Landlords needed for veteran housing program

Medford, Ore. — In 2015 ACCESS was awarded a 3 year, 6-million dollar federal grant for an SSVF program, or Supportive Services for Veteran Families. Since receiving it, over 600 homeless veterans in Jackson County have received housing help. But vacancy rates remain at historic lows, and that’s leaving 100 veterans waiting for something to open up.

Patricio Espinosa served in the US  army in the 70’s. The 40 years that followed have been a series of highs and lows ,battling PTSD and homelessness.

4 months ago that changed. Espinosa got connected with the SSVF program, and now has his own apartment.

But he knows there’s others still waiting.

“There’s an incredible shortness of housing,” Patricio Espinosa says, “there isn’t housing.”

“We can only go so far,” Laura Stevens of ACCESS says, “without affordable housing, and without landlords it’s really tough.”

Over 400 veterans are projected to be in need of housing this year alone, but there’s very little availability for anyone in the rental market.

That’s why ACCESS is looking for more landlords willing to consider vets as tenants.

Angela Brumana of Allcities Property Management has been coordinating with ACCESS for 2 years now. She says it’s been a highly successful partnership.

“Rents paid on time, there’s usually never any problems, inspections go fabulous they take care of their units, I very rarely have any sort of issue,” Brumana says.

And while there’s many landlords like her, they need more of them to have continued success for vets like Espinosa.

If you’re a landlord and you’re interested in getting on their list, call ACCESS at 541-774-4307. Even if your rental is full now, they would love to work with you in the future.

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