Patty Van Weelden Honored By Community Partnership of the Ozarks

Patty Van Weelden, OACAC Housing Director, was honored June 5 for her housing collaborative service by the Community Partnership of the Ozarks with a room named in her honor at the newly opened Springfield Affordable Housing Center located at 300 E. Central. The Van Weelden Partner Room was dedicated to Patty Van Weelden for her tireless efforts to ensure safe, decent and affordable housing for elderly to youth and homeless to homeowner.  Her passion and dedication drove the establishment of the Springfield Affordable Housing Center.

About 10 people will work out of the building and provide a centralized location where residents can access multiple agencies and organizations that offer safe, decent and affordable housing. Services will be provided by One Door, Springfield Community Land Trust, Housing Authority, Veterans Affairs and Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri.  OACAC will continue to provide Housing Assistance through the HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program in the ten-county OACAC service area, outside the limits of Springfield. THE HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program helps eligible households pay part of their rent on an ongoing basis in a privately-owned house, apartment, or mobile home which is safe, decent sanitary and rent reasonable.

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Michelle Garand (CPO), left; Patty Van Weelden (OACAC), right