I'm not sure why it's so amazing that there are a bunch of local landlords profiting off people's need for shelter. Great for them that they get to get rich, but why is making sure rich people stay rich so important again?

In my experience, landlords are often a pretty toxic element in local politics (opposing upzoning, opposing progressive policies in general.) IME as a renter corporate landlords were not really better or worse than small-time landlords. At least with the corporate landlords, I can buy shares in the company and reap some of the rewards back. Even better, the government could buy shares through a social wealth fund, and return some of the profits to the whole of society.