Ron Shapiro of RCMS Properties, LLC is one of Mission First Housing Group’s master lease landlord partners. For six years, Ron has been working with Mission First to provide safe, affordable housing to 26 Mission First residents.

Master leasing is widely used by Mission First Housing Group to give our residents access to housing in the communities where they want to live. Mission First engages private landlords and property owners to lease their units to us. In turn, we sublet the units to our clients. This model was developed in Mission First’s early years, when our focus was to provide for the housing needs of adults living with serious mental illness, and helped ensure renter choice in housing selection. Mission First still uses this model today to successfully provide housing choice to our residents who come to us through the behavioral health and homeless services systems.

Mission First leases 24 of Ron’s apartment units for its residents through the master leasing program. As the master lease administrator, Mission First’s role is to ensure that all parties have important information and work together.

“I think of your property management team more as friends, rather than business associates,” said Shapiro.

Ron started in real estate in the late 90s with a 3-unit property, while also working construction. When the stock market crashed 10 years ago, he decided to move his investments from stocks to real estate, and dedicate his time to his properties. He now has over 50 beautifully rehabbed and maintained units in North and Northeast Philadelphia. The units that are not master leased by Mission First are rented by direct-lease, market-rate tenants.

Ron is a very involved owner. He takes the time to know Mission First’s residents, his market-rate tenants and the people in the community around his properties. He even employs one of his long-time Mission First residents as a groundskeeper.

“I love working with Mission First to help people who might otherwise not have a home,” said Shapiro.

Mission First manages more than 600 of our nearly 3,000 units through master leasing in communities throughout Philadelphia, Montgomery County, PA and the State of Delaware. Master leasing has proven to be a quick, cost-effective way to provide housing to more individuals. Our real estate portfolio is growing, but not at a quick enough pace to fill the vast need for affordable housing. We rely on other community assets to allow our clients to live in the neighborhood of their choosing, as well as fully integrate into society.

Mission First is thrilled to have partners like Ron Shapiro who help us achieve our goal of ensuring that everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home.