![]() | This article contains content that is written like
an advertisement. (October 2022) |
The Crime-Free Multi-Housing (CFMH) program is a crime-free ordinance program, which partners property owners, residents, and law-enforcement personnel in an effort to eliminate crime, drugs, and gang activity from rental properties. [1]
The program began in Mesa, Arizona in the United States in 1992. Since then, it has spread to other US cities and several other countries. [1]
The International Crime Free Association reports potential benefits of the program, including tenant satisfaction and increased demand for rental units. Independent assessments of these claims are necessary for a comprehensive understanding. [1]
Additionally, there has been pushback against crime free ordinances. In federal lawsuits across the country, tenants, landlords, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have challenged crime-free ordinances and their enforcement, citing violations of fair housing laws, equal protection, due process, and the First Amendment right to free association. [2] [3] [4] [5]
Three phases must be completed under police supervision:
Participating landlords have the option to display their certification status on their property. [6]
Nuisance and crime-free laws, with related programs and policies, impose unreasonable choices on survivors of domestic and sexual violence – making them have to choose between calling for emergency assistance or losing their home. Such ordinances also negatively impact communities of color and persons experiencing disabilities.