Private Housing Relocation Recommendations

1. Acquisitions and relocations should be undertaken in phases to ensure the availability of resources to accommodate displaced persons. Residents with special needs, such as seniors, the medically disabled and families with school-aged children should be relocated in a manner that ensures that they retain access to all necessary resources and that school aged children in the last year of elementary or middle school are given the opportunity to be transported to their present school before the school year has concluded. 
    
2. Key elements of the successful execution of a relocation plan are frequent communications with persons to be displaced. After an initial survey of residents conducted at the beginning of the process, a follow up survey should be taken as phasing dictates and actual relocation approaches. A social service special needs assessment will be needed in cases where there is a disability, school-aged children, or senior household. 
    
3. The budget should include funds sufficient for one or more social services agencies to work in a hands-on manner with displaced persons moving to new homes. 
    
4. After the database of housing needs for persons to be displaced is established, a survey of available replacement housing can be collected. This should be done in phases, when relocation is immanent, as the rental housing market is a moving target. The ongoing responsibility for identifying replacement housing can be delegated to one or more real estate brokers, with local minority brokers accorded first priority for such contacts. 
    
5. Relocating households should be notified of suitable, available locations in person or by mail, with copies of relevant listing sheets. Moving and storage fees are also the responsibility of the party executing the relocation plan.