Rochester Launches Positive Rent Reporting Program to Boost Credit Scores and Empower Renters

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Mayor Malik D. Evans, in collaboration with the Credit Builders Alliance (CBA), has announced the launch of a positive-only rent reporting initiative aimed at helping Rochester renters establish or improve their credit scores. The program, funded by grants from Living Cities and the ESL Foundation, is designed to provide a pathway to financial stability for residents often left out of traditional credit systems.
The six-month initiative equips participating affordable housing providers with tools to report tenants’ on-time rent payments to credit bureaus. Importantly, the program does not penalize renters for missed or late payments. Renters who opt in will have their timely rent payments reported to credit bureaus, helping them build or enhance their credit scores. Participants will also be referred to the city’s free Financial Empowerment Center for one-on-one financial counseling to help achieve their credit and financial goals.
The program addresses a significant challenge in Rochester: a high rate of credit invisibility. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, one in five Rochester residents lacks a credit history—double the national average of one in 10.
“Positive-only rent reporting is about providing opportunities, especially for Black and Brown residents, to join the mainstream financial system by building credit,” said Evans. “This initiative gives renters with poor or no credit access to mortgages, traditional loans, credit cards, and other financial tools, helping them achieve economic security. I’m grateful to Living Cities, ESL Foundation, and the Credit Builders Alliance for helping us create a more equitable and prosperous Rochester.”
The program will involve three affordable housing providers: Rochester Housing Authority, Hart Homes, and Rosey Property Management, Inc. Combined, these organizations serve more than 4,100 renters. Each provider will receive a $6,000 incentive at the end of the six-month training to cover the cost of reporting rent payments to credit bureaus.
According to data from CBA and the Colorado Housing Finance Authority, the benefits of positive-only rent reporting include:
Credit Visibility: All previously credit-invisible participants established a credit score.
Improved Credit Scores: Nearly 80% of renters experienced an average score increase of 62 points.
Tenant Engagement: 97% of participants viewed rent reporting as a valuable tool for building credit.
On-Time Payments: 73% of renters reported being more likely to pay rent on time when it was reported.
Property owners and landlords interested in learning more about positive-only rent reporting, can visit
www.CityofRochester.Gov/OFE or contact Angela Rollins at Angela.Rollins@CityofRochester.Gov.
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