Title
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING ST. LOUIS COUNTY’S LANDLORD INCENTIVES PROGRAM PROPOSAL AND THE SALVATION ARMY’S GRANT APPLICATION FOR LANDLORD RISK MITIGATION FUNDS.
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BY COUNCILOR WESTERLUND:
WHEREAS, individuals with criminal backgrounds are less likely to reoffend and more likely to reintegrate into the community and secure employment if they have access to safe and affordable housing;
WHEREAS, the availability of quality housing for people with criminal records is very limited in the city of Duluth due to the city’s low vacancy rates and landlord’s reluctance to rent to high risk tenants;
WHEREAS, the Landlord Incentives Program (LIP) will offer landlords assistance in the form of monetary support and services to provide incentives for renting to individuals with criminal backgrounds. LIP will improve the community and save tax payer money by reducing recidivism and expanding the rental housing market; and
WHEREAS, the Salvation Army and the Landlord Incentives Program of St. Louis County are applying for grant funding through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) to fund landlord risk mitigation programs.
RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth supports St. Louis County’s and the Salvation Army’s grant application to the MHFA for landlord risk mitigation funding.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of this resolution is to support St. Louis County and the Salvation Army in their effort to secure funding through MHFA for funds to provide incentives to landlords to rent to individuals with criminal backgrounds. Expanding the rental housing market for people with criminal backgrounds will improve people’s chances to reintegrate into the community, secure employment, and have access to safe and affordable housing.