State Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Roger Herzog (director of Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation), Housing and Urban Development Regional Director Barbara Fields, State Housing Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein, state Veterans Services Secretary Coleman Nee, TND Director Ann Houston and City Manager Jay Ash were among the officials present at the announcement regarding the American Legion Hall.
A year ago, Veteran Al Kelly found himself homeless and living on the streets, increasingly disconnected from society. During that period, he was struck by a car and suffered severe injuries. Seeking recovery, he checked into Pine Street Inn shelter.
While there, Kelly received guidance that would change his trajectory. He was directed toward the Veterans Administration and its housing initiatives designed to combat veteran homelessness. The VA has set an ambitious target to eliminate homelessness among veterans by 2015.
Chelsea is now part of this effort through the redevelopment of the old American Legion Post, the state’s oldest. Vacant since 2010, the facility will be transformed into 10 housing units with support services for homeless veterans. This project is known as the North Bellingham Veterans Home.
At the facility announcement, Kelly shared how similar housing in Dorchester had transformed his own life. “Pine Street Inn looks forward to working with veterans and the community as we provide services that will enable homeless veterans to get back on their feet,” said Lyndia Downie, President of Pine Street Inn. “We want to ensure that those who have served their country receive the support they need,” she added. Kelly recounted his experience: “They had me in housing by June of this year. Any vet who is homeless regardless of the issue – even with substance abuse – should take advantage of this. They have housing and programs to help. Even if you relapse, they’ll help you. They’re not going to toss you to the curb. They’ll find the resources to get you the help you need. I encourage all veterans to get off the streets and get to the VA.”
The North Bellingham Veterans Home will be developed and operated through a partnership between The Neighborhood Developers (TND) and Pine Street Inn, with TND’s CONNECT program—which offers financial literacy and job training—providing additional services to residents.
“Our redevelopment plan honors the history of the Chelsea American Legion Hall as a meeting place for veterans,” noted TND’s Executive Director Ann Houston.
City Manager Jay Ash described the project as a convergence of aligned thinking. Last year, as downtown redevelopment discussions began, multiple stakeholders—including TND, city planners, and city councillors—approached him with proposals to support veterans. “Everyone at the same time had the same idea,” Ash explained. “Staff members, people in our Planning Department, city councillors and then Ann of TND – they all were thinking about trying to do something for veterans in the downtown area. We thought that there was no better place than the Post for this, and everybody just came together.”
Since Massachusetts launched its initiative to end veteran homelessness by 2015 over seven months ago, projects throughout the state have emerged to create permanently affordable housing, expand social services, and assist veterans seeking employment. The Chelsea project represents a significant contribution to this statewide effort.
TND purchased the property last year and will completely renovate the historic Hall to accommodate 10 studio apartments—nine designated for permanent supportive housing with priority for homeless veterans, and one for a live-in house manager. The revitalized site will become a centerpiece in the Bellingham Square area’s redevelopment, near Chelsea’s City Hall.
Pine Street Inn, New England’s premier provider of housing, shelter, job training and street outreach services for homeless individuals, joined TND as a service partner. Together, they are implementing a model that combines permanently affordable housing, job training, and on-site support from experienced Pine Street Inn staff to help formerly homeless veterans reintegrate into society.
According to a 2012 Center for American Progress report, approximately 1.5 million U.S. veterans face imminent homelessness risk on any given day. In Massachusetts, nearly 1 in 10 homeless individuals (compared to 1 in 7 nationally) are veterans. Francisco Toro, Chelsea Veterans Agent, emphasized that effective veteran housing programs must include clinical staff for case management and transition support. The North Bellingham Veterans Home addresses both the housing and service requirements essential for homeless veterans’ recovery.