The Problem
The high school student in the year 2006 is encountering some of the most far-reaching social changes in the history of the United States . Currently they are witnessing an era of high inter-state immigration, Welfare Reform, waning economies, widespread homelessness, housing shortages and scores of “working poor.” Public housing resources are bleak. The expiration of HUD contracts with private housing providers has caused the loss of housing for 18,500 people in those programs in the Denver area alone. Then the rent on these units rose, sometimes resulting in an increase of 700%.
As the programs for low rents vanish and rents rise, more low-income people are forced to look for solutions. No one is more effected than the graduating student seeking to establish a home of his or her own. The lower priced rental market that used to be for students and very young home starters is vanishing. Many are simply NOT leaving home or worse yet, bouncing back. All of these factors effect the lives of the students and require more programs in the curriculum to specifically prepare the students for planning their family and home.
The Solution
Schools have set a shining example in an industry that gets very little good press. As the education provider for most children, they have a commitment to providing high a quality instruction to their students. Through the effort of its administration and teaching staff many schools are now of utilizing non-traditional motivational programs to assist students in acquiring an education and preparing them for life after graduation.
TenantTalks© is the brainchild of Colorado's most well known attorney for tenants. Through her firm, Abernethy Law Office, Ms. Abernethy has successfully argued on behalf of tenants in virtually every court in the metropolitan Denver area, including the Supreme Court of Colorado. Her book, Abernethy's Ultimate Tenant Handbook, has been the best selling comprehensive tenant manual in Colorado .
Ms. Abernethy's experience allowed her to observe a large gap in tenant information. There was no effective program specifically designed for tenants. Therefore, she set out to create the most comprehensive program in the country to provide students with the tools necessary to manage the "business" of their homes.
The schools who used the TenantTalks© program implement the same four-step approach that Ms. Abernethy has successfully used for over 20 years in her law practice. Through TenantTalks© schools will provide the student with:
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The ability to understanding their personal housing needs |
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The knowledge to locate housing and make long and short terms plans for their residency |
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The expertise to budget their housing needs |
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The skills to prevent and resolve tenancy problems |
The Process
TenatTalks© consists of the following components:
1. TenantTalks© Videos – There are three videos currently produced. Video I in the TenantTalks© series is an over- view of the task of being a tenant and how to use the Tenant Handbook in practical research. A presentation by a community organization on the elements of being a good community member is included. Video II is a classroom discussion of problem solving techniques. This video includes a presentation by the Denver Fire Department on home safety. A handout is provided for use with this tape. Video III in the TenantTalks© series discusses the fact that there is more to a successful tenancy than just a landlord and tenant. In other words, third parties who can affect the landlord-tenant relationship in a very negative way are reviewed here. A handout is provided for use with this recording Additional videos or CD's will become available as produced.
2. Worksheets – These worksheets are supplement the video tapes and classroom presentations. The worksheet for video II utilizes a variety of rental situations for the student to analyze. Video III's worksheet is a quick reference list of “third parties” that may impact a rental situation.
3. Suggested Lesson Plan Topics – This is a list of possible topics that may be used by class room instructors to incorporate TenantTalks© into their lesson plans. They suggest ways to connect legal and practical tenant information with the regular classroom subject matter.
4 . Abernethy's Ultimate Tenant Handbook – This is a workbook style, user- friendly, easy- reference manual. It is to be used in conjunction with oral presentations, program video's, field trips, and web site research. The student will retain this manual and utilize it after graduation as a renter's information resource and problem solver.
5. TenantTalks© Web site– Located at www.TenantTalks©.com , this is a supplemental education source for program participants. It discusses tenants' frequently asked questions, recommends other resources for rental information, and allows purchases of additional handbooks. Participants may email questions to the program through this site.
6. Evaluation Forms – TenantTalks© highly values input from program participants. This form allows feedback and suggestions from students that may be utilized in developing future videos, worksheets, or lesson plan topics.
The Results
Through TenantTalks,© schools can guarantee that the students who participate fully in the program will receive the knowledge they need to locate private housing anywhere in the world. They will understand their housing rights and responsibilities. They will have the confidence needed to make the move. As opposed to simply releasing prospective tenants, the school will be launching them with a parachute of skills and information to be successful and self-sufficient.
