Placer County officials believe just a few dozen veterans remain in the foothill community’s homeless population, and the local agency has a new program to help those former troops find places to live.
The Placer County Housing Authority earlier this month began offering $1,000 bonuses to landlords who agree to rent to homeless veterans. The money is meant to give an extra incentive to California landlords to help them overcome any reservations they might have about renting to a homeless person.
“Some landlords don’t feel comfortable taking someone who’s facing homelessness — the incentive can give the landlords reassurance,” said Derrick Oliveira, an officer in the Placer County Veterans Service Office. “Veterans make good tenants. There’s some misconception that homeless folks may not make the best tenants, but homeless veterans do make good tenants, and we’re just trying to show landlords how seriously we take this.”
