This would be equivalent to the government forcing those businesses to stay open and serve customers (renters) who couldn’t pay, while forbidding them from taking other customers who could pay.
The government printed $9T to ensure that real estate bets didn't lose money. It worked and now housing is more expensive than ever. Landlords hit the jackpot last year.
The value they are providing is mostly that they put in the capital to buy and operate a house, and allow others to use the house with much less hassle, less capital investment and more flexibility
You know what the answer usually is? Property management firms. You know, the ones that have the resources to pursue tenants for back rent in court and efficiently line up evictions.
Plenty of businesses were forced to close.