Dauphin County housing authority officials hope that an upcoming event will make a difference in increasing housing options locally.
The authority will host a conversation on March 15 to encourage more landlords to accept housing choice vouchers, in the midst of an affordable housing shortage.
“We are very limited as far as landlords that will take a voucher,” said Melany Alexis, housing development coordinator for the authority. “I get online every day, and I’m looking for rentals. It’s challenging.”
The authority serves all of Dauphin County except for Harrisburg city, which has its own housing authority. Currently, there are just over 1,000 county families who hold a housing voucher. According to Alexis, finding rentals for families with vouchers outside of the city is difficult and has become even harder since the pandemic.
She shared that one family has been looking for an apartment since November and may be at risk of losing their voucher if they don’t find a place to rent soon.
Since COVID, there has been a decrease in landlords who accept vouchers, Alexis said. Some may be deterred by not having received rent from tenants during the pandemic. Others may be struggling with higher building material and supplies costs and may feel they need to raise rents, she explained. Alexis also acknowledged the stigmas that often still surround families with vouchers.
At the event, which will take place at the Prince of Peace Parish in Steelton, the authority plans to address these concerns and misconceptions.
One of the most significant benefits to a landlord who accepts vouchers is that they are guaranteed a 70% payment of their tenant’s rent each month, as that is the amount that the housing authority directly pays them, Alexis said. The renter is responsible for the other 30%.
They also plan to offer incentives to new landlords who decide to accept vouchers.
The authority will host two sessions on March 15, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Alexis is hopeful that the event will increase access to housing in the county.
“For a family to find affordable, safe housing—it leads to a lot of benefits,” she said.
The Dauphin County housing authority’s event will be held at the Prince of Peace Parish, 815 S. 2nd St., Steelton. For more information, visit their website.
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