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Everybody deserves decent housing. The right to adequate housing is a human right that is even recognized in international human rights law as part of the right to an adequate standard of living. But with inflation and rising costs of materials and maintenance, it has become next to impossible to find decent housing for everyone. This is especially true of middle-income workers. Workforce Housing is pivotal for establishing sustainable communities that enhance economic stability, living conditions, and overall societal well-being for the working class. However, with the economies and expanding urban populations, providing affordable workforce housing for middle-income workers has become a pressing concern.
Based out of Sarasota, FL, One Stop Housing (OSH), is the largest property management company focused on non-government subsidized workforce housing in Southwest & Central Florida. OSH has created a unique for-profit model that addresses the need to create clean, affordable, and safe workforce housing in even some of the most depressed areas. OSH has formed Private/Public Partnerships with multiple City, County, Foundations/Non-Profits, and Private companies to create communities specifically designed for working families that work in the immediate area.
Unlike any player in the market, OSH has proven to build and operate up to 20%-30% below market, creating substantial savings that provide the ability to keep rents low and affordable while still building attractive multifamily apartments and communities. Thanks to OSHDC, One Stop Housing Development & Construction (one of OSH’s closely integrated group of companies), and its other subsidiaries, OSH can streamline the entire development process by combining and expanding on the A-Z processes of the key verticals like development-design/build and manage in-house, thereby creating economies of scale and operational efficiencies not found in other companies. Moreover, OSHDC builds all products new or renovated with the same materials and products, allowing for ease of repair and lowering replacement costs down the road. To make repairs quickly and affordably in each region, replacement parts of commonly replaced items are stored in a local maintenance equipment warehouse. Also, OSHDC continues to work with the OSH Property Managers on design improvements and cost-saving ideas.
Besides affordability, what makes OSH the most preferred workforce housing community is its dedication towards ensuring the safety, and cleanliness of its sites. One Stop Housing has its own security detail and personnel dedicated to keeping properties safe 24/7. All the Properties have state-of-the-art security surveillance systems, and cameras and are well-lit at night. When it comes to ensuring cleanliness and smooth functioning of the sites, OSH has an on-site maintenance team, along with regional maintenance staff with various licensed trades that include heating and air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing. The majority of repairs and ongoing maintenance are all managed by the in-house team. The regional staff are also skilled in asphalt and landscaping, keeping all properties well maintained while keeping overall costs down. Any larger repairs are contracted out to OSHDC.
Notably, OSH takes various steps to uphold the highest standards of service in its properties. OSH property managers all go through an in-house OSH certification training program and have come up through the ranks from various positions prior to being awarded the property manager title. In addition, ongoing training is provided to all managers and trainees, one hour every week, without exception. Regional managers provide additional support and training at various times throughout the month to ensure consistency and continuity.
Going beyond the business front, OSH provides additional support to its residents and the nearby community where it serves, through its non-profit arm One Stop Cares. OSH Cares actively contributes to the community’s well-being through food drives, toy drives, rental assistance, procuring furniture, and other events. OSH Cares funds the build-out of various telehealth service centers in various OSH-managed properties, providing free or low-cost healthcare for residents and the community. All three companies, OSH, OSHDC, and OSH Cares sponsor 4 families per year that have run into extremely dire circumstances and provide support through the OS Cares – Adopt a Family Program.
OSH Cares also provides training and development for various trades, including assisting residents to build and start their own businesses. Oftentimes, these small businesses provide services back to OSH at the friends and family discount in exchange for providing financial, accounting, and training support. “To ensure the long-term sustainability of the workforce housing communities, OS Cares (501C3) provides the wrap-around services to the residents of OSH managed Apartments and the nearby community. These wrap-around services include health & welfare, financial aid and educational services,” says Mark Vengroff, Managing Partner at One Stop Housing.
The founding story of OSH is one that is inspiring and motivating to anyone who wants to make a positive change in society. 40 years ago, Harvey traveled the county and was disgusted by the living conditions and high crime of subsidized housing, and thus he made it his life’s mission to create non-subsidized housing that working families could afford—housing that is safe, affordable, and clean housing.
What’s more, Harvey went on to purchase an abandoned middle school and university buildings, and a few motels, and converted them into condos that were sold at below market, creating the pathway to homeownership for many working families in the area that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. Harvey, however, had one requirement if residents were to live on the property: all residents unless, retired, active student, or disabled, must have a job if they are to live on the property. Section 8 and other rental long-term subsidies were not going to be accepted. That was it. That was the start of OSH’s empire. Fast forward to today, OSH manages over 4,000 rental units and 8 motel converted apartment communities.
The awards and recognitions OSH has garnered over the years are a testament to the quality of service it provides and the impact it has on the workforce community. In 2023, OSH received the Top Business Awards from both the Sarasota Chamber and Manatee County Chamber of Commerce. Also, OSHDC was honored with the Top FL Apartment & Condominium Contractors Award. In 2022, Mark was recognized as a “Change Maker” by the Business Observer. Alongside, the City of Sarasota named October 10th, 2022 as Mark Vengroff Day. These awards and honors demonstrate the kind of impact OSH has had on working families and society as a whole.
The future looks bright for OSH as it continues to expand its rental units and innovate new ways to cut costs and provide the best possible service in its properties. Furthermore, rising insurance and utility costs are something the company is aiming to address. To this end, OSHDC is continuing to work closely with its engineers to create design modifications and implement new utility cost-saving strategies. When it comes to addressing rising insurance costs, OSH is launching an insurance captive to help manage the rising costs and if continued experience in low claims filed, it is expected to generate substantial savings in a market that continues to increase. “Even with zero insurance claims filed in the past 3 years of all 4,000 managed units within OSH, our insurance premiums have continued to rise,” says Mark.
Through strategic partnerships with several City/County Municipalities, Foundations, and the Large Private Sector, OSH aims to provide more affordable housing to working middle-income families and further expand its footprint. On a final note, Mark says, “We will continue to build on my father’s legacy of providing a clean, safe, and affordable roof over the heads of so many hard-working families.”
Pull Quote: “We will continue to build on my father’s legacy of providing a clean, safe, and affordable roof over the heads of so many hard-working families.”
Description of the company: One Stop Housing (OSH), is the largest property management company focused on non-government subsidized workforce housing in Southeast & Central Florida. OSH has created a unique for-profit model that addresses the need to create clean, affordable, and safe workforce housing in even some of the most depressed areas. OSH has formed Private/Public Partnerships with multiple City, County, Foundations/Non-Profits, and Private companies to create communities specifically designed for working families that work in the immediate area.
Company Name: One Stop Housing, LLC
Founding Year: 40+ Years
Office Locations: Headquartered in Sarasota FL but have properties throughout the state of FL and in Memphis TN
Official Website of the company: www.onestophousing.com
One Stop Housing also has a sister company, One Stop Housing Development &
Construction. www.1stopdevelopment.com and a non-profit One Stop Cares.
Name of the Featured Leader: Mark Vengroff
Designation of the Leader: Managing Partner
