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.”

The 2012 Annual PLRB/LIRB Claims Conference and Insurance Services Expo was held in Orlando, FL on April 15-18.  It was a fun filled few days with over 2000 attendees and exhibitors gathering at this outstanding event.

 As a Gold Sponsor, THD’s associates enjoyed networking with individuals from insurance companies and service providers from throughout the country.   At the expo, THD unveiled a video that was created with customer appreciation letters  written by their customers that  they have helped this past year find  temporary  housing after being displaced from their home.  Each customer sent in a picture of themselves and their families as well!  It was a touching and heart-felt video that passerby’s enjoyed watching.

Temporary Housing Directory - 2012 PLRB Tradeshow

In addition to the video, THD had a photo-booth at this year’s exhibit booth where attendees of the expo stopped to take a picture to remember their time in Florida.  There were lots of funny faces and good times had by all.  In addition, THD pledged money for every photo taken to Rebuilding Together a leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities by providing free rehabilitation and critical repairs to the homes of low-income Americans.  THD donated $2400 to Rebuilding Together from the money they pledged for every picture taken.

THD is a full service temporary housing provider for individuals that have been displaced from their homes due to disaster.  To learn more about THD, join them this year at one of the following conferences and expos.  You may also contact them at 800.817.3220 or view their web site at www.temporaryhousingdirectory.com.

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.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated the third Monday in January.  This holiday celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. King is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States.  King also rose to national prominence as head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This organization hoped to promote nonviolent protests against racism and segregation

Interesting Facts about Martin Luther King Jr. include:

• King was born as Michael Luther King, Jr. but changed his name to Martin as did his father in honor of the founder of the Lutheran denomination.
• King sang with his church choir at the 1939 Atlanta premiere of the movie Gone with the Wind.
• On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.  As a result, King helped organize The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted over 1 year.  At the end of the boycott the United States Court ruled to end racial segregation on all Montgomery public buses.
• In August, 1963 King organized a march a peaceful; protest at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.  With over 200,000 people at the march King gave his famous speech “I have A Dream”
• King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10,1964 for leading non-0viloenet and civil rights demonstrations
• In honor of King who was shot on April 4, 1968 the Martin Luther Memorial was opened to the public on October 16, 2011 instead of the originally planned date of August 22nd.  The reason for the delay was due to the ill effects of Hurricane Irene. .

 Excerpts of famous speeches delivered by Martin Luther King:

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!!!