Operation Come Home is proud to announce the public launch of our newest social enterprise, HousingWorks. Through HousingWorks, we will be taking a lead role in expanding the supply of affordable housing for youth experiencing homelessness in Ottawa.
In the coming months our team will sign agreements with our first landlords to lease apartments. We will then sublet these units to local youth. In the housing sector, this is often called “master leasing” or “block leasing”.
Master leasing is not new. Other communities have launched their own master leasing initiatives. Here in Ottawa, some non-profit organizations have introduced master leasing to serve their clients, particularly those with mental health challenges. The most common form of master leasing to date has been organizations renting units they own.
HousingWorks is unique in that it will only serve youth, and work primarily through aprocess in which landlords rent units directly to Operation Come Home, which we then rent to clients in our programs.
For landlords, there are several advantages to working with us in this way:
Timely payments: Landlords taking on at-risk youth can experience process delays as social assistance details are confirmed, and rental payments are set up. By working directly with Operation Come Home, landlords can be assured that the first and last month’s rent will be paid rapidly, and that future payments will always be paid on time.
Ongoing landlord support: Through master leasing, landlords will receive immediate support if they experience any challenges with tenants. In the event added support is required, landlords can reach HousingWorks staff directly and ensure that follow-up occurs that day.
Lower vacancy rates: As tenants leave rental properties and units become vacant, landlords can lose one or two months of rental income. HousingWorks will sign long-term lease agreements that provide assurance that, in spite of tenant turnover, the unit continues to be occupied and that rents continue to be paid.
Partnering on New Developments: For landlords and property managers looking to develop new housing properties, HousingWorks provides a simple and straightforward partnership model they can incorporate into their project plans. This can be an advantage for developers, enabling them to access advantageous financing and incentives without needing to invent a new partnership model.
There are also many advantages for our clients and for the Ottawa Housing Sector overall.
Master leasing will help maintain the supply of affordable housing in Ottawa. After being housed for a year or two, former clients of OCH may choose to leave their apartments, to move in with their partners, or move closer to their new jobs. Having the lease agreement managed by Operation Come Home will help retain the unit and ensure it can be transferred to other youth that may need it. This protects the housing supply.
HousingWorks can also provide rapid access to housing for high-priority youth. As our inventory of readily available units grows, we can help ensure we can move youth who urgently need homes into new housing, reducing the time they spend in the shelter system and keeping them safe from further harm.
To learn more about HousingWorks, or to sign up as one of our landlords, please reach us by calling at 613.230.4663, or via email at info@opeartioncomehome.ca .