“A Safe Haven provides a full complete solution to help prevent and end homelessness for over 700 veterans annually. I’m so humbled to say that this property will be a crown jewel for our organization.”
CHICAGO (PRWEB) September 08, 2020
A Safe Haven Foundation Co-Founders, Neli Vazquez Rowland and Brian Rowland hosted Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor along with other Indiana dignitaries and leaders and military veterans to host the groundbreaking ceremony for the 75 unit Rauner Family Veteran Housing project in Hobart, Indiana. Patrick O’Donnell of Veterans Radio served as the event emcee and introduced the local color guard, speakers and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
A Safe Haven Foundation (ASHF) is a 25-year-old Chicago nonprofit dedicated to presenting permanent solutions to help prevent homelessness and rebuild lives from homelessness. The Rauner Family Veteran Apartments by A Safe Haven Foundation is a US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and US Veterans Administration (VA) 75 Apartment Units Supportive Housing development.
“A Safe Haven provides a full complete solution to help prevent and end homelessness for over 700 veterans annually,” Vazquez Rowland said. “I’m so humbled to say that this property will be a crown jewel for our organization. It will truly be a safe haven that will live up to our name and a place that will be dedicated exclusively to helping house our military veterans.”
Grateful for A Safe Haven Foundation’s commitment, Snedecor mentioned the many representatives serving Indiana who came to this event. “It speaks volumes of their commitment and support in this project,” he said.
Scheduled to open in spring 2021, the apartments will be made available to low-income, senior and disabled military veterans who are referred to A Safe Haven by the local US Veteran Administration offices. Onsite services will include supportive housing, individualized case management and peer support services.
The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA provides these services for participating Veterans at VA medical centers (VAMCs) and community-based outreach clinics to help Veterans find and sustain permanent housing. HUD has approved 75 vouchers for use by veterans for this project.
The 75 apartments will showcase fully furnished apartments, a flexible meeting space/community room, exercise room, laundry room, bike storage and a beautifully, professionally landscaped outdoor patio courtyard, the US Flag and a flag from every branch of the military. The walkway to the main entrance will feature a Bronze Star monument to Michael J. Rowland, a decorated Korean War Veteran and father of A Safe Haven Co-Founder and US Army Veteran Brian M. Rowland.
“We are the home of the free, because of the brave,” Brian Rowland said. “The brave are the men and women who have served, given so freely of their time. And risking their lives for us to be out here and enjoy life. This project is not just a much-needed resource in Northwest Indiana, but everywhere in the country, because our veterans deserve better. We have made drastic improvements in the last three to five years and we’re proud of this project and other projects we’ve done for veteran housing. We wound up doing this because I was one of those veterans who needed the help.”
Dr. Edward Landreth, director of Mental Health Services US Veteran Administration Veteran Integrated Service Network 12 in Westchester, Illinois, praised A Safe Haven for its partnership with its organization.
“This project is testimony to the commitment and relationship between so many people and organizations,” Landreth said. “It's so gratifying for me to see the USDVA working in collaboration with all of you. Thank you for giving us this chance to work with you to change and save the lives of veterans and their families. In this vein, A Safe Haven has been a great partner. Since 1994, A Safe Haven’s mission has always been to set new paradigms and standards of care to address and solve the root causes of poverty and homelessness, especially on behalf of our veterans.”
For information, visit A Safe Haven’s website: http://www.asafehaven.org. Event photo gallery: https://asafehaven.zenfolio.com/p91399828
About A Safe Haven:
A Safe Haven Foundation is a 501(c) 3 not for profit, social enterprise that helps people aspire, transform and sustain their lives as they transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency with pride and purpose. A Safe Haven provides the tools for each individual to overcome the root causes of homelessness through a holistic and scalable model. A Safe Haven’s visible social and economic impact unites families, stabilizes neighborhoods, and creates vibrant, viable communities. For information, visit http://www.asafehaven.org.