The SVCDC can facilitate the creation of master leases, in which a nonprofit “master leases” a multi-unit housing site from a landowner. The nonprofit then creates individual rent/lease agreements with multiple residents. The nonprofit takes on the financial and legal liability for tenants who may have bad credit or credit, be unable to pay upfront costs, have no tenant history, or be otherwise risky. Taking that liability away from the landowner can enable the landowner to say yes to renting to higher-risk, lower-income tenants. Catholic Charities currently master leases multiple multi-unit buildings, though none so far in Sonoma Valley. SHARE Sonoma County master leases multiple individual single family homes in Sonoma Valley; sometimes this approach is called “scattered sites” master leasing.