Crime Free Multi-Housing Program

The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is a crime prevention initiative designed to reduce crime, illegal narcotics, as well as organized gang activity on apartment/rental properties. It was successfully developed through the Mesa Arizona Police Department in 1992 and has become an independent organization serving over 2,000 cities in 48 United States as well as locations in Canada, Latin America, and South Africa. The anticipated benefits are reduced police calls for service, a safer/more stable renter resident base, and reduced exposure to civil liability.

The Program consists of a three-phase process. Phase I is comprised of an 8-hour training for rental property management/owners. Participants are trained in the best practices to creating a crime-free environment within their properties ranging from selection of tenants (Crime-Free Lease Addendum) through eviction of problematic renters as well as learning crime prevention techniques through environmental design. Phase II consists of a survey by a peace officer certified in the Program to ensure the participant property is enacting crime reduction measures that are based upon the Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principle. The official conducting the survey will evaluate compliance as well as assist property managers in improving areas of concern noted. Phase III is achieved when the property management in conjunction with law enforcement hosts a social event with residents that focuses on an aspects of crime prevention within the facility in order to enhance education and gain the trust of tenants. Once all three phases have been documented as completed, the applicant property achieves full certification and may utilize trademarks of the Program in advertising/signage