COLUMBUS, Ga. - A former NFL player who starred at Harris County High School is taking on the risk of renting homes to homeless veterans, according to WTVM, and one veteran is moving into a furnished three-bedroom house. The Plummer Home, a Columbus group that helps veterans move into independent living, says it is assisting more than 800 veterans. WTVM reported the story on Nov. 5, ahead of Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The approach pairs a local foundation and a real estate company created by the former player, Jordan Jenkins, with federal housing vouchers. Jenkins starred at Harris County High School and played in the NFL, according to WTVM. The station did not name the foundation. The article did not give a donation method, a contact for the organization or dates for future events, so readers who want to help should check directly with The Plummer Home.

One veteran's path

WTVM profiled veteran Dominique Williams, who left the military in 2021 and moved from state to state. He told the station he could not find work, fell behind on bills and became homeless before The Plummer Home stepped in. Williams is now moving into the three-bedroom house, which is furnished through the foundation and the real estate company.

The home will be paid for with HUD vouchers at a market rate set by the Housing Authority, according to WTVM. Williams is responsible only for his water and internet bills. The article did not say how long the lease runs or how many homes the effort has placed so far.

Why a landlord gap exists

Jenkins told WTVM that the Department of Veterans Affairs helps veterans "to a certain extent" but cannot do everything. He said many veterans lack a rental history, which makes landlords reluctant to rent to them. "I took it upon myself to be that risk," Jenkins said, according to WTVM's account of his remarks.

He also plans community events to raise money for more houses for homeless veterans. WTVM did not report dates, locations or goals for those events. The station said Williams and others in the program were connected through The Plummer Home's partnerships with several organizations, including ones founded by Jenkins.

A community with many veterans

WTVM noted that about one in 10 Columbus residents is a veteran. Tri-City Veterans, a local group, held its fourth annual Pop Barnes Veterans Day Cookout on Nov. 6 at Cascade Hills Park, where vendors offered services from mental health support to at-home care. The group's president, Benjamin Whittaker, said it is always looking for more veterans to serve and more people willing to help.

Willie Young, a 24-year Army veteran at the cookout, told WTVM the resources are needed and that "Post-traumatic stress is really serious." Simi Barnes, the District 1 councilwoman and the daughter of the longtime councilman for whom the event is named, was also quoted. She said, "It's an honor for us to be able to celebrate them." The National Infantry Museum and Columbus State both hold Veterans Day ceremonies on Nov. 11, and the Columbus Times has published guides to those events.

How HUD-VASH vouchers work

The vouchers in this story belong to a federal program called HUD-VASH, a partnership between the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the VA, according to the VA. It pairs a HUD housing voucher with VA case management and support services, and it operates in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is meant for veterans experiencing homelessness who need ongoing, intensive case management because of complex challenges, such as chronic health conditions.

Approved veterans receive a voucher to rent a private apartment or house from a landlord who accepts vouchers, the VA says. The unit must meet HUD requirements, and the rent must fall within local program guidelines. Each veteran is paired with a VA case manager who helps with health care connections, mental health and substance use treatment, budgeting, understanding a lease and dealing with landlords, and support continues as long as the veteran needs it.

Where to start

The VA page does not describe a formal application process and instead recommends calling the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, which connects callers to the nearest VA. A VA case manager can also help with options and the housing search. Veterans in crisis can reach the Veterans Crisis Line at any hour using the numbers above.