Crime Free Multi-Housing Program

Are you...?

Saskatoon Crime Free
Multi-Housing

1. An apartment owner or manager?
2. Concerned about criminal activity, nuisance or destructive behavior by some of your residents?
3. Losing money due to property damage or neglect by problem residents?
4. Having trouble knowing what to do with problem residents and/or their guests?
5. Wanting to spend less time on crisis control?
6. Wanting a more stable and satisfied long term resident base?
7. Wanting a community environment that provides safety and peace of mind for you and your residents?

If you answered yes to some or all of the above questions, the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is for you!

What is the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program?

The Saskatoon Police Service's Crime Free Multi-Housing Program helps create partnerships that keep our communities safe. We know that most property owners and managers are responsible and want to provide a good, fair value to their tenants. At the same time, most tenants are respectable people who are looking for a good environment in which to live. However, sometimes problems arise. The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program helps prevent problems and provides guidelines for proven and effective partnerships between the police, the landlords, the community and residents to ultimately produce safer, more stable neighborhoods.

The program started in 1992 in Mesa, Arizona and was first implemented in Canada in 1994. The Saskatoon Police are following up on a successful pilot project and have established a permanent program in the City.

Features of the program include:

• Multi-faceted approach to crime prevention geared specifically for the rental community.
• Partnership between police, landlords and residents.
• Copyright program (Mesa Police) that utilizes a three-phase certification process.
• Comprehensive screening process for new residents and renewed leases.
• Benefits to all partners involved.
• Effective track record in reducing incidence of crime in multi-unit apartment communities.

Its unique three phases ensure the crime prevention goal, while maintaining an approach which is resident friendly, yet effective in reducing the incidence of crime in multi-unit apartment communities.

Phase 1: Landlord Management Training (certification training)

Resident managers and/or Owners attend a one day seminar coordinated by the Saskatoon Police Service.

• understanding crime prevention
• active property management
• applicant screening
• building partnerships within the community
• residential tenancy act
• identifying illegal activities and safety risks

Phase 2: Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Inspection

An on-site audit of the buildings and grounds is conducted. The rental properties must meet the minimum security standards that are recommended from the audit. The fundamentals of CPTED are:

• access control
• surveillance
• territorial reinforcement (including maintenance and activity generators)

Phase 3: Resident Safety Social

The owner/manager will host an annual Safety Social for their residents to involve them in preventing crime on the property and to get involved in the community. A representative from the police department will be in attendance to explain the program and offer crime prevention tips.

Following the completion of all three phases the management will earn the privilege to post signs stating they have joined the CRIME FREE MULTI-HOUSING PROGRAM, may use the CFMHP logo for marketing purposes and will be listed on the Saskatoon Police website as a crime-free multi housing property.

Benefits for Landlords

• Stable and satisfied resident base - extended lease term.
• Lower maintenance and repair costs - increased property values.
• Improved personal safety for owners, managers and residents.
• Increased demand for rental units with the crime free designation.
• Focus on routine maintenance, not crisis control.
• Increased communication and better relationship between landlord, residents and police.

Benefits for Residents

• Safe and secure place to live.
• Healthy community environment -neighbors actually speak to each other.
• An opportunity to get to know your neighbors.
• Learn how to recognize suspicious activity.
• Education on how to effectively reduce property crime.

Benefits for Police

• Reduced calls for service.
• Better use of police resources.
• Better communication - exchange of information.
• Cooperation and better relationship with owners, managers and residents for the purposes of crime prevention, detection and enforcement.

Upcoming CFMH Training Sessions

CFMH Certified Properties in Saskatoon

• Click here for a listing of CFMH Certified Properties in Saskatoon

To obtain further information on the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program contact:
Crime Free Multi-Housing in Saskatoon

(306) 975-8385