Ready-To-Rent Program Receives Deschutes County Grant

Thanks to a Deschutes Community Grant awarded to Families Forward, more families have a greater chance of finding a home this year. The $5,000 grant was awarded by Deschutes County to the local nonprofit to present six sessions of the Ready-to-Rent program, which offers education on renting for families and individuals at risk of homelessness due to past rental history, bad credit, or other challenges.

The Ready-to-Rent program is aimed at creating more housing opportunities for families who may have past issues that are barring them from finding affordable housing. Program participants spend approximately 18 hours of classroom time learning the skills they need to overcome their obstacles, such as repairing their credit and learning to budget. Guest speakers highlight topics in their specialized fields, such as the legal rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords. Graduates of the program are awarded a certificate of completion which may be considered by landlords as a positive factor on a rental application.

“The Ready-to-Rent program provides an excellent learning opportunity for the students,” says Bruce Jaqua, a certified Ready-to-Rent instructor. “One of the key tenets that the students learn is that ‘knowledge is power.’ This class provides them that knowledge as well as the tools needed to be able to help them find the life that they want for themselves and their families.”

Jaqua has held three Ready-to-Rent classes at Bethlehem Inn over the past year, which have had a total of 41 participants with 26 graduates. A third of the graduates have reported finding a home.

“I have been contacted by both organizations who want to offer this program to their clients,” says Jaqua, “and by people who want to take the class because they want to make some positive changes.”

Families Forward anticipates partnering with local organizations to offer the program at locations throughout Deschutes County. The next Ready-to-Rent class is being planned for this fall.

Housing Works, in association with Families Forward, is the only organization in Central or Eastern Oregon to provide Ready-to-Rent training. Ready-to-Rent is a national program which originated at the Portland Housing Center and is now offered in 10 states and British Columbia. It has been endorsed by the Oregon Apartment Association, Oregon Rental Housing Association, Metro Multifamily Housing Council of Oregon and the Fair Housing Council of Oregon.

Funding for the Families Forward program has come from donations from U.S. Bank, Bank of the Cascades, and the United Way/Project Homeless Connect, as well as grants obtained by Bethlehem Inn to offer the program to residents.

Families Forward is a 501 (c) (3) created by Housing Works, the regional housing authority. The nonprofit was formed to provide the resources and collaborative partnerships needed to offer the housing authority’s clients greater access to services and educational programs. The intent is to increase the numbers of households achieving economic independence and self-sufficiency and to provide opportunities for affordable homeownership.

For more information about Ready-to-Rent, contact Bruce Jaqua at (541) 323-7410.