Want to Become a Successful Tenant? Rent Well can Help

Renting is more complicated than many people understand.  It’s a business relationship, and you need to understand your rights and responsibilities to be a successful renter.

Rent Well is a 15-hour tenant education class that helps you become a successful, stable renter by providing information that can help you build a positive relationship with your landlord. Additionally, if you have ever been denied housing, Rent Well can help you explore any screening barriers you may have, such as evictions, credit problems or criminal history. The class will walk you through steps to address those barriers and prepare you to be a successful, stable tenant in the future.

Who can benefit from the Rent Well Tenant Education Program?

• People who have never rented before and have no rental history or those with no recent rental history due to homelessness
• People who have poor rental history or rental screening barriers like evictions, bad credit and poor landlord references
• People who have criminal histories
• People who have a good rental history but want to better understand their rights and responsibilities as a tenant

What will I learn in a Rent Well Tenant Education Class?

• The landlord's perspective and expectations
• Tenant responsibilities and rights
• How to use good communication skills with your landlord
• How to be a good neighbor
• How to maintain a clean, safe and healthy home

How will a Rent Well Tenant Education Class help prepare me to be a successful renter?

• Pre-screening yourself from a landlord's perspective to highlight any potential pitfalls
• Creating a personalized plan for stable housing
• Creating a workable household budget that makes paying rent a priority
• Reviewing rental agreements to understand common terms and expectations
• Creating a housing portfolio that will show landlords your qualifications as renter

When and where are classes held?

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Salvation Army

A Rent Well course will take place at the new location of Salvation Army SAFES, 30 SW 2nd Ave, Portland OR. The class will begin Thursday, June 6th 1pm to 4pm rather than 9:30am-12:30pm. The course is 6 weeks long, and will continue to meet Thursdays 9:30am-12:30pm. This program is open to women only, no childcare is provided. The instructor speaks Spanish and can assist in translating, but will be teaching in English.

For more information or to register, please contact advocate Elie Lauden at 971-202-5362. Registration is on a first-come basis and spots are limited.

Community Action Serving Washington County

Location: PCC-Willow Creek Center, 241 SW Edgeway Dr, Room #222, Beaverton, OR 97006

Next training: March 15th, 2013
Wednesday Evenings
Notes: Friday, March 15th from 9:30am to noon.
This free training is held every week for 6 weeks.
Registration begins Wednesday March 8 at 8:00am.
Call 503-640-3263 to add your name to the class list.
Sorry, child care is not available and children are not allowed in the classroom.

¿Dónde?: Community Action, 1001 SW Baseline St, Hillsboro, OR 97123, Sala de conferencias en el 1er piso

¿Cuándo?: Viernes, 24 de Mayo de 1:30pm-4:00pm. Este entrenamiento es gratis y se llevará a cabo todos los viernes por seis semanas. Regístrese el miércoles 1 de Mayo a las 8:00am. Llame al 503-640-3263 para registrarse. Para información acerca de otras clases Rent Well el español, llame al 503-726-0821.

No hay cuidado de niños y no se permite traer niños a la clase.

Clackamas County Social Services
Next Trainings: Call 503-650-5647
Eligibility: Participants must be Clackamas County residents to be eligible for this class.
Notes: Participants must attend an intake screening, call for appointment.

Young Minds of Awareness
Location: 3802 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland
Upcoming Trainings: YMA has started sign ups for the next Rent Well class which will begin June 1, 2013 at 12 pm. To sign-up or for more information individuals can contact Young Minds of Awareness @ 503-975-7992.

SEI Community and Family Programs 
4134 N. Vancouver Avenue 97227 # 311. Call 503-285-0493 for upcoming class schedule and registration.
 

ONGOING RENT WELL TRAININGS BASED ON SITUATION

Rent Well classes are held at a wide variety of community agencies for their clients and for those who meet their eligibility criteria. The following are just a few of these type of offerings. If you are a client of a community agency, check with that agency first to find out if there may be a Rent Well class available for you.

Human Solutions

Location: Human Solutions Portland Office, 12350 SE Powell Blvd, Portland OR 97236

When: Thursdays in April 4-25, 2013 9am-1pm
Notes: This free training is held every week for 4 weeks.
Registration begins Tuesday March 26, 2013 at 8:00am. Call 503-548-0211 to add your name to the class list. Calls received prior to date will not be accepted.

Location: Human Solutions Rockwood Office, 124 NE 181^st Ave, Portland, OR 97230

When: Thursdays in May 7-23, 2013 9am-1pm
Notes: This free training is held every week for 4 weeks.
Registration begins Tuesday April 23, 2013 at 8:00am. Call 503-548-0211 to add your name to the class list.  Calls received prior to date will not be accepted.

Location: Human Solutions Portland Office, 12350 SE Powell Blvd, Portland OR 97236

When: Friday in June 7-28, 2013 9am-1pm
Notes: This free training is held every week for 4 weeks.
Registration begins Tuesday May 28, 2013 at 8:00am. Call 503-548-0211 to add your name to the class list. Calls received prior to date will not be accepted.

Location: Human Solutions Rockwood Office, 124 NE 181^st Ave, Portland, OR 97230

When: Thursdays in July  11-August 1, 2013 9am-1pm
Notes: This free training is held every week for 4 weeks.
Registration begins Tuesday June 25, 2013 at 8:00am. Call 503-548-0211 to add your name to the class list.  Calls received prior to date will not be accepted.

Rose Haven

Location: 627 NW 18th Ave Portland, 97209

Upcoming Class Begins: July 2-August 6. Class will meet every Tuesday from 11:30-2:00 for 6 weeks.

Enrollment: Will begin June 25th at 9:00 a.m. Please call 503-248-6364 X301 for enrollment and any questions regarding the class

Class size is limited and fills up quickly. This class is for women only. No childcare is provided.

Clark County Social Services

Next Trainings: Contact Kate Budd at 360-397-2075 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Eligibility: Participants must be engaged in services through specific organizations.

Notes: Classes are offered through Share, Second Step Housing, CVAB and the Vancouver Housing Authority. 

The Longview Housing Authority in Cowlitz County, WA will begin offering Rent Well classes through a partnership with Clark County in September.

Contact: Jon Dieter, Longview Housing Authority, 360-423-0140 x. 21,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Contact the Rent Well program administrator Home Forward for more information.