HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HELPS VETS DITCH TENTS THIS WINTER

THE “VETERANS BUILD” PROGRAM HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HELPS VETS DITCH TENTS THIS WINTER /// BY DEBORAH VANCE

Escape from everyday life…get back to nature… gaze at the stars… ahhhhh… sleeping outdoors is a thing.

Americans spend $120-billion a year on outdoor recreation products, according to the Outdoor Industry Association.Pitching a tent in a forest is called camping.Pitching a tent in Iraq is called bivouacking.Pitching a tent under a bridge is called homelessness.One is fun, one is work, and one is desperation.Is tenting in winter a trendy new adventure? Homeless vets don’t call it that…they call it survival.

Are there homeless vets? Where’s the outrage? Seriously, there are forgotten soldiers left to fend for themselves? Is anyone doing anything about this?

Someone IS doing something… right in our midst. Habitat for Humanity Lapeer-Tuscola is intensely concerned about our homeless vets. So is the city of Vassar, Project Brotherhood Resolve, Home Depot, General Motors Care Group, and Local 598 Veterans Committee.

Returning veterans lose a lot when they re-enter civilian life… community, structure, resources, jobs, supervision and, often, a sense of direction. If they entered the military when they were 18-19 years old, they’ve never had to “do life” on their own. They joined an organization that is systematized and supportive in a macro way. It is a brotherhood and sisterhood that prides itself on watching out for each other. Rejoining mainstream, civilian life can be brutal.

Looking for a job is the first thing on the returning veteran’s list for obvious reasons; they need money to pay for a place to live and sleep and eat. Assuming that you came back with a psyche that’s healthy enough to be able to jump back into “regular” life, what will you find? The same job market everyone else is struggling to navigate.

A unique hurdle to clear…veterans’ skills and qualifications are often perceived as military-related and it can take a hiring manager an extra step to see their value as transferable to civilian needs. Veterans often feel out-of-theloop and, consequently, at a disadvantage when job searching. No job, no money...homelessness. Where to live?

Habitat for Humanity has an idea and it’s a good one. It’s called Veterans Build. Launched in 2013, Veterans Build is a concentrated and purposeful effort to address the housing needs of returning veterans. It is structured to empower veterans in their goal of achieving strength, stability and self-reliance.

Habitat for Humanity Lapeer- Tuscola is on it! Executive Director Carolyn Nestor can hardly contain the excitement she feels about this particular program. The focus of the effort is straightforward.

The No. 1 priority is to build safe, affordable housing. In some cases, instead of building homes from the ground up, existing homes are chosen for repair, maintenance and preservation with a goal of making them energy-efficient and affordable. Home Depot has committed to partnering with Habitat for Humanity. Together they have developed a Repair Corps program to offer Critical Home Repairs.

Second, H4H assists with veterans’ employment situations by capitalizing on skill sets learned during their time in military. For instance, veterans are recruited for positions as employees, board members, extended volunteers, National Service members, interns or fellows. Involvement as volunteers helps with re-entry into civilian life by forming relationships while collaborating with neighbors.

Habitat for Humanity is making its Veterans Build an organization-wide effort by educating and sensitizing its own employees to think like veterans, understand the culture they come from, effectively interact. Financial and literacy programs are offered to increase veterans’ success as homeowners.

Habitat for Humanity Lapeer-Tuscola is one of Michigan’s local chapters. It has enthusiastically leapt on board and is busy making a difference in veterans’ lives. One case in point is what’s happening on Lynn Street in Vassar, Mich.

The city of Vassar donated a vacant house at 128 Lynn Street and is partnering with Habitat for Humanity Lapeer- Tuscola, Project Brotherhood Resolve, General Motors Cares Group, and volunteers with Local 598 Veterans Committee to turn an old house into a wonderful home for returning veterans.

Project Brotherhood Resolve’s sole mandate is to battle veterans’ suicides and homelessness. They have a vision…a goal of creating a Veterans Village for returning vets. They see this house as the first home of many that will bring their Veterans Village to life. It will house eight veterans and will offer much more than just shelter.

“They need some place to turn to. They’ve had no resources or anything in the past or a lot of them are afraid to ask and we need to get those resources out to them. We’re hoping it looks like someplace you’d want to come home to and to give them a home,” observed Gary Overzet, of WNEM.

Nestor said the work on the Lynn house will be completed next year. “The evolution of Veterans Village will take several more,” she added.

Homeless vets in Lapeer and Tuscola counties will be able to ditch their tents instead of pitching them. Work is underway. A place to live and thrive is being prepared.

Be encouraged. From Acts 17:26—“He (the Lord) determined the times set for them and the exact places they should live,” cited Nestor. Veterans, you have not been forgotten.

For more information, to donate or to volunteer, call Carolyn Nestor at (810) 664-7111

Habitat for Humanity Lapeer-Tuscola 1633 N. Lapeer Rd. Lapeer, MI 48446 (810) 664-7111 www.lapeerhabitat.org hfhlapeertuscola@gmail.com