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HOUSING HOMELESS HEROES

chuck_schumer_banner_nyreblog_com_.jpgGROUNDBREAKING OF HOMES FOR HEROES CONSTRUCTION MEANS HOMELESS VETS FROM ROCKLAND, WESTCHESTER & BEYOND WILL SOON HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME - SENATOR MARKS START OF WORK ON FIRST APARTMENTS AT CAMP SHANKS


Schumer, Joined By Veterans Groups From Throughout the Hudson Valley, Attends Groundbreaking Ceremony to Mark Construction On The First Apartment Units For Homeless Veterans At Homes For Heroes

Schumer Has Been a Champion Of The Project, Helping To Secure A $1 Million Investment And Key Lease Extension From Federal Agencies That Allowed Construction To Begin

Schumer: This Day Has Been A Long Time Coming For Our Hudson Valley Veterans

Last week, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer joined in the groundbreaking for the Homes for Heroes construction project that will eventually create 52 apartment units to house homeless veterans from throughout the Hudson Valley. Schumer has championed the project in a number of ways, including helping to secure a 14 month lease extension from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the General Services Administration (GSA). Without the lease extension, the groundbreaking on the first 8 apartment units would not be possible. Due to the economic downturn, Homes for Heroes had difficulty raising necessary funds for the new construction and met delays, but was on the verge of breaking new ground and moving forward. However, the three year deadline on their existing lease was set to fall before the completion of the construction, and Homes for Heroes faced the possibility of breaking their lease agreement. Now that the 14 month lease has been extended, Homes for Heroes can move forward with their critical mission of constructing apartment units for homeless veterans in the region. Schumer also secured a federal investment of $1 million to help move the construction project forward.

"Today, I am thrilled to stand here with Homes for Heroes representatives, Hudson Valley veterans and local officials to say 'let the construction begin!'" said Schumer. "After clearing several major hurdles, Homes for Heroes can finally move forward with its plan to construct apartment units for local homeless veterans after they have returned home to Rockland, Putnam, Westchester and the rest of the Hudson Valley. Today has been a long time coming and it took a lot of work to get here, but it doesn't even compare to the sacrifices our veterans have made for us. Our veterans have served our country and it is our solemn duty to serve each and every one of them once they return home. I am thrilled to have played a role in making this groundbreaking a reality today, and vow my continued and full support to Homes For Heroes as they move forward in their critical mission to address homelessness among New York veterans."

Schumer was joined at the groundbreaking by John Murphy, Rockland County Legislator and Co-Founder of Homes for Heroes, Gerald Donnellan, Director of the Veterans Service Agency of Rockland County, Tom Zimmerman, CEO of Joseph's Home, Patrick Normoyle of Homes for Heroes, and Veteran organizations from Putnam, Orange, Rockland and Westchester County. Homes for Heroes is a Rockland County-based program geared toward expanding housing and rental housing assistance for disabled veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that approximately 200,000 adult veterans live on the streets or in shelters on any given day, and nearly twice as many are homeless at some point during the year. Schumer successfully pushed for HHS and GSA to come to a new lease agreement with the Rockland Housing Action Coalition (RHAC) that has allowed H4H to move forward in securing private investment and constructing homes for veterans, marked by today's groundbreaking.

On April 27, 2011, Schumer visited Homes for Heroes and wrote a letter to HHS and GSA, to help H4H secure a long-term land agreement to allow the group to provide new homes to even more of our disabled veterans, and improve their fundraising capability. At that time, Homes for Heroes was 3 years into a 5 year lease that required construction to be completed within the first three years of the lease. However, due to the economic downturn, H4H met delays in fundraising, which pushed back construction. With H4H nearly ready to break ground at the time of Schumer's visit, he pushed HHS to extend Homes for Heroes' lease and the project deadline, so that the organization could avoid breaking its lease agreement, and continue on its mission to house homeless veterans. In October 2011, Schumer announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the General Services Administration (GSA) had heeded his call and granted Homes for Heroes (H4H) in Rockland a 14 month lease extension on their Rockland property, which was a crucial step that allowed Homes for Heroes break ground on the site, and begin construction of 8 apartment units for homeless veterans.

Homes for Heroes plans to construct rental units on six of the thirteen acres and will include the rehabilitation of one or two buildings presently standing on the property.  The project, aided by a nearly $1 million federal grant Senator Schumer helped to secure, ultimately aims to construct 52 handicapped accessible, garden-style apartments, a community center and offices for agencies that will provide support services to the resident veterans. RHAC entered its land lease agreement in partnership with Joseph's Homes to transform the property into permanent, supportive housing for disabled veterans and their families

The first phase of Homes for Heroes' project, beginning with last week's groundbreaking, calls for the construction of 8 apartments to be built for immediate occupancy. Once long-term funding is available and tenants begin to make the available units their homes, plans to build another 44 apartments can move forward. Construction will begin by demolishing the former Army Reserve barracks, which will be the site of the future foundation. With foundation slated to be poured by the end of the year, veterans could be in their homes as early as next fall.  

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services leased thirteen acres of surplus U.S. Army Reserve property (known as Camp Shanks) to the Rockland Housing Action Coalition (RHAC) for the purpose of building and operating permanent, supportive housing for disabled veterans and their families, who are unable to either purchase homes or find suitably-equipped rental units at market prices. Camp Shanks was the largest World War II army embarkation camp in the United States. Over 1.3 million soldiers went through the camp, also known as "Last Stop USA," for processing before being deployed to Europe.

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