of both housing providers and renters alike, who seek common ground, by re-envisioning a parallel system using innovation to focus forward and problem solve. • Demonstrate neutrality and accountability, whether it be from bad actors within, or external players that are acting detrimentally to the industry, as determined by a joint housing committee consisting of both renters and housing providers. • Advocate and create uniform industry standards for rental housing that may appropriately be adopted by federal, state, and local governments (much like building and fire codes) and actively educate and enable instructive guidance using innovation. • Advocate for revision of existing financial instruments and participate with creation of additional financial instruments and funding mechanisms for community development investment for market-rate low- cost housing. As a collective group, our first action is to demonstrate the strength of our voice. Show your support and simply sign the petition so Washing - ton will put us on their radar. Go to fairh.org to learn more and see what you can do to assist. Through our numbers and influ - ence, we demonstrate capacity as a cause for change in the communities we serve. In Baltimore, for example, we’re creating a Zero Eviction Ini - tiative, with a mission to prevent the eviction of 2,100 families from their homes. This will lead to an econom - ic impact of $8.4 million back into low-cost housing. Fewer evictions is common ground that renters and
who are external to the Real Estate Investment Industry. They mostly see the internal marketing messages in this sector; having the likeness of “Get Rich Quick” schemes that paint an unpleasant picture. And, mar - keting is necessary — consider that we are responsible for the public perception of our industry, and we have responsibility to communicate the public benefit of what we do. As housing providers, we invest in communities (some of the poorest) which demonstrates our belief in humanity by trusting those who are most at risk. Ability to do so largely depends on a historically valid Social Contract — where a provided val - ue-added service (housing) warrants an exchange of value (rent money) that has been faithfully agreed between two parties (the housing provider and the renter). During this pandemic, federal, state, and local public officials have re-written that Social Contract with the eviction moratorium, undermining the entire industry. It is our duty to respond collectively and be responsible for our part and hold others accountable for their part. FAIR HOUSING IS LEADING THE EFFORT. HERE IS HOW: • Emphasize and define the value we bring to communities as Social Entrepreneurs through a Public Relations campaign rather than be incorrectly defined as profiteers. • Illustrate the Social Impact our investments have with communities and renters, through a collection of real experiences that demonstrate the generosity of humanity. • Lead by example as neutral advocates for the industry-at- large to serve the best interest
housing providers can agree upon. It re-envisions connecting individu - al components of a broken system to more easily provide financial assistance for renters and instruc - tional guidance for housing provid - ers. It is proactive, preventive, and self-sustaining rather than reactive, encumbered, and depleting. It also improves systematic accountability and visibility through government and participating organizations. We believe success may inspire adoption in cities around the county. Through our ongoing FAIR Hous - ing organization, we also intend to leverage the power of the millions of independent low-cost housing providers, so that federal, state and local governments view us as small business owners (who have been the early pioneers of investment that is doing social good, before it became fashionable as Social Enterprise), adding to the economic stability of our communities and give us the influence and consideration we de - serve as social entrepreneurs. • For Column Notes, Resources and Language Translation for this Column, go to: RealtyMatters.Online/Column/December-2020
BrianWojcik is a housing industry advocate who transitioned into real estate, both as an investor and property manager, after more than two decades
of experience in engineering, sales, executive management, and operational/business process reengineering consulting. He resides in Howard County, MD, where he volunteers to teach a “Tenant Success” program he created for Bridges to Housing Stability, and where he created Landlord411 to assist rental housing providers. His expertise of the independently owned rental-housing market has been sought after for local and state level legislation/policy development. Mr. Wojcik has been published in national publications about legislative issues, affordable housing matters, and rental housing advocacy. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Manufacturing Management from Clarkson University and a Master of Science degree in Real Estate from The Johns Hopkins University. He is founder of diyRealty.co.
20 | think realty magazine :: december 2020
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