SALEM, Ore. — Ahead of Memorial Day, Oregon Housing and Community Services is recognizing veterans living at the recently opened Valor Place in Albany, highlighting the role stable and affordable housing plays in supporting those who have served in the military.
The development, located in Albany, offers 30 affordable housing units, primarily serving veterans who have experienced housing instability or face challenges related to disabilities, aging, or fixed incomes.
“Investing in housing developments like Valor Place is about creating environments where veterans can feel safe, regain stability, and build community,” said Natasha Detweiler-Daby, director of Affordable Rental Housing for Oregon Housing and Community Services.
Valor Place was developed through a partnership involving OHCS, the Linn Benton Housing Authority, the Housing Development Center, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Among the residents is Gene Manley, an Air Force veteran who served from 1962 to 1970 in electronic security operations during the Vietnam era. Before moving into Valor Place, Manley spent 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,” Manley said. “It’s personal, comfortable, and permanent. It lets you make decisions about your future again.”
Manley described the housing community as supportive and adaptable to the varying needs of veterans.
“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 permanent housing, Manley said he hopes to volunteer with youth basketball programs in the Albany area, reconnecting with a longtime passion for coaching and mentoring young people.
OHCS officials said the agency continues to support affordable housing developments across Oregon aimed at assisting veterans, families, older adults, and others facing housing challenges.
More information about housing resources for veterans is available through Oregon Housing and Community Services.
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