A program paid for by Maricopa County offers landlords financial incentives to rent to people trying to exit homelessness.

Officials held a news conference Wednesday to officially launch the effort called Threshold.    

Threshold just got $5 million from the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

The program is a centralized resource network for landlords run by HOM INC. President and CEO Mike Shore said property owners and managers can get bonus money by making renting easier for people trying to get off the street.

“Our participants are going to have issues. That’s why they’re homeless. So income requirements, eviction histories, criminal backgrounds — some of these items we need to be flexible and adapt tenant selection criteria in order to make this work,” said Shore.

Landlords who join Threshold can also get money for property repairs and one month’s rent, if a tenant leaves before their lease expires.

A statewide trade group of housing owners wants landlords to join

Courtney Gilstrap LeVinus, president and CEO of the Arizona Multihousing Association, gave the call to action at a news conference today Wednesday.

“All we ask is that you try one unit for each property. Every one take one, share the responsibility, and improve our community,” she said.