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Minnesota Crime Free Multi-Housing |
| Chronic drug dealing and illegal activity can reduce a community to a mere shell of what it used to be. The community’s health and well-being are a direct reflection of the quality of life in its neighborhoods. |
| Drug trafficking and other illegal activity in a
neighborhood can quickly spread once they have started. Unfortunately, many people are
unaware a problem exists until it is well established, or they are unwilling to deal with
the problem and hope that it will go away. Many times problems have flourished because
residents of the community have expected the police or the "system" to help
them.
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| One of the major principles of Community
Oriented Policing is a partnership between the police and the community. The police are a
part of the community. We do have a vital interest in the well-being
of the community, but
we cannot be totally effective without the community’s involvement. In today’s
society, the police need to be regarded as part of a team, working in partnership with
citizens, landlords, tenants, and homeowners.
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| The purpose of the CRIME FREE MULTI HOUSING PROGRAM (CFMH) is to help you develop into a more effective partner in our effort to keep our neighborhoods safe -- free of chronic drug dealing and illegal activity. This will make for a pleasant place to live, work and raise our families. We want to help responsible landlords that are seeking honest tenants. We also want to help prevent dishonest tenants from abusing rental housing and the neighborhoods in our communities. We know that most tenants are respectable people who are looking for a good environment to live. The premise of this program is that all parties concerned can benefit from the simple guidelines offered. It is hoped this program can bring about a better partnership between the police and community and ultimately produce safer, more stable neighborhoods. |
| DLPD became involved with the MNCFMH program
during the summer of 1995. Participation in the program has been proven to reduce police
calls for service while making the community a safer place to live. In
addition, the City of Detroit Lakes has a strict nuisance ordinance
dealing with troublesome tenants, landlords, and properties that works
in conjunction with the CFMH program.
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| How it all works |
| * The first phase of the MNCFMH is landlord
and tenant education. Property owners and managers are taught how to screen
applicants and anyone with
a significant criminal record is not allowed to rent.
* In addition, the second phase of the Minnesota CFMH educates both tenants and landlords regarding their legal rights. While the majority of incidents between tenants and landlords are civil matters, having the knowledge of state laws can help to define guidelines and methods of conduct for everyone involved. * Finally, the City of Detroit Lakes has a very detailed and strict rental property ordinance which requires licensing of all rental properties. Landlords are held accountable for the actions of their tenants and notified by the Police Department anytime there are repeated nuisances or other complaints. Landlords are then given the chance to "clean-up" the problem immediately or face the revocation of their renters license. And without a proper renters license, no landlord can rent any property within the city limits. |
| If you have any questions about the MNCFMH program, you can direct them to Officer Gary Kuhn at: (218) 847-4222 or email him at: gkuhn@lakesnet.net. |
Airport | Community
Foundation | Community Information |
