How RenterCertification.org and Private Property Owners Are Breaking the Homelessness-Health Crisis Cycle
In the complex landscape of public health and housing policy, few interventions have proven as impactful as providing stable housing to individuals experiencing homelessness while living with HIV and Hepatitis C. Through innovative partnerships facilitated by organizations like OAK Project for Housing, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), The Well Project, RenterCertification.Org, private property owners are discovering that addressing housing instability isn't just a social good—it's a powerful public health intervention with measurable community benefits.
The Critical Connection Between Housing Stability and Health Outcomes
The strong positive correlation between stable housing and health outcomes for individuals with HIV and Hepatitis C is well-documented. Modern suppressive treatments can reduce viral loads to for both HIV and Hepatitis C to undetectable levels, meaning individuals cannot transmit the virus to others and the medical community recognizes the general truth of the "U=U principle” which stands for Undetectable = Untransmittable. However, achieving ongoing Undetectable viral loads requires lifelong medication adherence and regular monitoring – both of which are nearly impossible without stable housing.
Richard Sherman, owner of Westlake Properties and the founder of RenterCertification.org, states that stable housing is a foundational step to positive medical outcomes for individuals living with HIV and Hepatitis C: "Simply having a key to their own space represents a fundamental shift in identity and adds stability that allows individuals to focus on their health and not simply where they are sleeping that night. This change creates many benefits for both the individual and the broader community as a whole, while also ensuring that support resources are used as efficiently and not wasted, in some cases simply trying to find where the patient is currently living and convincing them to leave their possessions behind to go to a medical appointment."
When an individual has a fixed address, they become locatable for medical appointments, case management services, medication intervention and benefit administration. Without this foundation, even the most advanced medical treatments become less effective which in turn leads to negative outcomes for the individual and the greater community as well as increased cost of care paired with a decreased efficacy of that care.
RenterCertification.org: Facilitating Life-Changing Partnerships
RenterCertification.org focuses on connecting private property owners with supportive housing programs that serve vulnerable populations, including those with HIV and Hepatitis C. The nonprofit works to streamline the process of housing placement while ensuring legal compliance and best practices for participating housing providers.
The organization's approach addresses a critical gap in traditional housing assistance programs. Vulnerable individuals often do not qualify for traditional voucher-based housing funds such as Section 8, which restricts vouchers from being issued to individuals with criminal records, evidence of substance abuse, or ongoing legal issues. By facilitating partnerships between private property owners and case management organizations, RenterCertification.org creates pathways to housing that would otherwise be unavailable. Less than 5% of the total US rental housing stock is owned by, or enrolled in, publicly funded programs (public housing programs, Housing Authority Owned properties, tax credit and other affordable housing programs.) In rural areas this drops to under 1% of the total rental housing stock. Private owner participation is vital to any meaningful impact in decreasing homelessness for individuals living with HIV and/or Hepatis C.
Real-World Impact: The Westlake Properties Case Study
Westlake Properties' partnership with the HIV Alliance's OAK (Outreach, Advocacy, and Knowledge) Program demonstrates the practical benefits of these collaborations. Westlake Communities offers insight into why they have partnered with the OAK Program for Housing in a pilot project that allocated, via a Memorandum of Understanding, 5 apartment units in Salem, OR to house individuals who are living with HIV, some of whom have been without stable housing for as much as a decade.
Sherman emphasizes the business logic behind these partnerships: "Non-profit organizations can offer robust support systems that include rental assistance, damage deposits, and ongoing case management. The additional support that tenants receive from these agencies offers some measure of assurance of compliance with the rules and lease requirements while also offering a channel to address challenges before they rise to the level of lease violations or evictions."
This support system fundamentally changes the housing provider-tenant dynamic. The presence of professional case managers also significantly reduces the administrative burden for property owners. Rather than navigating complex situations alone, property owners have access to trained professionals who can address tenant concerns, coordinate services, and intervene early when problems arise and proactively address problems such as utilities, pets, and guest behavior.
Public Health Benefits: Beyond Individual Treatment
The public health impact of stable housing extends far beyond individual health outcomes. For individuals living with HIV and/or Hepatis C , achieving viral suppression through consistent treatment creates a situation where "Undetectable = Untransmittable" (U=U), meaning they cannot pass the virus onto others.
Sherman reflects on the broader implications: "Property owners who participate in programs like the OAK Project contribute to public health by providing a portion of the foundation necessary for effective HIV treatment. We're not just providing housing—we're participating in disease prevention and positive health outcomes on a community level."
The societal economic benefits are equally compelling. The cost savings associated with reduced emergency room visits, psychiatric hospitalizations, and law enforcement interactions often exceed the cost of providing housing and supportive services. When individuals achieve housing stability, their utilization of expensive emergency services drops dramatically, reducing strain on healthcare systems while improving health outcomes.
Transforming Individual Lives: From Survival to Stability
The psychological transformation that occurs when someone moves from homelessness to stable housing cannot be overstated. When individuals have secure housing, they demonstrate dramatically increased willingness to engage with various services and opportunities. The security of knowing their possessions are safe, allows them to attend medical appointments, job training programs, mental health counseling, and substance abuse treatment without fear of losing everything they own.
This shift from survival mode to stability creates cascading positive effects. Individuals can rebuild social connections, pursue employment opportunities, and engage in long-term health management strategies that were impossible while experiencing homelessness.
Advocating for Expanded Partnerships
Based on the success of pilot programs like the Westlake-OAK partnership, Sherman has become an advocate for expanding these collaborations across the property management industry. "The evidence is clear: these partnerships offer unique opportunities to contribute meaningfully to addressing one of our most pressing social challenges while building stronger, more sustainable rental business."
Legal Compliance and Sustainable Business Practices
One of RenterCertification.org's key contributions is helping property owners navigate the complex legal landscape of fair housing while participating in supportive housing programs. The organization emphasizes that successful partnerships require careful attention to compliance with fair housing and anti-discrimination laws.
The key to legal compliance lies in developing policies that modify processes based on third-party involvement rather than on protected characteristics such as age, race, national origin, medical status or family composition.
Sherman notes the importance of this approach: "Housing providers must understand that any accommodations they are making are for the involvement of the supportive organization, and not because of the individual's health status or other characteristics. This distinction is crucial for both legal compliance and successful program implementation."
RenterCertification.org continues to work with property owners across multiple states, demonstrating that these partnerships can be replicated and scaled while maintaining both profitability and legal compliance. The organization provides no cost training, policy development support, and ongoing consultation to ensure successful program implementation.
Community-Wide Benefits
The benefits of housing-first programs extend throughout entire communities. Neighborhoods with robust supportive housing programs often experience improved safety and stability. When individuals have secure housing and access to supportive services, incidents of public disturbance, petty crime, and other quality-of-life issues typically decrease. Consistent medical intervention leads to greatly improved outcomes for the individual and decreased transmission risk for the greater community.
Additionally, housed individuals become economic participants in their communities. As people transition from service recipients to taxpaying community members, they contribute to the local economy while reducing the burden on public assistance programs.
Looking Forward: Scaling Successful Models
As housing costs continue to rise and homelessness persists as a national challenge, the work of organizations like RenterCertification.org in facilitating these partnerships becomes increasingly vital. The success of programs like the Westlake-OAK collaboration provides a model for other communities struggling with the intersection of homelessness and health crises.
Sherman emphasizes the scalability of this approach: "What we've learned is that when you provide the right support structure and maintain focus on legal compliance, these partnerships benefit everyone involved. The individuals get stable housing and improved health outcomes, property owners get reliable tenancies with professional support, and communities see reduced healthcare costs and improved public health."
Conclusion: Housing as Healthcare Infrastructure
The success of these initiatives suggests that the future of addressing homelessness and improving public health lies not in traditional service models alone, but in innovative partnerships that align business interests with community health outcomes. Through organizations like RenterCertification.org, this alignment is becoming not just possible, but profitable and sustainable for all stakeholders involved.
As Sherman concludes, "For property owners considering participation in such programs, the evidence is clear: these partnerships offer unique opportunities to contribute meaningfully to addressing one of our most pressing social challenges while building a stronger and more resilient rental business. The key lies in approaching these opportunities with proper preparation, legal compliance, and a commitment to treating all tenants with dignity and respect. Regardless of an individual’s past or current struggles with the criminal justice system, substance abuse or health challenges, everyone deserves to have a safe place to live."
For more information about participating in supportive housing partnerships or accessing RenterCertification.org services, property owners, support organizations and government agencies can contact Richard Sherman at WWW.RenterCertification.org for guidance on implementing these successful models. All services and guidance are provided free of charge.
Additional Resources Links Provided by RenterCertification.Org. Please contact RenterCertification.Org using their “Contact Us” option should you need additional assistance or guidance in contacting or utilizing any of the resources below, all guidance is provided free of charge:
- List of external resources, including legal guides and tenant rights organizations.
- Supplementary reading materials and website links for further learning.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides information on tenant rights, including the right to dispute credit reports and challenge unfair or discriminatory practices: https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance/tenant_rights
Trafficking and Exploited:
- National Human Trafficking Resource Center: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/housing-assistance
- Polaris Project: https://polarisproject.org/what-we-do/housing/
Victims of Domestic Violence:
- National Network to End Domestic Violence: https://nnedv.org/content/housing/
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/help/housing/
- National Network to End Domestic Violence: https://nnedv.org/content/housing/
- The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: https://ncadv.org/resources/housing
- Women's Shelters: https://www.womenshelters.org/
Resources: Addressing Criminal Background Issues
- -The National Reentry Resource Center: https://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/projects/housing/
- The National Hire Network. Provides a directory of organizations that offer assistance with job training, housing, and other resources for people with criminal records: https://hirenetwork.org/
- The Legal Action Center: https://lac.org/resources/reentry-toolkit/
- The National Low Income Housing Coalition: https://nlihc.org/resource/tenant-screening-policies-guide
- The National Housing Law Project: https://nhlp.org/cr/
- The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials: https://www.nanmckay.com/downloads/policy-memo-pb-racl-sa-2007-02.pdf
- The Corporation for Supportive Housing: https://www.csh.org/
- The Ban the Box campaign advocates for fair hiring practices and also provides information on housing rights for individuals with criminal records: https://www.nelp.org/campaign/ban-the-box
- The Federal Trade Commission provides information on how to dispute errors on your credit report: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0151-disputing-errors-credit-reports
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers guidance on disputing errors on your credit report: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-dispute-an-error-on-my-credit-report-en-314/
- The National Consumer Law Center has resources on credit reporting and consumer rights: https://www.nclc.org/issues/credit-reporting.html
Resources: Additional resources for specific at-risk groups:
Veterans:
- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Program: https://www.va.gov/homeless/housing.asp
- Housing Assistance for Veterans: https://www.usa.gov/housing-help-for-veterans
- Veterans Matter: https://veteransmatter.org/
- Homes for Our Troops: https://www.hfotusa.org/
LGBTQ+:
- National LGBTQ Task Force: https://www.thetaskforce.org/housing/
- LGBTQ-Friendly Senior Housing: https://www.seniorliving.org/lgbtq/
- National Center for Transgender Equality: https://transequality.org/issues/housing-homelessness
Undocumented:
- United We Dream: https://unitedwedream.org/
- National Immigration Law Center: https://www.nilc.org/
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center: https://www.ilrc.org/
- The Fair Housing Council of San Francisco offers legal assistance and advocacy for tenants who have experienced housing discrimination due to their immigration status: https://www.fhcsf.org/
Non-traditional employment:
- My Employment Options offers job placement services and resources for people with disabilities, including assistance with finding affordable housing options that accommodate non-traditional employment: https://www.myemploymentoptions.com/employment-options-for-individuals-with-disabilities/
- The National Domestic Workers Alliance offers resources and support for domestic workers, including access to legal assistance and housing resources: https://www.domesticworkers.org/
- The Freelancers Union provides resources and information on housing rights and rental assistance programs for freelancers and gig workers: https://www.freelancersunion.org/
Finding rentals that accept tenants with a history of sex work can be challenging due to the stigma associated with the profession. Below are resources that are specific to these challenges:
- The Sex Workers Project: Provides legal services, advocacy, and resources for sex workers. They have a housing program that helps sex workers find safe and affordable housing options: https://sexworkersproject.org/housing-support/
- National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF): Provides resources and support for individuals and communities impacted by discrimination against sexual minorities, including sex workers. They have a housing resource center that can help connect individuals with rental options: https://www.ncsfreedom.org/our-programs/consent-counts/consent-counts-housing-project/
- Trans Housing Coalition: Provides resources and support for transgender individuals, including sex workers, to find safe and affordable housing options. They offer emergency shelter and assistance in finding long-term housing solutions: https://transhousingcoalition.org/
- The Cupcake Girls: A non-profit organization providing support, advocacy, and resources for those involved in sex work and sex trafficking, including housing assistance. https://thecupcakegirls.org/
- Center for Transgender Equality: An organization advocating for the civil rights of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, which provides resources for housing and employment assistance: https://transequality.org/ (https://transequality.org/
- Red Umbrella Fund: A global grant-making mechanism providing funding and support for sex worker-led organizations and networks: https://www.redumbrellafund.org/