Congressman views continued progress at veterans center
Congressman views continued progress at veterans center
Times Observer photo by Jessica N. Rex U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson met at the Allegheny Valley Veterans Center with private donors and local community business leaders Thursday.
Times Observer photo by Jessica N. Rex The Allegheny Valley Veterans Center, located in the former Allegheny Valley Elementary School building offers supportive housing for veterans first and foremost. As plans continue, housing instability is being addressed as AVVC will offer permanent housing for veterans as well as for low income families. GT takes a look at the housing plans drawn up for additional housing on the grounds at the AVVC.
Times Observer photo by Jessica N. Rex U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson met at the Allegheny Valley Veterans Center with private donors and local community business leaders Thursday.
Times Observer photo by Jessica N. Rex The Allegheny Valley Veterans Center, located in the former Allegheny Valley Elementary School building offers supportive housing for veterans first and foremost. As plans continue, housing instability is being addressed as AVVC will offer permanent housing for veterans as well as for low income families. GT takes a look at the housing plans drawn up for additional housing on the grounds at the AVVC.
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CLARENDON – U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson was on the ground floor of the development of the Allegheny Valley Veterans Center.
On Thursday, the region's congressional representative and private donors gathered to receive an update on its progress. The center offers homeless and unstably housed veterans transitional housing, support and work opportunities. The center, housed in the old Allegheny Valley Elementary School in Clarendon, is privately funded by way of grant writing and many donations from generous members of the community at large, including some philanthropists. Through referrals and outreach, the center has housed homeless veterans from places such as Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Georgia and New York.
"I was here when they first acquired the school," Thompson said. "It’s been an incredible process."
Commending volunteers on their hard work, Thompson noted the passion and the dedication of everyone in the community that has helped make AVVC a success. The Lutheran Foundation for Long Term Living has helped support the center, allowing for necessities such as purchasing the van that transports veterans where they need to go as well as getting the blacktop completed. Thompson said he was glad to have the ability to connect the Allegheny Valley Veterans Center with the Lutheran Foundation, creating an influx of cash, among other work.
"I’ve also been working with Barb for years on the per diem for veterans, and that it’s amazing how long it takes sometimes, but that’ll be huge; a good revenue line," Thompson said. "These folks are doing nothing but moving ahead, and they’re serving veterans, but they’re serving folks who are homeless."
There are more than 30 rooms completed in the upstairs of the former school building fully equipped with computers in the communal rooms, televisions and more. There are no TVs in the individual bedrooms so as to encourage the veterans to be communal, with an administrator trying to visit each resident at least once a day. The second floor houses all male veterans on that floor, while downstairs there is a private and secure space for five families as well as an area for just women. The family apartments are all inclusive with two bedrooms, a full kitchen and living space and full bathroom. Families also come into a fully furnished place with food in the cupboards as well.
In all, 17 classrooms have been converted into rooms of all types: bedrooms, apartments and common areas. The handicapped-accessible space sits on 15 acres, meaning more room for expansion is available. The center houses the borough office, the Veterans Council of Warren, the Civil Air patrol, a notary and an insurance agent.
Expressing that the plans for additional housing is incredible, GT noted that due to the housing issue being a limiting factor on workforce, Allegheny Valley Veterans Center is addressing it. "It is amazing what came out of this. It’s just a great community facility, and it’s in addition to the just righteous purposes it serves. The fact is, you don’t have an abandoned school building that’s like a scar on the community."
The downstairs also has a donation room full of many things from housewares and furniture to wheelchairs. A van has been donated to assist veterans to places they need to go. The school’s old locker rooms have been converted into storage units, which are heated and climate controlled, for anyone to rent for $100 monthly. There are seven storage units in a hallway along with a security camera and key codes on each door of the units.
"This is a shining star. I think this serves as a model for other communities to be able to replicate, and they’re serving not just veterans of Warren County, but they’re serving people from really all over the country," Thompson said.