COEUR D’ALENE - Current or potential landlords in southwest Idaho are encouraged to attend a free landlord workshop on Wednesday (August 16), sponsored by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association. The workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon at Kootenai Health Resource Center at 2003 Lincoln Way in Coeur d’Alene. Workshop seating is limited and those planning to attend are encouraged to reserve space by contacting IHFA’s Coeur d’Alene office at 208-667-3380.

Captain Wayne Longo from the Criminal Investigation Bureau will address the dangers and repercussions of having a meth lab on your property. Julie Williams, IHFA vice president of Community Housing Services explains, "Meth labs have become a serious threat to communities statewide. Landlords and property owners need to know what action to take when a meth lab is discovered on their property. They may be surprised at their scope of financial responsibility."

Mary Jo Braaten, branch office supervisor for IHFA’s Coeur d’Alene office, will discuss the new Accessibility Improvements Program, which enables renters and home owners to obtain grant funding to make their homes easier to live in. The federal program is being administered by IHFA and will grant up to $5,000 per eligible household for improvement modifications.

IHFA administers Section 8 programs on behalf of HUD in 34 of Idaho’s 44 counties. Last fiscal year, IHFA administered over $8 million in Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) to participating landlords in the Section 8 program. This benefits more than 2,400 low-income households each month.

To be eligible for rental assistance, households must qualify under HUD income limits and pay 30 percent of their adjusted gross monthly income for rent and utilities.

IHFA’s four branch offices, located in Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston, Twin Falls and Idaho Falls, administer the Section 8 program. Landlord workshops are coordinated semi-annually by each office.