Christmas arrived a little early for a group of renters in Virginia — thanks to an unexpected gesture from their landlord.
Travis Johnson, who rents out 12 homes in Portsmouth, surprised his tenants by waiving rent for November and December.
“I know what it’s like to have a housing crisis and instability when it comes to rent, because I myself have struggled in the past,” Johnson told CBS affiliate WTKR.
“That’s what inspired me to give my tenants free rent for the holidays,” he added. “The movement actually became bigger than just a moment; it became a national movement.”
Johnson went on to launch the Homebridge Community Care Foundation, an organization aimed at supporting single-parent households and families who face difficulty keeping up with rent and mortgage payments.
He also runs Homebridge Health Care, an in-home healthcare company, WTKR reported.
“Whether you’re a client of ours, an employee of ours, or even if you’re not, we’re going to always pay it forward. That’s our motto,” he said about the company.
One of Johnson’s tenants, Missy Waller, said the announcement caught her completely off guard. She moved into her Portsmouth home just a few months ago.
“He was like, ‘Come outside.’ And when I came outside, he said, ‘Y’all ain’t gotta bring rent for November and December,’ ” Waller recalled. She has a son in college. “You mean literally you don’t have to pay anything? I just jumped for joy.”
Johnson told WTKR he planned to extend the surprise to more renters as well.
“We actually have six more homes to knock on the door and let them know they’re receiving free rent for the month of December,” he told the outlet.
Looking ahead, Johnson said he wants to broaden the effort beyond his own properties and reach families across the country. He added that Homebridge Health Care is focusing on becoming a “housing hero” nationally and is looking for additional sponsors to expand the initiative, noting that his most recent gift came out of his own pocket.
Families can sign up for potential assistance by contacting homes@homebridgeco.com.
