Internet-based housing referral system implemented

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Corkin
  • Malmstrom Housing Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --   Everybody knows it's difficult to find good housing from across the nation or sometimes from across town. It's an old story that has a new ending: The Malmstrom AFB Housing Welcome Center is implementing a new internet-based housing referral system to overcome that problem. It's the Automated Housing Referral Network and it can be found at www.AHRN.com.

AHRN.com is a nationwide, joint service, DoD-sponsored Web site that offers a 24/7/365 single source of available housing to incoming military and their families. AHRN.com directly connects service members with local property managers via the internet often facilitating a door-to-door move that saves time, expenses and headaches.

"This housing referral network is a quantum leap forward from the process we use in our office and the word-of-mouth (sponsor) method," said Larry Boggs, housing manager. With the internet, incoming military and families are able to reach out from anywhere and get an updated list of available housing, from a much larger pool of diverse properties, that will be available upon their arrival.

The idea behind AHRN.com is simple: local property managers and military home owners can register their available properties on the site, often several months before the property will be available. These properties are then easily visible to incoming personnel when they search the site for available housing. "It's our job to promote the site to all local stakeholders to ensure that it builds momentum and synergy," Mr. Boggs said. The service is free.

The Malmstrom Housing Welcome Center is looking forward to expanding its AHRN.com program by encouraging local property managers to register in the system. "The larger the database, the more useful it will be to people searching for places to live," Mr. Boggs said. To make registering properties a worry-free proposition, AHRN.com incorporates several layers of privacy protection.

In return for registering their properties, AHRN.com provides property owners with a consistent resource of quality tenants. "It's a win-win for everyone who uses the site," Mr. Boggs said.

For more detailed information about the local AHRN.com Web site, call the housing office at 406-731-3056/4623 or visit the Web site at www.ahrn.com to list your property or search for one today.