housing Q and recruiter comment

I've been with my current agency for well over a year and a half now (5 assignments) and really like them, but it's like pulling teeth to get an assignment in the area I prefer (central/west/north VA or very nearby cities in adjoining states) as they usually only seem to have assignments in the Beltway area. I have lucked out a couple of times but still keep my options open.

My agency provides top-drawer housing, fully furnished--right down to the forks and bedsheets. I don't really want to have to truck my pots and pans and linens and dishes and all that around; it's bad enough dragging what I do! So if I'm looking at other agencies, I am looking for the same sort of housing.

Recently I was contacted by a recruiter from an agency that's been pretty highly spoken of here. Since I'd worked with a nurse who travels with them I replied to the recruiter's e-mail, which listed benefits the company gives, including "fully furnished housing." I asked what they considered "fully furnished" and what she listed in the reply was pretty bare-bones, meaning I'd have to drag along everything *but* the furniture, appliances, and TV. Also she listed the "allowances" for utilities; my agency pays mine, and I know for a fact that utilities are much higher than the other agency's "allowance." When I replied back that I preferred the really fully furnished housing and thanked her for her time I got back a rather snippy e-mail stating that if other companies did all that they were shorting me on something else. I didn't think that was very professional and I have crossed that recruiter and company off my list. How common is this kind of trashing?

NOW---two questions. First of all, what companies *do* offer the complete housing package, and second, who's got all the VA contracts? Oh yeah...and anyone travel with Cross Country? They have a lot of nurses where I'm at now.

Jilly

PS: Contact me privately if you want details of the company I'm with, they really are great, just I need to be in VA area right now. Also I will tell who the other company and recruiter were, but only privately.