A program meant to give homeless people housing -- and therefore a chance to stabilize -- is struggling despite more than $70,000 in support from metro Denver governments, the Denver Post reports.
Landlords Opening Doors two years ago began recruiting landlords who were willing to set aside housing units for homeless people with vouchers. So far, only 50 units are now housing participants.
The problem isn't a lack of willingness from landlords. Pat Noonan, a landlord recruitment specialist with Brothers Redevelopment, told the Post's Aldo Svaldi that about 340 landlords have expressed an interest and made 149 units available.
And they have plenty of incentive. The program offers landlords a $200 signing bonus and funds for repairs, not to mention a tenant who's ready to move in right away and another to move in as soon as that one moves out.
You can probably guess what the real problem is. The rent is too damn high.
Even after an annual adjustment, the federal government-provided rental vouchers aren't enough. They're anywhere from $50 to $200 short of market rate.
There are also logistical issues. A homeless person might need a one bedroom apartment when only larger units are available, for instance, or need a home in a city where none are available.
