KINGSTON, PA - A proposed apartment complex at the former St. Hedwig's campus on Zerby Avenue in Kingston would provide transitional housing to veterans in need. Catholic Social Services of Scranton is trying to secure grant funding to build 30 apartments for veterans returning from war, many of them homeless, said Monsignor Joseph Kelly, the Secretary for Catholic Human Services in the Diocese of Scranton.
Preliminary plans are to convert the existing school into apartments, and expand it to accommodate additional units. If the project is approved, veterans would be allowed to stay there for up to 24 months, Kelly said. "The idea would be to help people get on their feet and then slowly get into more permanent housing of their own," he said.
About one-third of homeless American adults are military veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Current estimates suggest as many as 154,000 veterans are homeless at some point during a year. The vast majority are single, and most come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. About 45 percent are mentally ill, and as many as 70 percent have a substance abuse problem, VA research indicates.
"I don't think anybody knows," county veterans affairs director Richard Wren said when asked how many homeless veterans live in Luzerne County. "That's part of the problem. There is no mechanism in place to accurately track them." In 2008 alone, 39 homeless veterans sought help at VISION, a men's shelter in Wilkes-Barre, director Vince Kabacinski said. Julie Benjamain, director of the women's shelter, Ruth's Place, said a homeless veteran has stayed with her as well. The proposed project in Kingston is still in the early stages. Catholic Social Services has not secured any funding or sought the necessary approvals, Kelly said.
U.S. Reps. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township, and Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, are working with Catholic Social Services to secure funding from the VA Grant and Per Diem Program. The program helps subsidize community agencies that provide services to homeless veterans.
Grants are limited to 65 percent of the cost of construction, renovation and property acquisition. The rest of the funds must come from other sources, according to the requirements on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Web site. A per diem allotment of $34.40 per veteran can be used to fund operations.
Only programs that offer services such as counseling and education are eligible for federal funding, the Web site said. The St. Hedwig's campus is in an area zoned for multi-family housing, which allows for the proposed apartment complex, Kingston municipal administrator Paul Keating said.
He could not comment further without seeing the plans, but he expects they will be submitted in the near future. Part of the parcel is located in Edwardsville, Kelly said. Catholic Social Services must also seek zoning approval from that borough.
Source: CitizensVoice.com