Headwaters Landlords' Association Explores Stable Supported Rental Housing for People needing a Second Chance

On Thursday October 13, 2022 the Headwaters Landlords’ Association will explore Stable Supported Rental Housing as a means to help the community by expanding the number of rental units available for lease to people who deserve a second chance at independent housing. Non-member property owners or managers are also invited. The Stable Supported Rental Housing Plan will be presented to Headwaters landlords Thursday evening October 13, 2022 between 7 and 8:30 PM. The Headwaters Landlords’ Association meeting will be held in person at the Beltrami Electric Conference Room, 4111 Technology Drive, Bemidji.

Starting with the need of recovering people coming out of treatment for stable housing that supports recovery, the project expanded, as it developed over the past year, to include many groups needing a second chance: homeless people, including homeless veterans, and people without rental records demonstrating past rental success. What these groups have in common is the lack of a recent, successful rental experience that would serve as a qualification for an open market rental or lease.

The central idea is that persons who might not initially seem likely rental candidates, could improve their acceptability to landlords by having social supports to successfully perform the tenant role and financial supports that secure against property and rental loss. Resources come from a variety of community programs, each of which has tapped unique funding sources that can support various levels of response, depending upon the need. Among the participating programs are Bemidji Area Program for Recovery, Face-It-Together, Housing Matters, HUDVASH Veteran’s Program, Northwest Indian Community Development Center, and Restore House,

The Headwaters Landlord Association brings together area landlords to network and educate its membership. “We work to maintain a good relationship with the local government officials, as it relates to housing.”

Headwaters Landlords’ Association President Andrew K. Erholtz will introduce and provide an overview of the approach. Melody Gordon will present the HUDVASH program for homeless veterans as one example of services available and what can be accomplished for revitalizing lives. Representatives of other service providers in the Plan will be present for individual discussions about using the specific programs and matching to the needs of specific property owners or managers.

Andrew Erholtz also manages rental units through Vision Properties. Vision Properties has operated rental housing since 2010. As a business, Vision Properties is trying to build a better community by establishing relationships with support organizations that help applicants who need a second chance. Vision Properties has pioneered in this Area.