I was under the impression that the Drain is a fully supported faction, not partially, as we've got our own faction DMs.
But yeah, as it's been said, a lot of Dwellers have been trying to get some changes down there for a long time, but it just isn't in the cards.
Yes, the Sewer Dwellers is a supported faction with their own DMs assigned, like any other supported faction has.
They do have some freedom within their individual crews, but they ultimately all have to answer to DMs / NPCs.
(They did start out as a PC faction, just like the Nerull Cult and the Theatre did, but are currently supported.)
Outside groups (or characters in general) that are housing themselves in the Drain are not automatically part of this faction.
Just like staying in one of the Morninglord sanctuaries or in a garda cell does not make you a member of said factions either.
Groups like the Black Lion Merchants, the Black Leaf Tribe or other neutral or allied groups to the Sewer Dwellers are just that, allies.
They are still seperate PC factions, rather than part of an overlapping supported faction as some people have incorrectly assumed in the past.
(The only groups you can possiby view as sub-factions to the Sewer Dwellers are the individual crews, but they are closer to a ranking structure.)
Which unfortunately means that initiatives like these are generally not supported, you will get told to apply to the development team instead.
Although exceptions have been made in the past, but as far as I know this did not involve any actual ownership of the locations in most cases.
(For example, groups being given permission and access to certain buildings and areas for temporary use or the leashing of existing locations.)
Hope that clears things up, feel free to correct me if I am mistaking. I think the supported faction thread just hasn't been updated in a while.
