MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Team MacDill recently welcomed a privatized housing resident advocate for on-base housing residents to rebuild trust in the privatized housing program.
William Farnand is the liaison between privatized housing residents, military housing authorities, including the installation commander and the privatized housing project owner, for issues pertaining to privatized housing residents rights and advocacy.
“I’m here to assist service members and their families residing in privatized housing who are seeking solutions to their complex housing-related issues, concerns and unresolved needs,” said Farnand. “My job is to improve privatized housing customer service and quality and to advocate for safe and healthy housing.”
The Air Force established sixty privatized housing resident advocate positions across Air Force installations following the signing of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative Tenant Bill of Rights to ensure on-base residents are receiving proper treatment and quality housing from the Air Force partners that operate privatized housing.
The Military Housing Office routinely checks in with residents to ensure satisfaction is achieved with completion of routine requests made to Harbor Bay. While the Military Housing Office’s duties also include resident referral and privatized housing compliance oversight, the resident advocate reports directly to the 6th Air Refueling Wing’s leadership and the primary duty is to advocate on the military residents behalf.
Farnand encourages housing residents to resolve their housing concerns through Harbor Bay’s Property Management Office initially.
“When housing residents encounter challenges with their homes on-base, they need to contact Harbor Bay first for assistance,” explained Farnand. “However, if residents are not satisfied with the service, they should contact the Military Housing Office at (813) 828-4406. If they still require assistance to resolve an issue, they can contact me at (813) 828-2377 or by email at william.farnand.1@us.af.mil.”
Additionally, the MacDill Resident Voice Council has representatives from each neighborhood to discuss housing health and safety concerns, identify community improvements and present solutions for problems to the installation’s leadership, Harbor Bay and Military Housing Office housing managers, and is in regular communication with the privatized housing resident advocate.
“The resident council meets quarterly and is your representative to voice any concerns as well,” added Farnand. “In the coming months, we will be hosting virtual neighborhood meetings online to facilitate communication with neighbors and their designated representatives.”
For additional information or assistance, please contact William Farnand at (813) 828-2377 or by email at william.farnand.1@us.af.mil.