RECLAIM LIVES. REVITALIZE FUTURES.

Veteran Homestead at http://www.veteranhomestead.org/

Veteran Homestead Inc., is an independent, non-profit organization that provides housing and care to U.S. Armed Services Veterans from across the nation who are elderly, disabled or diagnosed with a terminal illness. With six unique facilities in New England and Puerto Rico, our team of credentialed professionals serve those who have served in our armed forces, with compassion and dedication without regard to race, religion, or sexual orientation. All Veteran Homestead programs are drug and alcohol free.

OUR MISSION

Founded in 1993 by Leslie Lightfoot, our mission is to provide medical, psychological, and spiritual care to veterans who are diagnosed with a terminal illness, are elderly, disabled, homeless, or otherwise
in need.

ABOUT US

Every soldier has a story.  

Each warrior lives an odyssey.

Since Homer first sang of war and its aftermath, we have known the journey home to be perilous and long. But even poetry cannot penetrate the reality of the twenty-first century soldier.

Returning from combat, veterans are confronted with a deluge of maladies.  From physical wounds and medical disabilities, to spiritual alienation and the ancient psychological scars that finally bear officially recognized names – Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  The modern American Veteran fights a dangerous new war the day they return.

• 212,337 homeless veterans are aged 18-30, with 144,842 of those in shelters (as of Sept 2011)
• Homelessness among women veterans increased 141% between 2006 and 2010
• 360,000 service men and women have some type of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• The VA is treating more than 210,000 service men and women from Iraq and Afghanistan for PTSD

Except over 215,000 veterans have no home to return to.  Many have lost support of family and friends as they struggle with their wounds, both physical and invisible.  Others have no family at all.  Some are 62; some are 22.  Among women vets, in recent years homelessness has increased a staggering 140%. The Veterans Administration (VA), overwhelmed and understaffed, classifies warriors as ‘disabled.’ Buried in paperwork, they lose their identity as soldiers; they become percentages. The focus of Veteran Homestead is on reclamation and regeneration.  Created by a Vietnam veteran and staffed with experts who share the compassion and commitment to treat and accommodate wounded heroes in their transition to civilian life.  With six unique programs, Veteran Homestead is an independent non-profit solution for the medical, psychological and spiritual care veterans require. No veteran should be discarded, and neither should their experience, and Veteran Homestead facilities are designed to provide a safe haven for wounded soldiers to regain dignity and restore quality of life.

Fund Allocation

Ninety percent of all Veteran Homestead funds go directly to veteran care, 10% solely to facility maintenance and administration. The Veteran Homestead programs are focused on ending homelessness among veterans through rehabilitation, encouragement and care.

FOUNDER & CEO see http://www.veteranhomestead.org/#!staff/ccdv

Leslie Lightfoot

Leslie is a Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress and a nationally recognized expert on PTSD.  She has served on the boards of The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, The Central Massachusetts Coalition for Homeless Veterans, The Vietnam Veterans Assistance Fund and on the Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in Washington DC and the Governor of Massachusetts.  She has two daughters and a son that are Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans.

Veteran Homestead Founder and CEO Leslie Lightfoot served in the Army as a medic from 1967-1970. She spent three years at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany during the Vietnam War, witnessing—on a daily basis—injuries and deaths unimaginable by civilians. Her experience led her to become a Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress after having earned her bachelors and masters degree in psychology. 

Leslie has been serving the needs of the veteran community ever since she left the Army in 1970. She is a nationally recognized expert on PTSD and has developed seven successful projects for veterans in need. She has served on the boards of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, the Central Massachusetts Coalition for Homeless Veterans, the Vietnam Veterans Assistance Funds, and also on the Advisory committee to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC, and the Governor of Massachusetts. 

Leslie’s awards include the 2014 AMVETS Silver Helmet Award, the Hometown Hero Award from both Worcester Magazine and Boston radio station WTKK; the DAR Medal of Honor; the Unsung Hero Award for Civic Engagement from Mount Wachusett Community College, as well as numerous certificates of appreciation from federal, state, and local dignitaries. Leslie’s two daughters (active duty) and her son are veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

PROGRAMS http://www.veteranhomestead.org/#!programs/c21kz

VETERAN HOMESTEAD HOSPICE ​

Veteran Homestead Hospice in Fitchburg, Mass. is the only privately run, veteran-specific hospice in the country.

ARMISTICE HOMESTEAD 

Armistice Homestead, care for medical fragile or terminally ill homeless elderly veterans, in Leominster, Mass.

HERO HOMESTEAD

Hero Homestead, aftercare for substance abuse or homeless veterans in Leominster, Mass.

HACIENDA DE VETERANOS 

Hacienda de Veteranos, the only facility of its kind in Puerto Rico, serves homeless veterans focusing on restoring a sense of self-worth.

VETERAN VICTORY FARM 

Veteran Victory Farm in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire is a working organic farm for veterans with substance abuse issues and mild TBI -- the first one in the country.

NVTRC 

Northeast Veteran Training and Rehabilitation Center (NVTRC) in Gardner, Mass., is the first and only facility in the United States to serve afflicted veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families by combining housing, physical therapy, counseling and college courses for PTSD, TBI, amputees and burn patients.

ADMISSIONS http://www.veteranhomestead.org/#!admissions/c1vml

If you are a veteran or a case manager referring a veteran, Veteran Homestead has a General Admission Criteria:

• DD-214
• Commitment to a sober life
• Negative TB test
• You must have your own transportation to court and probation appointments
• You must authorize release of medical records from both the VA and civilian providers

Please note that these are general admission guidelines only. Each program has criteria unique to its individual goals and mission. Please contact the admissions office for more detailed information. In order to be considered for admission into one of Veteran Homestead's programs, one will need to fill out several forms (see below). Upon completion of the forms contact our admissions officer, Brenda Brousseau at 978-728-4931, for review.

Please click the links below to download the forms for admission: 

INTAKE APPLICATION 

ADMISSIONS COVER 

HOMELESS VERIFICATION

GENERAL RELEASE OF INFORMATION 

VA MEDICAL RECORDS REQUEST

SPONSOR A VETERAN

You can sponsor a veteran in any of our programs in several different ways:

Non-medical home care - $100/week

Food - $25/week

Car service - $75/week

We have many options available, please call us so we can create a program unique to your desires.

VOLUNTEER

We can always use volunteers to help with yard work, drive a veteran to the doctor, cook a meal, visit the hospice and read a book to a vet... you name it, we can use it. 

Call Cindy Correll - Development Director at 978-632-1271 to help create a program that is unique to your desires.

SPONSOR AN ANIMAL

Help us keep our farm animals warm and well fed. Sponsor any animal(s) and you will receive a photo of the animal, a sponsor certificate and the story of that particular animal. Click on the animal name for more information: Cow, pig, horse, chicken, goat, dog, cat, birds, turkey, honeybees.

​CORPORATE SUPPORT

We understand that businesses want corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to move towards strategic philanthropy or social investment so they can point to how their company has made a difference to social problems. We can provide volunteering placements for staff, make space for senior executives to advise our board, or become a contractor for supplies as well as make cash donations.  

Every little bit helps the veterans in our programs.

SUPPORT US

Click the button at http://www.veteranhomestead.org/#!donate/c1ghi to DONATE to Veteran Homestead and help the unparalleled programs to support veterans as they reclaim their lives and revive their futures.

No amount is too small. With 90% of funds going directly into the cost of care for patients and residents and the remaining 10% to facility and administration costs, each donation will have a direct impact on the lives of heroes in need. Participate and proliferate the Veteran Homestead mission, and join the fight to rehabilitate our servicemen and women in their time of need.

Please make checks payable to Veteran Homestead.

Veteran Homestead
69 High Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420

Need a birthday or holiday gift idea?

Share your desire to help a veteran in need by donating to Veteran Homestead in the name of your friends or family. Your donation will directly support the care and well being of a veteran in transition from soldier to civilian. We will send you a lovely gift card to give to your family member or friend to show that you have made a gift to veterans in their name.

Two ways to make this Gift Donation:

• Use the donation button to the left and follow the instructions to use your credit card or Pay Pal account. Once the transaction is complete, please send an email to cindy@veteranhomestead.org, put Gift Donation in the subject line and in the body of the email please put the name you would like on the gift card, the name and address to send the gift card, the type of gift card (birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation, Christmas) and the amount of the donation.
• Send a check by mail and request the gift card. Please provide us with the name you would like on the gift card, the name and address where the gift card should be mailed and the type of gift card (birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation, Christmas). 

HEADQUARTERS

69 High Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420

978-632-1271

ADMISSIONS

978-728-4931

Alaska Veterans foundation at http://www.alaskaveteransfoundation.com/Home/tabid/472/Default.aspx

Ending Alaska veteran homelessness in five years

About us

The Alaska Veterans Foundation, Inc. (established 2006), is a chartered, independent, 501c-3 nonprofit whose primary mission now is to end veteran homelessness in the State of Alaska. We have been working toward this goal since 2009 and have established a great many community partnerships, as well as receiving strong financial support from the business community in Anchorage. We are also members of Pick, Click and Give; the Combined Federal Campaign, and other groups who support this project. In response to the work we had done, the State of Alaska awarded the Foundation a grant to complete the planning, predevelopment, and feasibility assessment for the construction and operation of a cooperative veteran community named VetVillageAK.

VetVillageAK will be built within the Municipality of Anchorage, and we are currently working on the purchase or long term lease of properties in the Eklutna area. The village includes a two story building with offices, a kitchen and dining room serving as many as 100 meals 3 times a day, day/reading room space, conference/training room, and 25 individual living spaces 5 of which are ADA compliant. The village is designed to be permanent, supportive housing for homeless Alaska veterans and their families operating in the Housing First model. The rest of the campus will contain cabins capable of housing singles or small families, the overall plan is 75 cabins. On site we will have a nursery, a garage and maintenance facility, outdoor gathering areas and, eventually, space for animals is being considered.

All residents are required to work. This is a key part of our effort to help homeless veterans and their families reintegrate, but they can stay in the village as long as they want. For those who have serious disabilities, appropriate work in the village is provided. Other jobs are provided by our partners and in the village nursery, shop, and two industries who have agreed to locate in or close to the village. Consistent with our grants, no less than 30% of any income of any tenant must go towards the cost of their housing and services.

We invite you to look through our website. We will be doing revisions as they apply. Please feel free to contact us at akvet.foundation@gci.net or by phone at 907-720-1662

Alaska Veterans Foundation Chairman - Ric Davidge

After his service in the U.S, Army, Ric came to Alaska in 1972. He earned his BS and MPA degrees at the University of Alaska and was recruited for service in Senator Ted Steven's office in Washington. D.C. He was then selected by President Reagan to join his team and served at the Department of Interior for 3 years. Ric came back to Alaska in 1983 and became involved in veterans issues/ organizations in local, state and, most notably, the Vietnam Veterans of America. Ric has served as the National Chairman of Government Affairs for VVA, a member of the national VVA  Committee on Veteran Homelessness and also National Chairman of the Economic Opportunities for Veterans. Ric's work in Alaska led to the establishment of the Alaska Veterans Foundation, Inc. and, after a couple of years of various programs, we decided that our mission would be to end Veteran homelessness in Alaska.

VetVillageAk. is the product of our mission and six years of work. A rural campus with permanent, supportive housing including personal cabins based on the Housing First model, a place where homeless veterans can come together and live in a cooperative community with the goal of reintegrating into the Alaskan community and productive lives through work.

Vet Village Alaska Program

How many homeless veterans are there in Anchorage? The honest answer is we really don’t know. Our best indicator are the twice a year ‘point-in-time-counts’ where we go into the camps and try and get all homeless to the convention center for services et al. For some time we have found that there are about 80 to 90 homeless veterans each time.

So, the question is do we continue to pay out about $100,000 a year per homeless person over their tragic brief lives or do we do something that has been proven to dramatically reduce this consistent public cost – and do it now?

The Alaska Veterans Foundation, Inc. (established 2006), is a chartered, independent, 501c-3 nonprofit whose primary mission now is to end veteran homelessness in the State of Alaska.

We have been working toward this goal since 2009 and have established a great many community partnerships in Anchorage.

Vet Village

VetVillageAK. is a cooperative community based on the "Housing First" model. This is permanent, supportive housing for Veterans, some with families. Residents are required to make a contribution to their housing cost, most required to work at jobs provided by our partners, or attend classes, while those unable to work offsite will be provided employment at the Village.

Accommodation and encouragement to reintegrate and to overcome substance abuse issues are all part of the program. Three meals a day are provided, with the kitchen being one of the sources of onsite employment. Our commercial nursery, greenhouse, and village maintenance of property and equipment also provides jobs. In addition, a number of businesses have agreed to locate on site. Self sufficiency, self reliance, and the atmosphere of a permanent community with Veteran camaraderie are our goals. 

Why should you join us?

If you care about our veterans and their families, either in service or out, it is the communities they live in that embrace them – that begin the healing of war.

It is the embrace of our families and our communities that helps more than anything else in healing the wounds of war.

Alaska is known as a special place, where veterans and service members and their families are welcomed and embraced. VetVillageAK is an expression of that embrace.

The Alaska Veterans Foundation, Inc

Since its inception has been about embracing our American heroes. We step up to help when others will not. Why? Because we are veterans and we know how hard it can be for some to leave a combat assignment and re-enter our civil society.

So, if you care about those who volunteer to stand guard for America, join us. Offer to help a veteran and their family in their time of need. There are so few of them compared to our nations citizens – and without them we would not have our freedoms – none of them.

Our commitment to end veteran homelessness is the result of years of work in understanding this problem and what actually works in bringing them back.

Office

• 3705 Arctic Blvd. #415
• Anchorage, Alaska 99503
• +1-907-720-1662
• akvet.foundation@gci.net
• www.akvetfoundation.com

Business Hours

• Monday-Friday:
• 9 a.m to 5 p.m

• Saturday:
• 9 a.m to 12 p.m

Mission Statement

To help the needy find shelter and assistance. This nation is going through tough times and providing a helping hand can help make the world a better place.

About Us

Shelter Listings is dedicated to serving the homeless and low-income. Our shelter list consists of over 3,000 listings and includes emergency shelters, homeless shelters, day shelters, transitional housing, residential drug/alcohol rehabilitation programs, supportive housing and permanent affordable housing.

Our list is growing daily, as is our services. When we find a resource that we feel will help the needy, we add it. We are a hodge podge of resources. Hopefully by visiting ShelterListings.org you will find something of assistance.

ShelterListings.org does our best to provide free services. Many of the homeless shelters and services are free of charge. Some charge small fees. We always urge users of our website to visit the websites of the providers when we provide them or give them a phone call to find out more details. Our service is to provide a list of possible resources.

Halfway Houses, Permanent Housing, Transitional Housing and Substance Abuse Treatment Centers for the most part charge a fee. Most of the substance abuse resources we provide are low cost, Medicaid or sliding scale fee. We provide as much information as possible on the website of these locations.

We provide many categories of shelter for those in need and in need of services. They include:

Day Shelters supplement homeless and low-income people when the shelter their staying in only offers shelter on an overnight basis. Case management is often provided and sometimes there are laundry and shower facilities.  Meals and basic hygiene may also be offered.  Almost all day shelters provide their services free of charge. Any emergency or homeless shelter that allows clients to stay during the day is also classified under this category.

Emergency Homeless Shelters both provide short term relief for the homeless & low-income. Usually there is a maximum stay of 3 months or less. Many of these shelters ask their clients to leave during the day.  Meals and other supportive services are often offered.  3 times out of 5 these shelters offer their services free of charge.

Halfway Housing helps transition individuals and families from shelters or homelessness to permanent housing. Length of stay is usually anywhere from 6 months to 2 years.  Residents are often required to pay at least 30% of their income toward program fees.  Sometimes the money they pay in fees is returned to them when they leave. Any emergency or homeless shelter that allows their clients to stay more then 6 months is also classified under this category.

Permanent Affordable Housing is a long-term solution for housing. Residents are often allowed to stay as long as they remain in the low-income bracket but is sometimes limited 3 - 5 years.  Residents pay no more than 30% of their income toward rent. Emergency shelters, homeless shelters and transitional housing programs that allow their clients to stay without a maximum stay is also classified under this category.

Drug And Alcohol Rehab programs are intended to treat alcohol and/or drug dependency.  The cost of participating in one of these programs and the method of treatment range significantly. The database operated on this website only includes residential rehab programs (not outpatient programs). We also provide Access to Recovery (ATR) Grant programs for substance abuse treatment. 

Supportive Housing Programs that provide an alternative living arrangement for individuals who, because of age, disability, substance abuse, mental illness, chronic homelessness or other circumstances, are unable to live independently without care, supervision and/or support to help them in the activities of daily living; or who need access to case management, housing support, vocational, employment and other services to transition to independent living.

Shared Housing Programs helps bring low income persons together and helps prevent homelessness by providing affordable housing options. This service is good for families, disabled persons, and others wanted more companionship. ShelterListings.org finds these shared housing locations and lists them throughout our website.

Rooming House or Boarding House A rooming house is a building in which renters occupy single rooms and share kitchens, bathrooms, and common areas. The location may be a converted single family home, a converted hotel, or a purpose built structure. Rooming houses are low cost housing and may have as few as three rooms for rent, or more than a hundred. The same goes for boarding houses. We list these types of residences throughout ShelterListings.org.

Transitional housing is affordable low cost supportive housing designed to provide housing and appropriate support services to persons who are homeless or who are close to homelessness. The transition is to help them be more self sufficient to move toward independent living on their own. Services provided at transitional housing facilities varies from substance abuse treatment, to psychological assistance, job training, domestic violence assistance, etc. The assistance provided varies, but it is generally affordable and low cost housing. Read the descriptions of each of the transitional living locations for more detailed information.

Supportive Housing and Shelters

List of housing resources we have uncovered: Homeless Shelters, Supportive Housing, Housing for Low Income, Halfway Housing, Transitional Housing, Day Shelters, Low Cost Housing

HUD VASH Vouchers - Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing

Homeless Veterans may not be aware of a HUD program called the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Voucher Program. This program combines the Section 8 Vouchers (now called Housing Choice Vouchers) which assists with rental assistance, with clinical services and case management provided by the VA (Veteran's Affairs).

HUD (The Department of Housing and Urban Development) has awarded in the neighborhood of 10,000 of these vouchers a year since 2008.

These vouchers are administered at approved VAMC's (Veteran Affairs Medical Centers). They assist veterans and their families afford safe housing.

If you are a veteran who is homeless or is in fear of being homeless, in need of rent assistance, we recommend that you contact one of the approved Veteran's Affairs Offices where you can get assistance. Please follow this link to the HUD VASH Vouchers Page: Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing. You will find more information about the program along with contact phone numbers in each state who can provide you with information on how to obtain this Veteran's Support Voucher.

Let us know how we are doing, any feedback is greatly appreciated. Contact us here: Contact Us.

Frequently Asked Questions
- Why all of the ads?
Due to costs incurred to provide this service we need to provide ads. These costs include: programming, server space, data procurement, domain costs. The ads are all provided by Google and we think they do a good job providing resources that we do not even have listed.
- Why don't you offer a search for specific types of housing?
We are currently working on enhancing the search capabilities. It is hard to balance the cost of enhancing data or website development.

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