Holloman welcomes privatized housing resident advocate

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. BreeAnn Sachs
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs

As part of the Department of Defense-wide effort to improve the conditions of military privatized housing, the 49th Wing Staff Agencies welcomed their newest member Christine Juedeman, 49th Wing Privatized Housing Resident Advocate, Nov. 23, 2020.

Due to concerns raised from privatized housing residents across the DoD, former Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper, in partnership with the Secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force, signed and issued a 15-component Military Housing Privatization Initiative Tenant Bill of Rights. This Bill ensures safe and healthy facilities for residents of military privatized housing and provides residents additional resources for complaint resolution.

The resident advocate is a crucial element to the enforcement of the SECDEF-directed Bill, and reports directly to the Wing Commander to advocate on the behalf of privatized housing residents.

As a mother of four children and a 25-year Air Force spouse with 18 years’ experience living in base housing, eight of which at Holloman, Juedeman both understands and has a personal interest in ensuring the Airmen and families residing in privatized housing have the support they need. 

“It’s my dream job,” said Jeudeman. “I love helping people and resolving issues. I’ve had hands-on experience as a resident, as a tenant and as part of the (Soaring Heights) community; and I’m able to listen and understand the situation. Spouses can come to me and know that I was in their shoes and that I’ve raised children in base housing.”

Juedeman’s goal as the resident advocate is to work with Holloman’s housing partners to make the privatized housing experience the best it can be. She is also working to empower change through the residents themselves with the base’s first ever resident council.

Comprised entirely of volunteers from the privatized housing community, Wing leadership and the Military Housing Office, the resident council is an open forum for residents to speak directly to Wing leadership about their concerns, both positive and negative.

“Providing safe and healthy living facilities for our Airmen directly impacts their readiness and resiliency and Christine is a welcomed addition to the 49th Wing’s helping agencies,” said Col. Ryan Keeney, 49th Wing commander. “She’s a 49th Wing asset, which means she works directly for the Airmen and families of Holloman. Our privatized housing residents now have a dedicated person to turn to if they need assistance and I’m very excited to see how she will improve upon the recent upgrades we’ve made to our Soaring Heights community.”

Juedeman can assist residents with any privatized housing concerns, especially those pertaining to health, safety and security. Residents seeking assistance should first contact the Soaring Heights office; elevate their concerns to the Military Housing Office, if needed, and contact the PHRA if a resolution can’t be met with the other two housing partners.

“I am available 24/7 and if people feel that they aren’t heard, they aren’t getting a resolution or they don’t want to face repercussions of voicing their opinion they can come to me and I’ll be that neutral party,” said Juedeman

Privatized housing residents in need of assistance, or future and current residents interested in joining the resident council, can reach Juedeman at 575-572-1904 or christine.juedeman@us.af.mil during the duty day, 575-491-8554 after hours and by visiting the “Resident Advocate” feature on the 49th Wing’s page of the Air Force Connect app. The Air Force Connect app is available to download for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

For more information, or to view the 15-component MHPI Tenant Bill of Rights, visit https://media.defense.gov/2020/Feb/25/2002254968/-1/-1/1/MILITARY_HOUSING_PRIVATIZATION_INITIATIVE_TENANT_BILL_OF_RIGHTS.PDF.