Providing safe, affordable housing for women and families
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3609 Main St | Vancouver, WA 98663 | Phone: (360) 906-9106 | Fax: (360) 693-1864

[ready to rent]

Orientation Information

Thank you for your interest in Ready to Rent (RTR). This 6-week educational program is offered in Clark County by YW Housing and is designed to help self-motivated people who ...

  • may have credit problems, evictions or other barriers to renting; and
  • want to know more about steps they can take to deal with these problems and become a successful renter.

During the class you will learn:

  • what landlords need from renters
  • how to improve your money management and credit
  • how to take responsibility for past mistakes
  • how to help landlords trust you will be a good renter now
  • how to find landlords who may rent to you
  • how to give proper notice when you want to move
  • what Landlord-Tenant Law states are the responsibilities and rights of tenants and landlords
  • how to become more “highly effective” in all areas of your life.

A Ready to Rent Certificate of Completion can help landlords see your effort to be a responsible renter. To get a certificate, participants:

  • Thoughtfully and sincerely complete all Action Items in the curriculum.
  • Attend all 6 classes.

Ready to Rent can help you find landlords who may be willing to rent to you.

You can contact landlords suggested in the class or use the website www.housingconnections.org to look for landlords willing to consider people with the Ready to Rent certificate.

Getting a Ready to Rent Certificate of Completion does not guarantee that a landlord will rent to you. But you will learn what to do to increase your chances of success.

You may also be eligible to apply to the Salvation Army for one-time financial assistance with your first month’s rent.

I want to take Ready to Rent. What do I do next?

1. Call the Ready to Rent educator at (360) 906-9117 to find out the dates of the next class and how to register for it.

2. Download and complete the Orientation Completion/Registration Form to show that you understand what RTR can and can’t do. Bring or mail both to Ready to Rent, 3609 Main, Vancouver, WA 98663 with $5 for the Ready to Rent Action Kit—before class, if possible.

3. Show up on time at your class with a black or blue pen, ready to learn!

Prepare: Find out what landlords will see when they run a screening check.

Getting your credit, criminal, and legal eviction reports will

  • help you to see what landlords see when they check your records
  • help you see what specific past difficulties you need to deal with
  • assure you haven’t been a victim of identity theft.

Obtain your free credit report. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. You have the right to get a free copy once every 12 months from each of the credit reporting companies—Equifax, Experian and Transunion.

Obtain your criminal and public record reports (for legal evictions).

  • For Clark County, go to the Court House, Superior Court, at 1200 Franklin St., Vancouver, on the first floor. Call 397-2292 for more information.
    (Requires a $10 fee to get your report.)
  • For the State of Washington, contact the Washington State Patrol at http://watch.wsp.wa.gov
    (Requires a $10 fee to get your report.)
  • For the State of Oregon, go to http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/ID/docs/open_rec_another_individual.doc.
    (Requires a $10 fee to get your report.)

If you need immediate housing assistance …

Ready to Rent cannot provide emergency housing help. For immediate housing, please call the Emergency Shelter Clearinghouse at (360) 695-9677, 7 days a week, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

For those fleeing domestic violence, call the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault hotline at (360) 695-0501 at any time.

For more resources, call Information and Referral at (360) 694-8899 or 211, Monday – Friday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat-Sun, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.