Military families have better access to locating housing
Article published on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006 |
PINELLAS COUNTY – Military personnel and their families have better access to Tampa Bay housing thanks to the Automated Housing Referral Network.
The recently announced Department of Defense program is aimed at helping military families who face the stress of moving every two to three years.
The service is actually operated by Runzheimer International and Pride Industries. AHRN basically is a government-sponsored Web site, www.ahrn.com, that provides military families an Internet-accessible homefinding tool to seek rental housing.
Calls to MacDill Air Force Base’s housing facility in Tampa were not returned.
Pinellas County military personnel have been experiencing problems in seeking housing since many rental units have been transformed into condominiums. Many units are out of financial reach for military families as are some rental properties.
Two-bedroom apartments in Pinellas County can be as high as $1,000 a month.
AHRN is accessible only to military personnel and their families and does not charge fees.
“The Department of Defense recognizes the tremendous impact that quality housing and simplified moves have on military family well being and retention,” Kraig Rodenbeck, senior vice president of Runzheimer International’s government service group, said.
Rodenbeck said AHRN speeds the homefinding process by listing only rental properties.
AHRN is active in 20 U.S. areas with Tampa Bay, Eglin Air Force Base and Jacksonville the only three markets in Florida.
The service will be available countrywide by 2008.
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Article published on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006
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