Strategic Code Enforcement: A Critical Tool for Supporting COVID-19 Neighborhood Response

Despite the devastating impacts of COVID-19 on local government budgets across the country, it is imperative–to the extent possible–that we recognize, protect, and invest in the public systems critical to long term recovery efforts; systems like housing and building code enforcement. A successful code enforcement system plays an important role in supporting the maintenance of safe and healthy housing, identifying and mitigating the impact of problem properties on residents and neighborhoods, and connecting enforcement efforts to productive property reuse opportunities.

Moving forward, we can expect to see staggering numbers of residential and commercial property owners struggle to keep up with property tax and mortgage payments, as well as tenants unable to come up with the rent. These realities could put basic property maintenance and investments on the backburner and could lead to an increase in vacant and abounded properties – likely disproportionally impacting our most vulnerable neighborhoods With diminished resources to address these challenges, code enforcement operations will need to be strategically deployed in a way that is effective, efficient and equitable.

Attend this webinar to learn more about the importance of strategic code enforcement, including:

• The role code enforcement can play in connecting those in need to available resources;
• Strategies for more proactive enforcement;
• Critical code enforcement tools including nuisance abatement, receivership, and rental registration and inspection;
• The importance of connecting code enforcement to broader neighborhood stabilization and revitalization efforts.

Presenter:

• Matt Kreis – General Counsel, Center for Community Progress