2009-DVCH Annual Review: Part One

January 2009

The Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing (DVCH) meeting on January 8 with staff of the House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Veterans Affairs Committee:

A new Associate Member – the DALTILE CORPORATION of Dallas, Texas. The company will be represented by Mr. Pete Adams at the Home Office in Dallas and by Rick Willoughby, Regional Manager here in the Virginia area. Gentleman, we appreciate you joining our team. I know both gentlemen look forward to providing any assistance they can in successful carrying out our remodeling projects or in building new adapted homes for our veterans.

Veteran Deshano Hood - Our sincere appreciation to the HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION for providing a gift card for one of our veterans to help him pay for the construction costs of his new home. This veteran, like other disabled servicemen, certainly deserved the Home Depot gift which is a much appreciated thank you for keeping us free and safe at home. A special thanks to Ms. Katy Elder from the foundation for helping make the gift card realty for the veteran.

February 2009

The Committee was in attendance and gave a presentation to the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission (NSRC), Front Royal, Virginia to seek funding under to assist with down payment and closing cost for three (3) disabled veterans. We are pleased to report that the 15 person panel elected to setup a program with the Blue Ridge Housing Network (BRHN) and the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing (DVCH) to set aside $120,000 for disabled veterans. This is of great assistance as the DVCH proceeds with our new projects.

HOMES IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – To all of our associates and disabled veterans in the Richmond, Virginia area we are talking with a developer who wants us to build Special Adapted Homes for veterans in the area. The Committee has an approved Department of Veterans Affairs Builder – R. L. Seely Homes, LLC. If you know disabled veterans who may have interest in having a new custom home that meets their medical disability, we will do everything feasible to obtain funding through grants or donations to assist with the veteran‟s down payment and closing costs. They may be able to obtain a VA Loan which has the lowest interest rate in the current market.

ARRANGEMENT WITH U-HAUL, Inc – Another organization stepped up and gave our disabled veterans assistance was the U-HAUL International Corporation, based in Phoenix, AZ. The company donated a gift certificate to help a veteran relocate from their old home to the new and the cost is $0 to the veteran. This veteran moved into his new home and extends a thank you to UHAUL. We also salute U-Haul. Our veterans are very appreciative of the gift card.

MARCH 2009

PARTNERING WITH SHEPHERD CENTER, MARCUS BRIDGE PROGRAM – The DVCH has formed a partnership with the Shepherd Center, Marcus Community Bridge Program of Atlanta, Georgia. Together our two organizations offer returning disabled veterans the full range of housing, medical, and transitional services they need to achieve a high quality of life and again become accepted and productive members of their communities. Both the DVCH and the Shepherd Center are committed to ensuring that the returning disabled veteran is appreciated and honored for his or her service.

Our Committee Members and the Shepherd Center, Marcus Community Bridge Program, Atlanta, Georgia met with members of the Walter Reed AMC, Washington DC to assist these dedicated staff make certain that soldiers leaving the military due to medical complications receive the benefits they are entitled to.

• Wade Walrond, Senior Station Manager, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
• Valerie Cleare, Soldier Family Assistance Center Liaison, Bethesda Naval Medical Center
• Linda Rasnake, Family Readiness Support Assistant, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
• Dr. Richard L. Seely, Executive Director, Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing
• Patricia L. Davis, Director of Programs, Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing/Certified Home Counselor
• Tina Raziano, National Coordinator for the Military, Marcus Community Bridge Program, Shepherd Center
• Tammy King, Chief Nurse, Executive Director, Marcus Community Bridge Program

The tour and follow up discussions were very helpful and made it clear that the DVCH will be able to partner with Walter Reed on substantive veteran housing activities and projects in the months ahead.

• Schedule a briefing meeting between DVCH officials and disabled veterans, Army and other officials on accessible and affordable housing.
• Keep Walter Reed officials up-to-date on the progress the DVCH making on housing projects for particular disabled veterans?
• Respond to the individual needs of disabled veterans who have chosen to remain in the Greater Washington DC area.

After having lunch there at Walter Reed AMC with a double amputee soldier the Shepherd Center informed us that a benefactor would donate an IBOT wheelchair to any soldier needing one. The only qualification is that the soldier fought in the Iraqi/Afghan zone and received the Purple Heart.

In the afternoon, a meeting was held at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Special Adapted Housing Branch, Washington, DC. The discussion was very productive. We want to express our sincere appreciation to all the individuals who gave of their time and want to accomplish the goal of “MAKING THE DISABLED VETERAN AWARE”. At the meeting Senator Webb‟s office pledged their full support for the mission and activities of the DVCH. It will be important to keep in touch with Mr. Bologna, Mr. Bixler and Ms. Faliski on issues that need to be addressed which are hindering efforts of disabled veterans to obtain accessible housing.

Action Items

• VA officials are looking into ways they can assist the DVCH‟s effort to remove “overlays” that are adversely affecting the ability of disabled veterans to obtain construction and permanent financing.
• On a case by case basis, the VA may be able to help particular disabled veterans accomplish their housing objectives as problems arise for these veterans.
• Keep the VA and Senator Webb‟s office up-to-date on the progress the DVCH is making on housing projects for particular disabled veterans.
• Senator Webb‟s office will strongly support upcoming DVCH initiatives through letters of support, attendance at groundbreaking, and in other ways.

APRIL 2009

The DVCH was in contact with another of Walter Reed‟s organizations (American Wounded Warriors II Program). That group offers services to soldiers as they leave the military. We plan on holding a meeting with their staff to discuss ways in which the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing can help these soldiers as they leave the military facility.

FIRST SPECIAL ADAPTED HOME FOR DVCH – In December of 2008 the DVCH has received approval for their first Special Adapted Home to be built, Contractor R.L. Seely Homes, LLC was awarded the contract and the following home was completed.

NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER – We visited and held a meeting with members of the Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD to brief staff on our program and to get their input as to how we can better help the Center handle different categories of severely injured Marines and sailors coming back from the Iraq/Afghan theaters of operation. We thank LT Todd A. Hazlett, Chief Brian O’Keefe, SGT Allison Morris, USMC, and PO William Jordan, of the Casualty Affairs Office;

GRANT FROM SAM SCHMIDT PARALYSIS FOUNDATION – A grant was made to the Committee by the SAM SCHMIDT PARALYSIS FOUNDATION. The grant is to assist spinal cord injured veterans make improvements to their homes. Our special thanks is extended to President, Ida Cahill, for the Foundation’s generous donation which will help the Committee assist additional veterans. We will provide the foundation with updates on our activities and photos of the veterans being assisted through as a result of this funding.

May 2009

The DVCH held its in Richmond the 1st Veteran’s Village Kickoff – The event was held on May 9 at the Firehouse Restaurant in Highland Park. There was an excellent turnout and many officials from the Richmond area either attended or were represented: Congressman Bobby Scott‟s, Legislative Assistant/Scheduler, Nkiehi George-Winkler, Vince Burgess, Director, VA Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Cynthia Newbille, Acting Executive Director of the East District Family Resource Center, Thomas Victory, President/CEO, Urban League of Greater Richmond, Davis Colfield, VA Mid- Atlantic Chapter, PVA, Dan Kerns, HEROCARE, just to name a few.

But most importantly there were many disabled veterans who attended the event.

Our thanks go to Dick Seely, Executive Director, Rich L. Seely Jr, of the DVCH for the preparations of a successful event to kickoff the Veterans Village in Richmond. Here are some pictures of the event:

PERMANENT FINANCING CLOSING FOR THE 1st SPECIAL ADAPTED HOME – The signing of documents for permanent financing for the DVCH First SpeciallyAdapted home in Winchester, Virginia, this took place on May 20, 2009 at the veteran’s home. Here is the picture of the veteran and the title company official as he signed the last page of the mortgage package. The President, Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing, was the new homeowner and was proud to be the one to receive a Specially Adapted Home that meets his needs. The house will also make it life much easier for his caregiver (his wife, Katherine). He waited over 4 years to obtain this new home.

June 2008

Soon I will be sending you details of upcoming events and other fundraising activities.

Please see the letter below about details of this year‟s fundraising effort:
“Help Disabled Veterans Become Independent Through Accessible Housing” Campaign

June 8 2009

Dear DVCH Members, Supporters and Friends:

Please help us continue our important work during these difficult times!
To achieve our mission, the Committee has launched the “DVCH Veterans Need Your Help” campaign to raise $1,000,000 to support (a) our outreach and housing counseling services program ($25,000) and (b) to establish a construction fund ($975,000) to pay for the building of accessible homes.

Among other aspects of the campaign, we asking veterans groups and other organizations to request their members contribute $1 each to the campaign. This small contribution amounts to less than one cup of coffee and will go a long way to help our disabled veterans improve their quality of life. The planned construction fund will be replenished as each time a veteran completes his or her new home and obtains permanent financing. The generous contributions from your organization are tax deductible.

The Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing (DVCH) – a nonprofit organization partnering with R. L. Seely Homes, LLC, Seely & Associates, Herocare, among other organizations – to implement the “accessible homes for disabled veterans” program. Under the “One-Stop-Shop” program the DVCH is providing veterans with the assistance they need to successfully complete all of the steps in the new home construction process.

The DVCH team is headed by disabled veterans who have the experience to make affordable, accessible housing an achievable goal for our service men and women. In my own case, I tried for some time to purchase a home that was affordable and had the necessary features to make it fully accessible for me. After a good deal of research I came to the conclusion that I needed to build a new home as each disabled veteran’s medical condition is unique and requires different housing features to achieveindependence.

I found that it was one thing to dream and quite another to successfully complete all of the steps (financing, lot selection, home design, acquisition of grants, etc.) in the new home building every disabled veteran needs to convince them, that, in fact, they could obtain the housing that fully responded to their needs. We are helping more disabled veterans each and every day. I am happy to announce that construction will start soon on our 2nd & 3rd Specially Adapted Homes for two (2) veterans – one in Winchester, Virginia and the other in the Chesterfield, Virginia area. Both veterans have war injuries – one from Agent Orange which left this highly decorated veteran in heart failure, and with cancer, diabetes, among other medical problems. The 2nd veteran is a quadriplegic paralyzed from the neck down – an injury suffered during his Gulf War tour in 1991. These veterans deserved only the best. They gave so much to help us. Now let’s support them by giving what we can.

A few years ago a great man stated “ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY.” We at the DVCH cannot do it alone and we can certainly use your help!

JULY 2009

LEASE-TO-BUY, HOUSING RENTAL INITIATIVE – There are disabled veterans, veterans, VA hospital staff, among others, who indicate that they need housing and are prepared to sign a contract so R.L. Seely Homes LLC can build a new home for them under a lease-to-buy or rental arrangement.

The DVCH is preparing a list of those interested in one or the other housing arrangement so it and its partners can move ahead to secure financing to

build new homes that address this need. Please contact John Lewandowski by phone, fax or email so we can add your name to the list. DVCH officials will follow-up with a phone call to discuss your housing needs in detail.

DEVELOPED A NEW MOTTO FOR THE DVCH – “Where veterans can be assured they have someone who CARES”

NEW DVCH PARTNERS - The Committee is working with a new financial institution in the mid-region of Virginia. This new partnership is helping us ensure that disabled veterans can obtain construction financing so they will be able to build a new accessible home built or remodel one. I want to express our appreciation to T he BANK OF GOOCHLAND (located in Manakin Sabot, Virginia) and its Vice President K EN GIANGIULIO for their support and assistance. We feel that this relationship will help the Committee in its efforts to obtain necessary loans for a disabled veteran so they can realize the dream of owning a new home that meets their needs.

We have another organization partner: BRUNO INDEPENDENT LIVING AIDS, INC, of OCONOMOWOC, WI 53066. The company offers VA pricing for their products and have offered to work with us to see how their products can address the needs of the veterans we are serving.

NEW LOGO DESIGN FOR THE DVCH – I am pleased to report that Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing has been working with art students from the Lord Fairfax Community College, Middletown, Virginia, to design a new Committee logo. This has been a wonderful project and the Committee has selected the winning logo. In appreciation for this work, the DVCH awarded a Certificate on August 8, 2009 to the student who designed the logo we selected. Professor Neely and her students were challenged to design the logo and did a wonderful job. We wish each and every student the best of Luck in the future and I can assure them that they have made our veterans proud.

1ST SILENT AUCTION AND BUFFET – We are in the planning stages of organizing our 1st Disabled Veterans Committee – “SILENT AUCTION & BUFFET” to be held on October 4, 2009. The event will be at the Winchester Moose Lodge #1283, 215 East Cork Street, Winchester, Virginia from 1 to 5PM (The final decision will be made on August 3, 2009 by the Board of Directors). Meals will be available for purchase. Please plan on bringing your family and friends to the auction – there are going to be great, one of a kind items (really treasures!) on which you can bid. As I said it will be silent, so you can browse and write down your bid, and hopefully your bid will be the winner, but our biggest winners, as always, will be disabled veteran. TV3 Winchester will cover the auction along with WINC FM, Winchester Radio. We have already received many donations for the auction from the following companies and individuals:

Oak Ridge Boy s, Inc, Hermit age, Tennessee

Washington on Redskins Organization

PRIDE Mobility Products, Pennsylvania

BRUNO Independent Living Aids, Inc, Wisconsin

Spicher’s Appliances, Winchester, VA

INVITATION TO APPEAR AT THE JOINT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, VETERANS SERVICES ORGANIZATION – The Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing has received an invitation to make a presentation from the Chairman of the Governor’s Joint Leadership Council for Veterans Service Organizations, in Richmond, Virginia on August 12, 2009. We plan on addressing many of the issues our disabled veterans are facing on a routine basis, and will encourage the JLC to submit our recommendations to Governor Kaine and other legislative bodies for action and approval.

NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT, DVCH

As I sit here it is still hard t o believe t hat a y ear has passed since the DVCH was formed. When I first was asked about heading t he organizes at ion, believe me, I was apprehensive like many people would be because I felt I was t he one who had t o make it work or not. I accepted t he challenge and I can tell you t hat I made the right decision because I could not have chosen better people t o serve on t he DVCH‟s staff. These individuals are as dedicated as any I have worked with over t he y ears and they continue to be committed to the Committee and the disabled veterans we serve. You can ask anyone affiliated with DVCH and they will agree with what I am saying.

I hope you will continue to support t he Committee as we are planning many new important activities which I will keep you posted on. I just want to take this moment to send out a “Thank You” to each and everyone who has helped and supported us. God Speed and let’s continue our import ant work for t he ones t hat count; our veterans.

August 2009

Come Join Us on October 4th! The “1st Silent Auction & Buffet” to be held October 4, 2009 – The event will be at the Winchester Moose Lodge #1283, at 215 East Cork Street, Winchester, Virginia from 1 to 5PM. Meals will be available for purchase for $7.50. Please plan on bringing your family and friends to the auction – there are going to be great, one of a kind items (real treasures!) on which you can bid. As I said, it will be a silent auction, so you can browse and write down your bid, and hopefully your bid will be the winner! But our biggest winners, as always, will be disabled veterans.

TV3 Winchester will cover the auction along with WINC FM, Winchester Radio. We have extended invitations to our great State of Virginia Officials. Stay tuned to our emails for more information. The Auction will be featured on radio spots soon. How can I help you ask? Well, the biggest help of all is for you and your family to join us at

the Moose Lodge on October 4! All funds raised will go to assisting our disabled veterans obtain the accessible housing they need and deserve.

NEW PARTNER FOR THE DVCH – On Saturday August 8, 2009 we had the honor of traveling to the Lord Fairfax Community College, Middletown, Virginia where the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing presented Certificates of Recognition to students who helped the Committee develop a new DVCH Logo which we are now using on our letterhead, emails, faxes, and other materials and documents. We are very proud and honored to include photos of the group attending the recent award ceremony.

Our sincere appreciation and congratulations to Leisa M. Hirtle and Daniel Whelan (unable to attend) for their Distinguish Logo.

JOINT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEETING – The DVCH was honored to make a presentation at the August 12th meeting of the Governor‟s Joint Leadership Council, Veterans Service Organization, State of Virginia. We had asked the Commissioner of Veterans Services, Vincent Burgess, to invite the DVCH to this meeting so we could brief different veteran service organizations on our program and how it can benefit those that these organizations represent. We received a very positive reception and many council members spoke to us after my presentation to give us their ideas on how they could help and work with the DVCH in the future.

The presentation to the JLC gave the DVCH an opportunity to garner support for the passage of laws and adoption of policies dealing with important issues where changes need to be made for the benefit of disabled veterans. Hopefully, Members of the US House and Senate, and federal agency officials will also support these changes in the months ahead.

Issues such as those dealing with homelessness are brought to the Joint Leadership Council so members can bring these up to elected officials serving in the Virginia General Assembly. The meeting we participated in was part of our attempt to make the DVCH heard in the House Delegates so we can help spur changes to laws and policies that are stopping our disabled veterans from obtaining assistance under many programs.

MEETING WITH STATE DELEGATE BEVERLY SHERWOOD – We have scheduled a meeting on September 1, 2009 in Winchester, Virginia with Delegate Beverly Sherwood to discuss a number of issues affecting disabled veterans.

MEETING WITH A VETERAN – While I was in Richmond, I have always tried to visit the veterans that our Committee i s h e l p ing. I had the honor of visiting a distinguished veteran in Chesterfield, Virginia, whom we are about to start building a Specially Adapted Home for in order to meet his medical needs. He was injured in an automobile accident while on active duty where most of his time was spent in Iraqi in the Gulf War in 1992.

REMEMBERING A FALLEN VETERAN – It saddens me to inform all of you that one of our comrades in arms has passed after a battle with cancer resulting from exposure to Agent Orange while he served in Vietnam. SFC (Ret) Dickran Melkonian was a decorated soldier of who served during two conflicts: Republic of Vietnam and Desert Storm. SFC Melkonian requested to be returned to active duty during Operation Desert Storm and served with honor and dignity. In his military career he earned the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart along with many other medals and awards. He is survived by his beloved wife, Helena, who was by his side at his passing, and a daughter, Sunny. Services will be held at The Columbarium, Arlington National Cemetery on October 5, 2009 at 1400 hours.

Spinal Cord Injuries & Disorders Expo – We received an invitation to attend and set up a booth at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia on the 18th of September to provide material and talk with veterans and their families about accessible, affordable housing. We expect to meet new veterans and make many new friends on that date who have not heard about our program. We hope you in the Richmond area can come to meet Committee members on September 18.

Remembrance of Senator Edward M. Kennedy – Many people saw the funeral and burial of Senator Edward M. Kennedy on TV and remembered all the great things he did as a Member of the United States Senate. Through his many years as a Senator, he authored and lead passage, from what I understand, of more than 300 bills. Our prayers and best wishes go out to his wife, children and his four grandchildren – he was a true American gentleman.

September 2009

We scheduled a meeting with Delegate Sherwood to discuss a problem that has plagued this state and I am sure yours. It involves disabled veterans who have great difficulty in obtaining Department Housing & Urban Development (HUD) funding. This is funding to be used to cover down payment and closing costs which many veterans do not have the funds to pay. To obtain this assistance, the veteran must be a first time home buyer or build a new accessible home (under the HUD “Reconstruction Provision) which requires the veteran to demolish his present home and build a new one on the same lot.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the economics of this approach just don’t work in the case of most veterans who own their own home. They almost always have

an existing mortgage and then, to add another big mortgage to pay for building a new accessible home – not to mention having to pay for demolition – won’t work for either

the veteran or the mortgage banking community. In other words, the HUD reconstruction requirement means for most disabled veterans a double mortgage amount.

We at the DVCH don’t feel this is unfair and have requested a HUD waiver for one of our disabled veterans so he could build a new accessible home. The waiver was denied by HUD – seems that we have to get the law changed. We all know that would take years so now our 100% disabled veteran faces the possibility of not being able to build his new home which is tragic in our opinion.

There is a glimmer of hope as HUD and other officials have said that in the case of disabled veterans who do not meet the reconstruction criteria:

“This does not necessarily mean that such an activity is ineligible, provided that there is a formal program design that specifically addresses such cases and includes, among other things, provisions regarding the imposition of proceeds from the sale of the property unsuitable for rehab, etc.”

We are working with Congressman Frank Wolf’s scheduler to set a date to meet with him to discuss the HUD decision and what next steps we should take to resolve this

matter in favor of the disabled veteran.

MEETING WITH THE VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION: VET OUT REACH PROGRAM –   We received a telephone call from DAPHNEMIZE, Veteran Employment Representative. Daphne had heard about our program and wanted to see if the DVCH could partner with other organizations that have goals similar to ours.  The meeting produced many interesting ideas about ways we can provide better information on our programs to veterans and a possible way we can establish a task force to handle the full array of veterans’ issues and concerns.

I am pleased to announce that the Virginia Employment Commission, its Coordinator DAPHNE MIZ E, is now a partner of the DVCH which will enhance the our services to veterans and disabled veterans’.  Welcome Daphne and the Virginia Employment Commission, VET Outreach Program, along with the Director of Virginia Employment Commission, Gene Sc h ul t z.

EVENT AT HUNTER HOMES McGUIRE VA MEDICAL CENTER, Richmond, Virginia – On September 18, 2009, the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing accepted an invitation to participate in the Spinal Cord Injuries & Disorders Expo.  This event brought many different and wonderful programs to the hospital so veterans and their families could learn about important services they can take advantage of.  Details about this event are:

“Spinal Cord Injuries & Disorders Expo”

NEW PARTNER FOR DVCH –  The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (SSPF) helps individuals overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances.  This research benefits stroke victims and people diagnosed with ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. SSPF funds its national Day at the Races program and quality of life grants to organizations throughout the country benefiting people with paralysis and other life challenges. It also provides college scholarships for people with spinal cord injuries / paralysis. The Foundation works tirelessly in its advocacy efforts both locally and nationally on behalf of the disabled.

For more information visit:  www.samschmidt.org.

Our wishes go out to the veterans and their families that have attended this informative Expo on Spinal Cord Disorders and we hope that if we can play a small part like the Sam Schmidt’s Paralysis Foundation, then we will feel blessed and help to so many of our veterans.

At the Expo nine (9) veterans with medical issues that they would like to work with the DVCH to started working to improve their housing conditions.  Without have knowledge about the different areas of housing (for example: applying for grants and other funds) they began the process of working with the DVCH’s specialized staff.  These include those who have years of experience as: contractors, re-modelers, bankers, real estate brokerage, plumbers, carpet installations, electricians, landscapers, etc.  help our veterans, so I ask you to please support your local area business that are in

On a personal note, ever since I took over the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing, I have tried to attend as many of the functions as I could with my limitations.  I have been able to attend a few and even got a chance to visit a veteran that was over four hours away.  I am sorry to say that I have to curtail my activities as my wife’s’ health has taken a turn for the worse. She may again be having heart failure but is not be strong enough to have surgery of any type, and her doctors are keeping a closer look at her now, so I am truly sorry but unless it is something here in the Winchester area, the members of my Committee can handle them, as they are professional in all aspects of the Committee functions, I have prepared a DVD for them to play in my absence and they have all the knowledge that I would have on the presentation, but I can be reached at my home where I will continue to run the day in and day out aspects of the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing.