Our local towns and rental assistance programs really appreciate those that try to work with their tenants which has helped me several times through easier permitting processes.

Any feed back is welcome 

We already signed the purchase agreement several months ago...it has been on hold while they mitigated a pest control issue that has taken 2 months.If it's that important, make it part of your purchase agreement.

They used that period of unemployment to skip paying student loans and then try to get some kind of program/hardship deferral or something aka "gaming the system".

But the one thing that you can control is your creativity and how far are you willing to go with risk . 

I am worried about having an intermediary taking control of my property and renting to tenants I haven't screened.

You never want to build a business that is completely reliant upon another platform that you have no control over.

Most of the reason I got into RE is because I control the asset.

Ask them if you deposit say $250k with them as MM or CD with them having control over it.  

Managing the operation myself could save money and provide better control compared to working with out-of-state properties.