In the May issue of Claims Magazine/Property Casualty 360°, THD contributed to the advertorial Temporary Housing Options during Catastrophic Times.    The article addresses that large-scale losses often create a shortage of suitable lodging in neighboring areas,  so it is imperative for insurers to partner with a 24/7 housing company, such as THD, that are capable of quickly securing temporary housing during a loss. 

We invite you to read more about how a strong network is the basis to providing the best temporary housing service to your policyholders, please click here.

Lila began her journey with the THD family just over 2 years ago in the Hotel Department.    Since this journey began she has developed many great friendships and relationships with co-workers, Hotel staff, Adjusters and Insured’s.    During this time she was promoted to Hotel Liaison, some of her duties include, Hotel One Point for AAA and QBE, working with the THD’s relocation and catastrophe team by helping them locate hotel accommodations for THD’s customers..

One challenge Lila faces is when a hotel is sold out and cannot accommodate her customers.  Lila is quick to locate hotel options by working with the hotel to find a resolution so that she can provide an immediate solution.    Lila takes pride in knowing that she provides shelter for these families during the crisis in their lives.   It is especially rewarding when she sees a family has gone through a catastrophe and knowing they have nice place for their family to stay. There are times when she wants to reach through the phone and just hug these families; many can be so grateful and humble.  This is what makes what her job so rewarding.   

Lila is a volunteer in several community projects; she serves in the OSU – OCHE continuing education for the County.   She also has three wonderful children and two beautiful grandchildren.   Lila’s youngest is 16 and keeps her busy with his sports, hunting and fishing (although she will not bait a hook or take a fish off). She enjoys these trips with him.

Lila says “I am very blessed and thankful for the opportunities and relationships THD has to offer.  I cannot express the gratitude I have to THD.   I am looking forward to many more years and the continual growth of THD.”

Toni has been a member of the THD family for two years now.  She works in our Sales and Marketing departments and enjoys working with our customers every day.   Her enthusiasm for her job shows through when she is helping our customers with their temporary housing needs.  She takes pleasure in building new relationships and helping our customers meet their business objectives.  Whether meeting customers at a networking event, over the phone or in person meetings, Toni makes each customer know how important they are to THD. 

When not working at THD, Toni is busy with her husband,Randy and two children, Nicole and Tyler attending the kids sporting events or going to new places.  One of Toni’s favorite things to do most Friday nights is hang out with her family and friends for “Friday Beach Night” where the neighborhood comes together and celebrates the start of the weekend with a potluck.  

Many residents are displaced from their homes due to such things as natural disasters, water damage or fires.  Homeowners or renters insurance policies cover Additional Living Expenses (ALE) and the policy specifies the amount of coverage that is allowable.  ALE is basically intended to cover the insured person for the extra expenses he or she may incur due to being temporarily displaced from their home.

As soon as a policyholder knows that that cannot live in their home due to a disaster they should contact their agent or insurance company so they may get advice on what is covered.  Such coverage is typically about 10% to 20% of the insurance that covers the dwelling.

ALE coverage, however, covers expenses above and beyond your normal living expenses, and your insurance company will require that all claims must be supported by receipts and/or other documentation. Additional Living Expenses covers costs including temporary residence such as an apartment or home which has to be similar to the insured property.  For example if you lived in a three bedroom house the insurance company will not pay for a six bedroom home.  Other expenses that are covered may be additional food expenses that would incur such as eating out in a restaurant when staying in a hotel.  Boarding pets, relocation costs and storage are other additional costs that may be covered under your policy.

For information on temporary furnished residences please contact THD for information at 800.817.3220 or at www.temporaryhousingdirectory.com

Linda has been working in Customer Care for over 6 years now.  She can clearly remember when she got hired back in 2005, when she was the only one in Customer Care.  Now, it has grown to 10 amazing people!!  Her passion is helping others, so this position is a great fit for her since she works daily with clients and landlords supporting them in all kinds of issues and resolving problems. It is very rewarding work even with all of the challenges she faces when she tries to make everyone happy …and we all know, that’s not easy sometimes!

At the beginning of 2012, she was asked to head up our new program the “Healthy Side of THD”.  This is her true passion and she is so excited to be able to have this great opportunity for THD to utilize her talents and abilities from her past accomplishments. Already she can see a difference the pedometers the company bought for the employees interested has made in getting them moving.   Prior to working for THD, she worked in the health and wellness industry for over 25 years and even had her own business which she called “Healthy Self.  She was a certified personal trainer, hypnotherapist, yoga and meditation instructor and nutritional counselor so we know we are in good hands with Linda running the program.

Linda says her personal life is not too exciting. She has recently moved back to Texas to be near her family that she adores so that’s why she’s willing to put up with that Texas heat!  The only man that matters to her right now in her life is her dog Benz. He is handsome, intelligent, some say he’s big boned (not fat!), loyal and only drools occasionally.

She is so thankful for THD and grateful to be part of something so wonderful!

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- GSA Application Services is pleased to announce that Temporary Housing Directory (THD) has been awarded a GSA Schedule 48 contract and are now certified to provide goods & services to the Federal Government. Acknowledging the growth in federal spending through the General Services Administration (GSA), Temporary Housing Directory have listed their long-term lodging services on GSA Advantage!®, the government's electronic online ordering system www.gsaadvantage.gov.

"This GSA contract is a seamless fit with our traditional corporate package and supports our everyday relocation offerings," stated Tony LaRocca, Vice President of Temporary Housing Directory.  He continues, "We're looking forward to working with the Department of Defense as they scale back overseas conflicts and bring home our troops. THD will ramp-up operations to provide customized temporary housing solutions for our veterans."

Temporary Housing Directory offers a variety of custom temporary and short-term housing solutions that are uniquely tailored to each client subject to their individual accommodation needs. THD handles most housing needs including insurance related claims; corporate housing relocation; extended stay housing; catastrophe and disaster relief support.

Temporary Housing Directory is also a member of The Long-Term Lodging Vendor Council. Made up of GSA MAS vendors, the council will assist in connecting GSA and its customers to 30 day + travel solutions that are service driven and cost effective.   Providers will become an educational resource and conduit for innovation in facilitating the requirements of the SIN 653-9 Statement of Work.

About Temporary Housing Directory, Inc.:

Temporary Housing Directory, Inc. is a nationwide service that coordinates the selection and management of short term housing choices for individuals displaced due to an insurance claim and corporate relocation. THD is the first company to bring together the full service solution of hotel placements and furnished housing to one point of contact. They also provide catastrophic response services delivering emergency assistance for the relocation of CAT teams and their policyholders with hotels and furnished housing. Visit www.temporaryhousingdirectory.com for more information.

About GSA Applications:

GSA Applications managed the tender process on behalf of Temporary Housing Directory facilitating the application preparation, submission and negotiations with government buyers at the GSA. With over 700 schedules awarded to date, Tampa FL based GSA Applications leverages its industry-leading experience and in-house staff of specialists to deliver professional government marketing services to businesses nationally. Visit www.gsaapplications.com for more information.

Meet Amy!

No two days are ever the same; every day has a new challenge, a new set of priorities, a fast pace and an unwavering company focus on outstanding customer service. This is why Amy loves working on corporate and relocation accounts for Temporary Housing Directory. In the relocation division of THD Amy works directly with clients placing transferees into temporary housing; searching for the perfect housing options for an individual, family or group of transferees. During this process she negotiates rates and lease terms with properties and local vendors to help maximize the value of these options for our clients. Amy also answers questions regarding the placements and invoices, submits requests for proposals and creates custom reports to meet a client’s specific needs. She really enjoys working closely with the other departments as the entire THD team strives to create a seamless experience for our clients and their transferees.

Amy began her career with THD thanks to some friends. Over the course of the past four years, as the company has grown she has seen those friendships, and many new ones, grow into a second family.

Caroline has been working in our hotel department for over 6 years.  She enjoys working closely with insured’s, adjusters and her friends at Temporary Housing Directory.  She takes pride in making sure insured’s are comfortable in hotels while they are out of their homes.  Her goal is to make the hotel stay as stress fee as possible for insured’s as well as adjusters.  Maintaining correspondence with insured’s and adjusters are a number one priority.  Her responsibilities include placing insured’s in hotels and extending the hotel stay as needed.

The challenges to her job include issues with hotels having sold out situations, hotels charging THD for incidental charges and insured’s not checking out in a timely manner.  Many issues can arise with extensions.  Adjusters may not be able to get information they need from insured’s or outside adjusters and this can hold up the extension process.

As a hotel coordinator she understands the job is very detailed oriented.  Information she processes in the database system affects the entire company. 

She's been married to Jeff for over 20 years and loves being a mother to Madeline and Ryan. In her spare time she likes to cheer on her daughters soccer team.  Go Piranhas!!!  She also likes to hike and ski in the beautiful Colorado mountains. 

She is so thankful for the opportunities THD has offered her.  The challenges Temporary Housing Directory has expected from her has made her a stronger and more confident person.  She loves her family at THD and will make every effort to do whatever it takes for THD to stay #1!!!

The holiday season can be a very dangerous time of the year according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA) with fires causing approximately 400 deaths caused by these fires, over 1600 injuries and about $100 million dollars in property damage. The most joyous of times can also be deadly. Short-circuiting tree lights are cited as the leading cause of these fires.  By following some of the outline precautionary tips from USFA, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of a holiday fire casualty.

Preventing Christmas Tree Fires

• Christmas Tree Fire Hazards - Movie segments demonstrating how fast a live Christmas tree can become fully engulfed in flames. Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.
• Selecting a Tree for the Holiday
  Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.
• Caring for Your Tree
  Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
• Disposing of Your Tree
  Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or woodburning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.

Holiday Lights

• Maintain Your Holiday Lights
  Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
• Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets
  Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.
• Do Not Leave Holiday Lights on Unattended

Holiday Decorations

• Use Only Nonflammable Decorations
  All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.
• Never Put Wrapping Paper in a Fireplace
  It can result in a very large fire, throwing off dangerous sparks and embers and may result in a chimney fire.
• Artificial Christmas Trees
  If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

Candle Care

• Avoid Using Lit Candles
  If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.
• Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree
  Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame - candles, lighters or matches.

Remember to have smoke alarms on every level in your home in working condition.  You should test them monthly, keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times.  Make sure every member of your family knows how to call for help and practice your home escape plan.

Temporary Housing Directory wishes you a safe holiday season.  For more information about our temporary housing services please contact us at 800.817.3220

On November 11, Teresa Vidger, THD President brought the entire THD team to Phoenix, AZ to celebrate their annual holiday event at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge.  This annual event is a way that Teresa feels that she can celebrate the contributions of each THD member and reward them with a beautiful destination that is meant for a lot of laughs and fun times.   This year was special as it is THD’s 10 year anniversary. 

The day started off with a lunch outdoors where everyone could enjoy the lovely fall weather visiting with old colleagues as well as meeting the newest members of the THD family.  There was also some free time to spend and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Arizona desert.

That evening the festivities continued with the annual team photo then reception to further mingle and have fun getting caught up.  The reception was followed by dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant, Tuscany.   Teresa gave service awards for the team members that had been with the company for 5 plus years.

After dinner, the celebration continued as each Temporary Housing Directory department performed a skit for the Annual Holiday Follies with comedy, dancing and singing skits that filled the room with laughter and applause.  The managers and even Teresa dressed up in 70’s gear to start the THD Follies and get everyone laughing.   Prizes were given out to the best skits and fun was had by all! 

At the end of the evening, THD’s first four employees hosted a video and presented it to a very surprised Teresa with a DVD that looked back on the great memories and successes of THD over the past 10 years. Each employee shared with Teresa why they are thankful for working at such a great company.  Tears were shed and it was a great way to end the night.

As THD celebrates the holiday season and 10 years of providing temporary housing it is with great pride and gratitude that we thank all our customers for helping make THD a success.