Busy as we’ve been here at Renters Welcome (shout out to all of the volunteers who have contributed even 5 minutes of their time!), the issue of homelessness is a huge part of the vision behind Renters Welcome.
I just finished watching John Oliver’s “Homelessness” video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liptMbjF3EE) released November 1, 2021 and could not hold back in adding a component to the homelessness issue all communities are facing, especially as it relates to the idea of government policy allowing someone’s discomfort with the notion of homelessness to deprive someone of their American Dream (a quote from the video…there are many, many notable quotes, btw.)
Landlords have always received preferential treatment in every area of our country’s existence. From the notion that only a property owner should be allowed to vote (for they are the only possible human beings on the planet to know what is best for 8 billion people) all the way to 89,000 municipal units across the nation potentially obstructing the identification of who owns any specific piece of property. While a home lived in by the owner deserves a fair level of privacy rights, the property owners that enters the rental market are no longer just an owner of property, they are offering a business agreement between themselves and the use of said property.
Part of our slow roll-out of the RentersWelcome.com background check program has been the extensive research we’ve been performing as it relates to quickly, and accurately, enabling a renter to know material facts about their lease. FOIA requests can work (and will be used), but it delays all parties from entering any agreement and if either party steps away, the 5 day delay starts all over again for the property owner, which is unfair and wrong. We’re working hard to determine how to apply technology to the situation, so stay tuned on that.
The bottom line for this post is that knowing the actual individual(s) who are offering a property for rent is a crucial component to creating and sustaining the rental housing market, especially in this era of being found “guilty by association,” courtesy of the Internet and it’s contributors. The Betty Jennings story has threads of this facet as she is the renter of a former public official and a notable figure in the community.
A shout out to John Oliver and everyone else dedicating their time, talent and energy towards this complex issue!
#HomesNotHandcuffs #HomelessnessIsNotAChoice #NotHelpingTheHomelessIsAChoice #RentersWelcome