For some landlords, there is a bit of hesitation when it comes to renting to transitional housing programs for young adults. We have found that this hesitation stems from a lack of information about what the transitional housing program is, how it is supported, and what Children First FFA can provide to make sure the experience is a positive one for both the landlord and the youth living in an apartment. With a better understanding of the benefits of renting to the Children First THP Program, most landlords are happy to sign on and work with us for a mutually beneficial arrangement. 

We Stand Behind Each Rental | Children First THP Program

When renting to Children First, a landlord will not be left dealing with the youth living in the apartment all by themselves. Rather, we have a range of resources in place to make sure this tenant does not become a point of frustration for the landlord. Some of these benefits include:

• Children First co-signs on the apartment with the youth 
• Children First can also hold a corporate lease, and sublet to the youth
• Children First has a 24-hour on-call social worker available to landlords
• Children First maintains substantial savings account for youth so that if there are damages to a unit it can be repaired promptly.
• Children First has a maintenance person on staff, that can complete minor or major repairs as needed. 

These are just some of the benefits of renting to the Children First THP Program, and it’s easy to see how these points will take away much of the risk for the landlord. 

Continual Improvement

We work regularly to add to the benefits of renting to the Children First THP Program to make sure it is an appealing arrangement for landlords. Some of the more recent upgrades we’ve made to the system include:

• Children First social workers will take photos and videos of apartments each quarter to document their condition.
• If Cleanliness issues are present they will develop a plan to address issues immediately, via a behavior plan.
• If drugs/alcohol are found in the unit the youth will be at risk of removal from the program and will need to comply with a behavior plan.
• If unapproved people or pets are present in the apartment, they will be asked to leave immediately, and the youth will have to comply with a behavior plan, or risk being exited from the THP Program. 
• Children First staff will report any damages immediately. 
• Youth that are new to the program will be closely monitored, and the home will be visited at least once/week, and the youth will have a larger savings account. 

Ultimately, we want to have a positive relationship with all the landlords who are helping to support our program, and we’ll do whatever is necessary to remain in good standing. 

If you are interested in learning more about the transitional housing program, visit our website. If you want to become a mentor for the young adults in the THP program, contact Children First Foster Family Agency.

Children First FFA is a private, non-profit organization in Northern California that is dedicated to helping change lives by providing a safe place for children to heal in a culture of love, acceptance, and consistency.