Philadelphia has helped more than 1,000 homeless veterans move off the streets in the past several years.
HUD Secretary Julian Castro has told city leaders “You have effectively ended veteran homelessness,” but the city is determined to keep going. Philly recently revealed plans to convert a soon-to-be-demolished building into even more housing units.
The Spring Garden Hill former school building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. That designation hasn’t helped the school much as no one has lived, worked or studied there for over 40 years.
While the city initially planned to tear it down, they’re instead working with non-profit HELP USA to convert it into affordable senior living.
HELP USA has spent more than fifty million dollars on transforming old eyesores into veteran’s housing.
Their representative, David Cleghorn, explains that they focus on creating a community residence with “support services right there on site” for veterans, saying the project is a “no-brainer for veterans.
They’ve made sacrifices for us and they deserve to have a place to live.” The Philadelphia Housing Authority expects the conversion to be finished by the end of 2017.
Thirty-seven seniors will live in the building, and at least 12 of them will be formerly homeless veterans.
HELP USA and Drexel University will provide health care and social work services along with other community organizations.
