical part of the journey to leaving homelessness for good: finding somewhere to live.
Threshold is the first-ever centralized landlord engagement service in Maricopa County, designed to attract and retain landlords who are willing to provide quality, affordable housing through several housing programs.
“The number one issue I’m hearing about is homelessness,” said Bill Gates, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors chairman, who reflected on concerns he has been hearing from his constituents and community. “The challenge has been, of course, ‘How do you get people who are unsheltered into permanent housing?’”
