Got this in response to the pre-screen:

" I currently do not work. I am a Veteran of 8 years active duty service. I am going to community college and receive a stipend of $1300 a month from the GI Bill. I have recently fallen on hard times due to a recent divorce and have to utilize the Veteran Affairs supportive housing program to get housing and get back on my feet. I do not have any felonies or legal issues"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

She has a voucher that will cover the rent. She gave me her case worker's name and I've got a call into them. My concern is mental issues. Rent is $ 800 and she says the voucher would cover 100% of that.

Would you consider?

Sounds suspiciously like a homeless person to me.

You could meet her and run the screening. Maybe she will turn out to be a fairly normal college student going to school on the GI bill.

This is another sec8 game, camaflouged for veterans.

I took a vet who went through domestic violence and was being assisted by a program. They paid the deposit set up section 8 and bought her a new car. There was no follow up support. She moved in her bf and it took forever to get traction and get them out. He started dealing cigs and then coke. They had a baby and smoked non stop all day long. When I got the apt back all the windows were nailed shut.

Short answer: No. I'm 22 years in the military, and I STILL say "No."

For several reasons:

#1 - Every time I have to ask "Would you take..." 9.9 times out of 10 the answer is NO, and when I have ignored that the results have been evictions + damages.

#2 - While it has become culturally popular to idolize every member or former member of the military as a heroic servant of the people the minute he/she ships off to Basic Training, the truth is often far less grand. If you personally know a veteran who did X or Y and wish to honor them, then do so generously. There are some out there who really do deserve it. But many do not, and I and many other actively serving members and the four living members of my family who served find the cult of military hero worship a bit silly. All this to say don't ever enter a business relationship out of a sense of obligation.

#3 - I don't do sob stories. It won't stop here. Someone who is ready to stand on his/her own two feet doesn't need to elicit sympathy in their initial contact. It speaks to an attitude of "poor little me-ism" that will pour over into your relationship as tenant/landlord. No thanks.

A huge no! Many veterans have alcohol abuse problems, drug addictions, and mental issues. They also get special treatment under the court system. Here in Indiana we have a "Veterans Court". Do anything you want court.

My experience with Veterans as a Landlord is also negative. My last veteran was an alcoholic who ran of to Los Vegas to get a new life without notice, owing money. I had an Iraqi veteran with really strange mental issues who also left without notice owing money. Et cetera.

Then I was a VA doctor for 4 years and I left in disgust. Most of my patients were in alcohol withdrawal and over half came in to get away from the law. Then there is PTSD which legitimizes acting like a violent jerk.

Having said that, there is a big difference between the Iraq and Afghanistan vets and the WWII vets who were often very well mannered. Vietnam vets tend to be OK as well. but a lot of anger remains. The Vietnam soldiers forced the war to an end in the 1970's. Career military were also a different breed and understood self discipline very well.