Crime Free Multi-Housing
What is Crime Free Multi-Housing (CFMH)?
The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is an international program which partners property owners, residents, and law enforcement personnel in an effort to eliminate crime in multi-housing properties. The program began in 1992 in Mesa, Arizona and has spread to 38 states, 3 Canadian provinces, and over 700 cities. The Tucson Police Department has been a member of this most worthwhile program for several years now.
What are the benefits?
In some properties where the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program has been implemented, it has shown a reduction of crime of up to 70%.
Some other benefits enjoyed by participants of the program are:
- Lower maintenance and repair costs
- Increased property values
- Improved personal safety for tenants, landlords, and managers
- A stable, more satisfied tenant base
- Increased demand for rental units with a reputation for active management
Points to Consider
When drug criminals and other destructive tenants operate out of rental property, neighborhoods suffer and landlords pay a high price. That price may include:
- Decline in property values—particularly when the activity begins affecting the reputation of the neighborhood
- Property damage arising from abuse, retaliation, or neglect; property damage from police raids
- Fire resulting from manufacturing or growing operations
- Civil penalties, including temporary closure of the property or even property seizure
- Loss of rent during the eviction and repairs period
- Fear and frustration when dealing with dangerous and threatening tenants
- Increased resentment and anger between neighbors and property managers
- The loss of other valued tenants
The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program was designed to help tenants, owners, and the managers of rental property keep drugs and other illegal activity off their property.
This program is honest and direct. It is solution oriented. It is designed to be easy, yet very effective in reducing the incident of crime in rental property.
How Does CFMH Certification WorK?
The program utilizes a unique three-part approach, which ensures the crime prevention goal while maintaining an approach that is very tenant-friendly. When each phase is completed, a certificate of completion is awarded.
- Phase One involves an 8-hour seminar presented by the police and fire departments.
- Phase Two will certify that the rental property has met the security requirements for the tenants' safety.
- In Phase Three a tenant crime prevention meeting will be conducted for full certification, and the managers will be granted the use of large metal signs for display on the property. The management will also be granted the use of the program logo in all advertisements.
After a property is fully certified, it is necessary for management to host one safety-related crime prevention meeting with the residents each year to renew their membership in the Crime Free Multi-Housing program. They will be issued a gold certificate, which expires 12 months after the crime prevention meeting.
What Others Have Said About the Program...
“This appears to be the ONLY program I know which will work in rental property.”
“It will give me more self-confidence in dealing with tenants, and enhance my belief we can have a choice in trying to live crime and drug free.”
“Of particular value was support for concepts that in the past I wasn't sure were correct. It's great to hear that we don't have to put up with any drug and crime related activity. I've been in multi-housing for 8-9 years and have taken several classes and seminars. I learned more valuable information in the first four hours of this class than in several other classes combined!”
How do I get the program on my property?
If you are interested in starting a Crime Free Multi-Housing program on your property, contact the Tucson Police Department representative for the area where your property is located (See map and contact information).
Crime Free Multi-Housing Training
All classes take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are free of charge.
All classes are held at the Patrick J. Hardesty Multi-Service Center, 1100, S. Alvernon.
Thursday, Jan 21, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Thursday, Oct 7, 2010
