Housing Authority of the City of Longview

Ready to Rent

The City of Portland Bureau of Housing and Community Development, Rental Housing Association of Greater Portland, Metro Multifamily Housing Association, and Fair Housing Council of Oregon endorse Ready to Rent. It is taught by Job Corps, Oregon Department of Corrections, Portland Public Schools, United Way of Seattle King County, Housing Authority agencies, and other organizations around the country. The curriculum was created by the Portland Housing Center with the help of landlords, social service agencies and committed volunteers. Ready to Rent is distributed and administered by SayThat!, LLC.

Curriculum Sections

Ready to Get Started sets the tone for all succeeding sessions: A good part of the session is spent establishing a level of comfort with peers and trainers. Instructors then emphasize that participants, with help from peers and trainers, can take charge of their own situation and take positive actions to improve.

Ready to Solve Problems includes participants completing their action plan contract, based on identified challenges in the areas of Rental History, Money Management, Income, Credit and Finance, Legal Problems, or other identified issues. Interactive workstations are established in the classroom around each of these topics, with work plans for participants to undertake and complete.

Ready to Prepare Finances focuses on producing a workable budget or "spending plan." Participants begin with choosing and prioritizing goals. Then they take a look at current spending habits and compare it to an analysis of their income. They stop briefly to consider moving expenses, and with a proposed spending plan that sets them on the road to renting.

Ready to Shop for a Home has three major themes: Finding a place; the application process; and an introduction to the rental agreement. Participants begin by reviewing housing needs and wants identified and prioritized in the first session. Participants use these priorities to create a shopping list to screen available rental units. After learning to read want ads, participants model communication skills for making calls and talking to landlords.

Ready to Settle In is about being a successful renter. The session begins by examining the rental agreement in close detail. Participants then identify problem-solving strategies and practice their skills in implementing them. This session is designed to strengthen the message that participants must understand and follow the rules in their rental agreements. Further, when problems arise, they must address them in a business-like way.

Ready to Move On is the last of the series and is focused on successful completion of tenancy and of the training. Learning activities are directed to "moving on." The content emphasizes ordinary and proper moving procedures but also considers the possibility of eviction. During previous sessions, participants collected questions that they need expert help with. In this session participants will meet with experts to have questions answered and problems addressed. The instructor invites appropriate experts, based on the work during sessions one through five. A graduation ceremony is held and designed in such a way as to impress upon participants the importance of what they have accomplished and to reward their work.

Materials
The Ready to Rent curriculum includes three manuals prepared by a professional curriculum developer, with input from landlords and housing specialists: the Teacher’s/Trainers Guide, the Housing Readiness Training Manual, and the Action Kit for class participants.

Teacher’s/Trainer’s Guide
Teaching methods chosen utilize peer interaction and keep students involved and interested. Variety and pacing give the lessons appeal. The teacher’s guide provides a word-by-word scripted presentation: appropriate stories, case studies, and other activities contribute to the success of the program. Absolutely no teaching experience is necessary to be a successful Ready to Rent instructor! The Teacher’s Guide includes:
A word-by-word script for the instructor to follow for each class
A side bar showing the amount of time each section should take
A side-bar with the topic, activity and objective for each section
A complete list of materials and preparations for each class
A complete packet of visuals to be made in to overheads
This easy-to-follow Teacher’s Guide assures that social service staff and housing specialists can teach this class with a minimum of preparation. Instructors are encouraged, however, to apply their own teaching styles and use the script as a guide.

Housing Readiness Training Manual
This comprehensive manual prepares housing specialists to effectively teach housing readiness to adult learners. Written by a professional educational consultant, the manual teaches best practices for housing education, including: principles of adult education; setting the stage for learning; classroom management techniques; effective teaching methods; and evaluating the effectiveness of your teaching style. The manual provides specific, applicable strategies for teaching a successful Ready to Rent class.

Action Kit
The curriculum is designed for participants to establish an action plan contract as part of the training course. The student manual is an Action Kit that includes all the forms and information participants need to create their own Ready to Rentã action plan. The Action Kit is written in a clear and easy to understand style, with graphics and exercises designed to give the lessons variety and appeal. Action Kit: 93 pages, plus 100+ pages of Action Materials. It is also available in Spanish and in an Adapted version for learning enhancement.

For more information, contact: Longview Housing Authority (360) 423-0140 or (toll free) (800) 613-4993.

Jennie Bergman, extension 20
Tawni Jacobson, extension 28