Conversations about homelessness often focus on government programs, nonprofit services, or public policy. One group is frequently missing from the center of that discussion: property owners and housing providers.
In Episode 08 Part 1 of the One Room at a Time podcast, PadSplit founder and CEO Atticus LeBlanc spoke with Beth Silverman, co-founder of Lotus Campaign, about why solving homelessness requires reframing the conversation. Instead of viewing property owners as obstacles or expecting them to simply absorb all the risk, Beth argues that they should be recognized as partners in the solution.
Homelessness sits at the intersection of housing markets, social services, and economic opportunity. If the people who provide housing aren’t part of the conversation, solutions struggle to scale.
Housing providers hold the key to access
At its core, homelessness is a housing issue. People can’t rebuild their lives without stable housing, and in most communities, the majority of housing is owned and operated by private landlords, property managers, and real estate investors.
That means any effort to help individuals transition out of homelessness must ultimately involve the private sector.
Of course, governments and nonprofits play critical roles. Public agencies provide policy frameworks and funding programs. Nonprofits deliver case management and supportive services that help residents stabilize their lives. But as we at PadSplit know, property owners control the most important resource of all: accessible housing.
When housing providers are included from the beginning, communities gain access to far more housing opportunities than they could through public programs alone.
Addressing the legitimate concerns of property owners
For many property owners, participating in housing initiatives that serve people transitioning out of homelessness can feel risky. These concerns are reasonable.
Who guarantees the rent if something goes wrong?
Who handles issues that may arise with tenants?
Will property managers be expected to act as social workers?
These questions reflect the real responsibilities of running housing as a business. Property owners must manage operating costs, mortgages, maintenance, and investor expectations. Ignoring those realities makes collaboration difficult.
Beth shared that when her team began speaking with landlords across the country, they heard nearly identical concerns everywhere. Rather than dismiss those objections, Lotus Campaign designed its approach around solving them. Programs that provide rent guarantees, risk mitigation funds, and strong partnerships with service providers can dramatically reduce uncertainty for housing providers.
When those protections are in place, participation becomes far more appealing.
Public-private partnerships move the needle
The most effective approaches to homelessness rely on collaboration between three key partners: public agencies, nonprofit service providers, and private housing providers.
Each group brings something essential to the table and when they work together, they create solutions that are both scalable and sustainable.
Equally important, these partnerships change the tone of the conversation. Instead of treating property owners as reluctant participants, they are recognized as business partners in solving a community challenge.
That shift matters. When housing providers are respected as partners, and when their economic realities are acknowledged, many are eager to help expand housing access in their communities.
Because solving the housing crisis requires collaboration across the entire housing ecosystem, one partnership, and one room at a time.
🎧Listen to the full conversation with Beth: padsplit.com/podcast.
📺 Or watch the episode on YouTube.
