Rapid Re-Housing Father Joe's

[Michael Kotoyan]

I am a brand new rookie landlord. I just bought my first investment property in San Diego County (tiny condo) and started showing it to potential tenants. I have a potential tenant that is in a Rapid Re-Housing program of Father Joe's Villages. This is not a section 8 or a government program.

https://my.neighbor.org/

They promise a double deposit and will cover 100% of the rent for the first three months and their coverage scales down. 

Has anyone experienced any such program? Any advice?

Thanks so much in advance!

[Karen F.]

When we first started landlording, I noticed that some callers would start off by saying, "Are you willing to work with an agency?"  My reaction was, "Why wouldn't I?"  Well, about 9 years down the road, I can now tell you why not.

People who come in with the assistance of an agency are different from people who have Section 8.  We've had some good, stable tenants on Section 8.  Some, not all.  But EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE TENANTS WHO CAME WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AN AGENCY HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE!

The tenants who have come with the assistance of an agency have always been a disaster.  They don't pay their rent.  They menace the other tenants.  They engage in criminal activity.  They menace the LL or his agent.  Even when the agency has stayed engaged (and they often just get the tenant onto Section 8, and bow out), it's still a disaster.  I've had social workers working for agencies who routinely defend their client's behavior, as if violent, argumentative behavior, domestic violence, illegal drug use, violation of lease terms, and of course, always combined with non-payment of rent, were just a "cultural" difference.  We have had to evict every single tenant who came with the assistance of an agency, always for non-payment of rent plus another issue.  EVERY SINGLE ONE!

There is a reason when people wind up needing an agency's help to get into housing.  Those reasons don't go away once the person gets into housing.  The only agency that we work with anymore is an agency housing non-violent criminals coming out of prison - essentially, a "halfway" apartment.  That agency pays the rent, and pays for any damage the ex-con does.  If there's a problem, they get that ex-con out in a day or two.  And they pay a little above market.  Otherwise, we won't ever take anyone coming with the assistance of an agency ever again, no matter the circumstances.