Veterans Affairs estimates that there are currently 3,000 to 5,000 homeless veterans in Connecticut today. It is estimated that 60 of those veterans live in Danbury, Conn.
To address the housing needs of homeless or transitioning veterans, the Common Council of the city of Danbury approved the “Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness” in March of 2006. From this plan the Housing for Heroes program was born.
Paul Schierloh, Associate Director of Danbury’s Department of Health Housing and Welfare, said, “The whole idea being to address the whole range of housing needed for homeless veterans.”
This program is a new initiative in Connecticut. The number of homeless veterans in Danbury and the large number of veterans receiving an education at local colleges in western Conn. pushed the program forward.
Schierloh said, “The initiative started a year ago. We worked throughout the past year to file grant applications and start to implement housing plans.”
This range of housing includes finding temporary, transitional or permanent housing for homeless veterans or returning veterans who are transitioning back into society.
The Housing for Heroes program is a three phase plan. Phase One consisted of initiating the program and submitting a “per diem” request to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to allow for five beds within the Danbury Homeless Shelter to be opened up to homeless veterans.
Schierloh said, “Phase one has been completed. We opened five transitional beds at city shelter in January of this year.”
These transitional beds have allowed for immediate housing needs of homeless veterans to be fulfilled. It also allowed for the veterans to begin receiving supportive services.
Schierloh explains the different supportive services needed. “Some may need job training or placement help; some may have mental health issues rising from their service. There may be substance abuse. There is range.”
The program is at the end of Phase Two, providing transitional housing. Schierloh said, “We got a major capital grant from a non-profit organization of Danbury. We received almost a $300,000 grant to acquire and renovate a building in Danbury.”
Since acquiring the building, a transitional facility has been built to provide a place for the veterans to live while continuing to receive supportive services.
Schierloh said, “Homeless veterans can stay in the transitional facility for a year while they are connected with services that help them deal with any issues they may have.”
After a year in transitional housing, veterans are placed in a more permanent housing situation. This marks the beginning of the final stage of the program, Phase Three.
Phase Three looks to provide affordable rental units, affordable homeownership units and permanent supportive housing units. Schierloh explained they are currently in construction on a three unit building which will be used for permanent housing.
Schierloh said, “We hope to supply beds anywhere in the 40 to 60 range and to create a minimum of 30 permanent units over the next few years.”
Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network Special Report on Homeless Veterans:
"Coming Home to No Home"
No comments:
Post a Comment