LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A new program in Louisville will pay landlords who rent out space to houseless people.

The Landlord Incentive Program offers up to $2,000 to landlords who agree to rent their properties for 12 months to clients of the Housing and Support Division. It's designed to provide rental assistance, utility assistance and security deposit assistance for houseless people in Louisville.

Jessica Wilson said she was homeless for several years.

"Essentially, anyone can become homeless at anytime," Wilson said. "It can be sickness, a car accident, anything, just one bad experience away from homelessness."

In a matter of months Wilson found herself in a position she never imagined. She was hit by someone in a stolen car and lost everything while trying to recover from a fractured sternum, surgery, and re-learning how to use her arm. For about two years she camped in Louisville until city officials left her with the choice to move or have her belongings be thrown away.

"You take a lot of things for granted like being able to open your refrigerator and get food out of it, take a warm shower, be warm, be able to lay down and be sleep and be safe," Wilson said. "A lot of things people  don't know that go along with homelessness."

She said homeless people need a place to live to have stability to get themselves back on their feet.

"People are homeless for many reasons, accidents, mental illness, drug addictions, but they can't work on those problems if they don't have a stable base," Wilson said. "They have to have security, comfort, the ability to bathe every day, get rest every day, to eat properly."

Through a different program, Wilson worked her way from homeless, to transitional housing, and now ready to move into her own apartment. She's also enrolled in college.

"I didn't think it was ever going to happen," Wilson said. "It is hard, you can't get a job." 

It's that kind of success, the city wants to provide others. 

City officials said property owners can provide stable housing for families in need while receiving financial support and on-site supportive services. 

"The idea of it was to add to the current pool that we already have landlords who rent to our folks," said Aaron Selbig, communications coordinator at Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services. "We  were hoping to get some smaller mom-and-pop type landlords who maybe own a duplex or have a small apartment to rent."

Selbig said around 10 landlords have asked about the program since it was launched last week.

Participants will receive $1,000 once they've met with Housing and Support staff and agreed to rent their property to a client. Renters will also receive another $1,000 upon completion of the 12-month lease. 

The incentive program also offers supportive services for renters.

"They're there on-site frequently looking at the premises and making sure that everything is being taken care of," Selbig said. "In addition to this financial stipend, you're also getting a lot of services provided by Metro Government to make sure your property is well maintained."

Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services currently supports around 325 people with housing needs, according to Selbig.

The incentive program is in addition to federal subsidies that provide on-going rental assistance during the period of the lease.

In May, city officials said nearly 600 people are living on the street full time. Another 1,100 are living in temporary shelters. 

Wilson hopes landlords give the new program a chance so more people can have housing options.

"No one wants to see homelessness in the community, and the only way you can prevent that is to give people homes," Wilson said. 

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