Purpose

The REstart Program is designed to meet the most basic human needs of the economically disadvantaged – housing and employment – by providing education, training and mentoring in the property management industry.  The program seeks to break the cycle of unemployment, homelessness, poverty, substance abuse, and domestic violence by instilling pride and marketable skills in our participants – bringing families home again.

San Diego County Necessity for Service

The struggle for low and moderate-income families has intensified as housing costs continue to skyrocket. In the summer of 2020, “the median price of homes currently listed in San Diego County is $650,000 while the median price of homes that sold is $588,200. The median rent price in San Diego County is $2,700.” Source: https://www.zillow.com/san-diego-county-ca/home-values/

In addition to the individual requirements for housing and employment, there is a strong need in San Diego for qualified and trained employees. Employers with entry-level jobs are having a particularly hard time recruiting quality candidates. REstart provides a pipeline of ambitious students, who are looking for these opportunities, after successfully interviewing for the program, passing an IREM examination, and completing their on-site training via an internship.

Homelessness can affect anyone. The REstart program helps homeless individuals and families with what most of us take for granted; our most basic needs – housing and employment.

Admittance

REstart works collaboratively with community service organizations such as Father Joe’s Villages, Home Start, PATH, and the YWCA and is committed to supporting individuals who are navigating periods of transition. Our program serves people who are taking meaningful steps toward independence and self-reliance as they prepare for their next stage. Partner agencies identify and refer participants to the program based on a defined set of criteria to ensure the best fit and impact.

In order to be a candidate for this program, applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or the equivalent
• Be bondable in the state of California
• Have no record of misdemeanor theft regarding financial issues such as check fraud, identity theft and
embezzlement; any felony record must be expunged
• If a history of substance abuse is present, the applicant must have strength and stability in recovery as
determined by a licensed therapist, and this is to be verified in writing by the Community partner.

Program Outline

REstart is made possible through strategic partnerships with community service organizations that share our commitment to supporting individuals preparing for their next stage. These partnerships ensure participants are thoughtfully selected and well-positioned to succeed in the program.

Each participant is paired with a dedicated coach for the duration of the classroom phase and, for those selected, throughout the internship phase. Coaches are experienced industry professionals who generously volunteer their time to provide guidance, mentorship, and real-world insight.

Classroom Phase

The REstart program begins with an immersive classroom experience designed to build a strong foundation in property management. Students receive comprehensive instruction in core industry principles, incorporating elements of the IREM RES201 Managing Residential Properties curriculum, a commercial property management module, and an introduction to key industry partners—including vendors that support the real estate community.

All courses are taught by credentialed industry professionals holding active designations in commercial, residential, and brokerage disciplines, ensuring students receive relevant, high-quality instruction grounded in current industry practices.

At the conclusion of the classroom phase, students must successfully pass a comprehensive final examination. The top five students advance to the internship phase of the program. Students who do not pass the exam are provided a second opportunity to retest.

Internship Phase

The top five students are placed in a 2–4 week internship designed to provide hands-on, practical experience. Internship placements may include apartment communities, self-storage facilities, commercial buildings, or corporate offices. During this phase, students apply their classroom knowledge in real-world settings while gaining valuable on-the-job training.

Program Completion

The program culminates in a formal graduation ceremony held in conjunction with an IREM luncheon. This celebratory event recognizes student achievements and provides graduates with meaningful opportunities to network with real estate professionals and industry leaders as they prepare for the next stage of their careers.

Fast Facts

• Program was developed in 1998, and first class was held in 1999.
• To date, we have held 19 classes and graduated over 200 students.
• Each class takes over 2000 volunteer hours. In like-kind donations, that is $20,000 of volunteer time for the classes ALONE.
• One of our first graduates won an IREM national scholarship and now holds CPM and RPA designations.
• To date, the program has received well over $50,000 in private grants and donations.
• To date, the program has been staffed and run primarily by volunteers
• A REstart Scholarship of $1,000 was started in 2017 and was named the “RSI Roofing & Solar and New Way Landscape & Tree Service REstart Scholarship.” This scholarship was for REstart graduates employed in the real estate management field.
• The first recipient of the scholarship in 2017 was Jackie Diaz, who was a REstart graduate in 2015. The second recipient of the REstart Scholarship was Nellie Nelson, who was a REstart graduate in 2014.