For Veterans at Valor Place, Housing Provides a Fresh Start

Ahead of Memorial Day, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is recognizing the veterans who call the recently opened Valor Place home and highlighting the impact that stable, affordable housing can have for those who have served their country.

"Investing in housing developments like Valor Place is about creating environments where veterans can feel safe, regain stability, and build community," said OHCS Director of Affordable Rental Housing Natasha Detweiler-Daby.

Located in Albany, Valor Place provides 30 affordable homes, mostly to veterans who have experienced housing instability or barriers related to disability, aging, or fixed incomes. The development was created through a partnership between OHCS and several other organizations including Linn Benton Housing Authority, Housing Development Center, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

For resident Gene Manley, an Air Force veteran who served from 1962 to 1970 in electronic security operations during the Vietnam era, Valor Place provided stability after several years living in a travel trailer on a family member's property.

"When you come out of a temporary housing situation, this gives you a feeling of home," said Manley. "It's personal, comfortable, and permanent. It lets you make decisions about your future again."

Manley described the development as a flexible and supportive environment that respects the wide range of experiences veterans carry with them.

"Some veterans want to be social and make connections, and others need privacy and quiet," he said. "This place allows for both. It's welcoming, comfortable, and non-threatening."

Now settled into his new home, Manley hopes to volunteer with youth basketball programs in the Albany area to reconnect with a lifelong passion for coaching and mentoring young people.

OHCS continues to support housing initiatives across the state that expand affordable housing opportunities for veterans, families, older adults, and other Oregonians facing housing challenges. Learn more about housing resources for veterans at https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/housing-assistance/Pages/housing-for-veterans.aspx.

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)

OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.

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