Since the pandemic began the number of homes and apartments available to rent has dropped to record low levels.

With shelters full, some agencies in Mahoning County have teamed up to help find landlords willing to help others and potentially help their rental business at the same time. 

In Mahoning County landlords are being asked to rent safe and affordable homes or apartments to low income families, the working poor, along with people in recovery, or people receiving mental health services who are in need of housing.  

 

Colleen Kosta, Coordinator with the Mahoning County Homeless Continuum of Care tells 21 News one of the programs they have is permanent housing, and with that comes management, teaching the person to be a good client and knowing how to manage an apartment or landlord. 

 

Right now they have around 100 people that are looking for available units. There are some programs that guarantee rent through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

 

"We are having a low amount of available rental units that are safe and affordable for our clients," Kosta said. 

 

Shelters in Mahoning County are filled to capacity, women and children units have waiting lists. 

 

Lee DeVita, Program Coordinator with the Mahoning Mental Health and Recovery Board tells 21 News the agencies are trying to be a broker between the clients and landlords.

 

"We have wrap around services. We have individuals that do case managers that go out and meet making sure the landlords' properties are taken care of. This way if there are setbacks in someone's mental health that they have a provider agency and someone that is following them to make sure they get the help they need," DeVita said.

 

"If the agency has a payee program the agency can handle their bills that is available. A lot of our individuals they manage their finances on a reliable basis like you or I do," DeVita added.

 

A lot of referrals are homeless or at risk of being homeless, and there are a lot of women and children staying at the local shelters.

 

Catholic Charities tells us rental assistance or the deposits and and first and last months rent are often provided.

 

And caseworkers or managers work with clients to help prepare them to be responsible renters. 

 

Nancy Voitus, Executive Director Catholic Charities Regional Agency tells 21 News they have grant funds to try to get people out of homelessness or get people stably housed.

 

"We're going to give the landlords information about our programs, how we can assist clients, how we try to prepare them to be good clients. We do have people that we help with the security deposit, maybe first and second month rent. Maybe they're starting a new job. We give them a start and they're able to take over. We do have success stories," said Voitus.

 

"We interview clients, get information on their situation, see what kind of income they have and how they can sustain paying rent and bills. We go over a budget do a habitable inspection of the place. If income and expenses don't add up we don't recommend renting. We link landlords if we think it will be sustainable," Voitus added.

 

A landlord familiar with the program says the Agency case workers act as a bridge between the landlord and client.

 

He and a veteran client in a program renewed a lease after one year. 

 

The landlord explained he is doing his part, and the renter, a veteran, is doing his part, and if something goes wrong where he can't carry his end, the agencies step up and do their part without delay. 

 

That landlord explained it has been a win-win situation for him. 

 

Landlords determine their criteria for renting. The goal is for both sides to benefit.

 

For details and specific information Landlords can call:

 

Catholic Charities Regional Agency, Nancy Voitus at 330-744-3320

 

Mahoning County Homeless Continuum of Care, Colleen Kosta  330-740-7900 x 8193