After accepting the end of my marriage to a Marine, I returned to Jacksonville, NC (Camp Lejeune) in hopes of starting over as a single woman. I was previously stationed in Jacksonville and had come to love the area over the years. I already knew that it offered a much lower cost of living than up north and crime rates were miniscule in comparison to Baltimore, MD. The upbeat, “southern lovin” way of life was just what the Dr ordered for renewal and healing; not to mention that I adored being 20 minutes away from multiple beaches, loved the warm weather in the south, and the camaraderie feeling of living in a military town. Jacksonville was absolutely a perfect place or me to settle and rebuild.
I took pride in having a great career which meant I had my own money, paid my own bills, had a great credit score, money in savings, and a retirement plan. I was career minded, focused, and educated which is an asset for independent living. (Yes, I am tooting my own horn…TOOT!TOOT!) My intentions were to settle in Jacksonville for approximately three years and then transfer to anywhere in the world, once I decided where else I wanted to be (I have an affinity for traveling). This began my search for my temporary rental home.
I was proactive with my research on the Jacksonville rental market which prompted me to set money aside for deposit, first month rent, and moving expenses. I narrowed it down to which house and neighborhood that I wanted to live in. I drove past the home during different times of day, so that I felt confident about the neighbors and the demographics (I didn’t want to be the oldest or the youngest in the neighborhood)! The neighbors appeared friendly because they always waved when I drove through. I observed children playing and a pet friendly atmosphere. Absolutely perfect for me!
I contacted the Property Management Company listed on the sign in the yard to rent the home and was informed that I could not rent the home because I was not an active duty military member and I was no longer a military dependent. At the owner’s request, the home was only to be rented to those affiliated with the military or civil service; therefore, I did not qualify. I proceeded to contact five other Property Management Companies and was repeatedly denied the opportunity to rent ANY home they had listed due to the same reason.
The Fair Housing Act, which is the federal law governing housing discrimination, includes the following seven protected classes: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. Even though I was prepared to write the check and begin the moving process, my situation did not fall underneath any of the protected classes. I could be, and was denied the ability to rent.
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I am truly a conservative person and have been accused of being quite traditional in my life point of view. It never dawned on me to buy a home without a husband. That was something that only ”married folk” do! This was my belief until a wise person in my life suggested that I honestly consider buying my own home and investing in myself. After throwing a temper tantrum (ok, maybe a few tantrums) I licked my wounds and began researching my options.
