7/13/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Military members move around much more than people in other careers, but that doesn't mean it's always easy.
Whether a service member is moving out of the dorms, changing bases, going on a temporary duty assignment or deploying, the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Housing Office staff wants to help make relocating a stress-free experience.
"We have a referral program which shows them different rental and for-sale units, we have the utility deferral program which can save them hundreds of dollars on their deposit and one of the best things we offer is privatized housing," Thomas Killingbeck, capital asset manager, said.
The housing office is here to assist anyone who can get on base with an ID card, Diane Butler, housing program manager, said.
Whenever people have questions about housing, they are more than welcome to come into the office and speak to a professional.
"We're not the legal department, but we can answer a lot of questions, and what we can't answer, we will refer them to somebody who can," Killingbeck said. "There is no question that we won't answer. If it's not about housing, then we'll get them in the right direction that they need to go."
All questions, comments and concerns having to do with housing can be taken to the office to be discussed.
"We mediate problems both on and off base," Butler said. "We had a master sergeant here who I just finished talking to, and he said, 'I really wish I would have come here first. I spent all day yesterday driving around looking for a place to live. I didn't know if we rented off base we could get utility waivers. I didn't know where the higher crime areas were. I didn't know all of the things that you just told me.'"
By using her past experiences in the military, Butler is able to understand and help alleviate the stress that goes along with relocating.
"Being retired military, we did the same thing," Butler said. "We moved the dogs, the kids, the furniture and dealt with all of the stress that went along with that ... I had a lady tell me, 'you're the first person who tried to help me since I got here.' That right there, that's my paycheck. It's the best feeling in the world knowing that you are giving back in a way that contributes to the military."
Feel free to stop by the housing office, Bldg. 144, to speak to a staff member or for more information, call 652-1840.