NEW: Landlord Toolkit, the Welcome Corps, and upcoming webinars.
RHS releases Landlord Toolkit.
RHS is proud to share a comprehensive tool for housing providers with its newly launched Landlord Toolkit. This toolkit contains key information and resources on renting to refugees, including the resettlement process, support available to refugees when renting, FAQs, and more.
Want to make an immediate impact in the lives of refugees and newcomers by partnering with RHS as a housing provider? Visit Rent to Refugees to learn more and get in touch with our team.
State Department program opens a new door for refugee sponsorship.
A new program called the Welcome Corps was launched January 19 by the U.S. State Department to empower individuals to form their own groups to sponsor refugees and to provide key support in their resettlement and integration in the U.S. Individuals can apply to form Private Sponsor Groups, which will welcome refugees to their new communities and deliver core services in the first 90 days such as school enrollment, employment support, and securing and furnishing housing.
Those who join the Welcome Corps will receive guidance and support from a consortium of resettlement experts from organizations like Church World Service, Community Sponsorship Hub, the International Rescue Committee, and others. The first refugee arrivals through the Welcome Corps are expected in April 2023, and the program is seeking to engage 10,000 Americans as private sponsors to help at least 5,000 refugees in its first year.
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Featured Resources
Get Involved
Discover opportunities to join a Regional Community of Practice or become a member of the National Housing Working Group. Plus, don't miss out on our upcoming webinars and live trainings.
Upcoming Webinars & Meetings
Innovative Solutions that Address Cultural Competence When Housing Refugees
Thursday, February 17 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Housing refugees can be challenging in itself. However, it is important for case managers, housing support workers, and key stakeholders to consider refugees' cultural backgrounds that can affect how they adapt to renting in the U.S. This session will explore how to address cultural competencies that greatly affect how refugees acclimate to the rental process and how they engage with landlords/property managers.
Lunch and Learn - Weatherization: Working with Landlords and Tenants to Weatherize and Save Money
Monday, February 20 | 12:00 - 12:45 PM ET
This session hosted by Refugee Welcome Collective will provide weatherization tips for newcomers and community sponsors to help save money during winter months.
Innovative Solutions for Refugees to Understand the Landlord’s World
Wednesday, February 22 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
This session will demonstrate how to assist refugees with understanding the roles and responsibilities of landlords and property managers in the rental process. The session will address best practices, innovative strategies and solutions, and educational insights to best facilitate understanding of the landlord’s world.
Monday, February 27 | 2:30 - 3:30 PM ET
Due to soaring rental prices and a lack of affordable housing in the U.S., successful partnerships with landlords and property managers are paramount for housing newcomers and refugees. This webinar will teach resettlement practitioners ways to recruit, retain, and engage landlords and housing providers.
Policy News
Biden-Harris Administration Announce Blueprint for Bill of Renters RightsOn January 5, a Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights was announced to strengthen tenant protections and encourage rent affordability. The principles laid out in the blueprint underscore key protections that all renters deserve: safe, quality, accessible, and affordable housing; clear and fair leases; education, enforcement and enhancement of renter rights; the right to organize; and eviction prevention, diversion, and relief. |
HUD Proposes “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” RuleOn January 19, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development took a major step forward in housing equitability and community inclusivity. The proposed rule, “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing,” aims to fulfill promises of the Fair Housing Act and remedy the history of discrimination in housing. Once enacted, it would require communities, states, and public housing agencies to identify fair housing issues and set ambitious goals to address them. |
