Crime Free Multi-Housing
The Crime Free Multi-Housing (CFMH) Program is a state-of-the-art crime prevention initiative developed to reduce criminal and drug activity within apartment communities. This program began at the Mesa, Arizona Police Department in 1992 and has since spread to over 2,000 communities in 44 U.S. states, as well as throughout the world.
The Saginaw Township Police Department implemented the CFMH Program in 2000 and expanded it with the development of the District Resource Officer Program in 2003. A Crime Prevention Officer is assigned to each apartment community within Saginaw Township. This officer works hand-in-hand with managers, landlords, and owners to reduce criminal activity, the perception of crime, and to enhance the livability of all residents of Saginaw Township.
CFMH is simple, honest and direct. It is solution oriented. The program has been proven highly effective if the guidelines it presents are followed. The program uses a unique, three-part approach which ensures the crime prevention goal, while maintaining a tenant-friendly approach
In rental properties, the communities tend to be much more transient. Most often, residents sign a six, nine, or twelve month lease for a rental property. This allows for an occupant to move very easily if they feel crime has reached a level they will not tolerate. It is much easier to move away from crime than to confront it.
IMPLEMENTING CFMH
Phase #1
Management Training Seminar
Eight hour course taught by CFMH certified police officers
Topics Include:
- Crime & Robbery Prevention
- Risk Reduction
- Crime Prevention through Environmental
- Design (CPTED)
- Active Property Management Issues
- Community Rules & Leases
- Applicant Screening
- Background Checks
- Dealing with Non-Compliant Tenants
- Eviction Process
- Combating Crime Problems
- Law Enforcement Resources
- Administrating the CFMH Program
Phase #2
CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) Security Survey
On site security assessment of the property
Issues addressed:
- Lighting
- Access Control
- Building Security
- Grounds Maintenance
- Surveillance Measures
- Security Perimeters
- Safety & Security Policies and Procedures
Phase #3
Resident Safety Meeting
An annual Neighborhood Watch style meeting with management, residents, and police
Issues addressed:
- Learn about CFMH Program
- Crime Prevention Information
- Working with the Police
- Becoming the eyes and ears of the Police
- Allow residents an opportunity to voice their concerns
Crime Free Lease Addendum
Member properties use a Crime Free Lease Addendum that calls for the eviction of residents who are involved with or who knowing allow criminal and/or drug activity upon the leased property. This Lease Addendum is an extremely important part of the success of the CFMH Program. Properties must address criminal behavior by tenants and their guests quickly and swiftly to prevent future issues and set a tone for those other residents that criminal behavior will not be tolerated.
SAMPLE: Crime Free Lease Addendum
Crime Free Contact Cards
An advantage of participating in the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is the Contact Cards. These Contact Cards are completed by police officers anytime there is police activity on the participating CFMH property. The assigned Crime Prevention Officer forwards these Contact Cards, sometimes along with a police report, to the property managers and landlords. This information is vital to managers to address concerns from residents about police presence or action on the property, as well as dealing with disruptive residents.
Saginaw Township Police CFMH Advantages
Participating CFMH properties receive certificates after completing each step of the certification process. We encourage properties to display these certificates in a prominent location within their leasing offices to show their partnership with the Saginaw Township Police Department in preventing crime.
Once an apartment community becomes fully certified, a large metal sign can be displayed at the entrance to the property, similar to a Neighborhood Watch sign, announcing the community commitment to crime prevention and their partnership with the Saginaw Township Police Department in the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program.
The assigned Crime Prevention Officers work together with apartment managers and owners in dealing with quality of life issues to prevent and reduce potential criminal activity. Officers work with managers to address abandoned vehicles, graffiti, illegal trash dumping, loitering, loud parties, and other issues that affect resident's ability to live peacefully within their apartment community.
Crime Prevention Officers and property managers also work with Saginaw Township Fire Inspectors and Code Enforcement Officers to remedy blight and related concerns within CFMH properties.
Crime Prevention Officers host meetings with CFMH properties to exchange and safe information about current crime trends, new laws, and other issues that maybe affecting area apartment communities. An email network is also available to participating CFMH managers and owners to exchange information regarding a variety of concerns and problem tenants.
RENTAL HOUSING ORDINANCE
The Saginaw Township Board of Trustees adopted a Rental Housing Ordinance in September of 2009, Ordinance No. 710, requiring all rental properties within the township to obtain an annual business license, use a Crime Free Lease Addendum and adopt certain portions of the Crime Free Rental Housing Program.
Copy of Saginaw Charter Township Ordinance No. 710
Rental Business License Application
www.saginawtownship.org/clerk/licenses.html
Additional Information
Rental properties present a unique challenge for law enforcement. 
The typical Neighborhood Watch program approach to residents in single family homes is not easily adaptable to rental communities. In single family homes, owners generally have a large cash investment, and years-long mortgage, involved in the purchase. This motivates owners to a greater concern about crime in their neighborhoods. Rising crime rates can cause lower property values.
In rental properties, the communities tend to be much more transient. Most often, residents sign a six, nine, or twelve month lease for a rental property. This allows for an occupant to move very easily if they feel crime has reached a level they will not tolerate. It is much easier to move away from crime than to confront it.
To combat this problem, in 1995 Southfield Police Department started it's own Crime free Multi Housing Program. In 1996 Southfield Police department trained then Detective Sergeant Grauf and Detective Berent (ret.) in the crime free Multi Housing Program. These officers were the first mid-Michigan officers trained in this program. A slow, careful development of the program to fit the needs of Saginaw Township's apartment communities has been progressing.
This bold, new program has no precedent. The concept is to take multifaceted approach to crime prevention. A unique coalition of police, property managers, and residents of rental properties, work on a three phase approach to address all opportunities of crime.
Development of the Crime Free Lease Addendum has proven to be the backbone of the CFMH Program. The addendum to the lease agreement list specific acts that, if committed on the property, will result in the immediate termination of the resident's lease.
The Saginaw Township Police Department, like it's predecessors in the program, Mesa, AZ., and Southfield, MI., will take great pride in working with all apartment managers to create a safe and secure environment for the rental residents of our community.
East District Crime Free Multi-Housing Information
North District Crime Free Multi-Housing Information
South District Crime Free Multi-Housing Information
For more information about Crime Free Multi Housing contact Detective Lieutenant Gary Grauf at (989) 791-7226.
Chief Donald F. Pussehl Jr
Saginaw Township Police Administration
Crime Prevention Unit
STPD Mission Statement
STPD Vision Statement
ONLINE CRIME TIP
