Austin awarded Seattle nonprofit $2.1 MILLION contract to urge landlords to rent to criminals, evictees
Austin awarded a Seattle nonprofit up to $2.14 million in federal pandemic-relief funds to encourage landlords to rent to tenants who face barriers such as eviction history, low credit, or criminal records. The program, run by Housing Connector, reduces screening requirements in exchange for financial protections and tenant support, aiming to fill vacant units without new construction. The contract spans two years, targets roughly 450 new or renewed leases for about 1,000 people, and emphasizes cultural competence and data-driven management in its selection. Officials hope the approach unlocks housing supply by aligning landlord incentives with tenant protections, though oversight and potential budget waivers accompany the effort.
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Austin selected Housing Connector from four proposals to manage the two-year contract, funded via the U.S. Treasury American Rescue Plan Act program, beginning December 15, 2024.
Housing Connector offers protections such as vacancy-loss coverage, up to $5,000 in mitigation, and unpaid-rent protection (three months) to reduce perceived landlord risk when screening tenants with barriers.
Participants need not clear every barrier; landlords are asked to accept applicants with less stringent screening on factors like credit, debt, income-to-rent ratios, rental history, evictions, and criminal history, while still providing emergency rental assistance.
A Zillow Rentals platform is used for listing vacancies, with provider partners matching units to eligible clients, and Austin-specific reporting outlines damaged coverage and enhanced protections for landlords.
The agreement was approved by Austin City Council 11–0 on November 7, 2024, with a consent-agenda motion; the program’s leadership includes David Gray of Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations, and Housing Connector’s founder and CEO is Shkëlqim Kelmendi.
Housing Connector has roots in Seattle’s collaboration between the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, City of Seattle, and King County, with a 2019 launch promoted as connecting property owners to those in need of housing via a Zillow-powered tool.
The arrangement arrives amid broader housing assistance efforts in the region, including a related Seattle program and ongoing debates about landlord incentives, tenant protections, and budget considerations.