Program provides free lodging to those who can't stay in own homes

Premier Vacation Rentals property manager Monica Moran stands inside one ofthe 65 Ouray County homes the company manages. The Durango-based business launched a program last month to provide free lodging to qual ified indi viduals and families impacted by COVID -19 in vacant owner-donated properties. Mike Wiggins - Ouray County Plaindealer

Here's one bright spot to the coronavirus crisis.

Ouray County residents impacted by the coronavirus pandemic who need to find temporary housing outside of their own home now have a free place to stay, thanks to an innovative program launched last month by the Durango-based property management company Premier Vacation Rentals Group.

The program, dubbed "Vacation Rentals to the Rescue," provides immediate free lodging to qualified individuals and families in vacant owner-donated properties in 13 different locations across the West - including Ouray County, where Premier manages 65 homes.

"In Ouray County, in particular, with its public health orders, we hope this will be impactful and will help out," said Mary Beth Miles, Premier's chief operating officer.

Individuals who may qualify for the program include local emergency responders, medical professionals and military personnel assisting with emergency response efforts; individuals required to interact with the public on a regular basis due to the nature of their profession who are sharing living space with at-risk family members; relatives of patients who live in the area; teachers; people who require isolation and cannot remain in their usual home; and other individuals on a case-by-case basis.

Potential program participants must undergo a screening process that includes filling out a questionnaire and undergoing a background check. Locally, Premier property manager Monica Moran is standing by to help people work through that process. Nobody in Ouray County has signed up for the program so far.

La Plata County has seen the largest number of participants, from an ER physician staying in a unit to be isolated from his young family, to a sheriff's deputy who was previously sharing a living space with his So-year-old mother, to two individuals who were repatriated after doing mission work overseas, and were required to quara ntine for two weeks before rejoining their families.

"The feedback our guests have shared is heartwarming," Miles said. "The free lodging program is a huge blessing to these people because they know they will be able to go to work and provide essential services in this crisis but also provide protection to their loved ones by not bringing potential in fections home."

Three additional Colorado-based vacation rental companies and the Vacation Rental Management Association have recently joined forces with Premier to expand the free lodging program. Premier is also running a fundraising program, in which homeowners can donate a two-night stay during the off-season with proceeds benefiting local nonprofits that provide services to people who are in need during the coronavirus crisis.

For more information about setting up free temporary lodging in Ouray County through Premier's "Vacation Rentals to the Rescue" program, contact Moran at mmoran@premiervacationrentals.com or 970-633-0721.

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Vacation rentals to the rescue