NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS TO JOIN LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

December 7, 2021 (Bemidji, MN) – The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is seeking applicants to join the Landlord Engagement Advisory Committee. The committee’s primary goal will be to establish policies and procedures for the Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund and cultivate positive relationships with housing providers, social service workers, and those experiencing chronic homelessness.

The Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund is managed by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation Homelessness Program. The fund is open to those under 25 years old who are experiencing homelessness and could be successfully supported in housing by housing service providers but are unable to find a landlord willing to rent to them due to their age and/or history.

The Landlord Engagement Advisory Committee is planned to be comprised of social service providers, local landlords, real estate experts, and leaders within the regional homeless response system. The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is seeking applicants for this role who have diverse skillsets and professional experiences, including regional housing authorities, regional or municipal planning, economic development professionals, local landlords and property managers, real estate professionals, legal experts, health care professionals, mental and behavioral health experts, chemical dependency professionals, criminal justice authorities, case managers, social workers, educational professionals, social justice advocates, young adults with experience of homelessness, and any other relevant experiences.

Who benefits from the Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund?

• Landlords gain assurance and peace of mind when leasing to tenants who are coming out of homelessness, as well as financial support, if needed.

• Households ending homelessness gain increased access to high-quality, affordable housing, without the barriers of needing to meet standard rental criteria (credit checks, rental history, criminal background checks, and income verification).

• Continuum of Care Agencies in Northwest Minnesota gain resources and tools needed to reach their goals of ending homelessness, and provide housing solutions to the community.

• Our systems, such as housing, health care, education, and judicial are more effectively able to serve the community when we collaborate to end homelessness through a housing-first approach and provide housing solutions to those most in need.

Applications for the role of Landlord Engagement Advisory Committee members will be open for 30 days, through January 6, 2022.

More information on how to apply, as well as a formal job description, can be found on the Northwest Continuum of Care’s website: http://www.nwmf.org/resources/strategic-partnerships/nwcoc

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is a public, charitable foundation serving 12 counties of Northwest Minnesota by investing resources, facilitating collaboration and promoting philanthropy.