ARCH adds Pre-Screening Application to provide Criminal and Eviction Data to NonProfit Users

In February, Tower Grove Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation (TGNCDC) launched ARCH by HomeScreen. ARCH, an acronym for At-risk Renters’ Connection to Housing, is a platform that expands TGNCDC’s tenant screening platform, HomeScreen, to nonprofit organizations searching for rental properties for their clients. At its core, ARCH is an apartment listing service and since launching, we have onboarded 60 landlords and 76 nonprofit users from 28 nonprofit organizations. 

We recognize that the demand for affordable housing is extremely high and nonprofit agencies have a difficult time securing the supply from landlords across the region. ARCH by HomeScreen strives to facilitate and expedite the housing process by acting as the centralized database of available affordable rental units to all nonprofits. However, to that end, we recently introduced our Pre-Screening Application to the ARCH by HomeScreen platform. The Pre-Screening Application allows our nonprofit users to obtain background information on their clients, even if no available apartments are suitable at the moment. With the Pre-Screening Application, we offer a national criminal background check and national eviction record that can be used to prepare for ongoing apartment searches, obtain benefits or housing vouchers, or secure a job. We plan to work extensively with Employment Connection, which subcontracted CARES Act Funding to TGNCDC to create ARCH by HomeScreen, to provide the background checks needed for their employment programs. We believe that knowledge is power and having this information as the clients prepare for new housing is necessary. Our nonprofit users have access to this information for $25 per report. 

Revenue generated through HomeScreen and ARCH by HomeScreen is used to support community development activities and is directly invested back into the City of Saint Louis. TGNCDC is a real estate-focused community development corporation that has facilitated 100s of redevelopment projects with a focus on eliminating blight, created 84 affordable rental units in the last five years, supported infrastructure projects, delivered landlord/rehabber training seminars, and advocated for energy efficiency programs for low-income renters. 

If any nonprofit organization is in need of this service, please contact Ella Gross at ella@towergrovecdc.org to get set up with an ARCH by HomeScreen account.