Joliet Votes NO to Veterans Apartments

Joliet Votes No To Veterans Apartments


ARTICLE FOUND ONLINE AT: http://shorewood-il.patch.com/announcements/joliet-votes-no-to-veterans-apartments-c3b9f52d

Joliet, Illinois
2/10/13
by Lynn Davis-Livesay

In early January, 2013, Volunteers of America (VOA), offered a profile of the likely residents of the veterans apartment complex proposed for Joliet.  The project, pitched by Nancy Hughes - chief executive of VOA, was to build a 72-unit complex of apartments to be called 'Hope Manor Apartments' in three buildings for low-income veterans and their families as well as a community park on three acres donated by Silver Cross.

“We know that the fastest-growing segments of the homeless veteran population are female veterans and veterans with families,” said Nancy Hughes, "They come home, and they’re competing for entry-level jobs to support them and their families."

According to a HUD report in 2009, Illinois had 1,028 known homeless veterans, and surely that number has grown since that time (see VAD 2010 report below).

Upon hearing the news of this proposed project and understanding the need to support our veterans, Ryan Alm (a 2013 Candidate for Joliet Township Trustee) reached out and spoke to Nancy Hughes and offered his support.

"I personally told Nancy that whatever I can do to ensure the success of this complex, to let me know. I told her that I supported her efforts 100%.," said Candidate Alm.

"However, in following up with Nancy this week I was shocked and saddened to hear her tell me that they "are not proceeding with the project in Joliet any longer. VOA was informed earlier this week that the City Council, in a closed session, did not approve the project and we can't move forward without their support and approval.  The project was primarily going to be funded by Low Income Housing Tax Credit financing.  We were not seeking any money from the City.""

Joliet would have been a good fit for the site, which is on the vacated Joliet campus of Silver Cross Hospital.  Hughes said the need for affordable housing among veterans will grow as they continue to return from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Were the project approved, it might have opened up for residents in late 2014 or early 2015.

Highlighting just four statistics regarding homeless veterans reveals the following:

[1] The Veterans Affairs Department (VAD) says the homeless rate for Iraqi and Afghanistan veterans is rising sharply (by some estimates having doubled since 2010). Many others are at risk of losing their homes or are living in temporary housing.

[2] In March of 2012 it was reported nationally that "more than one million veterans are at risk of becoming homeless, while tens of thousands of former service-members are already living without shelter, according to the Center For American Progress.  In fact, one in seven homeless people previously served in the military, a December 2011 report found."

[3] According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) "roughly 40% of all homeless veterans are African American or Hispanic, despite only accounting for 10.4% and 3.4% of the U.S. veteran population, respectively.  In addition, 41% of homeless veterans are between the ages of 31 and 50."

[4] The NCHV also states that "the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that 62,619 veterans are homeless on any given night. Over the course of a year, approximately twice that many experience homelessness."

Continuing on the subject of local homeless veterans, Alm stated his dedication towards keeping this project or similar initiatives alive.

"It's a shame that the Joliet Township government couldn't partner with the City of Joliet and help bring about this housing complex for our local homeless veterans and their families," said Alm.  "I made a promise to support Nancy Hughes and our veterans," continued Alm, "and if elected as Township Trustee I plan on proposing a new partnership with Volunteers of America and re-pitch this idea, in modified form if need be, to the Zoning Department and the Joliet City Council and see if we can't make headway on this important issue."

The Volunteers of America Illinois can be found online at http://www.voaillinois.org.