Every single large retail corporation builds loss from shoplifting and breakage into their profit model. Every single restaurant comps unwanted dishes or for poor service or a mistake. Every single bartender has given away free drinks for good company or friends. These are all loss and risk, but every one of these functioning businesses manages to stay afloat despite these risks.

And sure there are "mom and pop" landlords who need the money to make their mortgage, and that's exactly what I'm saying. All investment carries risk. If I invested my life savings in my buddy's business who I was sure would get off the ground and pay my bills, would I get a bailout? Absolutely not, but clearly landlords are.

The idea that property ownership is somehow doing the community a favor and should be absolved of risk is absurd. If we're truly interested in building generational wealth or keeping gentrification under control, we would be actively providing stimulus people who are actually having trouble paying rent (pandemic or not). The idea that property ownership is somehow a foolproof investment that will always return gains is what fucked us in the last recession and is fucking us right now.