What if the people who fill your homes aren't the people you're trying to reach directly?They might actually be the people serving the people who need housing.That's the strategy Cassie used to build her referral network.Cassie currently operates 6 independent living homes across metro Atlanta, and she says one of the biggest challenges of scaling was making sure she had consistent referrals.Her solution?She started showing up at job fairs, resource fairs, and other events—not simply looking for people who needed housing, but connecting with the vendors who were already interacting with her target population.She would ask what they did, learn about their services, exchange contact information, and look for ways she could send people their way.Those relationships eventually became referral sources.And here's the interesting part:Cassie said she spent March, April, and May heavily attending events. Even after she stopped attending in June and July, her phone continued to ring.She had already done the groundwork.In this episode, you'll learn:• How Cassie networks at job and resource fairs• What she says when meeting other vendors• Why she focuses on relationships instead of simply asking for referrals• Why getting direct contact information matters• How she builds partnerships with service providers• How she found her first rental property• Why she says, “Start out renting, stack your money, and then buy”• How she transitioned from Airbnb into independent living• What she learned from expanding into behavioral health• Why maintaining relationships is critical to long-term referrals• Why independent living is not a “run yourself” businessCassie also shares an important reminder for anyone considering this business:“If it's all about the money, don't do it.”If you're building an independent living home and wondering how to create a steady referral pipeline, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can put into action.🔗Follow Cassie:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chynamae_cassieFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/chynamaeceo👉 Follow Terence:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamterencegarciaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamterencegarcia👉 Join The Housing Dept. Community:https://www.skool.com/thd