Area housing organizations, including the Quad Cities Housing Council, will hold a Lunch and Learn panel discussion in hopes of creating a dialogue between the region’s housing providers and local property owners and landlords.
The event will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, at The Salvation Army of Moline, 2200 Fifth Ave., Moline.
The panel discussion will be hosted by the Quad Cities Housing Council and other partner organizations. Biaggi’s will cater lunch.
Organizers said the objective is to engage landlords and local property owners with housing providers in order to build relationships with community members who qualify and receive housing assistance.
Between Humility Homes and Services, Family Resources, The Salvation Army, Open Door Crisis Center and Veterans Affairs, there is more than $1 million combined in funding to assist the most vulnerable people with housing.
“It was time to have a conversation between the local housing service providers and the landlords to address the gap in affordable housing in the Quad Cities,” said Leslie Kilgannon, director of the Quad Cities Housing Council. “If we want to bring change to our community, the only way to do it is working together. We need to prioritize long-term solutions to address the imminent crisis.”
During the panel discussion, local landlords will receive information on the available housing assistance programs as well as other supplementary services offered throughout the Quad Cities.
In a recent joint letter from The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the National Housing Law Project (NHLP) addressed to the Biden administration on the urgent actions needed to protect renters and people experiencing homelessness. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yantel said “Every $100 increase in median monthly rent is associated with a 9% increase in homelessness. Last year, monthly rents increased on average by 14%, or nearly $200, nationally. In some cities, rents rose by as much as 40%.”
Landlords interested in participating, should RSVP before Wednesday, Aug. 24, to r.mcneal@humilityhomes.org.
