Lehigh Valley agencies offer $1,000 sign-up incentive to recruit landlords for housing programs

Jackie Giussanti, representing the Lehigh Valley Regional Homeless Advisory Board and employed by Valley Youth House, told the Allentown City Community and Economic Development Committee that a regional landlord engagement initiative pays financial incentives to recruit landlords to lease to people experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

Giussanti said the regional group offers a tiered incentive: "a thousand dollars for their first unit that they lease to one of our clients" and "$500 for every additional unit that they provide to the collective." She said the program currently works with nearly 30 landlords across the Lehigh Valley and serves clients from unsheltered and housing‑insecure populations. The agencies involved, she said, include Valley Youth House, Turning Point, Lehigh Conference of Churches, New Bethany and Third Street Alliance.

Giussanti described how agencies vet and place tenants: they match a tenant to a landlord, use their rental assistance funding to support the tenant in the unit and continue partnering with both landlord and tenant so the tenant can reach "self sufficiency." She emphasized that incentives are issued by the agencies, not by tenants: "No. No. No. Actually, the agencies issue the incentives." (Jackie Giussanti)

Vicky Kistler, city staff in the Community and Economic Development Department, discussed how the city could support the program locally, including outreach and potential financial incentives tied to the city's rental inspection program. Kistler noted practical limits: "The only way they know that those units are in compliance is if they have compliance from an inspection from us." She suggested options such as rebates or waiving inspection fees for landlords who participate in the program, or lengthening the period between required inspections as an incentive, while noting the city would need to confirm legal permissibility under the ordinance.

Committee members asked clarifying questions. One member confirmed the program covers Lehigh and Northampton counties and another asked how many landlords in Allentown participate; Giussanti estimated about half of the program's roughly 30 landlords have units in Allentown. Committee members and staff discussed outreach strategies, including distribution of flyers at rental registration and targeted engagement with property management companies to reach landlords who own properties through LLCs.

Funding and program mechanics: Giussanti said the incentive funding comes from Pennsylvania FAIR funds and a small mitigation pool to help landlords cover repairs when tenants leave. City staff said agencies also use federal Continuum of Care (CoC) rental assistance dollars to place and support tenants.

No formal action or vote was taken at the committee meeting. Staff said they would explore legal and budgetary implications of potential city incentives, and council members encouraged continued outreach and an upcoming landlord outreach event.

The presentation highlighted the program's operational model (agency vetting and support, direct agency incentives), its limited current Allentown participation and possible city steps to expand landlord enrollment.