JPMorgan Chase investing $120,000 to increase landlord engagement
The Metropolitan Housing Coalition (MHC) received a $120,000 philanthropic investment from JPMorgan Chase to increase landlord engagement in order to reduce the very high rate of evictions in Louisville, KY. The project is centered around understanding what drives the landlord decision-making when it comes to evictions and what interventions would be most effective in preventing eviction filings from the landlord perspective.
“Although the public health implications are significant, little is understood about why the eviction rate in Louisville is so high when compared to the rest of the state and nation,” said Cathy Kuhn, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Housing Coalition. “While there is growing awareness of the individual and public health consequences of evictions on low income renters, there is a lack of understanding about what factors cause landlords to move towards eviction rather than engaging in landlord/tenant mediation that would prevent vulnerable families from losing stable housing. By obtaining a better understanding of the landlord/property owner’s decision making process as it relates to the pursuit of eviction, this project will help to inform program development and public policy, both of which have the potential to create significant public health benefits for those most at risk of eviction and housing instability in Louisville.”
MHC will be working with Jamar Wheeler, PhD, founder and principal of Louisville-based research firm Kiaspo to complete the project. “I am thrilled to work on a project that is much-needed and under-researched. Based on the seriousness of the matter at hand, my approach will be to investigate the truth from all angles. From this foundation we can make collective progress and create conditions that are more fitting for Louisville families struggling for that special sense of stability that comes with a home. I am grateful for MHC’s vision, their board and partners, and I’m thankful for JPMorgan Chase’s funding support.”.
JPMorgan Chase Institute research has shown almost one in four renters experienced a greater than 10 percent drop in total income during the pandemic, even after accounting for government support, but did not have a forbearance safety net like homeowners, which creates economic vulnerabilities for both renters and landlords. Due to the economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a critical need to help stabilize housing for Black, Latinx and other households of color.
“Businesses and community leaders need to work together to advance solutions that address housing instability and drive a more inclusive economy,” said Courtney Falato, Program Officer for Ohio and Kentucky, Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase. “Partnering with organizations like the Metropolitan Housing Coalition helps families who have previously been locked out of stable, affordable housing.”
The Metropolitan Housing Coalition strengthens, unites, and mobilizes private and public resources to provide fair, accessible and affordable housing for everyone in our Louisville community. Formed in 1989, MHC is a coalition of approximately 300 individual and organizational members—including non-profit housing developers, financial institutions, service providers, and neighborhood and advocacy groups. Together we facilitate research-based advocacy for fair, accessible, and affordable housing in the Louisville MSA. Visit www.metropolitanhousing.org to learn more about MHC’s work.
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