Roger That Newsletter - May 2022 Preview

A WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR PAGE 9

MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO HELP STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS!

SALUTE TO THE ARMED FORCES PAGE 18

VAREP FACES IN THE CROWD PAGE 29

PAGE 12

M AY 2 022 REGISTER TODAY! CLICK HERE

JUNE 26 - 28, 2022

GRAND HYAT T WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, D.C.

ROGER THAT MAY 2022

VAREP NATIONAL NEWS

A Letter From Our President

E D ITO R I A L

E-Zine Newsletter. This is the best way for

PUBLISHER USA Homeownership, Inc. DBA Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals EDITOR Gretchen Mccroskey

VAREP National to communicate happenings

C R E ATI V E

within our organization to our membership.

SENIOR DESIGNER Jesus Lopez

Dear VAREP Members, I present you “RT – ROGER THAT – MAY 2022”

VAREP experienced tremendous growth and recognition in 2021 for the important work that we do. Each of you should be proud and stand tall knowing that your passion to empower veterans to realize the American Dream of homeownership has enabled VAREP to be recognized by key leaders in the real estate, financial, and government sectors as the authority on, and voice of, military and veteran financialliteracy and homeownership.

VAREP ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM 2014 - 2022 • 50 homes donated mortgage-free to deserving heroes across America.

• 1,500 military and veteran families realized the American Dream of homeownership through our programs and services.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nick Preston GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jonathan Gifford SENIOR WEB DEVELOPER Francisco Labias WEB DEVELOPER David Santana CO NTAC T VA R E P HEADQUARTERS 951·444·7363 info@VAREP.net 495 E. Rincon St., Suite 110 Corona, CA 92879 w w w .V A R E P. n e t

• 20,000 real estate and lending professional were trained as a result of the 80 live events and online membership training.

• 5,000 military and veteran families educated about homeownership, financial literacy, and

Son Nguyen is the founder and president of the

the VA loan program through the live Veteran Housing Summits events hosted by VAREP local

Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals

chapters across the country.

(VAREP). Mr. Nguyen creates, implements, and

• 2,000+ military and veteran families were provided food, utilities payment, rent back payment, basic supplies, clothing, and blankets during the holiday season. This was made possible through our VAREP Cares program implemented by the VAREP local chapters.

• $70,000 in the form of housing assistance grants for down-payment, closing costs, and adaptive needs. This was in partnership with the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA).

HOW TO EXPLAIN WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO I frequently receive phone calls from our membership on how to explain VAREP as an organization.

Depending on your audience, you may want to adapt the points listed below to introduce VAREP. • VAREP is a 501.c.3 nonprofit organization that was founded to directly educate the 1.4-plus million active military and 22-plus million veterans on sustainable homeownership, financialliteracy education, VA loan awareness, and economic opportunity.

• VAREP is the only organization that educates military and veteran families on the importance of financial health on the road to homeownership.

• VAREP is the only organization that educates the real estate practitioner on the important housing-policy and lending initiatives that affect the military and veteran communities.

VAREP Comparison to Other Veteran Nonprofits The comparison chart to the right shows that we fill a much needed gap in financial-literacy and housing components that the other veteran service organizations simply do not offer…In other words: We complement them and do not compete with them.

overseas the programs within VAREP including working with government agencies and policy makers to create and reform veteran housing policy to remove barriers to homeownership.

He is frequently called upon as a subject-matter expert by government agencies, the real estate industry, the lending industry, and real estate trade organizations to consult on a variety of veteran housing issues.

Mr. Nguyen has more than 19 years’ experience in real estate, public speaking, supplier diversity, curriculum development, and non-profit management. His record demonstrates innovation and leadership at the highest level.

Mr. Nguyen established VAREP as a housing nonprofit for vets, by vets. He believes VAREP’s proactive stance of providing financial-literacy education and advocating homeownership can greatly impact homelessness among the veteran community, by both reducing the current epidemic and preventing future occurrences, one veteran at a time.

Mr. Nguyen entered the Navy in 1996 and served as a Radioman on the USS Vincennes (GC-49) and USS

Our organization has only scratched the surface of creating awareness and having people rethink

Constellation (CV-64). A proud service-connected

how to better serve underserved military and veteran housing needs. To a great 2021...Cheers!

disabled veteran, Mr. Nguyen holds a bachelor’s

degree in Public Relations from of the University of

Son Nguyen VAREP Founder and President

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ABOUT SON

Florida and a Master’s in Organizational Management.

VETERAN NON-PROFIT COMPARISON CHART Target Audience

VAREP

MILITARY WARRIORS FOUNDATION

OPERATION HOMEFRONT

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT

USA CARES

Veterans = 22+ Million Active Duty = 1.4+ Million

Wounded Warriors OEF, OIF, ND = 51,849

Active Duty Family of E1 - E6 = 1.1 Million

Wounded Warriors OEF, OIF, ND = 51,849

Post 9/11 Servicemembers & Family

Financial Assistance

X

X

Emergency Food

X

X

Emergency Home Repair

X

X

Critical Baby Items

X

X

Home and Appliance Repair

X

Furniture and Household Items

X

Local Moving Assistance

X

Apartment Transitional Housing

X

X

Permanent Housing Placement

X

X

Employment Job Board

X

Rehabilitation with Recreational Therapy

X

X

X

X

Peer-to-Peer Counseling

X

Family Support Retreats

X

Peer Mentoring

X

Information Technology Training Academy

X X

X

X

X

X

Community Outreach

X

X

X

Live Community Housing, Financial Literacy, and Employment Fair Outreach Events

X

REALTOR, Housing Professional, and Lender Military and Veteran Certification Course

X

Military and Veteran Friendly Database

X

Financial Literacy Education

X

VA Home Loan Program Education

X

Housing Education

X

Housing Counseling

X

Credit and Debt Management Education

X

Credit and Debt Management Counseling

X

Military and Veteran First Look Affordable Housing Purchase Program

X

Mortgage Free Donated Homes for Wounded Warrior and Spouses of Deceased Warriors

X Advocate with a Written Policy Plan

Military and Veteran Housing Lending Policy

Housing and Lending Policy Conference

X

Military and Veteran Financial Literacy, Housing, and Employment Resource Center

X

X

X

X Wounded Warriors

NOTE: The non-profit comparison chart does not list the national minority real estate trade organizations including AREAA, NAHREP, and NAREB because we are not structurally set up as a trade organization. We have our membership whom we educate to better serve the military housing needs, but ultimately we are all here to serve the military and veteran communities.

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MAY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2022

LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDERS............................ PAGE 2

SALUTE TO THE ARMED FORCES.......................... PAGE 18

A WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR..................................... PAGE 9

LEGISLATIVE CORNER........................................

PAGE 22

DESIGN CORNER.................................................. PAGE 10

SDP UPDATE 2022..............................................

PAGE 25

MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO HELP STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS!..........................

PAGE 12

NEC UPDATE........................................................ PAGE 26

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (HRMS).................................................. PAGE 16

FACES IN THE CROWD.......................................... PAGE 29

2022 NATIONAL EVENTS POLICY CONFERENCE

VAREP 2022

JUNE 26TH - 28TH, 2022 GRAND HYATT WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, D.C.

POLICY CONFERENCE

STAY UPDATED AT:

JUNE 14, 2022 - VIRTUAL 9:30AM - 2:00PM PST

VAREP.NET/POLICYCONFERENCE

SEE PAGE 18 FOR ARTICLE

VAREP 2022 NATIONAL CONVENTION

NATIONAL CONVENTION

OCTOBER 16TH - 18TH, 2022 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

STAY UPDATED AT: VAREP.NET/NATIONALCONVENTION

AY ST N TU ED

VAREP 2022 POLICY CONFERENCE

JUNE 26 - 28TH, 2022 WASHINGTON, D.C.

The conference is filled with educational sessions and town halls to educate attendees on important housing policy, lending initiatives, and economic development affecting the military and veteran communities. VAREP members have the opportunity to meet with members of Congress to advocate VAREP’s Policy Positions on issues that affect military and veteran homeownership.

WE ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND!

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VAREP CURRENTLY HAS

32 CHAPTERS LOCATED IN 18 STATES

ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

ACTIVE CHAPTERS Alaska

VAREP South Central Alaska - Founded on June 23, 2020

Arizona VAREP Phoenix Chapter - Founded on September 3, 2013 VAREP Prescott Chapter - Founded on June 27, 2019 VAREP Tucson Chapter - Founded on January 28, 2015

Illinois VAREP Chicago Chapter - Founded on June 21, 2016

Kentucky VAREP Louisville Chapter - Founded on June 14, 2018

Maryland

California

VAREP Annapolis / D.C. Chapter - Founded on August 23, 2018

VAREP East Bay Area Chapter - Founded on August 24, 2017 VAREP Fresno Chapter - Founded on January 30, 2019 VAREP Los Angeles Chapter - Founded on April 23, 2014 VAREP Orange County Chapter - Founded on March 11, 2013 VAREP Riverside Chapter - Founded on June 17, 2013 VAREP Sacramento Chapter - Founded on June 4, 2013 VAREP San Bernardino Chapter- Founded on August 14, 2014 VAREP San Diego Chapter - Founded on July 29, 2013

Minnesota

Colorado VAREP Denver Chapter - Founded on August 14, 2014

Florida

VAREP Twin Cities Chapter - Founded on March 11, 2018

Missouri VAREP St Louis Chapter - Founded on March 10, 2017

Nevada VAREP Las Vegas Chapter - Founded on August 30, 2013 VAREP Northern Nevada Chapter - Founded on March 4, 2015

Oregon VAREP Central Oregon Chapter - Founded on February 12, 2019

VAREP Central Florida Chapter - Founded on April 14, 2015 VAREP Miami Chapter - Founded on July 13, 2015

Texas

Georgia VAREP Atlanta Chapter - Founded on January 22, 2019

VAREP DFW Chapter - Founded on December, 2015 VAREP Houston Chapter - Founded on March 30, 2015 VAREP San Antonio Chapter - Founded on December 10, 2013

Hawaii

Virginia

VAREP Honolulu Chapter - Founded on April 04, 2014

Idaho VAREP Treasure Valley Chapter - Founded on May 17, 2018

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VAREP Hampton Roads Chapter - Founded on September 5, 2018 VAREP Northern Virginia Chapter - Founded on May 30, 2018

Washington VAREP Tacoma South Sound Chapter - Founded on December 15, 2014

13 CHAPTERS IN FORMATION Arizona VAREP Kingman Chapter- Coming 2023

California

Georgia

Tennessee

VAREP Augusta Chapter - Coming 2023

VAREP Nashville Chapter - Coming 2022

New Jersey

VAREP San Gabriel Chapter - Coming 2023

VAREP North New Jersey Chapter - Coming 2023

Colorado

North Carolina

VAREP Colorado Springs – Coming 2022 VAREP Northern Colorado – Coming 2022

Florida VAREP Jacksonville Chapter - Coming 2023

VAREP Fayetteville Chapter - Coming 2022

Texas VAREP Austin Chapter - Coming 2023

Washington VAREP Seattle / Bremerton - Coming 2023

Pennsylvania VAREP Philadelphia Chapter - Coming 2023 VAREP Pittsburgh Chapter - Coming 2023

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SA VE TH ED AT E

OCTOBER 16 - 18TH, 2022

The VAREP National Convention will educate, develop, and empower current and future leaders within the VAREP organization. VAREP leaders and members will be equipped with the necessary tools to serve the military and veteran housing needs. Attendees will participate in sessions to exchange chapter best practices and to explore new ones together.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

REGISTRATION CO M I N G S O O N

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A WORD FROM THE A S S O C I AT I O N D I R E C TO R

Ernie Gonzales Good day VAREP Nation!

As the Association Director I have the honor of speaking with the chapters at least once a month. In speaking with the Chapters, one thing is clear across the nation and that is: the chapters would not be a success without the support of the local members, supporters, sponsors and the relationships with other veteran nonprofit organizations and Realtor Associations. Our mission of improving the lives of servicemembers and veterans through education, housing, and philanthropy is unique relating to the Real Estate Industry across the country.

As we support the chapters across the country, our goal is to encourage chapter leaders to build relationships with the above-mentioned groups to move the mission forward and is accomplished through different forms of cooperation and joint success.

The Denver chapter has shown how these relationships make a difference in the Veteran community through their VAREPCares project. The Denver Chapter partnered with their local HUD-VASH coordinator in assisting families moving into permanent housing. The Denver chapter saw a need and filled it. They plan and coordinate throughout the year to provide needed household goods by organizing a system of storing donated furnishings at a specific location, coordinate the donations and then distribute the donations with the local HUD-VASH to ensure they reach Veteran families in need. When the HUD-VASH coordinator has a need for something, they look at the inventory list and take what is needed. The goods are replenished through local donations and the HUD-VASH coordinator keeps a list of items removed so everyone knows what needs to be replaced. Coordination, meetings and much time spent on the front end, allows for smooth operation for the Denver Chapter throughout the year.

Another example is Chapter relationship building with local REALTOR Associations. The Las Vegas, Louisville and other chapters have created and maintained very close partnerships with their associations to the extent that the associations help promote events, include Chapter Directors in meetings with the Realtor Association’s president and CEO through the Industry Partner meetings, become annual sponsors of the local chapters and in Louisville were able to Partner with their Local Association and National to meet State Requirements to teach the MVHC Course for CE credit. This year as in the past, the REALTORS Association Community Outreach Committee voted to donate $5,000.00 to be an annual sponsor of the VAREP Las Vegas chapter.

These examples are happening all over the country with VAREP chapters. The relationships built between VAREP Chapter sponsors, members and community supporters are an important to growing the local chapter bonds between likeminded veteran organizations and community businesses. We encourage each chapter to seek to build relationships with other veterans’ organizations in your area to advance your local presence in the community and move the VAREP mission forward to serve the your local veterans.

In closing, VAREP thanks all of our sponsors, partners supporters and members who spend countless hours helping to move the mission forward in the local communities. We would not be where we are today without each and everyone of you.

Moving the Mission Forward through VAREP Nation

Ernie Gonzales, Association Director

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