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HomeFinders

Alice and her two kids have been sleeping in their van for four months. As she leafs through the paper, there are only two apartments close to what she can afford with the part-time job she started four weeks ago.
When she calls the first landlord who explains the terms—the deposit is so large she doesn’t even bother to tour the place. The deposit on the second place will be a stretch—but she can do it if they cut back their groceries.
She tours the place—it’s small, but bigger than the van—and likes it enough to apply. Two days later, when she calls to see if she’s been approved, he tells her that her credit history is too messy and she should keep looking.
Getting her children back into a situation where she could tuck them in at night seems more out of her reach than ever…until she finds HomeFinders.
HomeFinders prevents homelessness by helping the elderly, disabled and impoverished to find suitable, stable housing, despit housing barriers such as evictions, past criminal convictions or bad credit.
  1. Finding HomeFinders
    Individuals who use HomeFinders are often elderly with disabilities, have little income and face housing barriers such as past criminal convictions, evictions, or bad credit. Finding HomeFinders is the first step to finding a new home.
  2. Finding Supportive Landlords
    HomeFinders case managers begin by building relationships with local landlords—paving the way for high-risk tenants to succeed as renters.
  3. Evaluating Needs
    HomeFinders meets with each client to evaluate the needs of the individual or family and to outline the steps necessary for the client to obtain and thrive in their new housing.
  4. Selecting Services
    If the client is a good candidate for non-supported housing the case worker will complete the necessary intake forms and work with the client(s) to create a plan including:  
    • Stabilization
      If HomeFinders is concerned about the client’s probability of success in non-supported housing, the client may decide if they would like to seek other case management services or continue with HomeFinders to achieve stabilization and meet housing goals.
    • Referrals
      For those who aren’t quite ready to stand on their own, we refer them to one of our programs for assistance—some to shelters like Hope House, others to transitional housing programs like Flaherty House—and to other community resources (such as financial assistance, chemical dependency treatment, mental health services, DSHS) as needed.
  1. Finding a Home
    For those who are ready, HomeFinders case workers accompany clients as they look for apartments and provide support through the process of submitting applications. If denied, we help throughout the appeal process and stand by the side of those looking for housing as they gather credit reports, make delinquent payment arrangements, even provide personal references if needed. We even match clients with subsidized housing and flexible landlords as needed to match their budget needs.
  2. Learning to be a “Responsible Renter”
    When clients are accepted for a rental, case workers continue to serve clients by helping them learn how to:
    On average, just 1.5% of low-income rentals in Spokane are vacant at any given time—
    leaving hundreds of people to clamber over just one apartment.
    As the Spokesman Review recently reported, “In a tight rental market, very few options exist for…residents-veterans, elderly, sex offenders and others with mental or physical disabilities-who live on as little as $339 a month.”
    • Know their rights as a renter
    • Overcome difficult rental and legal histories
    • Get help with a deposit and qualify for appropriate housing subsidies
    • Secure stable employment
    • Find low-cost or donated furnishings
    • Access food banks and utility assistance
    • Set up a free community voice mail account
    • Complete a GED and continue their education
    • Participate in credit counseling and live within a budget
    • Navigate the public transit system
    • Keep their place clean and safe
    • Find other services to support them in staying stable 
  1. Ongoing support
    Clients are expected to maintain contact with the HomeFinders case manager at least once a week, ensuring that they continue to be successful in their new living situations.
For more information, call Sabrina Mauritz, HomeFinders case manager at 509.328.4685 or 509.279.4679, Monday-Friday 8am-4pm.