Bailey Consent Decree – The Enhanced Leasing Assistance Program (ELAP)
IHI was selected to carry out the Enhanced Leasing Assistance Program, a portion of the Bailey Consent Decree. We worked closely with the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) to develop the Plan for Administering Vouchers for and Implementing ELAP. HABC’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8) provides subsidized housing, both HABC-held and privately-owned, properties throughout Baltimore. IHI works directly with HABC and the owners of the properties to match clients’ housing needs to available opportunities in the marketplace. IHI provides ongoing casework assistance, working with property managers on tenant management and Fair Housing training programs. The ELAP program assists non-elderly persons with disabilities (NEDs), approved through HABC. IHI has gained tremendous experience working with NED clients and helping them take the necessary steps to find, secure, move and settle into their new homes. IHI also works with developers and owners in Baltimore City to expand the supply of affordable housing in the greater Baltimore area.
Impact:
- IHI has an expertise in reasonable accommodation requests and has completed 85 for our current tenants, and assisted over 13,000 tenants with ongoing case management services.
- Since April 2006, IHI has assisted with 1,279 tenant-based NED (non elderly disabled) lease-ups in 45 ZIP Codes and 686 total project-based NED lease-ups. Of those, 474 have been initial lease-ups. Total project based tenants successfully living in 446 units.
- IHI has held orientation of housing for over 3,100 potential tenants, completed 745 group tours (with over 6,200 potential tenants attending these tours)
S.T.E.P.S. Pilot Program
With grant assistance from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, IHI launched the S.T.E.P.S. program in the fall of 2017 for all clients and walk-ins that visit IHI offices during walk-in hours. Annually, IHI speaks with over 150+ chronically homeless, not within the ELAP program, seeking immediate and permanent housing assistance. To meet this demand, IHI developed the STEPS Notebook, a personal journal assisting clients with ongoing organizational tools and resources, personal development, and life coaching services.
The S.T.E.P.S. Notebook is an easy-to-use journal, for those in need of finding immediate, and permanent housing. It is the first of its kind in Baltimore City, and is a working medium that keeps our clients on track, to find safe and clean housing.
The S.T.E.P.S. Project offers a “buddy system” in which previous clients that were placed through the ELAP program are “partnered” with new clients to serve as mentors through the housing process.