PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services (OHS) launched its Landlord Gateway program, a new initiative to help landlords navigate the City’s property management processes, with a resource fair on Tuesday, May 16 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The launch event provided landlords with access to not only the City’s 15 participating departments and the services they offer, but also more than 20 additional organizations offering specialized resources for rental property owners and managers.
Landlord Gateway is designed to provide current and prospective landlords with centralized information and resources to help them more easily participate in affordable housing programs, navigate the City’s processes and regulations, understand how to become a landlord, maintain a rental license and stay compliant.
“The Landlord Gateway provides a simple and comprehensive entry point, making it easier for rental property owners and managers to be part of the solution to our city’s affordable housing crisis,” said Liz Hersh, director of the Office of Homeless Services.
“Providing Philadelphia’s landlords with robust support is the key to making housing safer and more accessible to all,” added Ebonye Williams, director of Landlord Affairs, Office of Homeless Services. “Our goal is to help landlords face fewer complications with City systems, qualify for more housing programs, and receive stronger financial assistance to ultimately maximize their business potential and help address the demand for affordable housing.”
The Gateway also connects landlords to a variety of housing-related services to help them manage their rental properties and help tenants stay current with rent.
In addition to the resource fair and networking, the Landlord Gateway event held a series of panel discussions with City experts and housing professionals. The venue, which hit maximum capacity, also hosted sessions designed to address the most common questions and provide event attendees with answers. The keynote address was provided by Regina A. Hairston, president & CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ, and DE, who discussed how the Landlord Gateway can help small businesses grow by streamlining navigation of City information and resources.
“For years, the Housing Action Plan has been working to support the continued growth of Philadelphia’s housing market and preserve and expand the City’s affordable housing stock through innovative and effective strategies,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “Through the collaboration of 15 City departments, Landlord Gateway is taking an exciting step forward, providing landlords – from small, ‘mom and pop’ owners to mid-sized operations – with clear and easy-to-navigate support so they can get the services they need, and also help some of the most vulnerable Philadelphians.”
Participating public entities involved in Landlord Gateway, and present at the launch event, include: Office of Homeless Services, Philadelphia Housing Authority, Division of Housing and Community Development, Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation, Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity, Department of Planning, Department of Commerce, Department of Revenue, Department of Public Health, Department of License and Inspections, Department of Records, Register of Wills, Department of Human Services, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Office of Reentry Partnerships, and the School District of Philadelphia.
For more information on the Landlord Gateway, please visit https://phila.gov/landlord-gateway.
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The Office of Homeless Services works with more than 60 homeless housing and service providers, as well as city, state, and federal governments. Together, we make up Philadelphia’s homeless service system. This system provides homelessness prevention and diversion aid, as well as emergency and temporary housing, to people who are experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness.