Baltimore Field Office Convenes Forum on Crime Prevention in HUD-Assisted Multifamily Housing

On August 25, 2009, HUD's Baltimore Field Office Director, James Kelly, convened a Summit on Crime in Multifamily Housing that attracted over 100 participants, most of whom were representatives of multifamily housing owners and managers. The Summit was developed because HUD and city officials occasionally receive complaints about criminal activity in and around HUD assisted multifamily housing. As a result, HUD's Multifamily Asset Management staff had identified that some management companies could improve screening of potential tenants and could use assistance in dealing with eviction of criminal residents. The Summit provided managers with techniques to improve their ability to deal with these issues.

The summit included a presentation by HUD Multifamily Division Director on tenant screening, eviction policies, and rules on using project funds for crime fighting measures. HUD's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Assistant Special Agent in Charge also made a presentation on OIG's role in crime prevention. A panel on Community Partnerships in Crime Prevention featured city police, the Mayor's Office on Criminal Justice, and a city code enforcement attorney. Finally, the HUD Multifamily Hub Director moderated a panel of project managers on Best Practices in Crime Prevention.

Overall, the summit serves as an excellent example of HUD and its business partners can work together to improve the quality of life in a local community.

Content Archived: May 5, 2011