HEP Ground Breaking Ceremony for New Housing Intended for Veterans

HOMELESS EMERGENCY PROJECT, INC. (HEP) CELEBRATES NEW SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
FOR VETERANS BY BREAKING GROUND AT HOLT AVENUE

Leaving behind loved ones and sacrificing their lives, they go off to dangerous places to defend our freedom. When they return home as heroes, they deserve support to transition successfully back to civilian life. Yet, a rising number of our servicemen and women are facing homelessness.

The public is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at 11:30AM at HEP located at 1120 North Betty Lane in celebration of New Supportive Housing intended for Veterans.

Clearwater Mayor Frank V. Hibbard, Bruce Fyfe (HEP Chair), Barb Green (HEP President & CEO), representatives from the Veterans Administration, and others will speak.  In addition, the Marine Corps JROTC from Clearwater High School will kick-off the celebration with the Presentation of Colors and Christina Solazzo, a sophomore from Palm Harbor University High School, will sing the National Anthem.

“For the past 25 years HEP has been serving homeless Veterans and their needs,” Barbara Green shares.  “We believe our experience and existing partnerships with organizations like the Veterans Administration and Baycare Health Systems uniquely positions HEP to serve the complex needs of returning Veterans suffering post traumatic stress and other disorders.”

The groundbreaking is for phase 1 of a multi-phase multi-year capital project to develop the three acre Holt Avenue site.  Phase 1 will include the construction of a 32 individual unit complex with an adjacent clubhouse intended for returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.  The clubhouse will provide space for an Activities Director and additional case managers, a technology room, and an exercise area.

“Over 2,000,000 men and women have served in these conflicts and we have an obligation as a community and a nation to help all of them transition back into civilian life successfully,” Bruce Fyfe adds.  “For many Veterans, that will not happen without safe, long term supportive housing combined with rigorous case management and supportive services to overcome the stress of war. These facilities are critical to that mission.”

The cost for the first two phases of construction is estimated at just under 6 million dollars, to be paid for through a combination of government and private foundation grants and the generosity of private and corporate donors. To date, HEP has received over $800,000 in private donations alone.  

To learn more about HEP’s ground breaking ceremony, which is being sponsored by SunTrust, contact Jackie Dryden at 727-442-9041, Ext 110 or at jackied@ethep.org.