Housing Opportunities Inc. and Stafford County Economic Development have entered into a partnership that officially began on Wednesday, March 1. This will help aid the growing mission of both parties to provide available housing for local and surrounding areas. 

This agreement brings together HOI’s experienced team of seven employees, including property managers, in-house maintenance staff, and general contractor, to help assist the SCED staff with property management and continued maintenance work. 

“HOI has been looking to expand our services and service area for some time now,” said HOI Executive Director Callie Miller. “When SCED approached us about taking on the management of their rental units, it was the perfect opportunity to do just that. HOI has partnered with SCED in the past to build single family homes and we are happy to partner with them again on this venture.

“This partnership supports HOI’s mission by serving both low- and moderate-income families with their rental portfolio,” Miller continued. “It also opens the door to future project partnerships as SCED continues to look at ways to address Stafford County’s housing shortage. We are excited to see where this new partnership takes us!”

This partnership allows SCED to focus on their rural community by bringing more housing for Stafford County residents, and to focus on their mission for promoting economic and population growth, said Kathleen Norman, executive director of that organization.

 “Stafford County Eco Devo’s rental portfolio has grown from three units to 11 in just over a year with two more houses still under construction,” Norman commented. “They (HOI) are well suited to handle the complex compliance and reporting requirements of the new rental houses which were primarily funded by two affordable housing programs.”

Since 1996, HOI has been dedicated to building affordable and quality housing for the communities it serves in Barton, Pawnee, Rice and Scott counties.