A safe place to stay can make a world of difference for youth transitioning out of homelessness, but finding available rental units can be a challenge. Many of our youth are fortunate to have successful housing placements, and this is in large part thanks to landlord Raj Razi.

Opening doors

With a love for real estate as well as people, Raj has proven to be one of our most reliable and compassionate landlords. In addition to taking in youth who have nowhere else to go, Raj continues to be involved by helping tenants when they need it and giving them second chances.

“Some property owners have this concept in their head that unless you are doing your best, I'm not going to bother renting to you,” Raj says. “I realized over the years there are a lot of people who are sometimes down on their luck, but they're good people.”

One of many examples comes from Minori Olguin, a housing support worker with Infinity. This past January one of her youth had just moved into a place when they were given an eviction notice. With only a few days to move out, Minori called Raj and asked if he had a room available. Raj agreed to take in the youth on a one-week trial, and that youth has remained housed ever since.

“Raj will give every single one of our youth a chance, no matter who they are, where they're from, or what they've done,” Minori says. “A lot of our youth would be homeless with no opportunity to find a home without him.”

“Case Manager Razi”

Maintaining housing can be difficult for youth living with complex needs like addictions and issues with their mental health. When incidents occur, landlords often take a hands-off approach or even terminate their lease agreement. Raj responds to these situations differently.

When a youth overdosed in his room, Raj stayed with him and called for help. After everything had settled, Raj sat down with the youth and talked to him about his future. The youth shared this with his caseworker and said he felt “really supported and encouraged to make some changes.”

Sustainable Families manager Ty Conlin recalls another instance when a youth was having trouble paying rent due to his mental health. Instead of evicting him, Raj showed up at the youth’s door and took him to the bank. He helped him figure out his finances and even set up an automatic payment so that he wouldn’t have to worry about paying his rent.

Because of stories like these, Ty often refers to Raj as “Case Manager Razi”.

“He does what a landlord doesn't have to do,” Ty says. “He has value for each of his tenants beyond just them being his tenant. He sees everybody as people.”

Stepping stone to a better life

Raj comes from a long line of landlords, so you could say real estate is in his blood. He owns several properties in Calgary and is looking to expand into renovations. It seems fitting given his ability to see potential.

“You repair the house and rebuild it. Human beings are also a little bit similar,” Raj says. “You invest your time, and you take your time. You give them a little bit of TLC, and they can also shine through.”

Raj’s open mindset formed when he was young. As the son of a diplomat, he traveled to more than 30 countries and was exposed to different cultures. Raj has clear memories of taking the New York subway and seeing people living in boxes. He wondered what their stories were, and his curiosity led him to a nuanced understanding of people and the challenges they experience.

Raj concluded that people are influenced by their circumstances, but given the chance and some guidance, they would do their best to make their lives better. This is a perspective that Raj has carried with him throughout his real estate career and continues to pass on to his younger tenants.

“I always tell them to use the place as a stepping stone,” Raj says. “Do your best to go somewhere and make your life and your situation better.”

Taking action

Raj recognizes that some landlords feel they don’t have the capacity to take youth in. He encourages them to give them a chance because in his experience, it’s worth it.

For one, it’s good for business. Many of Raj’s tenants have returned his care with loyalty, which has helped him stay afloat while others in real estate struggled with the changing market.

Being a landlord has also been personally fulfilling. His tenants have become like family and friends, giving Raj the energy to keep going.

“It’s good to help people. It’s satisfying for your soul,” Raj says. “I've been doing this for 21 years, and I'm not tired!”

Time and time again, Raj has proven that landlords play a key role in helping youth exit homelessness. He believes we can all be part of the solution to reducing barriers and helping people succeed.

“At the end of the day, we human beings are the same, no matter our situations or where we’re from,” Raj says. “Don't just be shocked to see people suffering. Do your part for people in your city. Make that into action.”

“It is very difficult to find housing with minimum barriers for some of our program participants, and Raj is one of the rare few that is willing to give many of our program participants a chance! Not only does he give them a chance at housing, but Raj is also a dedicated landlord who is attentive to checking in and dealing with issues as they arise in a very professional yet compassionate manner. He truly goes the extra mile for so many! Thank you, Raj, for all you do for Trellis and for the youth that you house. We are beyond appreciative!”

— Jaime Laturnus, Housing Liaison at Trellis