Case Study: Rental Opportunity Center

In a housing market with less than a 1% vacancy rate, individuals and families attempting to make the transition from shelter to rental housing are at an even greater disadvantage to those who have the financial capacity for expensive deposits and monthly rents. In steps the Rental Opportunity Center, a collaborative effort between Burlington’s largest provider of services for the homeless, the Committee on Temporary Shelter, (COTS) and the Burlington Housing Authority (BHA).

The Rental Opportunity Center (ROC)offers professional assistance to those seeking, as well as those providing affordable housing and works to find appropriate matches between tenants and property owners. In operation since 1999, the ROC began as a service for individuals and has since expanded their assistance programs to families, as they continue to be the fastest growing of all of the homeless population. The ROC maintains contact with a number of area landlords to keep track of units as they become available. In return they receive free advertising for their apartments and an opportunity to offer assistance to an individual or family in need.

Over 500 individuals have been served by the Rental Opportunity Center since its creation. Of those, 115 have individuals and 146 families have been placed in rental housing. On average, the ROC works with 30 individuals and families every month, all working to move from shelter or other emergency housing, to renting, and ultimately homeownership. With housing in place and the day-to-day stresses of homelessness, these individuals and families are then able to focus on other important aspects of life such as health care, education, and employment.

The ROC has a variety of additional services which are available to clients. In the ROC office, one can utilize a HUD kiosk to access information on national and statewide housing opportunities outside of the Burlington area. On-going groups also meet to discuss an array of housing related topics.

Due to the unique nature of the COTS/BHA partnership, the ROC is able to facilitate and expedite the process of renting an apartment in Burlington and therefore help ease the burden on some of the community’s most vulnerable members.

Cross Sectoral Benefits

Economic: Low-income individuals and families can compete in a limited housing market. Rents will subsequently come down, adding more affordable rental units to the city’s housing stock.

Social: Low-income individuals and families begin to climb the housing tenure ladder and move into rental housing.

Governance: Unique collaboration between two successful housing organizations, each with their own Board of Directors.