First State Times

Dover, Del., – The Delaware Tenant Rent-Reporting Program Pilot is a new program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and partnered with Self Financial (Self).

“Rent is the largest monthly expense for many people, but few are using rent to build credit. Self is proud to work in partnership with DHSA to help people build credit using their existing rent payments,” said James Garvey, founder and CEO of Self.

The Tenant Rent-Reporting Pilot aims to help over 400 low-income renters increase their credit scores by reporting their reliable rental payment history. Most rental payment history is never reported to the larger credit reporting bureaus. As a result, many renters’ credit scores do not reflect their actual credit risk. This unreported positive payment history can be a significant factor in decreasing economic mobility.

Self is a credit-building platform that increases economic inclusion and financial resilience through products that make credit accessible for people with low or no scores. Self will report tenants’ rent and utility payments by linking to a person’s bank account, detecting the payment history, and then reporting those payments to the major credit bureaus. Self reports rent payments to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and utility payments to TransUnion.

Through rental payment history reporting, the new pilot program aims to reduce barriers to home ownership, increase access to personal and business loan products, and more accurately represent applicants applying for jobs requiring credit checks and affordable financial products like insurance.

Karen Speakman, Executive Director of NeighborGood Partners, formerly NCALL, shared, “We are delighted to be a part of this unique tenant rent reporting pilot in partnership with Self Financial and DSHA. Our role is to seek a diverse group of tenant households to participate in this program, link them with financial coaching, and towards the end of the two-year pilot, develop a report that will include an analysis of the program data and provide recommendations for future policies.”

NeighborGood Partners, a nonprofit specializing in affordable housing development, education, and lending, will manage participant eligibility and enrollment.

“We are excited that Delaware is at the forefront of this policy issue,” says Caitlin Del Collo. “Colorado is currently implementing a similar rent reporting pilot program, and California recently enacted a law that requires affordable property managers to offer rent reporting to their tenants through July 1, 2025. The outcomes of this pilot will help inform future policies surrounding rent reporting and credit building, not just in Delaware but nationwide.”

To participate in the pilot program, renters must have a housing voucher from or live in a public housing unit operated by one of the state’s five PHAs; OR have a household income of at/below 250% of the federal poverty level. During the 12-month pilot period, tenants will also have access to monthly credit scores, ID theft insurance, financial counseling, and the option to report an additional 24 months of past rent and utility payments.

“After months of designing, planning, and working with the Governor’s Office to secure funding, I am incredibly excited that the pilot program is launching and will be available for renters in Delaware,” said Senator Kyle Evans Gay. “I believe the Delaware Tenant Rent-Reporting Pilot will empower renters to achieve their financial goals. I am grateful to DSHA and its partners for their work to provide this service to Delawareans.”

For more information about the Delaware Tenant Rent Reporting Pilot, please contact Nancy Aragon, Rent Reporting Specialist, at (302) 855-1370 (office), (302) 260-1212 (cell), or naragon@neighborgoodpartners.org. Additional information is available at www.neighborgoodpartners.org.

About Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA)

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it serves as a Public Housing Authority and a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties. For more information about DSHA, please call (302) 739-4263 or visit destatehousing.com.

About Self Financial

Self Financial is a credit-building platform working to increase economic inclusion and financial resilience through products that make building credit accessible. With no hard credit check to get started, Self’s signature Credit Builder Account and secured Self Visa® Credit Card issued by its partner banks are designed to enable people to build credit and savings simultaneously. The company also offers rent and utility payment reporting. Download the Self app at the Apple App Store (220,000+ reviews and an average 4.9 rating) or Google Play or visit Self.inc for more information.

About NeighborGood Partners (formally NCALL)

As a service provider for families and individuals in Delaware, NeighborGood Partners offers pre-purchase and foreclosure prevention counseling, financial education, and DEHAP rental housing assistance. NeighborGood Partners is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. Their services to nonprofit corporations include developer consulting for multi-family housing projects, and technical expertise for USDA’s Rural Development Self-Help Housing program. Their Loan Fund, a Community Development Financial Institution, provides financing to nonprofit and for-profit corporations interested in providing affordable housing and other living spaces, neighborhood revitalization, and community facilities. They also provide community development services and are the lead agency for Restoring Central Dover, a resident-driven neighborhood revitalization initiative.

Original source can be found here.