Submitted by Homes First!
Ron Stewart, property manager for Homes First!, has been honored as “Maintenance Personnel of the Year” by the Affordable Housing Management Association in a ceremony at their annual convention in Tacoma today. Homes First! is a local non-profit organization that has managed and leased affordable rental housing in Thurston County for 25 years.
“Ron is a highly capable property manager and is skilled at caring for both our homes and our tenants,” says Trudy Soucoup, executive director for Homes First!. “He doesn’t hesitate to enter crawlspaces or climb ladders when the day calls for it. In his years with Homes First! he has done everything from changing batteries in a smoke detector to completing a full accessible remodel for an older tenant.”
Stewart has been with Homes First! since 2001 when he joined the staff as maintenance personnel. Since that time, he has applied his skills to rehabilitate more than a dozen older homes that the organization has purchased to rent to tenants. In August 2014, he was promoted to his current position of property manager.
“Ron supports our mission and he truly believes that everyone deserves a great and affordable home with hope for a better life,” continues Soucoup who says the organization now owns and manages 28 properties with 80 units and has served over 3,000 people. “He recommends cost-effective solutions to maintenance and construction problems while treating all of the tenants with respect. Homes First! is fortunate to have had his dedication to excellence for so many years.”
The Affordable Housing Management Association (AHMA) that presented the award is the local chapter of the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) that represents managers and owners of more than one million assisted housing units throughout the U.S.
