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Commission and veterans urge oversight of unregulated shared housing for veterans
Summary
Commissioners and veterans described unregulated shared-living arrangements that can leave disabled veterans vulnerable to exploitation, and discussed better outreach, vetting and potential contracts to support quality providers.
Commission members and veterans raised concerns about unregulated shared-living arrangements for veterans during the meeting. Walter Escano said promoters have contacted the VRC offering homes to rent to veterans in shared arrangements that he described as "unregulated," stressing the need for case management and proper oversight. "A lot of promoters are coming to our center telling us that they have bought a home and they would like to rent it out to our veterans for shared housing, which is an unregulated process," Escano said.
Public commenter William Austin, a disabled combat veteran, testified that a shared-living program helped his recovery and enabled him to become a homeowner through the program run by a provider he identified as Beau Bottom of Dallas Place. "He walked in with the shirt on his back. He's walking out the program, a homeowner," Austin said, urging more contracts from the VA or courts to expand successful programs while commissioners emphasized the need to ensure providers are licensed and able to care for disabled veterans.
